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?

84. Chapter 59 Part 2: Dusk and Dawn

(Author's Notes: Part two of Chapter 59 is finally here! Make sure you're sitting down for this.

As always, read, review, and... enjoy.)

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Chapter 59: Dusk and Dawn (Part II)

The night passed.

The sun rose in the eastern skies, painting a warm, morning glow across the landscape. The hilly landscape around the small mountains gradually flattened out the further west it stretched. The land steadily declined to around sea level as it approached the western coast around Dark Point.

It had taken them all night, but Black Pincer Company finally made over the plains of the Western Reaches until they were just fifteen kilometers away from the coastal city of Dark Point. It had been a slow and tiresome journey. It wasn't easy for Blitzmon to carry Angemon, and even the stronger and sturdier Bolgmon was slowed down by the heavy, stone box and its holy contents in his arms.

It wasn't lost on Blitzmon that they had been reduced to about half their regular speed, if that. However, he hadn't been too worried about being followed. It would be difficult for TigerVespamon to escape his bindings and he doubted that anybody would find him and free him in time for it to matter. Plus, he had Bolgmon check behind them with his sensors frequently, and it didn't appear that they were being followed.

Blitzmon and Bolgmon made their way through a large grove of trees that had served as only a minor obstacle to their travels as they took the most direct route to Dark Point. After a few more minutes, they emerged through the bushes and stepped out from the gaps between the trees.

Blitzmon and Bolgmon stopped at the tree line and gazed out at the landscape in front of them. Ahead were vast, grassy meadows, stretching for as far as they could see. They were generally flat fields with only a slight, gradual decline as they grew closer to the coast. Dotting the grass were small, white flowers that emitted blue cubes of data that scattered like pollen spores on the breeze.

In the distance, Bolgmon noticed there were a few dark specks – possibly a forest several kilometers away. He took the opportunity to place the reliquary down and rest his four arms. As he did, he glanced over at Blitzmon, who lugged Angemon over his shoulder. Angemon was conscious again but he was quiet and non-resistant.

"Hey, Blitz, you see that?" Bolgmon asked, gesturing into the distance.

About two kilometers away was a long, well travelled road to their left, which led northwest into the forest. Both of the mercenaries were familiar with the areas around Dark Point. They knew that the forest in question was Analog Forest, a small forest situated to the west of Dark Point. Located inside the forest was the village of Shadow Retreat, which lay on the curving highway from Vernal Spring to Dark Point. Apart from being a lumber town, Shadow Retreat usually served as a stop for travellers and a reprieve from bandits.

More striking than the road was a tall, stone watchtower that stood next to the road. The watchtower was twenty meters tall to allow for a far-reaching view, and was round in shape so that it had no blind spots. Around the stone keep were various tents that had been set up. The inhabitants of these tents were figures numbering in the hundreds, all of whom were either walking around or sitting around the tower and the nearby road.

Blitzmon squinted and nodded. "It's the Toll Tower…" he mused.

He knew it well. The tower in question was an old keep that had often been intermittently occupied by various bandit groups. Seeing as it overlooked one of the main roads into Dark Point, bandits could extort travellers and merchants for protection money – or a 'toll' to pass. It had been a lucrative business given that the highway from Dark Point to Vernal Spring was a busy trade route and there had been no real law in the area to stop them, other than other bandits. However, that changed recently when Dark Point's city watch - the Night Guard - cracked down on the bandits who were hurting the city's business.

"Yeah, but who're those guys around it?" Bolgmon asked, trying to magnify his optical vision. "Did a new bandit gang move in? They've gotta be pretty stupid after what happened to the last ones."

Blitzmon frowned curiously. "Maybe they're taking advantage of the instability in Dark Point. Or…" he trailed off as he looked carefully at the figures around the tents. They all looked like Digimon with dark, menacing bodies. "Do they look like demon Digimon to you?"

Bolgmon closed one eye as he magnified in on the keep. The cyborg beetle indeed saw hundreds of mostly demon Digimon gathered around the abandoned landmark. "Yeah, they do…" After a moment of inspection, Bolgmon blinked with shock and turned to his friend. "Uh, Blitz…? I see that Murmuxmon guy. What's the deal with that?"

Blitzmon's leer tightened, as did his grip around Angemon. "Let's find out."

Bolgmon picked up the reliquary once again and began driving across the field. Blitzmon walked alongside him, readjusting the prisoner over his shoulder and glancing up at Angemon as he did.

"Don't worry, angel. I won't let them hurt you," Blitzmon coolly told the captive Angemon.

"Thank you, Blitzmon, but I have no illusions about my fate," the monk philosophically replied. "I am at peace with my circumstances."

"What? You ain't worried about us taking you into a camp full of demons?" Bolgmon wondered with a curious tilt of his head. "Aren't you afraid they might kill you?"

"Not especially… If I was, it would only be because I know it will make TigerVespamon sad," Angemon calmly explained without any bravado.

"You holy types really are as crazy as they say," Bolgmon murmured.

Angemon smiled a little. "It is not that I have no self-preservation… It is merely that I believe that life is like the constant flow of water. Everything changes, breaks down, and reforms in an everlasting cycle… To me, deletion is merely a kind of change… My spirit is like the water of a stream flowing into a collective ocean. From there, we change and become something else, to be born again."

"…Uh huh," Bolgmon blandly responded.

"Except when we die, we die," Blitzmon contended. "Everything that makes us who we are dies with our bodies. Our experiences… everything we have worked to achieve… That nice, cloud-pondering approach is cold comfort when your digicore is breaking down and your data is separating from your body. I've seen that fear and desperation in a Digimon's eyes as they realise what's happening…"

"Perhaps you have a point in your sober rationality," Angemon reasoned. "I do not seek to follow my friends just yet… Merely that I am at peace if I do. After all, we are all a part of the nature that God oversees. The idea of returning to it does not bother me, were it not for who I will leave behind."

"…Even so. We have our mission. That involves bringing you to Bagramon," Blitzmon informed him, narrowing his eyes as he carried him across the meadow. "Also, a word of advice: I wouldn't entertain such philosophizing in front of the demons. You might encourage them."

"Your advice is heeded…" Angemon contemplatively replied.

It was several minutes of walking across the grassy field until they were close enough for the demons to begin to notice them.

A Devidramon perched on the top of the watchtower was the first to spot them. Upon seeing the suspicious pair approaching, she yelled out to the others below. Blitzmon and Bolgmon watched as the hundreds of alerted demons suddenly scrambled to attention.

The discordant blare of trumpets filled the air. In response, the horde of Nightmare Soldiers whirled towards them and began to leer at them menacingly. Hostile growls and suspicious whispers sounded out from the ranks of the gathered demons as they inspected the pair of mercenaries, the chatter intensifying when they spotted the Angemon being carried over Blitzmon's back.

Despite the legion of fearsome, vicious, fallen angels awaiting them, neither Blitzmon nor Bolgmon flinched. They calmly made their way towards the toll tower, allowing their confidence to speak for itself.

As they reached about a hundred meters away from the large, stone tower and the surrounding demons, they noticed that there were several non-demons among their ranks too. They were shabby-looking Digimon of all sorts of species. The non-demons' only unifying traits were their black robes that sported a white pentagram, and the fanatical look in their eyes.

However, Blitzmon and Bolgmon didn't give them much thought. Their attention was drawn to the fallen angel Digimon who made his way to the front of the group. It was a Demon Lord in green robes and olive-hued armour designed like the heads of a griffon. They immediately recognised the grey-skinned devil as Count Murmuxmon.

In fact, standing beside the demon was a HippoGriffomon with drab, grey feathers. The Griffomon wore a black scarf and a golden pentacle that sported the same, five-pointed star as the robe-wearing non-demons. The griffon stalked in front of Murmuxmon protectively, eyeing the outsiders with a suspicious glare.

The Murmuxmon held his hand up to cause the demon Digimon behind him to stand down. As soon as the Nightmare Soldiers quieted down, he stepped out in front of them and walked out to meet the two mercenaries. The only two who followed was Viscount SkullSatamon and the Griffomon attendant.

"Count Murmuxmon," Blitzmon greeted, eyeing him charily as they stopped a few meters away from the lesser Demon Lord.

"Well, if it isn't Bagramon's lackeys again…" Murmuxmon spoke, stopping before them. His dark, demonic, yellow eyes drifted to the bound Angemon that was over Blitzmon's shoulder. "And what is that?"

"A prisoner," Blitzmon replied, keeping his hold tight around Angemon.

Murmuxmon stepped forwards and slowly slid his hand along Angemon's back. He stared down at the bound angel with a baleful gaze. After a few moments of dark contemplation, he suddenly grabbed the base of one of Angemon's wings, his claws tightening around it in a crushing hold. Angemon's body tightened up and a sharp gasp of pain escaped his lungs.

"Give me the dogmatist," Murmuxmon commanded the two insect mercenaries. "I'd quite enjoy having a plaything to take my frustrations out on." The Demon Lord grinned maliciously and twisted Angemon's wing to cause the monk further pain. "I think I'll tear these pretty wings off, to start."

