With Ogudomon knocked out of X-Antibody form and Keisuke's Digimon wielding one, things were finally starting to look up. Ogudomon crackled with red electricity as he was surrounded. "Let's give this one more try." Takuto grinned.

Hudiemon, Justimon, and Shakkoumon flew up to HerculesKabuterimom X's sides. Keisuke looked at them. "Guys..."

"You said it yourself." Hudiemon smirked. "We're a family and a team."

"And family sticks together." Justimon said. "Always."

"HUDIE SEES EVERY JOB THROUGH TO THE END." Shakkoumon said. "WE SHALL FIGHT WITH YOU TO PROTECT OUR HOME."

Ogudomon snarled. "Don't get cocky you ignorant fools. You cut off my X-Antibody, but that does not make any of you superior to me! I am the Super Deadly Digimon! And I will bring ruin to this world!"

"You may be stronger than all of us on our own." Shiki said. "But not all of us together."

"If you're the legend that brings ruin to this world, then we're the legend that will protect it." Hudiemon said. "We are the vanguard of the Digital World!"

"Enough bravado!" Ogudomon yelled. "I will destroy you all! Then the rest of your friends will be right behind you! Condemning Hell Crusher!"

Streaks of violet flew everywhere. "Guard Charge Field!" HerculesKabuterimon X shouted and everyone glowed blue protecting them from the strikes. "Thunder Fall!"

Ogudomon grunted as lightning struck. "Hey." Takuto grinned pointing at him. "That looked like it did some good damage."

The Crown of Lust over one of the swords glowed. "Phantom Pain!" A green burst of magic pushed him back.

"Thorn Whip!" Rosemon X struck his head as she flew by. Ogudomon roared as he grabbed her in one of the hands on his legs. Rosemon X grunted as she tried to pry him off.

Himari activated Matrix Link and flew in front of his face. "Apocalypse!" Rikka glowed with sacred light. Ogudomon yelped as he let go of Rosemon X to shield his face before smacking Rikka aside.

"Chew on this!" Arata shouted as Diaboromon X leapt onto one of his legs and climbed up it. "Fatal Gaze!" His X-Antibody Digimon shot pink beams from his eyes at the back of Ogudomon's head. Creepily his head did a 180 and looked at him. He opened his mouth and it glowed. Diaboromon X jumped off and narrowly escaped a laser.

Yukimura and Kouta appeared overhead with the Dynas Lance pointed downward. They descended towards Ogudomon's head spinning like a top. They skewered it to the top of his head. He roared in pain before shaking them off. The Crown of Gluttony glowed. "Double Impact!" He shot bullets from his mouth. Yukimura and Kouta blocked some of them with Dynas before they were hit a couple of times.

BeelStarmon growled. "How dare he use Beelzemon's power like this...!"

Rapidmon Armor X got behind Ogudomon. Takumi held his hands forward as his Digimon took aim. "Rapid Blaster!" They shot Ogudomon repeatedly before the vile Digimon turned to their direction.

Takumi grinned as he and Rapidmon X moved out of the way of HerculesKabuterimom X who was right behind them. Giant golden orbs were glowing in both his palms. "Giga Blaster!" He fired one then the other. Ogudomon screamed at they exploded in brilliant light.

"Not bad Mr. Hero." the linked Takumi and Rapidmon Armor X grinned.

"Thanks." Keisuke replied.

"What power." Justimon gasped. "Keisuke and his Digimon have come a very long way from when Ryuji and I saved them in the DigiMarket."

Hudiemon laughed. "He sure has. Our little newb of a caterpillar has grown his wings."

Ogudomon roared. "It is high time I rid myself of you boy!" The Crown of Pride glowed. "Dead or Alive!" His mouth fired a giant fireball at HerculesKabuterimom X who caught it. But another fireball flew forth and detonated it making a huge explosion that sent him flying. "Keisuke!" Takuto shouted.

"Be careful!" Sayo said. "Even without the X-Antibody, he still has the powers of all Seven Deadly Digimon!"

Samudramon and HiAndromon leapt and stabbed their twin swords into Ogudomon's leg before using their swords to climb up it. Once they reached the top Yuuko and Yuugo established their Matrix Link while getting on either side of Ogudomon's head and started slashing at him wildly. "Will O' Whisp Slash!"

"Copy Paste!"

