Digimon Story: The Next Order

by The Hooded Writer

A month has passed since the world went back to normal. Six chosen ones fought with Digimon to save two worlds. Little did they know that defeating the Eaters was not the end of it. A new threat has appeared in the Digital World. Now the Cyber Sleuths and their friends are on the case to save Digimon from a war. ...And new allies join them from close by and somewhere VERY far way.

57. Chapter 57: Wrath vs Willpower

The arena immediately broke into chaos as the Knightmon attacked. Takumi took Rapidmon Armor, BlackWarGreymon, and Dorugoramon out of his Digivice as the battle started. "Takumi, Yuuko, can you two fight?" Keisuke asked.

"Don't push yourselves, you both just went through hell." Arata said.

"It's not a matter of if we can fight." Takumi said.

"They're coming at us regardless. We have no other choice." Yuuko added.

"Mach Rush!" Diaboromon rushed at three Knightmon at once. They slammed their swords into him stopping him briefly before he managed to push them off. "Line Surge!" He finished them off by spinning in place and ramming his arms into them.

"Mach Stinger V!" TiggerVespamon cut one of the Knightmon down then got into a fencing match with two more at the same time.

Omegamon destroyed a Knightmon's sword then shot it with his cannon. He blocked another blade coming at him and cut its owner down. "Nokia, get up! We need to fight back!"

Nokia was still on her knees. Her face was damp with tears. "Nokia!" Ami shouted. "Get a hold of yourself!"

"This isn't good." Takumi said. "What Kiryu said really shook her…"

"Omegamon, defend Nokia!" Yuugo said. "We'll handle the knights!"

"Understood!" Omegamon leapt back to his partner's side.

Rapidmon Armor shot a Knightmon's shield out of his hand and Dorugoramon slashed it in half. BlackWarGreymon clawed another. "Tch… used up a lot of power fighting Kiryu…" the black Digimon growled.

"Girls, back them up!" Ami ordered.

"Right!" Rosemon Burst Mode jumped in and tied up a Knightmon and Rapidmon shot it down. Ophanimon landed behind Dorugoramon to block a Knightmon's sword with her shield. She then ducked so Dorugoramon could turn around and whack the Knightmon aside. Kuzuhamon threw her staff into a Knightmon that was about to attack BlackWarGreymon who then kicked it.

Crusadermon revved up then charged into Sakuyamon. She then tied her up with her ribbon like sword to pull her in. "Fist of Athena!" She punched her straight into the floor.

"Hey!" Fei's Pheonixmon descended towards the knight with her talons ready to tear her open.

"Beast Cyclone!" CresGarurumon rammed into her.

"Much appreciated Kiryu." Crusadermon said. "Shall we punish these fiends?"

The former Zaxon hacker clenched his fist. "Yes… I have kept Subaru waiting long enough. It is high time he received his tribute."

"Kiryu…" Yuuko looked at the man standing with Crusadermon. Her former ally didn't know he was being used and manipulated by Crusadermon. Just as she once was.

BlitzGreymon ascended. "Plasma Stake!"

"Nokia, watch out!" Takumi shouted. Omegamon rushed in front of the kneeling girl shielding her from the attack.

"Stop him!" Keisuke ordered.

MetalSeadramon went up. "River of Power!"

Kiryu quickly deactivated the Bug status he put on BlitzGreymon. "Elect Guard!" His Virus Type easily blocked the attack. "Thunder Vernier!" He fired back and MetalSeadramon swerved to dodge. TyrantKabuterimon flew at BlitzGreymon who turned around and shot at him.

Creepymon snarled as his sights were set on Takumi and Ami. He roared charging at them. He smacked HiAndromon then PileVolcamon out of his way. He even bashed through two or three Knightmon in his path. Once he reached the group of humans, he grabbed the unsuspecting Cyber Sleuths by their heads in one hand each. "Takumi! Ami!" Keisuke shouted.

Creepymon lifted the twins up. Both of them made muffled screams into the hands over their faces. Ami gripped Creepymon's wrist as she tried to kick him. Takumi punched the hand holding him. Creepymon grinned as he started to squeeze making them cry out louder. "Let them go!" Arata shoulder charged into Creepymon's leg only to get knocked over with a kick.

"Copy Paste!" HiAndromon slashed Creepymon making him drop the twins.

"Cable Crusher!" Diaboromon stretched out his limbs to grab Creepymon then threw him across the room.

"Stay out of this Sanada!" Kiryu growled. "I have no desire to battle you!"

"Why not?" Arata asked standing up. "I was also there that day in Under Zero. And I led my old buddies in Jude to their doom just like Nokia and Yuuko here."

"No." Kiryu simply replied. "You and Jude were different. Unlike these selfish idiots, you weren't seeking glory, or acting out of ego. You were trying to stop them from doing something foolish. And the members you gathered were volunteers who also wanted to save them and like you knew what they were getting themselves into. Unlike Nokia and Yuuko you were well aware of how dangerous Under Zero is and wanted to save them from that. And how did they repay your valiant act? Yuuko and Nokia ignored you completely, and proceeded to trigger the trap that sent their own people and yours to the grinder! You and Jude were victims. Just like Subaru."