"Get your hands off," Blitzmon warned him with a cold, unflinching voice, and a stare to match. He took a step backwards, prompting Murmuxmon to release Angemon's wing from his hold.

At this, the Griffomon stepped forwards and glared at the beetle man with savagery in his eyes. "You dare speak to Lord Murmuxmon in that way?!" the griffon snarled vehemently.

Murmuxmon's eyes narrowed into a cool glower. "Are you denying me my wishes, insects?" he threateningly asked the two mercenaries. "Are you seriously standing in the way of me tormenting and killing one of them?"

Bolgmon's hold around the box tightened and he rolled forwards slowly to come to Blitzmon's defence, but his smaller companion raised a hand to stop him.

"Last time we checked, you weren't our employer," Blitzmon calmly explained to him. "This prisoner is for Bagramon, the ally to the Demon Lords and the architect of your escape. We were paid to bring these two items back to him. Are you going against the wishes of your superiors?"

Murmuxmon sneered with faint hostility. Although his Griffomon attendant continued to growl with loyal ire, the demon count lowered his arms and took a step back, seemingly submitting to their wishes. "Very well," he replied, although his menacing eyes lingered on Angemon with dark malice. "And what exactly does he want with the acceptor?"

"Don't know," Blitzmon responded. "We don't ask. We just do our job."

"And that's getting these things back to Bagramon," Bolgmon added.

It was at this point that Murmuxmon's eyes shifted away from Angemon and landed on the large, stone box in Bolgmon's arms. "And what is that, exactly?" he wondered curiously.

Blitzmon shot Bolgmon a firm but silent look, wordlessly telling him not to let any of them know what was inside the box. "Just some books and an item that Bagramon asked us to steal from this angel's monastery. Bagramon requires this angel's cooperation in deciphering what's inside," Blitzmon explained deceptively.

Murmuxmon eyed the two mercenaries suspiciously. "Very well…" he cautiously responded. He didn't like that the two beetles were holding out on him, but he was hesitant to risk the ire of Demon Lords, given the precarious situation he was in. "Then tell me, if you are taking these goods to Bagramon, why are you headed towards Dark Point?"

"We can't exactly carry this stuff through New Terminal," Bolgmon explained, gesturing over to Angemon. "We need safe transport up to the Port of Souls. You know, with a boat? And without any questions asked? You pickin' up what we're puttin' down?"

Blitzmon nodded. The humanoid beetle looked around at the hundreds of demons around the tower. There was an unusually large amount for them to be all the way out here, so far from Dark Point. Blitzmon could see that something had changed. "We were hoping you could help us get access to a boat, since your legion controls the shipping area… or does it?" he wondered perceptively.

Murmuxmon folded his crimson wings in and turned around, facing away from the two mercenaries. "There has been an… unforeseen setback," he carefully explained.

Bolgmon scanned the ranks of the gathered demons as well. He counted about three hundred of them. It wasn't hard to notice that several of them had bandaged wounds. As he scanned the area, he also noticed a stockpile of weapons that was stashed inside the door of the tower.

"…Yeah, you don't say," Bolgmon quipped.

"What happened?" Blitzmon asked with a quietly annoyed leer.

"Things had been going so well," Murmuxmon pontificated. He gestured to the Griffomon next to him. "With the help of our loyal followers, the Deliverers of the Light of the Falling Stars, we assassinated the Vice-Mayor, the Commander of the Night Guard, and the leader of the Talons… We won every battle that we fought, and we controlled the heart of the city. Dark Point was nearly at our mercy…"

"However, it seems that the Night Guard and all of Dark Point's syndicates formed an unprecedented alliance against us," Murmuxmon explained with a dark growl. "A few days ago, they stormed the shipping district where our headquarters is. The only way they could defeat us was by uniting against us." The demon count tightened his fists. "We fought hard, but we were forced to retreat to limit our losses. Unfortunately, we were pushed out of the city, so we have taken control of the road leading in to cut off the land route in."

"Shit, for all the Dark Point crime syndicates to put their differences aside and team up…" Bolgmon mused, blinking with surprise. "They can't even agree on what time of day it is. They must've been desperate. The Night Guard too."

"That's what happens when entrenched groups are threatened by the appearance of powerful interlopers. It's likely a temporary alliance to remove the demons and reset the board," Blitzmon said with a frown. "This is bad for us. We were counting on the legion here to help us get a boat."

"Frankly, beetle, we have larger problems to worry about than getting you transport," the SkullSatamon viscount challenged the mercenaries, sticking his staff at them. "We've lost the shipping district, so you're out of luck!"

Bolgmon looked over Blitzmon. "Can't we just go in anyways?" he suggested. "Somebody else can help us. Somebody more competent, preferably."

"Impossible," Murmuxmon explained, casting them a cold glare. "The Night Guard has sealed off Dark Point. Nobody is allowed in or out. Do you really think that the two of you can just walk into the city now? With an Angemon and that suspicious box? They will know that you are working with us. Some of the Deliverers who escaped with us already attempted to infiltrate, but they were found out and cut down where they stood."

Blitzmon felt frustration bubbling up inside of him. His body tightened tensely and the wound in his side began to flare up with pain. "So it is our problem…" Blitzmon coldly replied, tightening his hold around Angemon's knees.

"Yes, indeed it is," Murmuxmon explained, turning to face the two mercenaries. "We have the same goal: the capture of Dark Point. If you help us retake the city, we will get you your boat, and more."

Blitzmon glowered darkly. Their office was in Dark Point. They had to get in. They were well-known enough in Dark Point to be able to get in without hassle on a regular day, but the circumstances of their situation made them conspicuous. He didn't particularly want to help the demons fight against the Night Guard and the syndicates; he didn't care about the demons nor did he want to risk angering the powers-that-be in Dark Point. But… they needed that boat. He knew they couldn't afford to be half-committed to their job. At this point, they had to put everything into the demons' cause. They just had to be smart about it. They would navigate the repercussions later.

Blitzmon looked over at Bolgmon, who shrugged and nodded. Knowing they had no real choice right now, Blitzmon sighed. "Deal," he replied. "What's the situation? Is this everybody?"

"We have about fifty followers of the Deliverers lying low inside of the city, awaiting our orders," SkullSatamon explained, tapping his staff on the ground impatiently. "This is everybody else, for now. I just sent a messenger to the Demon Lords for aid."

"And how exactly do you guys plan to retake the city?" Bolgmon pointedly questioned.

"Until our reinforcements arrive, it is unlikely that we can compare with their numbers," Murmuxmon admitted. "We will wait for further instructions."

"We can't afford to wait!" Bolgmon protested, glancing over at Blitzmon insistently. They both knew that there was a chance that they could be followed. They deemed it unlikely, but the longer that they waited around, the greater the chances they'd be found.

"Can you think of a better alternative?" Murmuxmon asked with a frustrated growl. "Until we get some sort of aid, all we can do is wait. Our greatest ally right now is time. If we wait, we will allow enough time for the alliance to fracture. With the power vacuum in the shipping district, it won't be long until the syndicates turn on each other in an attempt to take it for themselves, and the Night Guard will attempt to reassert their own dominance. Using the Deliverers still in the city, we will have them sabotage and assassinate the various groups and make it look like another syndicate was responsible. We'll sow discord and exacerbate divisions. When they're weak and fighting, we'll make our move."

Blitzmon nodded. "I suppose that's the best plan at the moment," he conceded. "Fine. We'll help, but from the shadows."

Murmuxmon strode up to Blitzmon, his narrow eyes fixed on Angemon. He suddenly grabbed the bound angel and hurled him to the ground. Unable to break his fall, Angemon crashed to the grass with a grunt of pain. "Then you'd better make yourselves comfortable," the demon aristocrat told them, placing his foot on Angemon's back.

Blitzmon leered coolly at Murmuxmon. "Very well… but I want Angemon in one piece after all of this," he answered decisively.

"Tch," Murmuxmon scoffed, pushing his sharp, taloned heel into the angel's spine painfully. After a few moments of giving the monk protracted pain, the Demon Lord raised his foot and allowed Angemon some relief. "You are lucky, acceptor. I shall leave you unscathed," Murmuxmon told the wincing angel. However, before leaving, he swiftly drove his foot into Angemon's side. "…For now."

Angemon breathed heavily from the pain, but he didn't respond. He knew that nothing he could say would help his situation. All he could do was lie on the ground patiently.

Murmuxmon turned his winged back to the two lightning beetles and began to walk back to his legion. As he did, his SkullSatamon second-in-command spat on the ground in front of Angemon before shouldering his staff and following him. Meanwhile, Griffomon captain of the Deliverers shot the three Digimon a fierce glare and circled around to follow the two high-ranking demons.

"Cripes, I hate working with demons," Bolgmon muttered under his breath, taking the opportunity to place the reliquary down beside Angemon.

