Takumi's Digimon were trying their best to hold out but were gradually being overpowered by the might of Kiryu's team. Rapidmon Armor was pushed back before firing a Shining Laser. CresGarurumon dodged the rain of lights before striking back with Grand Rock. "At this rate…" Rapidmon grunted.

"What's wrong Cyber Sleuth?!" Kiryu asked. "What happened to that resolve you showed against Takuto?!" Takumi gritted his teeth.

"Slash Nail!" Creepymon tore through BlackWarGreymon's Brave Sheild then slashed him. "Chaos Flare!" BlackWargreymon was then hit by an eruption of fire. BlitzGreymon shoved Dorugoramon to the ground. He then punched the floor making shockwave that spread and hit all three of Takumi's Digimon while knocking their partner down.

From where she was forced to watch Yuuko screamed into her gag. Crusadermon laughed. "That Kiryu really is something else isn't he Yuuko? You should be proud of him. After all, it was you who made him a hacker, wasn't it? And now the monster you created will burn down all you hold dear."

'Kiryu… stop… please…' Tears leaked out of Yuuko's DigiLatex mask. 'I'll forfeit my own life to atone…so please…spare him…!"

"There will be no saving you Takumi Aiba." Kiryu growled. "I'll make you pay for what you took from me and Subaru… with interest!"

Rapidmon Armor got back up. "Takumi... we need to do something before we get wiped out! Takumi!"

Takumi sat up but couldn't find the strength to return to his feet. "Takumi, what's wrong?" Dorugoramon asked.

"I did this..." Takumi murmured with a voice filled with guilt. "I created Brother Sorrow by creating the Eaters..."

"Oh, not this again..." BlackWarGreymon groaned.

"I made his brother suffer... and that turned Kiryu into an agent of the Next Order... that's what led to Fei becoming K... Ami being kidnapped... all the Resistance members falling..."

"Takumi, get a hold of yourself!" Dorugoramon shouted. "Can't you see that Kiryu is out for blood?! He'll destroy you!"

"Does that matter...? Would that not be what I deserve? What if it's the only way Kiryu can find peace?"

"Are you stupid?!" BlackWarGreymon asked. "How can you just throw your life away for something you did by accident when you were a kid?!"

"Because it doesn't matter if it was an accident or if I was a kid!" Takumi shouted. "I... I caused so much suffering... I can't let anyone endure undeserved pain..."

"Hmph. So, you admit to your sins then." Kiryu asked. "Very well. I'll put your regrets to rest here."

"Takumi, think!" Rapidmon Armor yelled. "If you die here who's going to protect Ami?! Who's going to save Yuuko?! Do you think Kiryu is just going to leave them be?! He'll destroy them too!"

"That's right." Kiryu said coldly. "Crusadermon told me it was both you and your sister who brought about the Eaters. And Yuuko was the one who sent Subaru to his doom... I made a promise. I will punish all those who share responsibility for what happened to him! After I destroy you, I'll watch Yuuko break down in despair and anguish just as I did before I choke the life out of her! Then I will find Ami and torture her slowly until she dies in misery!"

Takumi's eyes were widened. "Ami and... Yuuko…?"

"And then I will bring judgment to all the other guilty parties!" The Crown of Wrath glowed in Kiryu's right eye. "Every last one of them!"

Takumi slowly stood up. "No..."

"Enough talk! Time to die!" Kiyru's Digimon soared towards Takumi's. Rapidmon Armor blocked CresGarurumon's spear. BlackWarGreymon caught Creepymon's fist. And Dorugoramon caught BlitzGreymon who shoulder charged into him. Takumi's Digivice was glowing. "...What?"

"I won't let you." Takumi's Digimon pushed them back. Takumi looked up with renewed fire in his eyes. "Ami... Yuuko... my friends... my family... I won't let you hurt a single one of them! Hate me all you want Kiryu... but I made a promise of my own! I will protect them! All of them! No matter what needs to be done!"

"Now you're talking." BlackWarGreymon said. "Stand your ground!"

"We will support you to the end!" Dorugoramon added.

"We will defeat Kiryu and the Next Order!" Rapidmon Armor nodded.

Takumi put his goggles over his eyes. "Let's finish this!"

Kiryu started at the light thinking back to Takumi's fight against Takuto. "...Here it comes."

"Rapidmon Armor… BlackWarGreymon… Dorugoramon… Extra Xross Evolution!" A X glowed from Takumi's palm. Rapidmon Armor stood in front of him with a glowing X coming from his back with Takumi's other two Digimon dissolving into streams of blue connecting to the points of the X making an infinity sign.