Ogudomon grunted as he was struck repeatedly. "Purging Gale Storm!" He summoned a mighty hurricane blowing them off. Dianamon caught Samudramon by the arm as she flew by. Justimon did the same for HiAndromon.

Apollomon rose above Ogudomon holding his flat hands out in the shape of a cross. "Fatal Cross!" A cross-snapped light crashed into Ogudomon's head.

The monster sneered at him. "Requiem Ocean Wave!" He spat a torrent of water at Apollomon. Dianamon flew in to protect him, but they were both washed away.

Omni held his Greymon hand up. "Magma Bomb!" He threw a sphere of flame at Ogudomon then flew out of the way as another Double Impact fired.

Hudiemon flew up to him. "Infinity Dream!" She blinded him before backing up. "Flying Kick!"

"Justice Kick!"

"Dynas!" Yukimura and Justimon attacked alongside her pushing Ogudomon's head back a bit. But he immediately headbutted them hard enough to push them much further. "Wrath of Wyvern!" Kouta and Yukimura sent an emerald dragon into him.

Next was the Crown of Envy as Ogudomon leapt up at the Hudiemon opening his jaws. "Bitting Crush!"

Hudiemon braced herself for his fangs, but something held them open in front of her at the last second. She looked up. HerculesKabuterimom X was holding Ogudomon's mouth open. She heard not only the Digimon grunting, but also... "Keisuke!"

The hacker gritted his teeth with his visor on as he felt the same crushing pressure at his Digimon. He shouted as he and his Digimon pushed Ogudomon off. Keisuke held his fists forward as HerculesKabuterimom X rammed into Ogudomon's body with his claws. Ogudomon shouted as he was slammed into the ground. HerculesKabuterimom X rose above him. "Rune Forrest!" he and Keisuke shouted as they dropped a green explosion onto them.

"Heh. Of course, he found out how to use Matrix Link." Ami smiled.

"You annoying brat!" The Crown of Sloth lite up as Ogudomon lifted one of his hands. "Gift of Darkness!" He swung his claws, and a wave flew at HerculesKabuterimom X. Keisuke leaned to the left and he and his Digimon evaded.

Nokia and Omegamon Merciful Mode held up their left arms and a blade of light rose. "Fearsome Blade!"

"Gran Del Sol!" Just as the holy knight swung his giant katana down on Ogudomon, Faye and Shiki fired at him.

"There's more where that came from!" Sayo said. "Dianamon!"

"Good Night Moon!" Ogudomon was trying to get up but became fixated on the gentle glow from Dianamon's boots.

"Now!" Sayo shouted.

All three Omegamon, Rapidmon Armor X, Rosemon X, Faye, Diaboromon X, Pheonixmon, and Shakkoumon, all pilled onto Ogudomon pinning him down. But the giant Digimon rose back on his feet regardless. "You worthless pieces of trash!" The Crown of Wrath glowed.

"Uh, oh." Takuto gulped.

"Guys, get out of there!" Shoma yelled.

Mirei went back onto her laptop. "Luche, get behind me!"

"Flame Inferno!" Ogudomon exploded in a glorious blaze that blew everyone away. Mirei held her hand forward and summoned a barrier to protect herself and Luche. Hudiemon tried to hold up a blue forcefield to protect herself with, but it shattered.

"Get down!" BeelStarmon yelled as the explosion approached.

When it finally died down the entire party was groaning on the ground. "What the hell..." Fei grunted.

"All that and he's still this powerful." Shoma growled.

"I will say it again." Ogudomon leered. "With or without the X-Antibody, I am the masterpiece of all Digimon. I am the greatest being of all creation! I am the god of destruction! The Super Deadly Digimon!" Some of the party members tried to get up. "Blackout Awesome Quake!" The ground shook knocking them back down.

"We need to hurry up and end this." Shiki said. "We can't take this much longer."

Mirei spoke through their Digivices. "The swords."

Everyone stared. "Gee, how insightful." Arata mumbled. "Care to elaborate?"

"Do you see the swords stabbed into Ogudomon's knees?"

"You mean the ones with those Deadly Digimon symbols hovering over them?" Sayo asked.

"Those are harnessing the power of the Seven Deadly Digimon. If you can destroy them, it might break off his access to their power."

"It's worth a shot." Takumi said as Rapidmon Armor X put him back onto his shoulder. "Ami and I will distract him, you guys get the swords."