Blitzmon kneeled down beside their prisoner and glanced at him. "Are you alright?" he asked him.

"I will live," Angemon replied, though coughing slightly.

Blitzmon began to untie the knot of the rope binding Angemon's ankles. "Can you sit up?" he asked. "I will free your ankles, but if you attempt to escape, I can't guarantee your safety."

"Yes… Thank you," Angemon answered, hoisting himself upwards and sitting cross-legged on the ground. As soon as he was sitting, the long-haired angel looked up at the two insects. "…See? Neither of you two are truly bad Digimon… Maybe in another life, things could have been different."

Bolgmon scoffed and folded his sore arms. "That again? What are you try'na do? Guilt us into confessing our sins? We don't buy into whatever you're preaching," he standoffishly quipped.

Blitzmon frowned and stared at the angel with confusion and disbelief. He didn't understand how he could be so forgiving. "I don't know how you can say that. You don't know either of us at all. You act like you have all the answers," he cynically challenged him.

Angemon smiled sadly. "I don't have all the answers… Only hope," he explained. "You're just like GrandisKuwagamon. I have to believe that there's hope… for him, as well as for you…"

Both Blitzmon and Bolgmon stopped and froze at the mention of the third member of Black Pincer Company. They both turned and stared at the bound angel with absolute perplexity. Neither of them could understand how this monk knew about their teammate.

Bolgmon blinked and drove over to him, leering down at the angel with wide, darkening eyes. "What the…? What the hell are you talking about, helmet head…?"

Blitzmon gazed at the angel's face with narrowing eyes that demanded an answer. "Why… How do you know GrandisKuwagamon…?" he coldly demanded.

Angemon calmly looked up at the two members of Black Pincer Company acceptingly.

"That is a long story…"

---

A couple hours passed.

It was mid-morning. The sun was rising higher in the sky. Only a few, fluffy clouds drifted across the cyan expanse.

Meanwhile, Count Murmuxmon's legion of demons went about their day. A few groups patrolled the perimeter of their territory, walking up and down the highway, while aerial patrols circled around a span of a few kilometers. The majority stood at attention around the base of the tower. Count Murmuxmon and Viscount SkullSatamon seemed to be getting ready to drill them in preparation for their eventual operation against Dark Point.

Both Blitzmon and Bolgmon stood near the edge of the camp, away from the demons. Beside them was Angemon, who sat crossed legged with his wrists tied behind his back. Blitzmon was busy talking with Bolgmon about their current situation, and Bolgmon was planning the best ways to get into Dark Point from their position. As the two members of Black Pincer Company spoke, they kept a close watch on the nearby angel and the Orb of Yang. None of them knew they were being watched.

A few kilometers away, there were barely perceptible movements in the forest grove that Blitzmon and Bolgmon had left from when they first approached the toll tower. The foliage rustled slightly and there was the occasional snapping of a twig. Subdued colours shifted behind the verdant shrubbery and the thick, woody brambles. However, they were too far away for anybody in the Nightmare Soldiers' camp to notice.

"That must be them," a voice whispered.

Magnamon gazed through a small hole in a thick bush that was just within the tree line of the grove. Kneeling behind him were Dynasmon, SaviorHackmon, GrandisKuwagamon, TigerVespamon, and Cyberdramon.

They had travelled through the night, but they had managed to keep on top of the trail. Angemon's intermittent trail of feathers ended at around the edge of the Forest of Equilibrium, but by then, they had been able to follow Bolgmon's tread impressions in the grass. Following the trail, they had been led west across the plains until they eventually reached that small forest grove. Once they reached the other side of the small, wooded area, they noticed the sizeable army in the distance. The group of six took cover in the undergrowth and decided to scout out the enemy.

"Yeah, that's gotta be the Dark Point legion," GrandisKuwagamon agreed, expertly using the shadows of the foliage to camouflage himself beneath a thick bush. Using a small spyglass, he gazed across the rows of Nightmare Soldiers, sizing up their strength and numbers.

His eye landed on the officers who were out in front of the throng of soldiers. He noticed a demon who was clad in majestic emerald armour and robes. He remembered Murmuxmon from when he asked him to tell him where the Demon Lords were. Beside him, he noticed a familiar form: a lanky, skeletal demon with red bones and a staff. "That Murmuxmon is in charge. Pretty sure that's Viscount SkullSatamon beside him, but it's hard to recognise him for sure without condiments on his bony face."

SaviorHackmon frowned with confusion. "What?" he asked in a whisper.

"Nothing. You had to be there," GrandisKuwagamon responded, still gazing through the pocket telescope.

Dynasmon frowned as he gazed at the horde of demons lined up below the tower. "There's gotta be hundreds of them. I can't believe this many escaped the Dark Area," the wyvern knight noted as quietly as his resonant voice was capable. "There's a bunch of them who aren't demon or undead types too."

"Who are they? Collaborators?" Magnamon asked, noticing the Griffomon standing beside Murmuxmon.

"I dunno. The demons probably made some allies in Dark Point," GrandisKuwagamon replied. "I don't know what they're all doing this far out from the city though… It seems pretty far to have a main base here."

"Do you see Angemon anywhere?" TigerVespamon asked from behind him, eyeing the mercenary with the telescope.

"I'm looking," GrandisKuwagamon answered. He gazed through the magnifying device, carefully looking across the field at the gathered demons. He went from one end to the other and then back again. Then, he decided to pull the spyglass down. He spotted three figures separate from the army, a little ways in front of them. He focused in on that spot.

His eye widened at what he saw. He spotted the familiar, indigo-armoured bodies of two humanoid beetles. Sitting in front of them was the body of an Angemon. He focused in on Angemon for a moment before his gaze drifted back up to the two mercenaries. It was them. It was Blitzmon and Bolgmon.

Just like in Dark Point, GrandisKuwagamon felt the sudden swell of rage inside of him. Seeing the two mercenaries in front of him brought his dormant feelings of betrayal rushing back to the forefront. His heart began to race and his mind began to burn, but he put all of his willpower into reining those feelings back in. There was an instinctual part of him that wanted to march out there and lay them flat. However, he knew that he had to be smart. Rushing out there would be suicide, and it would put their whole mission into jeopardy. Without Paildramon there to calm him down like before, he knew that he had to do it himself.

"I see them…" GrandisKuwagamon hissed quietly, his black hand tightening around the spyglass. "Blitzmon, Bolgmon, and Angemon…"

TigerVespamon perked up and moved up beside him. "Where? Is he okay?" he asked him.

"I see them too," Magnamon agreed, catching sight of the three outliers separate from the army. "He seems okay. Is the Orb of Yang with them, GrandisKuwagamon?"

"I see a big, stone container beside them. It's probably in there," GrandisKuwagamon replied, his eye narrowing.

Dynasmon sighed with relief. "Thank Yggdrasil… I was worried they already went ahead to Dark Point," he exclaimed as he knelt in the underbrush. "So, now that we know where they are, what's the best way to do this?" he wondered, looking at Magnamon.

Magnamon frowned as he gazed at the large army standing a couple kilometers away. He turned back to the others, but remained kneeling behind the large bush.

"There's six of us and a couple hundred of them. We can't just charge in there with weapons blazing. While four Ultimate levels like us can do probably do some major damage, we'll be swarmed and Black Pincer Company might try to escape in the confusion. Not to mention, we'd be putting Angemon's life at risk," Magnamon explained, gazing up at Dynasmon. "I'm thinking that our best option is to hide here until night. Then we sneak in, free Angemon, and take back the Orb of Yang."

"That makes the most sense," GrandisKuwagamon agreed. "The only problem is that the longer we're here, the more we'll risk getting seen. And there's a chance that Blitzmon and Bolgmon could leave before then."

"We'll keep tabs on them and we'll hide as best as we can," Magnamon replied.

Dynasmon placed his large palm on the earthy floor and nodded. "Sounds like a plan, Magna. I agree that we need to put the hostage first. We can't be hasty here," he agreed.

GrandisKuwagamon took a deep, meditative breath as he stared at Blitzmon and Bolgmon. Rage simmered in his heart as he set his eye on the mercenaries. Seeing them in the flesh caused his frustration to boil. He wasn't the only one.

TigerVespamon's eyes darkened as he leered at the two mercenaries in the distance. He felt ire grow in his stomach as he stared at the two mercenaries. He hadn't forgotten about what they did. They had killed all of the other monks in front of him. Now they were threatening to take Angemon away from him. He refused to allow it. He wanted to stop them.

"Yes, Sir," SaviorHackmon obeyed, nodding quietly. He looked ahead at the two insect brothers and could feel the tension and anger between them. He saw the tightness in their muscles and the hardness in their faces. "…Are you two going to be okay?"

"Fine, kid," GrandisKuwagamon answered coolly.

"Yes. My only priority is rescuing Father Angemon," TigerVespamon calmly responded.

Cyberdramon glanced at GrandisKuwagamon sceptically. "Just do what we say, bug," he told the newest Rook.