"Is that what you believe?" Arata asked.

"Am I wrong? Like me you suffered countless losses to those Eaters. All because of Nokia and Yuuko thinking they were better than you." Kiryu smirked at Arata. "Crusadermon showed me what happened when you were a child. Thanks to Takumi and Ami creating the first Eater you had to watch as your best friend Yuugo was eaten alive. And those monsters they created took your allies from Jude as well. Including your friend Chitoste. Be honest. I bet you hate Takumi and Ami deep down for creating them, don't you? And I'm sure you resent Yuuko and Nokia for selfishly ignoring your warnings making you return to the place that took Jude from you."

Everyone looked at Arata who stood there quietly. "Arata…" Yuuko murmured. "I…"

"You know something Kiryu?" Arata said. "There's something those four have in common."

"They all took something from you?" Kiryu asked.

"No. I mean, sure they all have their flaws. Yeah, Takumi and Ami are soft-hearted leading them to doing the stupidest things, yeah, Yuuko has the social skills of a sack of bricks, and hell yeah, Nokia is definitely about as smart as said sack of bricks."

"Um, Arata?" Yuugo squinted at his friend who was getting glared at by Yuuko and the Aibas. "Where are you going with this?"

Arata put his hands in his pockets. "But for all their flaws at least they never gave up! Not on themselves, not on what they believed in! Like me they went through hell in the last reality. But they didn't stop. No matter how many people were against them, no matter how hard it got! At one point I lost track of what it was I was fighting for… I decided to throw myself away. I told myself it was to save my friend but… I was just running away. From myself, from the pain, from my past…" He thought back to his time as an Eater. "…Until Takumi and Ami gave me the wakeup call I needed. If I didn't have my friends to fall back on… I wouldn't be standing here today."

"Friends" you say?" Kiryu asked. "After all the hell they put you through you can still call them that?"

"Of course, I can. Besides, they've also had to put up with me and my flaws."

"He's not wrong." Takumi grinned to Arata's annoyance, but he ignored him.

"That's why I'll continue to believe in them. No matter what mistakes they make. Because I know that nobody in this world is expected to be perfect."

"There's not being perfect and then there's bringing disaster in your wake!" Kiryu said. "The consequences of what those fools have done are far too steep to brush them off as simple mistakes!"

"Such as your brother, right?" Arata asked. "You know… it's convenient how you called out all the people responsible for what happened to him… except for one."

"What are you talking about?"

"Whose little brother was Subaru? Who left Zaxon right before that mess? Who wasn't there for him when he needed help the most? Who did that poor kid cry out for in the end only to be curly reminded that he was abandoned? Yeah, Yuuko and Fei were wrong to challenge Under Zero, but at least they went with Subaru. What about you?"

Kiryu squeezed his hands tightly into fists. "Shut up…"

"You act like you would do anything for your brother, but when you left Zaxon did that do anything for him?! All it did was deny him your protection! You didn't quit Zaxon to do anything for him! You just did it out of cowardice and to spite Yuuko!"

Kiryu gritted his teeth. "Shut up…!"

"Was it really Yuuko who's responsible for what happened to him?" Arata asked. "Because the way I see it, you're the one who failed and abandoned him!"

Kiryu's glaring eyes widened. "SHUT THE HELL UP!" The Crown of Wrath glowed brightly in his right eye. "Ugh!" He held a hand over his head.

"Kiryu!" CresGarurumon turned to his partner.

"Kiryu, claim down!" BlitzGreymon said. "Your emotions are taking command!"

"And what's wrong with that?"

Both Digimon looked at Creepymon. "What?"

"Emotions define who we are. There's no sense in denying them. The boy has been holding in his anger for a long time during the Brother Sorrow act. Let it out, I say. His emotions give us Digimon power after all." Creepymon turned to Kiryu. "Takumi Aiba, Ami Aiba, Yuuko Kamishiro, Nokia Shiramine, and Fei Wong Tomoe Ignacio. All the objects of your revenge are here in this room. This is a chance you may never get again! Slay them! Claim what is yours!"

Kiryu growled as his head started to pound. His vision turned red. "Ghh…"

"Hey… what the hell's happening to him?!" Keisuke asked.

"Kiryu!" Yuuko shouted.

"Still holding back your wrath I see." Creepymon growled. "No matter. It is time I removed that foolish sense of mercy from you once and for all!" He held his hand forward holding an orb with a red X.

Crusadermon looked at the object he held and gapped. "Where did you get that…?"

Takumi looked at in in shock. "It can't be… Is that an X-Antibody?!"

Creepymon held it up. "Bwa, ha, ha, ha! Now Kiryu Tenjo… embrace your wrath! Do not let foolish things like "morality" and "mercy" hold you back any longer! It's time to release your rage! EXPLODE!" The X-Antibody in Creepymon's hand started glowing.