A golden egg swallowed Rapidmon and bit by bit changed his armor before he burst out. "Rapidmon Armor X!"

"Extra Xross Evolution, huh?" Kiryu asked. "You're finally ready to fight us in earnest?"

"Kiryu…" Takumi murmured. "Everything you and your brother suffered is my fault. And you're right to hate me for it. But Ami… Yuuko… I swore I would protect the people I cherish above all else! If you plan on doing anything to them, then I *will* keep them safe! I won't let down those counting on me!"

"I once thought the same thing." Kiryu scoffed. "But I was not able to keep the person I swore to protect safe. Why the hell should you be?!" His Digimon charged towards Takumi again.

Takumi closed his eyes. "Rapidmon Armor X."

"Yeah." His Digimon got into a fighting stance.

"Fury: Ice Moon Fang!" CresGarurumon was first to attack.

Rapidmon Armor X dodged the downward swing with a spin then slashed him in the back with his arm blade. He used the other to block a punch from Creepymon then flipped upwards kicking him in the face. BlitzGreymon charged into him and they grappled before Rapidmon Armor threw him overhead. "Chaos Flare!" Rapidmon Armor X took flight evading Creepymon's pillar of fire.

He then took aim at the Deadly Digimon. "Lasser Gattling Arm!" He fired repeatedly at Creepymon, then CresGarurumon.

"Elect Guard!" BlitzGreymon blocked the bullets as he flew into Rapidmon. "Nanomachine Break!" When Takumi's Digimon hit the ground CresGarurumon ran up and started slashing him with his spear. After taking some hits, Rapidmon Armor X started blocking before swinging his arms in a X knocking him away.

Creppymon slammed Rapidmon Armor X to the ground with a stomp. He rose up to do so again as BlitzGreymon and CresGarurumon charged towards him from the front. "Repel them!" Takumi ordered. Rapidmon Armor X shouted as he exploded with gold light knocking all three of them away.

Creepymon spun in the air out of control before straightening out. CresGarurumon landed on his feet, but BlitzGreymon slammed into the ground. "Hmph. So that's how it is?" Kiryu used an HP Capsule A, and put Bug status on BlitzGreymon. "BlitzGreymon, CresGarurumon, formation 5A!"

"Yes sir!" BlitzGreymon flew up as CresGarurumon rushed at Rapidmon Armor X. CresGarurumon went at Rapidmon Armor X with the spear again. The X-Antibody Digimon blocked.

"Freeze Frame!" Kriyu snapped his fingers and Rapidmon Armor X froze in place.

"Plasma Stake! Thunder Vernier!" BlitzGreymon shot all of his weapons at once at him.

"Skip Frame!"

Kiryu snapped his fingers again and now Creepymon was in front of Rapidmon Armor X. "Flame Inferno!"

Takumi gritted his teeth as the tables turned. "He's even standing up to EXE…"

"No power, no tricks can save you from your reckoning!" Kiryu shouted. "Your cursed existence ends here!"

"We all care about you Takumi. You're there for us when we need you so of course we'll do the same for you."

"Do what you have to do. Stay with your friends, and don't ever give up. And most importantly, survive this to come home to me."

"We look out for each other, that's how it goes!"

Takumi and Rapidmon Armor X closed their eyes as the enemies charged at them. "No!" They shouted as the Digimon made a shockwave that knocked all three of them back. Takumi held his right arm back and Rapidmon Armor X mirrored him as one of his Armed Arms for the larger one. The golden Digimon charged towards Creepymon.

"Freeze Frame!" Kiryu snapped his fingers at Rapidmon Armor X stopping him. Takumi shouted as he threw his fist forward and his Digimon broke free doing the same thing. "What?!"

Rapidmon Armor threw a punch into Creepymon with his cannon. "Rapid Blaster!" he shouted with Takumi as he shot him point blank blowing him away. Takumi held his hands up and Rapidmon did the same swapping out the Armed Arms on his left arm then they held their hands out firing more golden bursts at BlitzGreymon and CresGarurumon.

Creepymon shook his head and rushed in again. "Slash Nail!"

Takumi leaned to the left and his Digimon did the same dodging Creepymon. "Holy Light." They unleashed an exploding light on him.

"What is this…?!" CresGarurumon grunted getting up.

"This power…" Kiryu glared. "Matrix Link?!"

"Kiryu." Rapidmon Armor X spoke in sync with Takumi. "We're sorry for what you suffered. But as much as we don't want to fight you, we'll do whatever it takes to keep our promises and protect our loved ones."