Magnamon nodded. "We all need to work cohesively here," he explained. The shorter dragon knight placed a hand on a nearby branch and began to rise. He began to slowly stand to his feet behind the bush, the sunlight piercing through the canopies and casting down on him. "Now let's get hidden, team."

The Royal Knight turned around, the sunlight washing across the reflective surface of his gold, chrome digizoid armour. The light glanced off the sharp edges of his helmet and pauldrons, and, as he turned, the rays ran up his helmet and culminated at the tip of his horn with a radiant glint.

Meanwhile, Bolgmon and Blitzmon spoke about their current situation.

"I don't feel great about sitting around here with these demons, but we have no other alternative," Blitzmon said to the large, cyborg beetle. "We just have to hope that we can get into the city somehow."

"Yeah, I guess…" Bolgmon responded boredly, his eyes drifting away from Blitzmon and gazing off into the distant landscape.

"We have to hope that—are you listening to me, Bolgmon?"

As Blitzmon spoke, Bolgmon gazed at the forested grove that they had come from. He was about to look back at Blitzmon, but something caught the corner of his eye. For a split second, he saw a bright twinkle of light, like the sun was reflecting off of something metal. In the moment that he saw the gleam, it was gone, but it was enough to draw his attention.

"Wait a sec… What was that?" Bolgmon asked, narrowing his eyes. He opened up the targeting screen on his back and magnified his vision. From that distance, it was hard for him to get a good view. He thought he saw some colours moving behind the grove's foliage, but he couldn't be sure. "I think I see something…"

Bolgmon activated his infrared vision. It was then that he saw six red and purple silhouettes moving behind the bushes, sneaking back into the grove. A mix between a shocked scowl and a smirk formed on his face. "We got company! Six targets spying on us over in that grove to the east!"

"What?" Blitzmon asked, swerving in the direction that Bolgmon was looking.

Murmuxmon spun around in response to Bolgmon's shock announcement. "Enemies?!" he demanded, scowling as he looked towards the forest. "To arms! Capture them!"

Back in the forest, the team of six froze. The sudden cacophony of discordant trumpets blaring sent ice running down their veins. The piercing trumpets were punctuated by a chorus of yells and snarls.

Magnamon's eyes widened with horror. He turned around to see the legion of demons all turn their attention towards them. As soon as they set their eyes on the grove, the rows of demons began to move in their direction. "I… I think they've spotted us," he alerted the others, his eyes narrowing.

"Ya think so?!" GrandisKuwagamon snapped back with sarcastic annoyance. He pointed at Magnamon with an accusatory scowl. "They probably saw your stupid, flashy armour! Have you ever been stealthy in your entire life?!"

Magnamon narrowed his eyes at the mercenary and clenched his fists. "I… Of course I have!" he defensively shot back.

Dynasmon growled and took a step back as he watched the hundreds of demons turn towards them. "This is bad…"

"What should we do, Sirs?!" SaviorHackmon asked them, swallowing hard as the horde of demons honed in on their position.

Magnamon clenched his teeth and hesitated, feeling a tidal wave of pressure suddenly bearing down on him. "We should…" he tentatively began, his mind working in overdrive to try and come up with a solution on the fly. As the seconds went on, he was no closer to coming to an answer.

GrandisKuwagamon looked out of the trees and spotted Bolgmon facing them from in front of the army. He was on his hands and treads, his cannon pointing directly at them. There was a familiar flicker in the tank's cannon, and GrandisKuwagamon knew the insect panzer well enough to know what he was going to do. Time was running out. With rage already pumping through his body, his instincts started to take over. He knew they had to do something right now, and he knew what he desperately wanted to do.

As his adrenaline kicked in, GrandisKuwagamon felt the power of the X-Antibody surging through his body. He felt its speed, its vigour, its strength flowing through him. Something primal within him wanted to fight.

"Slide Evolution! GranKuwagamon!" GrandisKuwagamon shouted, his body becoming shrouded in light. He grew in size to his huge, four-legged GranKuwagamon form, forcing those around him to move aside.

"What are you doing, Grandis?!" Dynasmon called out as the mercenary grew in size beside him.

"The jig is up! We'll lose our chance if we don't act now!" GranKuwagamon announced, looking around at the others. "We've gotta attack - and fast!"

"You can't!" Magnamon protested.

"Then what do you suggest, 'leader'?! If you've got a better idea, make it snappy!" the mercenary fired back impatiently.

Magnamon grimaced and he tried to think of a strategy in the moment, but the intense pressure of the situation caused him to a miss a beat. "Well…"

"I'm not hearing a whole lot of nothing!" GranKuwagamon declared. "I'm doing things my way!"

Magnamon growled and stepped towards the giant, black beetle. "Hold it! You're not the one in charge here!"

"I'm not sitting on my ass while you hem and haw! Bolgmon's gonna blast this place to the Dark Area if we don't move right now!" GranKuwagamon argued vehemently. He opened his pincers wide and the fabric of space began to warp in front of him. "If you don't do something, I will! Zone Black Hole!"

The mercenary sliced a gaping, dimensional tear in the area in front of him. GranKuwagamon's wings started beating rapidly and he pushed his feet against the ground in preparation to take off. His dark red eyes narrowed with rage as he leered at Bolgmon in the distance.

Cyberdramon's snarled with frustration upon seeing what the mercenary was about to do. "Damn it, bug, wait-!" he tried to warn him.

By then, it was too late. GranKuwagamon was already zooming forwards. Too late to turn back now, he penetrated the shadowy portal and disappeared within the dimensional rift. As soon as his large, black body disappeared within the abyssal tear, it sealed shut behind him and disappeared.

Bolgmon smirked as electronic energy built up in the breech of his horn-shaped cannon. Blitzmon stepped in front of Angemon and pulled him back so that they were both out of Bolgmon's recoil radius. The two mercenaries and their prisoner were about twenty meters in front of Murmuxmon's approaching legion.

Without them realizing, an exit portal suddenly opened up behind Bolgmon and Blitzmon.

GranKuwagamon emerged from the rift directly behind the two mercenaries. In that singular moment, he had the element of surprise. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the white of Angemon's body. About a meter away from them was the large, stone chest that likely contained the Orb of Yang. However, his momentum propelled his body forward. He was fixated on Bolgmon and the ray of light that that was building at the tip of his horn.

He looked at Bolgmon's back and saw that he was about to fire a beam at the grove where TigerVespamon and the others were. Anger swelled within him and his instincts took over. The feelings of betrayal and seeing the threat to his brother overrode anything else.

"Behind you!" Murmuxmon shouted to the mercenaries from behind him.

Blitzmon turned his head and saw something black out of the corner of his eye. His body tensed and he immediately began to spin towards him, lightning sparking up his horn. His eyes widened with disbelief.

Bolgmon blinked at the warning and he began to realise there was a shadow looming over him from behind. "Huh?" he asked, beginning to turn his head to look over his shoulder.

Between him and the sun was a massive black insect, hovering right above him, his form a black silhouette under the sun's intense rays. The dark beetle's claws were coiled back and ready to pierce into him. The bug's face was shadowed over and his eyes glowed with a murderous, blood red glare. Bolgmon froze and his metal face went pale as soon as he recognised the familiar face.

GranKuwagamon snarled and began to throw his clawed fist forwards, intending to slug Bolgmon across his face.

"YOU BASTAR—AAA-AA-AAA-AAAAH!?"

Before his claws could connect with Bolgmon's head, GranKuwagamon's whole body suddenly began seizing up. Electricity coursed through his body, causing his muscles to contract and sending heat surging up and down his carapace. GranKuwagamon's wings buckled under the intense onslaught and he collapsed to his knees on the ground.

As soon as he saw the huge fist barrelling towards him, Bolgmon panic-fired his laser. Due to his awkward angle and his slow mobility, the beam wasn't able to hit GranKuwagamon, instead firing diagonally upwards into the sky. The back blast from the beam sent Bolgmon wrenching a meter into reverse, and the pulse of the laser flattened the grass around him.

As the hot breeze washed over him, Blitzmon stared in shock and confusion as he watched GranKuwagamon writhe in agony. "G… Grandis…?" he spoke, for once, taken completely off guard.

Cyberdramon snarled with frustration as GranKuwagamon collapsed to the ground, his body wreathed in electricity. "The restraint system…" he growled, finishing his warning. "Damn it!"

Seeing that the insect was completely vulnerable before the pair of mercenaries and the nearing army, Cyberdramon began to dash out. If he didn't get below the maximum range of the proximal restraint system, GranKuwagamon would be at their mercy.

Magnamon scowled as his decision was made for him. He hadn't been sure whether attacking against such odds was the right option, but there was no way that they could do anything else now. The possibility of trying to retreat was off the table. There was nothing they could do but meet them head on and attack.

The turbines of Magnamon's armour began to activate and golden particles start seeping out of them as they revved up. The golden knight hovered into the air and rose above the tree line. He pointed towards the enemy army dramatically, trying to maintain the illusion that this had been his plan all along. "Okay, team! Attack!" he shouted, looking over his shoulder at the Digimon behind him. "Move up! Lay down a covering barrage!"