"Ngh…!" Kiryu's eyes started glowing orange. "GAAAAAAAAH!"

"Kiryu!" Yuuko and Fei shouted.

"Stop this you fiend!" CresGarurumon charged towards Creepymon but came to a halt when his spear was an inch away from the Deadly Digimon's head. "Ugh… what is this… burning sensation…?!"

BlitzGreymon clenched his head. "I feel… rage burning in me…!"

Creepymon laughed. "Human emotions affect the Digimon with them, don't they? It seems Kiryu's anger has become too much for even you two to bear. Now… behold… the true face of wrath!" Creepymon shoved the X-Antibody into his chest. He roared as he started to glow.

Everyone else in the room is blinded. "He's transforming!" Keisuke shouted.

As Creepymon hit the floor cracking it his body was black and red. He had purple wings with red horns growing out of them, mouths with large jaws glowing blue on both his shoulders and abdomen. Above him the Crown of Wrath glowed like fire. "Well? What do you think of my new form?" Creepymon X laughed.

"Oh, great." Arata groaned. "This was the last thing we needed…"

Kiryu's lowered head slowly lifted. His eyes were glowing orange with the Crown of Wrath seen in one of them. "I promise you… not a single one of you will leave this place alive…"

"Wh-what's happening with him?!" Nokia shuddered.

"Wretched bastards… I'll kill you…I'll kill you, I'll kill you, I'll kill you!"

"Kiryu, compose yourself!" Crusadermon ordered.

"Death to all who stand in our path!" Creepymon X shouted as he burst with flame. All the Knightmon near him instantly disintegrated.

"Guh!" Crusadermon winced at the heat even though she was nowhere near the Deadly Digimon. "Has he lost control?!"

"Just the opposite! Now, I am in complete control! Control over this human! Control over my power! Control over our wrath! I'LL BURN THESE FOOLS DOWN EVEN IF THIS ENTIRE STRONGHOLD MUST GO WITH THEM!"

"Tch! This is why I was against recruiting the Deadly Digimon…!" Crusadermon turned to one of the surviving Knightmon. "Call for an evacuation! Get everyone to the opposite side of this keep, now!"

"Yes, Lady Crusadermon!" The remaining Knightmon got up and left.

Samudramon roared rushing towards Creepymon X, only to be intercepted by CresGarurumon. The beast roared with glowing orange eyes. "Wha…!" CresGarurumon roared swinging his spear at Samudramon wildly. Samudramon got pushed aside.

Creepymon X flew straight into Rosemon Burst Mode and slammed her into the ground before throwing her into Rapidmon Armor. "Hell Crusher!" He sent dark waves into Omegamon and BlackWarGreymon.

"EDEN's Javelin!" Ophanimon sent a ray of light into Creepymon.

Creepymon did take some damage from it but pressed through and slashed Ophanimon with his claws. BlitzGreymon snipped Dorugoramon with lasers. "What the hell is going on?!" Fei asked. "Bastard and his Digimon are going nuts!"

TiggeVespamon charged in, but Creepymon X blocked her sword with his arm. Sakuyamon and Pheonixmon rushed in to help her. "Flame Inferno!" Creepymon exploded in fire. Fei's Digimon screamed in pain as they collapsed. "Bwa ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Yes! YES! This is incredible! I can now feel Kiryu's anger more clearly! And it irritates the hell out of me! It makes me want to burn this whole world! And with the X-Antibody, I now have the power to do it!"

"He's a monster…!" Yuugo glared.

"Atomic Ray!" HiAndromon fired electricity.

"Burst Flame!" Creepymon X flew to the side and an explosion blew HiAndromon down. "Come Crusadermon! Join the slaughter! Or you'll miss out on any chance to let your hatred out on these puny humans!"

"Gah…" Crusadermon grunted. "As much as I'd hate to play along with you, I do have some unfinished business with these fools. Fine. But after this you have some explaining to do."

"Let the slaughter commence!"

"Diaboromon, stop that maniac!" Arata yelled.

"Cable Crusher!" Diaboromon sent his extending arms towards Creepymon X but the beast caught them in his hands. Then he set Diabaoromon's limbs on fire before swinging him and throwing him into the wall.

Takumi gritted his teeth. "Ami! We need to even up the playing field!"

"On it!"

"Oh no you don't!" Creepymon X grinned.

Just when Takumi was about to fire up EXE again something slammed into his cheek and he was sent flying. "Takumi!" Yuuko and Ami screamed.

The humans in the group looked at what hit him. Kiryu stood there with his fist out. "K-Kiryu?!" Fei shouted. "The hell are ya doin'?!"

Ami ran up to her downed brother and crouched next to him shaking his shoulder. "Takumi, get up! Takumi!" The boy weakly mumbled. "He's knocked out…"

"Ami, look out!" Arata shouted. Ami looked over her shoulder as Kiryu rushed up to her and lifted her by her shirt. He punched her in the face then threw her to the side where she landed on her head and rolled across the floor before passing out. "Ami!" Arata ran up to the unconscious girl.