Kiryu snarled. "What gall. You think you understand my suffering? Imagine Takumi Aiba. Imagine if those you promised to protect were taken from you! That is the pain you gave me! And what Yuuko shall suffer!"

Crusademron growled. "This is turning sour."

Yuuko watched in awe. 'Takumi…'

Crusademron pressed something and Yuuko was no longer suspended in the contraption but was still bound in DigiLatex when she hit the ground. Crusadermon lifted her by her head. "Come Yuuko. You'll be the rag I use to clean up this mess."

"Overwhelm him!" Kiryu shouted activating multiple buffs. "We have him outnumbered!" BlitzGreymon started firing from all his weapons and CresGarurumon and Creepymon started swinging with their spear/claws. Rapidmon Armor X blocked as many blows as he could. Kiryu noticed Takumi grunting and wincing in pain with each hit his Digimon took. "That's right! Make him suffer!"

'I can feel every hit…' Takumi said in his head. 'It hurts… but the thought of Yuuko, Ami, or anyone else suffering because I stood down… hurts far more!'

"Overclock!" Takumi and Rapidmon Armor X shouted as they glowed red, shaking the room and startling BlitzGreymon, CresGarurumon and Creepymon out of their attack spree. Mirroring his partner's actions Rapidmon Armor X spun around kicking Creepymon then jabbed CresGarurumon before flying in and kneeing BlitzGreymon.

"Damn it! Fight back!" Kiryu ordered.

"Plasma Stake!" BlitzGreymon fired at Rapidmon who flew away and continued to dodge it.

"Chaos Flare!" Rapidmon Armor X barrel rolled out of the way or a rising pillar of flame.

"Fury: Ice Moon Fang!" He looked like he was fading in and out as he dodged blades of ice from CresGarurumon.

Takumi swung his left arm then his right. Rapidmon copied him as he threw the Armed Arms at BlitzGreymon and CresGarurumon. Takumi reached behind his back and swung his arms down. Rapidmon Armor X took the Armed Arms on his back and threw them at Creepymon slashing him. Kiryu watched as the four Armed Arms started orbiting around the battlefield. "What…?"

Takumi held his hands forward, and Rapidmon Armor X did the same as he still flew around. "Billion Bullet!" The Digimon flew around with his four weapons that fired golden missiles of light with him that exploded upon each collision they made with Kiryu's Digimon. The shots were endless and the three screamed in pain with each shot. Rapidmon and his weapons kept shooting at an increasing rate. Soon the explosions filled the room with light.

Kiryu grunted shielding his eyes. When the light died down, he looked up. "This can't be happening…!"

BlitzGreymon and CresGarurumon were lying on the floor groaning. Creepymon weakly pushed himself to his hands and knees. "I lost… to this human…AGAIN?!"

Rapidmon Armor X landed next to Takumi with his Armed Arms returning to him and Overclock deactivating. "It's over Brother Sorrow." Takumi started.

Kiryu dropped to his knees. "How can this happen?! I had the advantage of knowledge on you... had use of forbidden programs... gave myself the type advantage using Bug... how could I still lose to you?!"

"Kiryu..." Takumi said. "You're a strong hacker and have powerful Digimon by your side... the real difference wasn't EXE or even Matrix Link. The real difference between you and me is our aspirations. I kept myself on the right path. I didn't let my heart succumb to darkness. I have Yuuko and the others who supported me to thank for that."

"How dare you... YOU THINK YOU CAN QUESTION MY RESOLVE?!" Kiryu shouted rising to his feet. "I came to this world with one objective in mind! Securing my revenge and bringing peace to Subaru! I dedicated myself to that! All I want is to give him his life back!"

"And you think attacking Yuuko and all those close to her will bring peace?" Takumi asked. "I don't get it. How can you believe hurting people will fix anything?"

"Hmph. Bold words Cyber Sleuth."

Both Takumi and Kiryu looked towards the doorway Kiryu entered from to see Crusadermon walk towards them with a struggling Yuuko in her hand. "Crusadermon?" Kiryu gasped.

"Yuuko!" Takumi shouted at the sight of the girl bound in DigiLatex.

"You were the one who brought Armageddon upon our world." the Royal Knight stated. "What would you know about peace?" The moment Takumi ran towards her, Crusadermon held Yuuko up with one hand and put a blade at her neck with the other. "Stay where you are!" Takumi halted. "Now then Kiryu, I believe you have business to conclude." Crusadermon threw Revive Capsules at Kiryu's Digimon and one by one they got back up.