"No, we'll distract him together." Keisuke said getting back onto HerculesKabuterimom X. "GranDracmon hates me the most."

Hudiemon chuckled as she stood back up. "Still as simple minded as ever. It's Hudie he hates the most. Either way, didn't I just explain that we're in this together?"

"Alright. Leave the swords to us." Koh said. "Good luck."

Ogudomon aproached. "What are you fools muttering this time? No matter. Oriato Grandiloqua!" He stampeded towards them.

Rikka took to the sky again. "Flash!"

"Gah!" Ogudomon was blinded. When he could see everyone was gone. "Hiding on me now? You know there is no escaping me while I have my barrier up. So come out and accept your fate you pathetic fools!" He felt something slam on top of his head and bounce off him.

Takumi grinned as Rapidmon Armor X flew back. The Cyber Sleuth had his hand in a L shape on his forehead. "What's wrong? Is the Super Deadly Loser too slow to kill a few pathetic fools?"

"You dare mock me?!" The moment Ogudomon turned around to strike, a whip hit him in the back of the head.

"What do you expect?" Ami teased. "For all that high and mighty talk, you only got this far by leaching off others. First Yu, then the Next Order then the Deadly Digimon. I get why you resorted to stabbing Lucemon in the back. Because if you tried fighting him man to man, he'd turn you into a stain on the floor!"

Ogudomon opened his mouth. Rosemon X flew out of the way of a laser. "You will die cursing your feeble existence!"

"I doubt it." Keisuke said as HerculesKabuterimom X flew by. "This will end the same way I always does! With you getting your ass handed to you by Hudie wondering how you failed so badly!"

Hudiemon stood atop HerculesKabuterimom X's head. "You couldn't ever beat Keisuke on his own. You don't stand a chance against all of Hudie together."

Ogudomon snarled. "I will enjoy watching you all die in pain. Violated Rune Forrest!"

HerculesKabuterimom X and Hudiemon flew away. Takumi and Rapidmon Armor X got behind Ogudomon and with Matrix Link active they threw the Armed Arms. "Billion Bullet!" A hail of golden blasts came down from the orbiting weapons.

Ogudomon grunted before letting out a roar that blew the Armed Arms away. He turned around and the Crown of Greed glowed. "Pandemonium-

"Supreme Cannon!" Takuto and Omni fired into the sword under the Crown of Greed. It did nothing at first... "Overclock!" Omni glowed red and the laser expanded. The sword cracked before it shattered, and the Crown of Greed died down.

"What?!" Ogudomon shouted. "How did...?!"

Rosemon X coiled her whips around Ogudomon's neck. "Rosen Blood!" Her body emitted a red glow paralyzing him.

Shiki took the chance to get above the Crown of Lust with Overclock and Matrix Link active. "Sprout Rush!" Faye flew in and rammed her spear into the sword repeatedly taking shards off with every hit. They reeled back and went for one more thrust smashing it.

Ogudomon roared and spun in place before Rosemon X and Faye were flung off. "Crescent Leaf!" HerculesKabuterimon X flew into him. Ogudomon grabbed him and threw him off, inadvertently leaving the Crown of Gluttony exposed.

"Final Crest!" Yukimura and Kouta attacked chipping the sword.

Yuuko activated her Matrix Link as Samudramon jumped at it. "Rinkageki!" The sword was cut in half.

"Resignation Shining Lasser!" Ogudomon blasted all of his attackers away. "You worms won't get away with this!" His arms failed wildly.

"Gah!" Rikka was about to go for one of the swords but backed away from the swinging. "Can't get a good shot like this!"

"I'm on it!" Hudiemon flew right up to Ogudomon's face. "Infinity Dream!"

Ogudomon froze again as a blue glow blinded him. He smacked Hudiemon away, but Shakkoumon caught her. "DISSASTER BLASTER!" He fired red beams into Ogudomon's mouth eye adding to the pain.

"That's more like it!" Himari grinned. "Go Rikka!"

Her holy dragon flew towards the sword with the Crown of Envy. "Fire Tornado!" Under the heat of the golden flame the sword started to melt.

"Let's turn up the heat Apollomon!" Koh ordered.

"Sol Blaster!" Apollomon fired a golden ray into the sword and soon it was a useless stub.