"Why you…!" Fei ran up and launched a roundhouse kick directed at Kiryu but he effortlessly caught her by the foot. "W-what the…?!" She tried to move her leg but the hand around her ankle was like a shackle. Fei yelped as Kiryu slammed her onto the ground with one hand multiple times. He lifted her up by her ankle and punched her in the gut a few times before throwing her upward with inhuman strength then as she came down, he blew her away with a spin kick. Fei screamed as she ragdolled across the room and rolled on the floor before she landed on her side wincing and coughing.

"Fei!" Yuuko screamed. But just then Kiryu went for her next grabbing her by the neck. Yuuko gasped and gripped his arm as he lifted her off the floor.

"Yuuko!" Yuugo ran up to his choking sister and grabbed Kiryu's arm.

Keisuke ran over to help with Nokia but they couldn't get him to budge. "W-what's going on?!" Keisuke shouted. "It's like his grip is made out of steel!"

The extra mouths on Creepymon's shoulders and abdomen glowed along with his Crown of Wrath. "Seventh Gravitation!" All of Ami and Takumi's Digimon were knocked over by blue lasers that burned into the floor.

"Guys, we're in serious trouble over here!" TyrantKabuterimon grunted as PileVolcamon with hit by Crusadermon's shield.

"Hey, we got problems of our own right now!" Keisuke replied as he, Yuugo and Nokia tried in vail to release Kiryu's hold on Yuuko's neck.

The girl's legs weakly flailed as she looked into the rage in Kiryu's glowing eyes. 'Kiryu… how did it come to this…? You used to be so calm and respectful… did loosing Subaru… really do this to you…? Then again…' Yuuko reflected on her experience of losing Yuugo and her father. How it changed her and made her want to get revenge on Crusadermon.

"When you wanted revenge on me, then by all means, that's fine! Why you can even treat those trying to help you like common dirt if you want! But when poor Kiryu here wants revenge on *you* then suddenly it becomes immoral, right?! How selfishly spiteful!"

'That's right… when I lost my brother and father it destroyed me… the sadness… the loneliness… the desire for vengeance… I know how painful loss can be and what it turns people into and… I did this to Kiryu anyway…' Yuuko found breathing harder as she heard Yuugo call out her name. Her vision started to blur. 'I… did this… I…' Her eyes started to close.

Then Diaboromon stretched his arm to punch Kiryu who was knocked away dropping Yuuko to the floor who fell onto her knees gasping and coughing with a hand at her neck. She looked up at Diaboromon as Arata walked to his Digimon's side. "Arata…?"

"Rapidmon…Rosemon…you and your partners look after Takumi and Ami."

"R-right…" Rapidmon Armor, Dorugoramon, and BlackWarGreymon went over to Takumi. Rosemon Burst Mode, Kuzuhamon, and Ophanimon leapt to Ami's side.

Arata looked at Kiryu who was struggling on his knees. "That look in your eyes… it tells it all. You want to throw it all away. The sadness… the regret… And to rid yourself of it, you hunger for power. …Just like I did the day I… remembered how powerless I was to help a friend."

"Arata…" Yuugo looked at him sadly as he helped his sister back onto her feet.

Arata sighed then pointed at Kiryu. "The thing you don't understand is, power isn't going to fix all your problems! All it does is expand that void you feel inside you! Try all you want, wish all you want, but you can't undo the past! Nor can you run away from it! You can only look towards the future! And that's what I'm going to do now! To make sure the mistakes of my past are never again repeated!"

Creepymon X smacked Pheonixmon aside. "Hmph. Your words are hollow to him boy. Kiryu has decided. His past is what motivates him. And he will burn it all down by any means necessary. That's why I chose him. I too have a past I wish to burn. A past where I have been shamed by the Cyber Sleuths! And with this power I now hold, I will unleash my Wrath upon them and anyone who dares to stand in my way!"

"You poor sap." Diaboromon said. "You don't understand anything."

"What?!"

"I experience the power brought about by human emotions. The good and the bad. And what you got from Kiryu isn't the true power of humans. True human power isn't brought about by wrath! It's summoned by their determination! And as long as Arata's determination remains…!"

"We won't lose anything else or to anyone!" Arata shouted, taking out his Digivice.

A red light shined from the Digivice as the words X-Evolution appeared over the screen showing an image of Arata and Diaboromon. Light burst around Diboromon's body. "Arata…!" Keisuke gasped. "You…!"

"What the…" Creepymon X shuddered. "It can't be!"

"Diaboromon!" Arata held up his Digivice. "X Evolution!"

Diaboromon curled up as an egg of light formed around him. Inside his green skin glowed purple, flowing up his arms and legs as his hands before purple with gold wrists and purple fingers. It had purple feet with silver spikes and grew a tail with a sharp bladed point. His chest and shoulder armor transformed, becoming purple and gold with jaws on his torso and his mask changed to purple with horns and his hair became green flowing out the sides and the back. Twelve blue eyes opened up all around his body. Diaboromon X emerged from the shell. "Wow…" Keisuke gasped.