"Crusadermon..."

"Cyber Sleuth, I want you to put your Digimon back to your Digivice. And I expect no resistance unless you want little Yuuko's large head to roll."

"You...!" Takumi gritted his teeth.

"Crusadermon!" Kiryu scolded. "This is unacceptable! Yes, I want to destroy Takumi, but not like this! Defeating him with such an underhanded tactic proves nothing!"

"It's odd to hear a hacker concern himself with honor. Didn't you once say that the battlefield doesn't have a rulebook?"

Kiryu gritted his teeth. "Guh..."

"Heh. I'm joking. I am not against honor, but does that matter more than your brother? This is your chance. Two of the guiltiest among Subaru's tormentors are in your grasp. You can end his nightmares here and now. Are you going to let your pride stop you from upholding your oath? That seems more dishonorable in my eyes..."

"Crusadermon..."

"If a solider cannot follow his orders he will loss all he swore to protect". If you don't do this now, who knows when or if you will get another chance? Do it Kiryu. Strike Takumi down, and take back what is rightfully yours."

Kiryu clenched his fists. "...Subaru..."

Crusadermon turned to Takumi. "Did you not hear me boy? Call off your Digimon now."

Yuuko tried to scream to Takumi not to listen to her, but the gag made it impossible to get anything eligible out. Takumi growled at Crusadermon. The anger in his eyes slightly melted and he looked at Rapidmon Armor X. Sensing his partner's thoughts he split back into three Digimon who retreated into his goggles. "There. Satisfied?"

"I will be once Kiryu breaks you with his bare hands."

Kiryu's Digimon leered at Takumi. "Stand aside." The three looked behind them to see Kiryu approach. He slowly strode up to Takumi quietly. He stared at him with scorn in his eyes. Then out of nowhere he gripped Takumi's shirt lifting him up. "Do you have any idea, how many victims your four miscreations claimed?"

Takumi closed his eyes. "All I know is that there were more people who suffered then what should have been allowed."

"And just how many lives "should have" been sacrificed to your beasts?"

"Just one." Takumi stared at Kiryu blankly. "Mine."

Kiryu's eyes furrowed further. "Take one last look on this fool you've come to love Yuuko." Kiryu said. "And remember… this too is your fault." He punched Takumi in the gut then roared throwing him across the room.

Yuuko screamed into her gag as Takumi rolled across the floor. He was about to stand up, only for Creepymon to stomp on him. The Deadly Digimon laughed as Takumi cried out from being pressed into the floor. "Suffer. Cry out! Beg for your life!"

Yuuko's throat started to hurt with how much she screamed. The mask forced her eyes open and Crusadermon forced her head to face the horrifying scene in front of her. Takumi screamed in pain as Creepymon's foot pressed down on him harder. "Had your fun?" Kiryu asked. "It is time we executed this fiend and avenge his victims." He held up his hand. "CresGarurumon."

His wolf Digimon's spear coated in ice and as he swung it a chunk of that ice sculpted into a sword that came down. Kiryu caught it into his hand as he approached. "Tch. Fine." Creepymon removed his foot from Takumi then grabbed the boy's arms and pulled him to his knees.

Kiryu stared coldly at Takumi as he held his blade. "Final words?"

Yuuko strained as hard as she could against her bonds and Crusadermon's grip as she shouted into her gag attempting to plead to Kiryu. Tears started to flow. Takumi spoke up. "Yuuko… Rapidmon… BlackWarGreymon… Dorugoramon… keep moving forward. Strive… for a future that you think will benefit everyone… and find happiness. And tell Ami and my mother…I'm sorry."

Kiryu took the ice sword in both hands and raised it overhead aiming for the back of Takumi's head. "Your judgment will now pass. Farwell bringer of despair."

Takumi's head was lowered but he could hear Yuuko's screams of horror. "Yuuko…I…"

Kiryu swung his blade down intending to cut off Takumi's final sentence and end him. But in mid swing something flew in and crashed into the ice sword smashing the blade to pieces just before it could touch Takumi. "…What…?" A thorny whip had stabbed Creepymon's leg. "GAAAH!" He dropped Takumi clenching his shin in pain. The whip coiled around Takumi's ankle and pulled him away.

Rosemon Burst Mode caught Takumi in her arms and set him on the floor. "Brother!" Ami ran over to him.

"You!" Kiryu glared.