"Four down, three to go!" Himari cheered.

Ogudomon regained his sight. "Gift of Darkness!" He swung his arm sending green shredders everywhere. Rapidmon Armor X, Rikka, and Omni were the first to get hit.

Dianamon flew towards the sword with the Crown of Sloth. "01 Crusher!" She slashed at the sword with all her might. Cracks started to form.

"Out of the way!" Nokia shouted as Omegamon Merciful Mode flew towards them. She closed her eyes as Dianamon jumped back. "Graceful Cannon!" They shot the sword at point-blank demolishing it.

The Gift of Darkness spree abruptly stopped. "Huh!?" Ogudomon looked at the broken sword. "You... You will pay for this insult with your lives!" The Crown of Wrath glowed.

"Not this time!" Fei snapped her fingers.

"Speed Charge Field!" TigerVespamon glowed along with Fei's other Digimon. "Thunder Fall!"

"Holy Light!"

"Burst Flame!" All three attacked the sword with the Crown of Wrath. Parts of the hilt chipped but it remained intact.

"Useless, useless, useless!" Ogudomon roared. "Flame-

"Spooky Zapper!" Diaboromon X spun into the blade smashing it to pieces.

"No!"

"And then there was one." Arata grinned.

"I am...the Super Deadly Digimon! You are nothing!" The Crown of Pride glowed. "DEAD OR ALIVE!" He shot sun-like fireballs everywhere. Everyone backed away from his wild, reckless firing. Ogudomon laughed as they distanced themselves. "That's right! Scatter like the bugs you are!" Suddenly the Crown disappeared, and the attacks stopped. "Eh?" He looked behind him. Noir and Shoma were directly above the destroyed sword that was channeling the power of Lucemon. "Y-you!"

"Ready to accept defeat GranDracmon?" Keisuke asked.

"You...! You and Hudie have made a fool of me for the last time!" Red energy started glowing around Ogudomon.

"What's going on now?" Nokia shuddered.

"Mirei, shouldn't destroying those swords have weakened him?!" Takuto asked.

Mirei looked at the glowing monster. "It would appear that he's trying to hold the power of the Seven Deadly Digimon into himself with his own strength. This might be your chance."

"What do we do?" Shoma asked.

"If you can find out where the energy is gathering and hit it with enough force, the energy will disperse, and this form will fade!"

Takumi looked at Ogudomon closely. "Look!" He pointed. "Inside his mouth!"

Everyone could see right light shining between Ogudomon's teeth. "That must be it!" Yuugo said.

Ogudomon ascended from the ground. "DIE!" He lunged all his hands towards the group at once.

Keisuke braced himself. But Rapidmon Armor X, Rosemon X, Omni, Faye, Omegamon, Yukimura and Noir, each held a hand back. "You all...!"

"We got him!" Ami shouted. "Go for the mouth!"

"Way ahead of you!" Koh said as he and Apollomon flew by. He along with Dianamon, HIAndromon, Samudramon, Rikka, and Fei's party grabbed onto Ogudomon's face and started prying his jaws open to reveal the seventh eye in his mouth that was glowing blood red. "Now's your chance Keisuke!"

HerculesKabuterimom X ascended above Ogudomon. Keisuke closed his eyes as he held his hand up. "Overclock." HerculesKabuterimom X roared as he glowed red. Matrix Link was active. "Time to end this grudge match once and for all!" Tamer and Digimon declared in unison. The Digimon's horn overflowed with light.

Ogudomon aimed his head towards them. "Catedral!" A gigantic red beam fired right towards them.

Keisuke lowered his hand pointing it at Ogudomon. "Horn Buster Revision!" HerculesKabuterimon X charged. His horn slammed into the beam. A stalemate was held. "MATADORMON!" Keisuke and HerculesKabuterimom X shouted as they started to push through the Catedral attack.

"KEISUKE AMASAWA!" Ogudomon roared as his laser grew in size and started pushing HerculesKabuterimom X back.

The other Tamers and their Digimon panicked. "Keisuke!" Keisuke and his Digimon grunted as they desperately held the line.

Ogudomon was about to put even more pressure on when he felt bullets pelt him in the face startling him. He leered at the Three Musketeers. "That was for my brother you freak of nature." BeelStarmon growled.