Dynasmon glowered and flapped his wings, propelling himself out of the forest and rising off the ground. "You heard him, guys!" he shouted, his palms flashing as he prepared elemental power within his crystals. "Follow our lead!"

"Yes, Sir!" SaviorHackmon agreed, dashing out of the foliage with his cape flapping behind him. He looked ahead of him at GranKuwagamon, who was struggling to get back to his feet in front of Black Pincer Company. He winced and flied as swiftly as he could to get there in time. "Grandis…"

Meanwhile, TigerVespamon was fixated on Angemon. His eyes were locked on the angel who was trapped in between the two advancing forces. His hands tightened around the hilts of the Royal Meisters. He had to get there. He had to get to Angemon before he got caught up in the fighting. While part of him was worried about GranKuwagamon, who was still convulsing on the ground from electricity, his main priority was Angemon. Either way, he had to get there fast.

TigerVespamon took a deep breath and sprinted out. Moving like a golden comet, he beat his wings and quickly outpaced both SaviorHackmon and Dynasmon. After he had built up enough speed, he launched himself into the air and began speeding over the field. Knowing that every second counted, he brought his arms and legs together to cut down on wind resistance. He was desperate to close the gap and reach them in time. He couldn't lose anybody else he cared about.

Meanwhile, Bolgmon turned around to stare at the giant, partially smoking bug behind him. His eyes were wide with shock and fear upon seeing GranKuwagamon before him. "Nice reflexes, Blitz…" he said with a breath of relief, gazing down at the snarling scarab. "He nearly had me."

Blitzmon kept leering at GranKuwagamon with agitation. "It wasn't me…" he replied, his green eyes twitching. "What is going on here…? Why is Grandis…?"

"You think I know?!" Bolgmon retorted, narrowing his eyes and pointing one of his arm cannons at GranKuwagamon's face. The rotary cannon began to rev up and generate electricity.

"What are you doing?!" Blitzmon snapped at him, taking a step forwards.

"He attacked me!" Bolgmon defended himself. "I'm defending myself!"

"D-Damn you…" GranKuwagamon hissed as electricity continued sparking through his numb body, his crimson eyes withering as he glared at Bolgmon.

"Cyber Nail!" a voice snarled from behind them.

Blitzmon and Bolgmon turned around to see a Cyberdramon flying towards them, unleashing a ranged blast from his claws. The talons formed an arcing shockwave that hurdled through the air in their direction. Bolgmon hissed and reflexively spun his arm cannon around to fire a crackling orb of electricity at Cyberdramon. As soon as the lightning pulsed from his cannon, he and Blitzmon split up to avoid the incoming attack. The tearing blasts hit the ground between them and created an earthy explosion that showered them with dirt.

Cyberdramon dodged around the orb of lightning and used his suppressive attacks to cover his approach. This gave him time to close the distance with GranKuwagamon and get within range of the proximal restraint system. "Bug!" he called out to him.

GranKuwagamon released a sigh of relief as the volts flowing through his body suddenly ceased and the numbing lock on his muscles disappeared. He panted and swore under his breath, but welcomed the relief washing over his body. Recognizing his vulnerable position, he knew that he didn't have the privilege of time. "Slide Evolution!" he shouted out, his large body once against shining with light. "GrandisKuwagamon!"

GrandisKuwagamon jumped away, back towards the black dragon who was running up behind him. He took up a defensive stance with his Gran Killers and saw that Blitzmon and Bolgmon were circling around to meet each other. Behind them, Murmuxmon's army was quickly closing in.

"Don't do that again!" Cyberdramon growled angrily, his claws shining with light as he prepared his next attack.

"You think I want to?!" GrandisKuwagamon fired back, annoyed at himself for forgetting about the restraint system in his haste.

Blitzmon and Bolgmon stopped and looked at GrandisKuwagamon, realising that he wasn't alone. They saw the Cyberdramon, but they also noticed Dynasmon, Magnamon, SaviorHackmon, and TigerVespamon as well.

Blitzmon's scowled with realisation. "It's the Royal Knights," he stated.

Bolgmon frowned. "But why's Grandis with them then?" he asked.

"Put two and two together, you moron," Blitzmon growled at him. "Maybe he cut a deal or something."

Blitzmon turned and looked over at the spot nearby where Angemon and the reliquary were. Despite the utter shock of seeing GrandisKuwagamon before them, he remembered that they had a job to do. He looked back at Bolgmon with urgency. "Get the Orb of Yang to safety. Hurry!" he commanded.

"What about Angemon?" Bolgmon asked, glancing over at the angel kneeling beside the stone box. "I can't take 'em both."

Blitzmon turned and looked over at their angel captive with a calculating leer. It was true that Bolgmon couldn't carry him too. Due to his precarious position out in front and his need to buy Bolgmon time, Blitzmon didn't think he could risk carrying the monk himself. He had wanted to bring Angemon to Bagramon as a bonus, but it wasn't necessary per the terms of their job.

"Leave him. The Orb of Yang's security is our main priority," Blitzmon determined. "I'll stay here. I'll take him if I have the chance."

"Got it," Bolgmon replied, putting his treads into gear and speeding over to Angemon and the reliquary.

Angemon looked up as Bolgmon stopped beside him and bent down to pick up the heavy, stone container. The holy monk tried fidgeting with his wrist bindings, but he was still unable to wrench his hands free. The sudden instigation of hostilities caused him unease as he knew he was in a precarious situation. As Bolgmon raised the reliquary in his arms, Angemon began to rise to his feet. "Bolgmon, don't," he tried to tell him.

"Sorry, padre," Bolgmon replied, clutching the sealed container firmly in his arms. He pushed past Angemon and drove around him, trying to head off to the right to avoid the incoming legion.

As soon as Bolgmon drove past him, Angemon was given full view of the field in front of him. He could see a golden silhouette about a kilometer away, racing towards him. As soon as he saw the familiar red scarf flapping behind the figure, his eyes widened with the realization of who it was. "TigerVespamon…" he whispered.

GrandisKuwagamon watched as Bolgmon began speeding away with the box in hand. He hissed with anger and began to take off after him. "Running away again, Bolgie?!" he taunted, both out of spite and in an attempt to goad him into attacking. "Once a coward, always a coward!"

Bolgmon came to a sharp halt and immediately felt the urge to fire back. However, he quickly remembered Blitzmon's words and knew that he had to focus on getting the Orb of Yang away from the Royal Knights. His eyes narrowed and he released a bitter growl, but he forced himself to stomach the insult and continue on.

GrandisKuwagamon began to chase after him, but a lightning bolt suddenly cut across his path, forcing him to come to an immediate stop. The black swordsman spun to his left and saw Blitzmon facing him from several meters away, lightning coursing through his hand. "Blitzmon…" he growled.

"GrandisKuwagamon…" Blitzmon calmly spoke, his emerald eyes cool and narrow. "You and I need to talk…"

---

Count Murmuxmon watched with enraged eyes as Magnamon and Dynasmon came flying out of the forest and racing towards them. At first, he had just assumed that it was some Digimon from Dark Point spying on them. He hadn't expected two Royal Knights to show up on their door. As angry as he was, perhaps this would be a good opportunity. After all, there were only six to their hundreds.

"Two of the Royal Knights are here! Take them down!" Murmuxmon ordered the army behind him. "Fliers, take to the air and fire!"

The plethora of winged demon Digimon began rising off the ground and separating from the Nightmare Soldiers below. They rose above one another so that they had a clear line of sight for their attacks, which they began preparing to launch.

"Whoever brings me one of the Royal Knights will get their own district in Dark Point!" Murmuxmon shouted, pointing at the two fast approaching dragon knights. "Fire!"

The legion of demons all began launching their attacks within seconds of each other. The sunny sky turned black with darkness and infernal flames.

"Here they come," Magnamon said as he soared through the air like a golden meteor. He watched the attacks hurdling towards them as they closed the gap on the demons. "Dynasmon!"

"Let's do it!" Dynasmon shouted, his upper body becoming wreathed with blue flames. "Breath… of… Wyvern!"

Dynasmon's body coursed with draconic power. He poured his energy out of his body and into a mass of aura that took the shape of a dragon. Wyvern roared above Dynasmon and flapped his mighty wings, flying straight towards the barrage of attacks. With no concern for himself, Wyvern spread his intangible body wide and pounded into the salvo of darkness that was aimed at Dynasmon and Magnamon. The dark, fiery burst impacted his form and scattered against him, the sheer might of Wyvern's body enough to act as a shield. Wyvern soaked up the attacks and continued raging forth, barrelling right into the demon's lines.

Dynasmon watched as Wyvern swept through the Nightmare Soldiers' ranks and detonated within them. A massive explosion shook the ground and consumed twenty of the demons in an instant. They were totally annihilated by his draconic power. "There's our opening!" he shouted.