Crusadermon heard a shout and dodged Samudramon's downwards swing. "Lightning Blade!" HiAndromon leapt out from behind him and slashed Crusadermon's wrist with a blade of electricity and made her drop Yuuko, who landed in the Digimon's arms. Just as Crusademron retaliated, the duo leapt back to Yuugo's side.

"Supreme Cannon!"

"Catastrophe Cannon!" Crusadermon leapt back as she was shot at from above.

"Yuuko!" Yuugo ran to his sister as HiAndromon set her down and snapped off the collar around her neck then bit by bit started to peel off the DigiLatex restraining her.

Yuuko gasped finally having that cursed and humiliating mask off her. "Y-Yuugo… everyone…"

"Yuuko, Takumi, are you two alright?!" Nokia asked running up to them.

"Heh. Looks like we showed up in the nick of time." Arata grinned walking over.

"Did we?" Keisuke asked. "Looks to me we missed a lot."

"What the hell?! When did you lot get in here?!" Creepymon shouted.

Crusadermon summoned a screen. "Warden! What is the meaning of this?! Humans of the Resistance have infiltrated the keep! …Warden?! Respond!"

"Oh, didn't you hear?" Diaboromon grinned. "The Warden's unavailable, he came down with a sudden case of stabbing."

"Sounds like you were too excited to see our friends suffer to realize our attack." Ami said. "As always your arrogance proved to be your downfall."

Crusadermon growled. "Curse you…!"

"Guys…" Takumi sat up.

"You all came for us." Yuuko said.

Fei smiled walking up. "Hell yeah, we did. What, you two thought we were going to just leave you in this dump with the pink psychopath?"

"Fei…!" Kiryu coldly glared.

"Hey…" Ami took a look at his cloths. "Is that Brother Sorrow?"

"So that's what he looks like without the mask." Nokia said. "Finally got too hot under there for you? Maybe some sunlight on your face will make you less of a grumpy weirdo."

"Out of the way." Fei pushed Nokia aside. "I got business with this guy."

"Fei…" Yuuko stood up as well as Takumi.

"Well damn. So, it really is you." Fei said looking at the man.

"Hmph. I expected more of a reaction from you."

"Heh. Trust me, when I got the news, my jaw nearly hit the floor. To think you of all people were Brother Sorrow. So, this is what being betrayed feels like."

"Who betrayed who?"

"You know this guy Fei?" Yuugo asked.

"His name is Kiryu Tenjo. He used to work with me and Yuuko… in Zaxon."

"What?" Nokia looked at Yuuko. "Is that true?"

"But Takumi and I have been to Zaxon's Form multiple times." Ami said. "I don't recall seeing this guy before."

"There's a reason for that." Yuuko said. "Kiryu and his younger brother Subaru were our "secret weapon" if you will. Their skilled work as hackers was unparallel. They could travel anywhere in EDEN undetected. They were so good at working unnoticed that only a handful of our members knew about them. They were referred to as the "Shadow of Zaxon"."

"Wait…" Keisuke squinted at Kiryu's face. "I feel like I've seen this guy before…"

"Dosen't matter." Fei said before returning her attention to Kiryu. "God man, what's wrong with you? You were so dedicated to Zaxon. To Yuuko. I even respected ya a bit. And now you're attackin' us, kidnapping and brainwashin' people and slummin' with these scumbags? You're better than this damn it!"

"I *am* better." Kiryu replied. "Better than you, than Yuuko, than Zaxon, all of you! And it was the Next Order who helped me realize that!"

"We thought this guy was a former enemy of Zaxon, now it turns out he used to work for them?" Ami asked. "Why does a former ally of Yuuko want her dead?"

"It's because of that day." Takumi said. "Under Zero."

Arata cringed. "God I'm starting to hate that name."

"I should have known." Fei said. "So, this is about the kid."

"The one you rats abandoned after you sent him to Under Zero!" Kiryu glared.

"Kiryu, listen to me!" Yuuko said. "I understand why you're angry! What happened to Subaru was wrong! What I said to you afterwords even more so! But anger isn't going to resolve anything! Besides, now that we stopped the Eaters, Subaru's consciousness should have returned to his body! His memory should have been reformatted, so he doesn't even remember Zaxon! He can move on with his life with the past forgotten and behind him! You should do the same, you're both free to-

"Move on?" Kiryu asked. "Behind him? Hm, hm, hm… heh, heh, heh, heh…" He started to chuckle. "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! You think just because you rebooted the world that it's over? That Subaru is free, and your crime has been erased?!" Kiryu asked with a wicked grin. "You couldn't be more wrong!"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't tell me…" Takumi said. "Does Subaru also remember the pervious reality?!"