Then Keisuke felt a hand on his shoulder. Hudiemon was right behind him. Justimon and Shakkoumon each put their hands on HerculesKabuterimom X's back and pushed. All of Hudie shouted as blue wings sprouted from HerculesKabuterimom X's back and he glowed blue. In an instant he tore through the attack and slammed his horn into Ogudomon's mouth eye pinning him to the ground. The Digimon previously holding him back were now watching in shock. Keisuke shouted leaning his head forward and HerculesKabuterimom X broke into the eye. Red energy crackled before Ogudomon exploded blowing Hudie away. A burst of black smoke rose from where the monster was struck. While in the air, Keisuke reacted quickly and grabbed Hudiemon's hand. He pulled her close cushioning her fall as he landed on his back. Justimon, Shakkoumon, TyrantKabuterimon, PileVolcamon and MetalSeadramon flew over them crashing onto the ground. Keisuke grinned. "Job complete."

Hudiemon smirked getting off him and helping him up. "You expected anything less from us?"

Everyone gathered around them. "Keisuke that was awesome!" Takumi said as he and his friends jumped down. All EXE and X-Evolutions deactivated.

"Yeah, you pounded that creep into the dirt!" Shiki said. "Way to go hero!"

"Thanks guys." Keisuke smiled. "But it was a team effort."

"What's wrong with that?" Ami asked. "Since when does a hero need to do everything alone?"

Keisuke laughed. "Still...thanks to all of you, I feel like I've got a good grasp on what kind of hero I'm supposed to be. Now I know there's no such thing as side characters. All of us are the protagonists of our own story. We're the writers of our own lives. Who we are is up to us. Thank you. Erika, Tentomon, Betamon, Gotsumon, Takumi, Takuto, everyone... I'm glad I met you and had the chance to experience this story together."

Takumi smiled warmly and held his hand out. "Right back at you. We're going to continue counting on you and your family from here on out Keisuke."

Keisuke shook Takumi's hand. "You got it. Leave it to us."

"Damn you..." The group gasped as they looked over to where Ogudomon was. GranDracmon was in the dirt struggling to push himself up.

"GranDracmon!" Yuugo gasped.

Arata cringed. "That bastard's still kicking?"

GranDracmon glared at Keisuke. "I was supposed to win this time...how can a lowly, ordinary human such as yourself possibly keep wining against someone like me...?!"

"He may be ordinary to you." Hudiemon put a hand on Keisuke's shoulder. "But he's special in our eyes."

"I fight with not just my strength but with that off all those backing me today." Keisuke said. "And I fight for those backing me in return. You only fight for yourself."

"Don't give me that crap! You think that lofty bullshit can really make such a difference?!"

"I think the fact that ya lost even with the power of the "Super Deadly Digimon" is proof enough that it makes plenty of difference pal." Fei mocked.

"This is the end of the line GranDracmon." TyrantKabuterimon said. "Your plans are once again in shambles. You're out of pawns and options. You will now face judgment for your abuse of power on the weak."

"Now you're talking." PileVolcamon cracked his knuckles. "Shall we finish this?"

GranDracmon laughed and pushed himself up. "You pitiful fool. Have you already forgotten? I am immortal. I cannot be vanquished. No matter how many times you strike me down I will revive again and again. Someday my ambitions will be fulfilled. I will try again and again! As many times as it takes!"

"Then we'll just have to lock you away somewhere where you won't cause trouble anymore." Mameo said.

"Ha! Amusing! I escaped the mask and the Dark Area! No prison can hold me! There is nothing you fools can do to me!"

"He's right my friends." Mirei said as she walked towards them with Luche.

Everyone turned to her. "Mirei?" Ami stared. "What are you saying?"

"It's just as GranDracmon said. We won't be doing anything to him." The woman gave a sly smile. "Just not for the reason he thinks."

"What are you- Before Kouta could finish his question Mirei pointed at GranDracmon. Everyone looked at the Digimon. A few gasped right away. Some needed a moment to notice.

"The hell are you maggots looking at?" GranDracmon asked. "Whatever. Rest assured this is not over. I will formulate a new strategy. And when the time is right, I will crush..." He held up an arm to clutch his fist...and then noticed his right hand was becoming transparent. "W-what?" He looked at his other arm. The transparency was spreading down it. "What is this?!"

"What's going on?!" Takuto asked. "Mirei, what's happening to him?!"