"Good job! Now it's my turn! Plasma Shoot!" Magnamon declared, smirking as he rushed forwards. The munitions ports in his armour snapped open and a barrage of missiles steamed out of them. The missiles sailed forwards and plummeted into the legions' ranks, erupting with a chain of golden explosions that blasted a dozen demons apart.

Emboldened by the success of their initial attack, Magnamon closed the distance and flew straight towards the smoking ranks of the demons. "Come on, Dynasmon! We have to break them!"

"Right…!" Dynasmon agreed, flapping his purple wings and trying to catch up with the aggressive knight. He raised his hands and aimed the crystals of his palms towards the enemies. "Dragon's Roar!"

A pair of twin streams of light and lightning energy coursed from his palms and spiralled around each other in a double helix. The light and electricity augmented each other as the ripped through the air and pounded into the scattering demons. The dual beams burned through a Phelesmon, a Dobermon, and a Soulmon before exploding.

Meanwhile, Magnamon's hands and feet became wreathed in a golden aura before he ploughed into demons. "Magnum Punch!" he shouted, slamming his empowered fist into an IceDevimon, shattering his body in an instant.

"Magnum Kick!" he followed up, immediately spinning around and levelling a roundhouse kick to a DeathMeramon's face.

Dynasmon charged like a bull and barrelled right into the Nightmare Soldiers. He ploughed his mighty fist into a Digitamamon, hitting him hard enough to send him crashing through the wall of the tower behind them. His claws wreathed with Wyvern's power, the dragon knight whirled around and backhanded three demons away in one crushing sweep.

However, despite the Royal Knights' overwhelming strength, there were only two of them compared to the hundreds of Nightmare Soldiers. Though they had easily destroyed several of the demons around them, they soon found themselves swarmed. The Nightmare Soldiers concentrated their attacks on the two Royal Knights and began to overwhelm their attention.

"Magnamon! Dynasmon!" SaviorHackmon called out with worry as he saw the two knights start to get ganged up on. While he trusted their abilities, he knew that he had to try and take some of the pressure off them. SaviorHackmon dashed towards the ranks of the Nightmare Soldiers.

He began to prepare the crimson blades that extended from his wrists and tail. However, as he watched Magnamon blast a golden laser through a Devidramon's chest, he began to hesitate.

He glanced down at his blades and realised what he was about to do. He remembered how he had already killed in Hope's Crest, and the sensation of his stomach churning returned. He said he hated war, but was he really about to throw himself into combat and kill even more Digimon?

SaviorHackmon grimaced at his indecision and caught himself. What was he doing? He was trying to save Angemon. He couldn't afford to hesitate. Angemon needed him. The Royal Knights needed him. He wondered what he was doing contemplating his morals when there were people who were depending on him. He wanted to protect. He knew he couldn't do that if he hesitated all the time.

SaviorHackmon steeled his soul and dashed towards the fighting. Narrowing his eyes, he readied his blades and launched himself into the air. "Meteor Flame!" he shouted, unleashing a flurry of fireballs that rained down on the Nightmare Soldiers to the right of the Royal Knights. He somersaulted forwards and dove headfirst into the ranks of the demons.

"Trident Saber!" he cried out, lashing out with smooth, dextrous slashes that cut down the demons around him at a 360 degree angle. He grimaced faintly, but his will didn't falter for a second. He plunged a wrist blade into a NeoDevimon's shoulder before turning his head and unleashing three fireballs into the Boogiemon who tried to shiv him in the side.

Not far to his right, Cyberdramon tore through the outer ranks of the demons, his claws soaked with blood as he dragged them through the body of a Devimon.

"Erase Claw!" he shouted, his claws glowing as they cut through the fabric of space. He brought his palms together and unleashed a powerful, white beam that coursed through the demons' ranks and deleted three Nightmare Soldiers at once.

Though snarling and hyper-alert with adrenaline, Cyberdramon made sure to keep an eye on the situation, particularly GrandisKuwagamon's location. He swerved to the side right as a Phelesmon tried to skewer him with his trident. Cyberdramon grabbed hold of the trident and tried to wrestled it out of the devil's grip. As he did, he glanced over and saw GrandisKuwagamon tangling with both Blitzmon and attacking enemies. "Grandis!" he called out.

GrandisKuwagamon plunged his Gran Killers through the body of a Matadormon with snap reflexes. As he kicked the demon off of his claws, he tried to dash towards Blitzmon. "Blitzmon!" he snarled. "You damn traitor!"

Blitzmon swerved to the left to avoid GrandisKuwagamon as Nightmare Soldiers started rushing behind him. "It isn't what you think!" he tried to insist, though not letting his guard down for a moment. "What are you doing here? Why are you with the Royal Knights?!"

GrandisKuwagamon snarled as a LadyDevimon attempted to stab him with her spear, causing him to cleave through her with his claws. As soon as he threw her dissipating body aside, a pair of white tentacles wrapped around his arms. He scowled and spun around, seeing a MarineDevimon behind him. He kicked off the ground and threw himself at the MarineDevimon, snapping his pincers shut and decapitating the demon. As the tentacles loosened around them, he shook them off and flew into the air, right as a Piemon began launching swords at him.

"Damn it…!" GrandisKuwagamon responded, deflecting one of the swords with the side of his Gran Killer. He was so busy dealing with the onslaught of demons that he was barely even able to focus on Blitzmon's words, let alone talk to him. The X-Antibody honed his reflexes, and his combat instincts were in overdrive. He was focused on parrying the swords that stabbed at him, matching their rapid tempo. He couldn't afford to distract himself with Blitzmon, no matter how much he wanted to confront him.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced to his right. At the very least, he had to check on TigerVespamon. He needed to be sure he was alright.

TigerVespamon moved like a well-oiled machine. With grace and agility, he weaved through the ranks of the attacking Nightmare Soldiers.

He moved with a single purpose: reaching Angemon. There was about ten attacking Nightmare Soldiers between him and the angel, so they had to be taken care of. His movements were as cold and slick as ice. The Royal Meisters hummed as they sliced through the air. Moving like a leaf floating on a gentle wind, TigerVespamon danced through the demon's ranks. The beam swords sliced through nerves and ligaments, causing the demons to crumple around him.

He could see Angemon about ten meters in front of him. He was within his grasp, but as soon as he felled one Digimon, another replaced it. TigerVespamon narrowed his eyes as a NeoDevimon, a Phelesmon, and a Kyukimon cultist all swarmed him. He took a step back and poised the Royal Meisters. "Mach Stinger Victory!" he called out, suddenly unleashing a series of rapid fencing strikes. The twin beams blades stung with such speed and allegro tempo that the three Digimon in front of him melted away.

However, as soon as they were gone, four more enemies replaced them and set upon him.

As more of the Nightmare Soldiers perished, Murmuxmon snarled with rage. He had already lost about fifty troops, about half from his own legion and half from the Deliverers. These were unacceptable losses after the losses they had already taken when escaping Dark Point.

"Keep the pressure on them! Take them down one by one! SkullSatamon! Griffomon! Focus on the Royal Knights!" Murmuxmon commanded, looking around him.

Although they had taken a large amount of casualties at the start of the battle, it seemed that now the tide was beginning to turn. There were only six enemies, and it seemed that they had no reinforcements. Although there were two Royal Knights and two other Ultimate levels, his Legion vastly outnumbered them. That numerical advantage was beginning to come into play. Magnamon and Dynasmon were being swarmed. They both began to take damage, but more than that, their attention was becoming divided between all the enemies that they were faced with. Even if they took losses, Murmuxmon was confident that the Royal Knights would eventually be worn down.

However, there was something that the Count didn't understand. Why were the Royal Knights here? Why would they bother attacking them when the Demon Lords were elsewhere? What were they after?

Murmuxmon's gaze drifted across the battlefield until they landed on Angemon, who was on his knees in the midst of the Nightmare Soldiers' lines. He then glanced at TigerVespamon, who seemed to be slicing through the demons in a desperate attempt to reach the angel.

"Of course…" Count Murmuxmon darkly thought. "It was Black Pincer Company who brought them to our door… They're after that damn Angemon and whatever is in that box… Well, I doubt that Bagramon really needs the angel… It's more important that I still have the soldiers to hold Dark Point. And if I can deny the Royal Knights an advantage… all the better."

Murmuxmon smirked sinisterly and began walking through the back lines of the Nightmare Soldiers.

Angemon grimaced as he watched TigerVespamon fighting in front of him. He could barely see the hornet man through the moving bodies of the advancing demons, but he could tell that TigerVespamon was starting to struggle.

He watched as a NeoDevimon, a Sangloupmon, and a MadLeomon ganged up on the Ultimate level and scratched against his carapace. Even though TigerVespamon was able to drive his blade through the Sangloupmon's back, the vampiric wolf was soon replaced by the ghastly body of a MetalPhantomon. Despite this, TigerVespamon locked eyes with him and stubbornly slashed his swords against the MetalPhantomon's scythe while kicking a nerve in the MadLeomon's leg.