"In a sense." Kiryu replied. "Since the reboot Subaru was pledged with nightmare after nightmare of being chased, hunted and devoured by what he described as "white and black monsters". He would dream of being trapped in a dark space surrounded by the desperate cries and pleas of other victims who were also trapped, unable to go home, unable to move or think clearly! Every time Subaru would even hear the word EDEN, he had flashes of being devoured and break down in whimpers! And all I could do was watch him suffer! He would be too afraid to even speak to others… it broke him into a shell of his former self!"

"What…?" Fei's face paled.

"That… can't be…!" Yuuko said in shock.

"Don't believe me?" Kiryu asked. "Why don't you ask your errand boy over there?!"

Keisuke flinched as Kiryu pointed at him. "Me? What do I got to do with this?!"

"Do you remember our encounter before you came to this world? You saw Subaru. A little boy, soul crushed completely to the point where he lost any hope of happiness!"

Keisuke thought back to the events before he and his friends arrived to the Digital World. "Wait…"

"Are you okay? I'm sorry, I should have taken you into the store with me. I got the parts you wanted."

Keisuke gasped as the memory flashed back into his mind. "Hold on… that's right! You're the guy from back then!"

"You met Kiryu before?" Yuuko asked.

"Yeah! It was on my way to meet you guys at Takumi's place! I saw this little kid getting picked on by some punks before this guy beat the crap out of them! So, wait… that kid back there… that was your brother?!"

"That's right." Kiryu replied. "You saw the state he was in. He was so traumatized that he didn't even react to being threatened by others! Like life held no meaning to him anymore!"

Keisuke seethed. "Subaru…" Yuuko murmured. "No…"

"Well maybe he'd have been okay if you didn't ditch Zaxon back before we went to Under Zero!" Fei said.

"YOU fools shouldn't have challenged Under Zero in the first damn place!" Kiryu shouted. "Unlike you and Yuuko I realized the dangers of approaching Under Zero! But you two ignored me and proceeded to go on a self-righteous rant about ruling EDEN! You claimed to want EDEN to be a place where everyone's mind is free! How can there be freedom with someone as self-obsessed as you ruling with an iron fist?! And as if that wasn't bad enough… you turned Subaru, my own brother against me!"

"We did no such thing!" Yuuko objected. "Subaru made the choice to stay after you left of his own free will!"

"Because you polluted his mind with empty promises of creating a better world for everyone! He *trusted* you! And when the Eaters appeared in EDEN you fled for your life leaving him and all of your followers to be devoured by the horde!"

"That's not what happened!" Takumi objected.

"I cornered a few remaining members of Zaxon after Subaru was diagnosed with EDEN Syndrome. He told me everything! He said Yuuko logged out abandoning him and the others! So many victims Yuuko! And you left them to die after charging them to their doom! You and that redheaded dumb as hell brat and her own selfish campaign with the hacker team *she* led!"

Nokia glared. "Okay RUDE! First of all, Ami never led a hacker team, second, she may make some dumb choices, but she's NOT selfish!" She continued glaring at Kiryu who glared back until she noticed her friends squinting at her. "…What?"

"He was referring to *you* you moron." Arata replied.

"Oh. …Wait…" Nokia did a take with her hands on herself. "ME?! What did I do?!"

"Don't play dumb you idiotic cur!" Kiryu shouted. "The moment Yuuko declared her war on Under Zero your stupid ass followed suit charging into that place where you fed your own team to the Eaters! And for what?! Did you see yourself fit to rule EDEN too?!"

"What?! No!" Nokia replied. "I never wanted to rule anything! I…" She held her shaking hands at her chest. "I just wanted to stop hackers from abusing Digimon… I wanted to help them…"

"Oh really?" Kiryu asked. "Then tell me this. All those Digimon in the Next Order, my comrades you slew up to this point. Were they not also Digimon? Did you ever stop to think about that? Or were you too busy cutting them down with that righteous knight of yours over there?!"

"They made their choice." Omegamon replied. "And deprived us of any aside from striking them down."

"Did they?" Crusadermon asked. "Not all of the Digimon you killed proved much of a threat. A being as powerful as yourself could have pushed them aside with little effort. Or perhaps you could have planned a way to avoid more conflict. But you and your brat insisted on being gun ho, setting off traps, starting fights, alerting more enemies to come to you by charging headfirst into them!"

"Hmph. "Protecters of Digimon" my ass." Kiryu scoffed. "And let's not forget all the Digimon who were devoured by Eaters in Under Zero… along with the hackers YOU led into that hell!"