Arata looked at his Digimon with a smile. "So, this is what you look like with the X-Antibody's power, huh?"

"X-Antibody?" Diaboromon asked. "No Arata. This is your power that courses through me."

"Impossible!" Creepymon X growled. "You also obtained this power!?"

"That's right." Arata said. "And now… we're going to show you how to properly use it!" he shouted holding his hand forward and Diaboromon X charged at Creepymon X who rushed at him.

They collided into each other with a bang pushing their hands against each other. "Destruction Cannon!" Diaboromon X opened the mouth on his chest and shot a projectile into Creepymon X's face who winced backing up before blowing Diaboromon X into the air with a punch. Diaboromon X stretched his arms stabbing the floor to the left and right of his target before pulling himself towards him, but Creepymon X leapt out of the spot Diaboromon's tail stabbed into.

"Flame Inferno!" Creepymon burst with fire again. Diaboromon X winced as he shielded himself with his arms before he jumped further into the flames towards Creepymon X.

The purple spiked on his shoulders extended on purple cables reveling to be hidden arms as Diaboromon spun like a top. "Spooky Zapper!"

Creepymon X shouted as he was slashed repeatedly before he hurled onto the floor. The Deady Digimon winced as he sat up. "BlitzGreymon! CresGarurumon! Kill him!"

Kiryu's other Digimon flew towards Diaboromon X. But then Keisuke's three Digimon slammed into BlitzGreymon dragging him away and Fei's trio did the same to CresGarurumon. "You'll have to get through us first!" Fei said.

"Arata, you take Creepymon!" Keisuke said.

"Troublesome pests!" Crusadermon scowled charging at the humans. Only for HiAndromon to shoulder charge her, knocking her across the room.

"I wouldn't bother getting up if I were you." Samudramon approached her drawing his swords.

"Because you're not interfering either way." HiAndromon said folding his arms.

"You…!"

Yuuko walked up to Arata. "Arata… seeing Kiryu like this is too painful… I know this has nothing to do with you, but please-

"I know." Arata said looking at the possessed Tamer's orange eyes. "Looks like the only way to snap him out of it is by beating Creepymon. Just wait Kiryu…" Arata closed his eyes. "We will release you from the chains of the past!" he declared with Diaboromon X.

Keisuke gasped. "Is that…!?"

Creepymon X roared charging at Diaboromon X. Arata held up a fist and Diaboromon mimicked his movements blocking Creepymon's punch. Arata swung his other fist upwards, and Diaboromon X sent Creepymon X upwards. "Matrix Link!" Yuugo gasped.

Arata reached up and grasped. Diaboromon X in response sent his arm up and grabbed Creepymon X by a leg and slammed him into the ground. "Catastrophe Cannon!" He fired golden blasts from his chest that exploded.

Creepymon X was launched before he charged punching Diaboromon X in the face making him and Arata yelp as they stumbled back. "Seventh Gravitation!" He fired lasers from his abdomen and shoulders as the Crown of Wrath burned brighter.

Arata and Diabormon X grunted as they slid back on their feet with the force of the attack pushing them. Arata gritted his teeth. "Fatal Gaze!" Diaboromon X's twelve blue eyes sparkled. There was a flash then Creepymon X was blown away by an unseen force.

Creepymon's claws scratched into the floor as he stopped himself. "How… how can you be stronger…?! I also have an X-Antibody! And a human to draw power from! As the Wrath of the Deadly Digimon, I should naturally be stronger than you!"

Arata opened his eyes stopping the Matrix Link before he spoke. "Like hell! You're not drawing Kiryu's power, you're just using him!"

"Wha…?!"

"Arata and I fight our way down the path we've chosen to walk together!" Diaboromon X shouted. "We bring out the best of each other! You forced Kiryu on this path by amplifying his hatred! Instead of seeing him for a partner you see him as a means of power!"

"So, what would you know about the power humans give Digimon?!" Arata asked.

"How dare…" Creepymon X growled. "HOW DARE YOU MOCK ME?!" His eyes glowed red. The Crown of Wrath erupted with flames that coated his body shaping him into a blazing demon.

Arata closed his eyes. "13." he spoke with Diaboromon X. One of the Digimon's blue eyes glowed red. "…12…" Another turned red. "…11…10…9…" One by one the eyes lite up.

"INFERNO BURST!" Creepymon X roared as he charged towards Diaboromon X engulfed in flames.

"…4…3…2…" Now twelve of Diaboromon's eyes glowed red. "1." He opened his mouth revealing a hidden 13th. "Rewind Abyss 13!" A red burst of energy glowed around Diaboromon X that blocked Creepymon X's attack. The burst of red light then pushed the Deadly Digimon away, blowing out the flames around him in the process.

Creepymon X grunted as he rolled across the floor. As he struggled on his knees his body glowed red. "Guh…! The X-Antibody's power… it's overloading…!"