Angemon's fists gently balled up against each other. He knew that TigerVespamon had come to rescue him. He knew that he was putting himself in danger to save him. Angemon had tried to protect him and keep him out of danger, but he knew he should have expected him to come. He couldn't let TigerVespamon get hurt for him. He had to do something to help him.

Angemon wrenched his bound wrists, bending his hands flexibly to try to force them out of the rope. He could feel the course coils chafe against his wrists in his desperate effort. He knew that he was putting himself in danger by doing so, but it didn't matter to him. He couldn't just sit by as TigerVespamon was in danger.

With a sudden, smooth but powerful jerk, Angemon pulled his hand from the bindings. The rope tore through his white glove and scratched his skin, but he was able to slide his hand free. As he shook the rope off his other hand, he began to rise to his feet.

He watched as TigerVespamon sliced across the MadLeomon's chest, causing the demonic lion to fall backwards. To Angemon's horror, his back was turned to the NeoDevimon who was plunging his claws towards TigerVespamon's neck.

Holy light pulsed through his bleeding hand and he hurled his hallowed first forwards in a radiant punch.

"Heaven's Knuckle!" Angemon shouted.

A column of holy light coursed from his fist and slammed into the NeoDevimon's side. TigerVespamon spun around just in time to see the dark demon disintegrate in the consecrated light. With wide eyes, TigerVespamon turned his head towards the source of the beam. To his surprise, he saw Angemon standing several meters away, his fist glowing radiantly.

"Angemon!" he called out.

"Be careful, TigerVespamon," Angemon advised him with a slight smile.

With a soft nod, TigerVespamon quickly made three smooth strikes that sliced the MetalPhantomon's beam scythe into four segments. As the weapon split apart, he spun around and slammed his heel into the spectre's metal skull, knocking him to the ground.

At the same time, a Devidramon snarled and lunged at Angemon with his black talons. The angel turned and waited for just the right moment before swiftly jabbing with his fingers, striking a nerve in the dragon's neck that immediately knocked him out.

Meanwhile, Count Murmuxmon closed in. As he drew nearer, he drew an ornate sword from the scabbard on his belt, and brandished it in his hands.

TigerVespamon grunted with effort as a Vamdemon's crimson whip wrapped around his forearm. He tried pulling his arm away from the cloaked vampire's grasp. He barely noticed the demon stalking close in his peripheral vision.

Angemon grunted and flipped a Devimon over his shoulder, hurling the demon several meters away. He saw TigerVespamon's struggle and hurled his fist forwards, unleashing a beam of light to cut through the blood-hued whip that was holding him.

TigerVespamon felt the pressure around his arm subside and he turned towards Angemon to give him a thankful nod. However, as he turned his compound eyes towards Angemon, his heart sunk and his body tightened up with fear and horror.

Towering behind Angemon was the tall, malevolent body of Murmuxmon. The angel hadn't sensed his presence until that very second. By then, it was too late. Count Murmuxmon's arm was reeled back and his hand clutched a long sword. The Demon Lord smirked as he plunged the weapon forwards.

For TigerVespamon, time came to a near stop. A flood of desperation and helplessness washed over him. He suddenly tried to run towards them, only for the Vamdemon to get in his way. He tried to yell out to warn him, but, in the end, all he could do was watch with horror as Murmuxmon drove the sword into Angemon.

Angemon's body tightened as the steel tip stabbed into his winged back. The sword pierced through his body and exited out of his chest.

TigerVespamon froze. It felt like his blood had turned to ice. His insides sunk deep into his chest, and it felt like his stomach was imploding in on itself. His peripheral vision vanished and the ground before him suddenly stretched out. It was as if the battle around him had disappeared and all that was in front of him was the image of Angemon with a sword stabbed in his back.

Angemon looked down at his chest with shock and saw a crimson spot forming beneath his white robes. He felt immeasurable pain in his back that was so intense that he couldn't even cry out. For as much pain as he felt, his expression remained calm and zen.

Count Murmuxmon glared haughtily and placed his foot against Angemon's wing. He wrenched the sword out of his back and kicked the angel off, sending him crashing to the ground.

"NO!" TigerVespamon shouted, absolutely mortified at the sight of Angemon's injuries. He felt like the world was collapsing around him. He had to do something. He had to get to him.

Without wasting another second, TigerVespamon raced forwards. Not even giving the Vamdemon a second thought, he dashed forwards, swiftly stabbing the vampire in the back as he passed by him.

The lesser arch demon raised the bloody sword up and over his head and looked across at the Royal Knights. "The Angemon is dead, Royal Knights! You are losing the battle! You are finished here!" Murmuxmon declared.

SaviorHackmon dead stopped in his tracks. "Angemon is…?"

GrandisKuwagamon and Blitzmon both froze as they stood apart from one another.

"What?!" Blitzmon demanded, looking towards the Murmuxmon with a furious leer.

"No…" GrandisKuwagamon whispered, his heart sinking into his chest. His eye narrowed with grief as he realised what this meant for TigerVespamon. He turned and saw TigerVespamon desperately racing towards the angel. He knew that he needed to get to him. "Ko!" he shouted, taking to the air and slicing through any demons who got in his way.

Dynasmon, cut up and bruised from the sustained attacks, punched a WaruMonzaemon away before blasting two demons with a concentrated blast of wind from his hand. Upon hearing Murmuxmon's declaration, he looked over and saw Angemon collapse to the ground in front of the demon. His eyes widened with outrage and disbelief. "WHAT?! NO!" he roared furiously. Wyvern's energy began pouring out of him as his rage increased. "Magnamon!"

Magnamon grimaced as he heard Murmuxmon's announcement. He was dog-piled on the ground beneath ten Digimon intent on crushing him into submission. He knew they were in trouble.

The Royal Knight put every ounce of strength into pushing himself off the ground. The turbines inside his golden armour began working into overdrive. His armour took on a shining radiance and a golden aura began emanating from the chrome digizoid metal. It was bright enough that rays of light began to pour out from within the dog pile.

"Shining Gold Solar Storm!" Magnamon shouted angrily, rapidly compressing the space around him before expanding it once again. As the space decompressed, he unleashed a massive wave of golden energy that blasted the hill of demons off of him in a torrent of radiance.

As the Nightmare Soldiers and cultists rained down around him, Magnamon propelled himself high into the sky. He grimaced bitterly when he saw Angemon's bloodied body on the ground. He could see TigerVespamon running over to his mentor. He knew that they needed his assistance. His missile ports opened up and he unleashed a barrage of missiles towards Murmuxmon.

Murmuxmon looked up and snarled as he saw a hail of missiles steaming towards him and the nearby demons. He flapped his wings, flying backwards to try and avoid the barrage. The missiles started raining down around him, exploding within the ranks of the Nightmare Soldiers. One missile slammed into Murmuxmon's shoulder, detonating and shattering the griffon-shaped pauldron. He snarled and was blasted to the side, but he wasn't badly hurt.

"Lord Murmuxmon!" the Griffomon cried out. The griffon soared daringly under the barrage of missiles, picking up the demon lord and allowing him to ride him to safety.

The barrage of golden explosions formed a wide semicircle around Angemon, creating a suppressive perimeter to protect both him and TigerVespamon.

TigerVespamon raced over to Angemon, dropping his swords and falling to his knees in front of him. His compound eyes were wide with desperation and sorrow.

"Angemon! N-No…" TigerVespamon cried, his usually calm voice emotional and distraught. He gently flipped Angemon over onto his back and collected him in his arms. He looked down at the grievously wounded angel with tears forming in his eyes.

Angemon gasped weakly as he was moved onto his back. Despite the immense pain that he felt, as soon as he saw TigerVespamon, a weak smile formed on his face.

"T-TigerVespamon…" he gently wheezed, gazing up at his disciple with a tender smile. "You came for me…"

"F-Father Angemon, I…" TigerVespamon bitterly spoke as he gazed down at his wounds. His eyes hardening, he ripped open Angemon's robes and placed a hand firmly on the bloody wound, the other reaching around and placing a hand on the seeping wound in his back. Despite his panic, he did his best to remember his medical training. "I can fix you! J-Just hold still and take deep breaths…! If I can stop the bleeding—m-maybe the vitals w-were not…"

Angemon raised a bloody hand and placed his palm on top of TigerVespamon's hand. He squeezed it affectionately and smiled up at the distraught wasp, slowly shaking his head. "I'm afraid… you can't…" he softly told him.

TigerVespamon's teary eyes widened as a single data particle floated up in front of his eyes. He looked down and realised that it wasn't the only one. Other particles of data were slowly separating from Angemon's body, an indicator of his imminent demise.

"No… No!" TigerVespamon cried out, holding Angemon tighter. "You… You can't go… Please, Angemon…"

Angemon swallowed and smiled sadly up at his acolyte as blood formed in the corner of his mouth. The crimson splotches in his robes were getting larger and damper no matter how much pressure TigerVespamon applied. He was barely able to cover both wounds at once, and they were too grievous anyways.