"I didn't know something like that was going to happen!" Nokia said defensively.

"Ha! Well, that's not entirely true now, is it? Didn't Arata along with the Cyber Sleuths over there try to tell both you and Yuuko that you idiots were getting in way over your oversized hallow heads and that Under Zero was more dangerous than either of you could imagine? Did you two listen to Arata who actually had been to Under Zero before? No. Did you brats just assume you knew better than a more experienced hacker who knew what you were getting yourselves into? Of course, you did!"

"I…" Nokia stepped back trembling. "I didn't want that to happen… I just thought if I got to Under Zero, I could stop hackers from using Digimon like slaves…"

"Really?" Kiryu folded his arms. "How? Do you even know what Under Zero *is*?"

"Huh? Well… uh… it's the core of EDEN? …I think? Yuuko's speech made it sound like it was important and could make you do whatever you want with EDEN so…"

"Ha! I knew it!" Kiryu scowled. "You don't even know what comprised Under Zero to begin with. You didn't even know what you were going to *do* if you reached it did you?!"

"I… I…!"

"You just wanted to step in and outshine Zaxon!" Kiryu shouted, pointing at Nokia with eyes overflowing with hatred. "You're just like Yuuko, another egotist who wanted her ideals to be acknowledged by everyone! And tell me something Nokia Shiramine! How many hackers and Digimon were sacrificed for your and Yuuko's selfish little ego contest?! HOW MANY?!"

Nokia just stood there shivering. "No need to answer that miss leader of the "Rebels"." Crusadermon said before raising a hand. "I can do that for you." She snapped her fingers, and everything went dark.

"What's going on?" Keisuke gasped.

"Stay alert!" Yuugo warned.

Then light filled the arena, but it had transformed into something else. A humungous platform that seemed to float in space with a black diamond in the center. Immediately the team heard screams and looked around them. There were Eaters everywhere. Devouring Digimon and EDEN avatars left and right. Takumi saw himself and Ami fighting them. "This is… Under Zero… back then…"

Keisuke saw himself, Ryuji and Chitose. "No… stop!"

"Ryuji!" The team saw Chitose shoving his friend out of the path of a diving Eater. Before it tackled him to the ground. Ryuji watched as his best friend reached out to him before the Eater's tentacle grabbed his arm and dragged him in.

Nokia' face went pale. "Chitoste…! No…!"

"Help me!"

"No! Stop!"

"Please… somebody!"

Nokia watched as many hackers, some of which she knew were devoured by the hord along with their Digimon. "No! Make it stop!" She screamed, dropping to her knees.

"There's too many of them!"

Ami heard a familiar voice and turned around. Near the edge of the platform were two panting Digimon she knew with a young human. "Wait… is that Agunimon and Lobomon?!"

They all turned around. "What?! They were here too that day?!" Keisuke asked. He then noticed the young boy with his green eyes, combed brown hair and his blue Zaxon coat. "Wait... that kid…!"

"Subaru…" Yuuko murmured.

"W-what's happening?!" the boy shivered. "Where's Yuugo?!"

The monsters started to advance towards them. Lobomon took a deep breath. "Agunimon."

The Warrior of Flame turned to the Warrior of Light. "Yeah?"

His friend smiled. "Look after Subaru." He then charged towards the Eaters shouting.

"Lobomon, no!"

"Zwei Sieger!" Lobomon connected his two Licht Schwert and charged at the Eaters. He tore them apart one by one like they were made of paper, but soon they gained up on and overwhelmed them.

"LOBOMON!" Subaru screamed in tears reaching out for his friend as Agunimon held him back.

"Lobomon…" Agunimon murmured in a cracking voice. "You fool…" The Eaters turned to him and Subaru. As they charged Agunimon grabbed the boy and leapt over them. He put him down while the Eaters had their backs turned and charged up. "Stay back Subaru!" His gloves burned. "Haaaaa! Pyro Tornado!"

He charged into the Eaters and burned all that got close to ash. As more came at him his tornado grew bigger ang bigger. Once the last one was gone Agunimon dropped to his knees having used all his power. But then more Eaters appeared. "No…" the boy whimpered.

Agunimon tried to stand up but only struggled on his knees. The Eaters aproached. "Subaru…" he kneeled. "Run." An Eater lunged at him swallowing him whole.

"AGUNIMON!" Subaru cried. The Eaters set their gaze on him and slowly aproached. He fell over whimpering. Petrified with fear he watched as they approached with tears coming down his cheeks uncontrollably. "Brother… please HELP ME!"