"Have you forgotten?" the scientist asked. "Destroying the Seven Deadly Digimon is a sin."

"A sin?" Fei asked.

"That's right..." Takumi said quietly. "By destroying them their energy was divided amongst their counterparts from all other worlds."

"Correct." Mirei replied. "That is exactly what happened when he lost the power of the Seven Deadly Digimon. And that has triggered the punishment of the sin. Unlike when you, Ami and Sayo did the same thing however, he is not bound to a human. So, the punishment will commence immediately upon the energy being sent to other realities."

"B-but...I spared the cores when I eliminated them!" GranDracmon panicked as his legs started fading. "I didn't truly destroy them!"

"Keeping the cores intact did indeed keep their powers from transferring. And I suppose you could argue that the ones who truly caused their powers to spread were Keisuke and his friends as they cut off your link to the cores shattering them and sending their powers to the other variants. However, the specific action that is deemed as a sin is destroying the Deadly Digimon. And when all is said and done, you delt each of the seven the killing blow."

Sayo looked at Mirei. "So, wait... does this mean...?"

"It is his turn to be imprisoned. And I doubt reality will change undoing the sin like it did for the Cyber Sleuths. Nor do I imagine anyone taking action to create a circumstance for atonement like how I allowed Takumi and Ami to for you. In other words, he will not be rescued like Dianamon was."

"W-wait!" GranDracmon yelled as his torso became transparent. "Where am I going?!"

"Let's just say I wouldn't count on getting comfortable any time soon." Dianamon replied.

"NO!" GranDracmon screamed as his face started falling making his whole body transparent. "This can't be happening! Not to me! Help me!" His body started blinking in and out of existence. Keisuke gritted his teeth. "I...I...! AAAAAAAAAHHHH!" He then vanished. Without a trace.

Everyone stood there staring in shock where they last saw him. None of them seemed to notice the barrier fading away, reveling a bright blue sky. "He…he's gone…" Luche shivered.

"Such is the fate of all sinners." Mirei said.

"Well…I guess this marks the end of our problems with Lucemon and GranDracmon." Mameo said.

BeelStarmon noticed something by her feet and picked two objects up. She stared at them dsadly. "Goodbye brother…"

Keisuke put his hands in his pockets. 'Our business is settled. May this be the last time you trouble anyone. Farewell…K.'

"There they are!" Everyone turned to Darcmon as she flew over with the Royal Knights.

"Oh, hey guys." Kouta said.

"Hey guys" he says." Kentaurosmon scoffed. "Seems like we weren't needed."

"Nokia!" Darcmon ran over to the missing girl. "Are you alright?!"

"Yeah, I'm good."

"What were you thinking running off on your own?! You had us all worried!"

"Not for the first time I might add." Arata sighed. "Seriously, what are we to do with you?" Yuuko elbowed him making him stop.

"I'm sorry about that guys." Nokia frowned. "I'm…I'm sorry about a lot of things."

Gallantmon looked at Omegamon in his new Merciful Mode. "Omegamon…what is that new form? I feel a pure energy expanding from you…one I've never felt before."

"This is thanks to Nokia." Omegamon replied before reverting back to normal. "It seems her emotions once again summoned more power."

"It wasn't just me." Nokia said. "I have you and all my friends to thank…even Beelzemon…BeelStarmon…I-

"Don't Nokia." BeelStarmon said. "You suffered enough. Carry a heavy burden. Don't add my brother's weight onto it. He wouldn't like that very much." Unbeknownst to everyone somebody positioned themselves behind a nearby tree.

"Beelzemon?" Magnamon asked. "Mameo, what happened here? And where is GranDracmon?"

Mameo pulled his hat down with a sigh. "Where do I begin? Well, our group found Nokia. But then…

"I see…" Gankoomon rubbed his chin as the story concluded. "So, this means the threats posed by GranDracmonn and the Seven Deadly Digimon have passed."

"Yes." Shoma replied. "…But at a cost."

"Indeed." Magnamon said. "It seems we all underestimated the nobility of Beelzemon. To think all this time his actions were to the protection of his family."

"Yeah…" Keisuke frowned. "Do you think…maybe someday…we will meet him again somewhere?"

"Keisuke…" Takumi put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't give up on the possibility no matter how slim. You hung onto hope you would see Erika again and nook where you are now. Anything is possible. We're all living proof."