Kiryu winced. "Ugh... agh...!"

BlitzGreymon and CresGarurumon rushed at Keisuke and Fei's teams only to stop at the last second. Both of them seemed to suffer a headache. "What the...?"

Sakuyamon stared.

"Ow..." Takumi grunted sitting up. "What just happened?!"

"Takumi!" Rapidmon Armor gasped.

Yuuko kneeled next to the Cyber Sleuth. "Are you alright?"

"Ow..." Ami got onto her knees shaking her head.

"Ami, are you hurt?" Rosemon Burst Mode asked.

Arata offered Ami a hand. "Up and at em, princess."

Ami took his hand, and he pulled her to her feet. "What just happened?" She looked at the Digimon behind Arata. "...Huh?"

"Arata..." Takumi gasped. "Your Digimon!"

Arata smiled. "Pretty cool, huh? The gift you guys gave me when you showed me the right path just keeps on giving."

Kiryu put a hand over his forehead. "What... what is this...?"

Creepymon X snarled. "Is my control slipping? Damn... the core's overheating...!" He started to glow red. In a bright flash he returned to his original form.

"Ugh..." Kiryu collapsed onto the floor. His Digimon backed up with their eyes shut.

"Kiryu!" Yuuko ran up to her friend on the floor. Fei and Takumi were right behind her.

Ami faced Creepymon. "Looks like Boltboutamon's X-Antibodies still need work. You've lost."

"On that topic..." Crusadermon glanced at Creepymon. "How did you get that X-Antibody? The Malevolent Fist never reported giving one to you."

"I don't need to answer to you "Royal Knight"!"

"Watch your mouth! As Royal Knight my authority in the Next Order is above all other than his majesty!"

"Just because I agreed to collaborate with the Next Order does not mean I owe you respect! I only agreed to support you so I can claim my revenge on Takumi and Ami. Nothing more!"

"Yeah, well expect a hell of an uphill battle." Arata scoffed. "Those two did whatever it took to support me. So, if you try something I'll be ready to protect them."

"And I think we just demonstrated how that will go." Diaboromon X smirked.

"This is not over..." Creepymon rose to his feet. "I will master the X-Antibody in due time! Then I will be more powerful than ever! My wrath will triumph!"

"You're not wrong." A voice echoed in the room. Everyone started looking around for the source.

"Who goes there?!" Crusadermon asked.

"That voice…!" Keisuke shuddered.

A purple void appeared above everyone and when it dissipated, Lucemon Larva appeared. "Lucemon!" Ami shouted.

"What…?" Creepymon gasped.

"That's Lucemon?" Crusadermon asked. "What happened to you?"

"It's been a while my comrades." Lucemon said as he descended. "My, my Creepymon, you look horrible."

"Where the hell have you been?" Creepymon grunted standing up. "When Hosaka disappeared, we thought you were destroyed by the Resistance with him."

"Wait, you guys thought *we* destroyed Hosaka?" Yuugo asked.

"Don't play dumb with us fool." Crusadermon scoffed. "Who else could it have been?"

"You're wrong!" Takumi replied. "It was-

"In any case!" Lucemon interrupted him. "You are correct Creepymon. Your wrath will prevail… once it's part of the Super Deadly Digimon."

"What are you-

"Creepymon!" Arata yelled. "Get the hell out of here!"

"Eye of the Gorgon!"

W-what?!" Starting with his feet, Creepymom's body slowly started to turn into stone. The rocky form spread across his body faster and faster. "What is… happening to me...?! NOOOOOOO!" Soon it reached his head and Creepymon was a complete statue.

"W-what is the meaning of this?!" Crusadermon asked.

GranDracmon charged right through the stoned Creepymon shattering his body like glass. In his hand he held a Digicore with the Crown of Wrath in it. "This makes six."

Creepymon's X-Antibody rolled across the floor towards the shocked humans. "No..." Takumi gritted his teeth.

"What?!" Crusadermon drew her sword. "What is the meaning of this?! Who are you?!"

"GranDracmon!" Keisuke glared.

"So this is Matadormon's digivolved form..." Yuuko murmured.

"This is... Matadormon!?" Crusadermon asked.

"Not anymore. I and the Immortal Vampire King. GranDracmon!"

"Why did you betray us?! After everything we have done for you?!"

GranDracmon laughed. "Oh please. In the end you were just using us. You shouldn't be surprised that some of us decided to use you instead... right master?" He held the DigiCore of Creepymon towards Lucemon Larva.

"That's right." Lucemon Larva absorbed the DigiCore into him. The Crown of Wrath appeared over his body as orange light briefly washed over him. "Yes... YES!"

"You dare to betray us as well Lucemon?!" Crusadermon glared. "Why?!"

"There is only room in this world for one ruler. And that failed Royal Knight Leopardmon will not be the one. All that's left now is Beelzemon's DigiCore and I will become the Super Deadly Digimon!"

"What are you- Crusadermon flinched. "The dark prophecy. You planned this from the beginning!"