"I'm afraid that it is my time… I have to go and meet the others now," he explained. "If this is my fate, I welcome it… and whatever comes next."

"No!" TigerVespamon pleaded, tears starting to run down his face. "I… I don't want you to go… Don't leave me…" he begged him desperately. "Don't leave me on my own…"

Angemon's smile fractured for a moment, but he forced himself to remain strong for TigerVespamon's sake. He raised both of his hands and took TigerVespamon's hand between them, squeezing it lovingly.

"But you aren't on your own…" he reassured him. Angemon turned his head to the side and gazed towards GrandisKuwagamon, who was hacking his way through demons to get to them. His weak smile widened just slightly and he looked up at TigerVespamon, slowly rubbing his hand. "You have a brother who cares about you… Please, do not blame him, TigerVespamon… Don't hate him. Try to… understand him… Love him… You will both need each other…"

TigerVespamon's throat was tight and tears dripped down his face to his mandibles. "A-Angemon, I…" he choked, barely able to speak through his grief.

Angemon looked down at his body, seeing that more of his data was floating away faster than he could stop. "If you would… please, hear my confession…" he weakly requested, looking up at the acolyte with a pleading gaze. "I… confess all of my sins… Of what sins I have… the greatest would be Pride…" He smiled up at TigerVespamon. "Pride at seeing the kind and caring man that you have become... I would like to think… that I had something to do with it… but I fear… that most of it is down to you…"

Angemon weakly raised his bloodied hand up, past the hanging star crystal, towards his face. "Whoever you fear you are or aren't… you will always be you…" he reassured him "The Digimon you are… I am so proud of you, my son…" he said to him.

"F-Father, I…" TigerVespamon spoke, his speech breaking as he realised that these might be the last words that he ever said to him. He held Angemon tighter in his arms and gazed down at him with agonised eyes. "I love you…"

Angemon smiled up at him with tender, familial love. A single tear appeared from underneath his helmet and rolled down his cheek. "I love you as well, TigerVespamon…" he softly whispered.

The angel cupped his bloody palm against TigerVespamon's cheek, caressing him affectionately. TigerVespamon's tear trickled down his warm, bloodstained fingers before rolling onto Angemon's knuckles. As TigerVespamon held him in his arms, Angemon gave him the warmest, most reassuring smile that he could muster.

"It's going to be okay, TigerVespamon…"

Those simple words of reassurance struck deep inside of TigerVespamon. They pieced straight into his core and he felt his walls crumble around him. As the wave of trauma and nostalgia overtook his breaking heart, TigerVespamon could only stare down at Angemon with wide, tearful eyes.

Angemon looked up at him with one, final smile.

"It's going to be okay…"

And then, with those final words, Angemon dissipated in his arms.

The angel's data parted around TigerVespamon. It scattered around his body like snow, swirling around his insect form before rising up towards the sunny, morning sky. The data ascended in a spiral current, joining the clouds that drifted overhead.

TigerVespamon's eyes widened as Angemon disappeared in his arms and he was left holding nothing. The weight against his body, the warmth against his carapace… It was suddenly gone. All that was left were the fragments of data and the bloody handprint that remained on his cheek.

It was in that solitary moment that TigerVespamon realised that he was alone again.

Without saying a word, the tears continued to flow down TigerVespamon's cheeks and he silently broke down.

GrandisKuwagamon watched with rage and heartbreak as Angemon's data fragmented in his brother's arms. "No!" he growled with frustration. He impaled a NeoDevimon on his Gran Killers and desperately tried to get over to TigerVespamon as fast as possible. "TigerVespamon!"

Magnamon grimaced with pain as he raced through the sky to get over to TigerVespamon. He could see that the Nightmare Soldiers were beginning to reoccupy the space he created with his missile salvo. It was clear that they were planning to attack TigerVespamon while he was grieving. His eyes turning hard, he plummeted and landed in front of TigerVespamon. Right as the demons launched a barrage of beams and fire towards the pair of them, Magnamon dug his feet into the ground and activated his armour.

"Light Aura Barrier!" Magnamon shouted, his armour unleashing a blaze of golden radiance that formed an incorporeal barrier around them. The darkness and fire impacted the haze of light and disappeared instantly. The holy light shone so brightly that the Nightmare Soldiers hissed and backed away from the intense glow.

Dynasmon snarled and looked around at the hundreds of Nightmare Soldiers still on the field. There was no way they could defeat them now. They had no idea where the Orb of Yang had gone. With Angemon gone, there was no point in trying to continue. They would be overwhelmed. He looked over at Magnamon ardently.

"Magnamon!" he shouted. "It's too dangerous! We have to pull back and regroup!"

Magnamon winced with bitter resignation as he heard the dragon's words. He snarled with frustration, pouring his energy into keeping the barrier around him and TigerVespamon up. "…I know!" he called back. "Cover us!"

"Grandis! Help with Vespa! Hackmon! Cyberdramon! Get ready to pull back! This is gonna be big!" Dynasmon ordered them as Wyvern's energy raged from his body. However, more than one Wyvern began to emerge from his body. Multiple, three-eyed, draconic heads began to seep from Dynasmon's form.

"D-Dynasmon! You can't use Dragon Collider!" Magnamon warned him, his eyes widening. "It's too powerful! We'll get caught up in the blast too!"

Dynasmon snarled and winced, forcing himself to rein in his rage and draw some of his overflowing power back inside of him. "D-Damn it…! Okay…!" he shouted, straining with effort to focus his power into a single Wyvern. "I can't guarantee this, but here we go! Breath of Wyvern!"

Wyvern howled with draconic energy as he coursed forth from Dynasmon's body. The massive, raging, aura dragon swept forwards, roaring as it flew through the Nightmare Soldier's lines.

Murmuxmon scowled at the massive dragon and looked around at his legion. "Evade it!" he yelled at them.

Wyvern engulfed three cultists before slamming straight into the base of the Toll Tower. The battlefield went silent for a second, before the Toll Tower suddenly exploded in a massive flash of blue. The stone tower detonated from the inside out and what remained of the stone structure toppled over, crushing an unlucky cultist below.

The explosion swept across the field, sweeping up dirt and a powerful blast of wind. The massive spectacle gave them the chance they needed.

"Now!" Magnamon shouted, allowing his barrier to subside.

As the explosion's shockwave washed over them, Cyberdramon ran over and grabbed SaviorHackmon's arm with his bloody talons. "Come on!" he ordered him, dragging the recruit away.

SaviorHackmon grimaced and allowed himself to be pulled along, but he couldn't help but look over at TigerVespamon with sorrowful eyes. "R-Right…" he whispered sadly.

As his golden aura vanished, Magnamon spun around and ran over to TigerVespamon, hailing GrandisKuwagamon as he did. "Grandis!"

With the golden barrier gone, GrandisKuwagamon scowled and ran over as well. "Ko!" he shouted, dashing up to the distraught bug.

TigerVespamon remained on his knees, tears staining his stunned face. Despite the massive explosion, TigerVespamon barely reacted. He was too busy staring at the spot where Angemon had been a minute earlier.

Magnamon grimaced and bent down slightly to look him in the eyes. "TigerVespamon, I'm so sorry, but we can't stay here… You need to come with us…" he gently explained to him, conscious of the pain that he must be feeling right now.

TigerVespamon didn't respond immediately, but after a few moments, he gave a weak, compliant nod.

Magnamon winced sadly, but took his right arm. "Thank you…" he softly said. The golden Royal Knight looked up at GrandisKuwagamon. "Grandis, take his other arm."

GrandisKuwagamon nodded bitterly and tentatively took TigerVespamon's arm. After finding that his brother didn't resist, he carefully slung his slender arm over his shoulder and held him carefully. "Come on, bro… Let's go."

The pair pulled TigerVespamon to his feet and helped him to walk.

As they turned, GrandisKuwagamon looked over his shoulder and saw Blitzmon looking at him. The blue mercenary stared at him with cold, calculating eyes before turning away regretfully.

"Blitzmon…" GrandisKuwagamon bitterly thought. He wanted to say something, but he knew time was of the essence and Magnamon was already forcing him to move along. As he and Magnamon took off from the ground and helped TigerVespamon to fly away, he looked over his shoulder, back at his former comrade.

However, his attention was drawn back to his brother. He could see the loss and despair on TigerVespamon's face, even if he didn't emote. GrandisKuwagamon's fist tightened with pain and guilt. He felt like he was partially responsible for this.

Ducking under the occasional, blind projectile, the group of six linked up in the sky. Knowing that they had to retreat somewhere, but unsure where, they began to make their way south to try and find somewhere safe to regroup.

As they flew away from the battlefield in defeat, not one of them said a word.

There was nothing anybody could say…

---

(Author's Notes: Whew. Thanks for hanging in there! To be honest, this was the original direction that I was going to go with these characters, but recently I'd been reconsidering. I ultimately decided to stick with my decision because editing would have changed way too much and I feel like doing so would have weakened the impact and the motivations in these next few chapters. Well, until next time.)