Takumi and the others watched the Eaters set themselves upon the helpless child. They were too shocked to look away. "Oh god…" Fei muttered.

"Subaru…" Yuuko whimpered.

The illusion faded away and they were back in the arena with Kiryu, his Digimon and Crusadermon. "Are you now understanding what your stupidity cost others?" Kiryu asked. "I can't help but notice your reaction Fei. You were there but you only noticed just now what happened to my brother? I shouldn't be surprised that you lost track of him. After all, to you and Yuuko, he was just another sacrificial pawn, right?"

"Hey, there were a lot of us down there back then!" Fei retorted. "Was I supposed to have eyes on every single one?!"

"Yes, there were a lot of them!" Kiryu growled. "All sacrificed because of the foolish pride of you scumbags! I remember getting the call when Subaru got EDEN Syndrome. I rushed to the hospital to see him in a coma. He was lost. Gone. Stolen from me… Because of you!"

"It's not their fault!" Omegamon said. "The Eaters only appeared in Under Zero because-

"SILANCE!" Kiryu shouted. "I don't care for your excuses! In the end you chose to charge into what you *knew* was dangerous, what you *knew* you didn't fully understand with so many innocents and you fed them to the wolves! Only realizing know what that selfish choice led to!"

"I… I…!" Nokia's eyes watered. "I did this… The people who trusted me… agreed to follow me…"

"And what did that loyalty earn them?" Kiryu glared. "For you to cast them aside and forget about them!"

Nokia's tears came down. "He… he's right…" She started crying. "I… I never even stopped to think of all the Rebels that got attacked by Eaters following me! If… if I just listened to Arata then…!"

Everyone turned to her as she started to bawl. "Nokia…" Ami murmured.

"That is what led to Subaru being as broken as he is today!" Kiryu glared. "All I could do was watch him suffer… until that day Crusadermon restored my memories and answered the mystery to his torment! When Crusadermon told me you two would be lured to this world to interfere with the Next Order at some point, I knew what I had to do! I will destroy you! Yuuko, Fei and Nokia who started the battle that sacrificed my brother's soul! And Takumi and Ami who created the monsters that did him in! Then I will return to the human world and tell Subaru… that the orchestrators of his suffering are no more. That the monsters in his nightmares will never return! That he can live free of fear! I swear I will give him his life back! WE WILL HAVE OUR REVENGE!"

"Kiryu, you're wrong!" Yuuko shouted desperately. "The fault for Subaru lies solely on my shoulders! Nokia, Takumi and the others aren't to be blamed for my actions! And even then, getting revenge won't solve anything!" Yuuko clenched a hand at her fist. "All you'll do… is create more pain and misery for not just others but yourself! Revenge is just an empty promise to fix a mistake that's already long in the past!"

Crusadermon scoffed. "Hmph. Your selfishness knows no bounds, does it Yuuko?"

Yuuko turned to the Royal Knight. "What?"

The knight pointed at herself. "When you wanted revenge on me, then by all means, that's just fine! Why you can even treat those trying to help you like common dirt if you want!" she said holding a hand towards Takumi. "But when poor Kiryu here wants revenge on *you* then suddenly it becomes immoral, right?! How selfishly spiteful!"

"You're one to talk!" Takumi spat. "Have you forgotten what you did to her father out of pettiness and spite?! And what about everything you and the other knights did to our world?!"

"What we did we did believing it would stop the Eaters for good!"

"Then why are we fighting now that they're gone?!" Ami asked.

"The Next Order fights to establish complete order to this world you nearly ruined! King Drasil failed us and could not be trusted with protecting it! And so, we will untie this world entirely! Create a true utopia where the tragedies you fools wrote will never be repeated! And for the sake of that mission…" Crusadermon snapped her fingers and Knightmon started appearing one by one surrounding the group before she drew her own sword.

"And for the justice of Subaru and all your other victims…" Kiryu swung his arm and Creepymon, BlitzGreymon and CresGarurumon stood ready for battle. "Are you prepared to face judgment?!"

In case it hasn't been clear yet, Kiryu is the "martel artist" Keisuke encountered at the beginning of chapter 7. As for him lashing at Nokia…let's face it, compared to Yuuko who knew what Under Zero is and reflected on what going there led to, Nokia really didn't know what she was getting her team into and never reflected on what her choice to do so led to happening. It kind of makes her come off as a bit egotistical and selfish. Realizing this is part of what I plan to put her through for this story.

But next chapter it's the Resistance vs Crusadermon and Kiryu. See you all next time.