Lucemon Larva laughed before turning to the humans. "Once again you humans have my sincerest thanks. With Creepymon under the care of Brother Sorrow and the Next Order I expected it to be much harder to get to him. But thanks to you not only defeating him but recklessly charging in here, focusing the Next Order's gaze onto you, we were able to slip in completely unnoticed!"

Nokia recalled how she set off an alarm brining so many guards to her. '...This is all my fault...'

"Lucemon!" Takumi shouted as Rapidmon Armor, Dorugoramon and BlackWarGreymon flew towards the Deadly Digimon.

"Until next time." GranDracmon said as a purple light engulfed him, and Lucemon Larva vanished.

"Crap!" Fei growled. "We let our guard down!"

"Curse them...!" Crusadermon snarled. "They won't get away with this!"

"Ngh..." All eyes were on Kiryu as he started to push himself off the floor.

"Kiryu!" Yuuko knelt down and lifted his arm helping him to his knees. "Are you alright?"

Kiryu groaned shaking his head. "Creepymon..." He then looked to his left and saw Yuuko with her sympathetic expression. His eyes widened as his teeth gritted. Without warning he kicked Yuuko right in the gut knocking her over.

"Yuuko!" Takumi shouted turning to his friend on the floor.

After seeing Yuuko's pained expression, Fei glared at Kiryu. "The hell's your problem?!"

"Get away from him!" CresGarurumon shouted as he and BlitzGreymon descended towards Yuuko, Fei, and Takumi. BlackWarGreymon and Ophanimon rushed in and blocked them with their shields long enough for Samudramon, TigerVespamon and Dorugoramon to pull their humans out of the way before BlackWarGreymon and Ophanimon backed away themselves.

Kiryu slowly got back to him feet. "You... I will never forgive you!"

"What's going on?!" Keisuke asked. "Creepymon's gone! Shouldn't that have freed Kiryu from his control?!"

"Creepymon...!" Kiryu looked around. "Where is he?"

"Gone." Crusadermon replied. "Matadormon... or GranDracmon now destroyed him under Lucemon's orders."

"Lucemon is still alive?"

"Yes. And he defected from the Next Order and is now collecting the powers of the other Deadly Digimon."

"Kiryu, there's no need for us to fight anymore!" Takumi said. "You're free from the Wrath Creepymon inflicted on you! Wasn't he influencing you actions like what happened with Fei?!"

"Influencing me...?" Kiryu asked. "Heh, heh, heh...Ha, ha, ha, ha!" He let out a low laugh. "I am not being brainwashed like that fool. I am in control of my own actions... Creepymon may have stoked the fires of my rage... but that rage was never his! It's mine as it's always been!" He pointed at Yuuko. "It was you who inflicted it onto me Yuuko! Your selfish actions to this day haunt my brother's soul! You took him from me that day... and your continued existence is keeping him from me even now..." Kiryu let out another eerie chucked. "I swore to my mother on her dying breath that I would support Subaru... and I will uphold that oath! I will tear the past that torments him apart and you along with it! I will save him no matter the price!"

"Kiryu..." Yuuko stared at him sadly.

"But now I know… it is not just you… Takumi… Ami… Nokia… Fei… All of you along with Yuuko will pay for what you did to us!"

"Even if you end up taking lives from innocents in this war to do that?!" Arata asked.

"Subaru was also innocent!" Kiryu shouted. "BlitzGreymon! CresGarurumon!"

The Resistance Digimon stood ready to fight as BlitzGreymon and CresGarurumon got into combat stances. But Crusadermon crouched next to Kiryu and put a hand on his shoulder. "That is enough. We must retreat."

"No! I can still fight! Everyone I must destroy is right here in this room!"

"Kiryu, you know there are too many powerful enemies for us to handle. One of them had you on the verge of defeat earlier, and another just defeated Creepymon when he had the X-Antibody. If you fall here, who is going to protect your brother?"

The man growled. "…Subaru…"

"We're falling back and calling reinforcements to protect the keep. That is an order."

Kiryu sighed. "…Understood. Stand down." Kiryu's Digimon backed up towards him.

Just then the door burst open and Sayo and Koh rushed in with their army along with the Three Musketeers and Darcmon. "Takumi! Ami!" Sayo ran up to her friends.

Koh looked in front of him. "Wow, looks like we missed a lot huh?"

"You have no idea kid." Fei replied.

Dinohumon looked at Kiryu. "Who is that?"

"Is that… a human?" Darcmon asked.

Agunimon noticed BlitzGreymon and CresGarurumon and recognized Kiryu's clothes. "It's Brother Sorrow!" He ran in front of the group and got into a fighting stance.

Lobomon ran up next to him and drew his weapons. "This time you won't get away!"

Samudramon ran in front of both of them. "No! Hold your weapons!"

"What?" Agunimon gawked.

"What's the meaning of this?" Lobomon asked.

"You two out of everyone here cannot fight Kiryu!" Samudramon replied.

Agunimon and Lobomon froze at the name. '…Kiryu…?'

Kiryu's fists shook as he gritted his teeth. "As if using Subaru against me and tossing him aside wasn't bad enough… you would turn his Digimon… his best friends against me as well Yuuko!?" Kiryu shouted at Yuuko. "You bitch! You're still the same shameless cowardly parasite you always were!"

Agunimon's eyes widened. "Sub…"

"…aru…" Lobomon quietly mumbled.

Kumamon noticed the two of them were shaking. "Huh? Agunimon? Lobomon?"

"Guys, what's wrong?" Grumblemon asked.

Kiryu." Crusadermon spoke up. "We're leaving."

"...Roger." Kiryu replied. "Know this Yuuko... Fei... Takumi... Ami... Nokia... None of you will live to see the end of this war. One day... I will bring the judgment you deserve down on you. Remember that." Kiryu pulled out his Digivice and teleported away with his Digimon and Crusadermon.

"Kiryu..." Yuuko murmured. "This can't be happening..."

Diaboromon X returned to normal and nearly collapsed. "Phew! Finally... just holding that form takes a lot outta you..."

"You did a great job today." Takumi smiled to him and Arata. "Both of you." He then brought his attention to Yuuko. "Are you okay?"

"...No." Yuuko shook her head. "Kiryu... Subaru... I failed them both."

Fei put a hand on Yuuko's shoulder. "We both failed them. They were Zaxon's responsibility. And we let them down."

"And now this whole world faces the repercussions for our crimes in the form of Brother Sorrow."

"So wait..." Jesmon approached. "You two know that guy?"

"It's a long story." Samudramon replied.

"We rescued all the Digimon we could." BeelStarmon said. "I think it's time we bailed before the Next Order strikes us back hard. I for one have had enough of this hellhole to last me a lifetime."

"Same here." Darcmon sighed.

Takumi turned to her. "It's good to have you back Darcmon... you are the real one, right?"

Darcmon smiled as she approached and put a hand on Takumi's head and the other on Yuuko's gently rubbing them. "I'm sorry I caused everyone so much trouble. But you two gave me a fright when you came after me when I insisted you go to the city with the others."

Takumi smiled. "I'll take that as a yes."

Darcmon gently turned Yuuko around and took her hands. "Yuuko... I'm not sure what happened between you and Brother Sorrow, but I promise everything will work out. We will find a way to bring him back to the light."

Yuuko exhaled. "...Thank you Darcmon. And welcome back."

"It's good to be back." Darcmon smiled. "Come on. Let's go home and-

"Agunimon! Lobomon!" Hearing Kazemon shout everyone looked at the two shaking Digimon clenching their heads.

"Kiryu... Zaxon..." Agunimon grunted.

"Subaru... Under Zero..." Lobomon murmured.

"What the hell's happening to them?" Gundramon asked

"Leave them alone!"

"Get out of here Subaru!"

"Hackers shouldn't pick on the defenseless like this."

"I only acted in defense of my younger brother."

"I just felt I had to do something..."

"Digital…monster?"

"Our doors are always open."

"So what kind of place is this Digital World?"

"We swear to you that this debt will be repaid."

"I've never had friends like you before!"

"Alright. We'll keep tabs on this Keisuke guy."

"...I'm staying."

"Don't come crying to me when this all goes to hell."

"Did I make the right choice...?"

"W-what's happening?! Where's Yuugo?!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!" Following the flashes of visions and voices Agunimon and Lobomon suffered a massive headache. The two of them toppled over onto the floor.

"Brother!" Loweemon ran over to Lobomon's side.

"Agunimon! Lobomon!" The seven remaining Legendary Warriors joined them.

"What's happening to them?!" Koh asked.

"I've seen this before..." Darcmon said.

"Their memories of the previous reality are returning. Clashing with their memories of now." Jesmon replied.

"Agunimon... Lobomon... meeting Kiryu and hearing Subaru's name must have triggered this..." Yuuko breathed.

"We need to take them back to Cache City." Rosemon Burst Mode said. "Now."

"Everyone gather around." Arata said taking out his Digivice. "I'm activating a home gate."

Ami held Nokia as she and everyone gathered. When Keisuke turned around to join them his foot hit something and he looked down to see Creepymom's X-Antibody on the floor. "This is..." He picked it up.

"Keisuke, let's go!" Fei said.

"Multiple guards are converging in on this location!" Rapidmon Armor warned.

"Yeah." Keisuke pocketed it. "Coming." He ran over to the others.

Dynasmon came in one doorway and Craniamon burst through the other. Each had an army with them. "Halt!" Arata held up his Digivice and pressed a button. The group flashed and disappeared just as Dynasmon reached the spot they stood on. "Blast!"

Craniamon stopped in front of him. "They took Darcmon before we could extract the final Soverign DigiCore from her. The king will not be pleased."

---

This may be the end of Creepymon, but not Kiryu Tenjo. Next week we learn more about what went down with him and Zaxon.