"I hope so…"

"In any case Keisuke, it would seem you and Nokia both developed a new power." Jesmon said. "Let us make use of it and stop the Next Order and protect the Digital World. I think that's the best thing we can do to honor Beelzemon's sacrifice."

MagnaKidmon tilted his had. "Agreed."

"Yeah." Nokia held her head up. "We won this battle, but the war isn't over. More challenges lie ahead, and more sacrifice and pain are on the way. People will continue to suffer. But…I can't give up. Not after I came this far with all of you. I'll see this through to the end. Make the future I believe will help the most people. And whatever consequences come from it all…I'm ready to accept them."

Everyone stared at her in surprise. "Where did this come from?" Himari asked.

"Yeah, who the hell are you?" Fei asked. "And where are ya keeping the real Nokia?"

Nokia smiled. "Oh, I felt it was time for a change. So, I locked her up and replaced her with a more serious and responsible version."

"Okay, that sounds more like the you we know." Takumi grinned. "Thank God, this didn't turn you into all gloom and doom. One Arata is enough."

"Hey." The group laughed a bit at Arata's expense.

"I just…" Nokia looked away. "I needed to reflect a bit. Even when leading the Rebels I always acted rashly without putting much thought into what I was doing. And yeah, for the most part it worked out so far but…being optimistic and carless will only get me so far. If I'm going to make our worlds better places for humans and Digimon, I can't stay immature forever. I need to grow. To change. So, I decided that starting now I'm going to work to improve myself. To be the Akino the Rebels needs. So, guys…I know I caused you all a lot of headaches already, but…mind doing me one more favor?"

"What's that?" Ami asked.

"I want you…to watch me mature. To keep track of my progress. To help correct me if I go off course."

"Of course, Nokia." Yuuko smiled. "Friends support each other no matter what. That's what you, Takumi, Ami, and Arata taught me."

"And you will always be our friend." Yuugo added. "Just as you were on that day."

"After all, it's probably best we keep a close eye on you. Can't have you running off on us like this all the time." Arata teased.

"You've already grown more then you realise." Ami said.

"And we know you'll keep working hard for the Digimon." Takumi smiled.

"Nokia." Omegamon turned to his partner. "The strength in your heart is something nobody can emulate. So, no matter how much you change, remember that you will always have qualities that make you irreplaceable. Never loss faith in your strength."

"Thanks guys." Nokia looked away. "But in the end…my strength is from all of you. And I promise I will use it responsibly from now on."

Darcmon smiled. "I'm sure you will."

"Hey, Mirei." Yuugo walked up holding a black sphere with an X. "I found this."

Mirei looked at it. "That's the X-Antibody I hacked. GranDracmon must have dropped it when he perished." She took it. "I'll amylase it when we get back. Might be useful."

"Let's go home Nokia." Keisuke smiled. "We've got a lot to do."

"You know it!" Nokia cheered. "We've got a world to save!"

The figure hiding behind the tree watched the group depart. "Beelzemon…"

CresGarurumon watched the departing Resistance. "What should we do Kiryu? Do we let them go?"

"Yes. They outnumber us. And we do not have enough information on Nokia and Keisuke's new powers to act. Besides, we still don't have the king's permission to return to battle with the Resistance. Anyway, we learned what the cause of the distortion in this world. Let us return and report."

"As you wish Kiryu." BlitzGreymon kneeled. "Know that we are with you. Now and forever."

"Thank you BlitzGreymon. CresGarurumon. You are both true friends." Kiryu climbed onto his Digimon's arm.

"It is unfortunate what became of Beelzemon." CresGarurumon said as he grabbed the arm of his ascending fellow Digimon. "He deserved better."

"Indeed." Kiryu closed his eyes. "If only I had the chance to thank him…for back then." BlitzGreymon flew off.

Nokia groaned rubbing her temple as she exited a building back in Cache City. "Oh, man, and I thought school was a brainache."

"Back from your lesson?"

Nokia looked in front of her to see who was waiting outside. "Oh, hey BeelStarmon."

"You sure caught us all off guard. Nobody was expecting you to suddenly ask for lessons on strategy."

"Yeah, well…I meant what I said. I need to smarten up. I can't just charge recklessly at all my problems. I don't want what happened in Under Zero to repeat itself ever again."

BeelStarmon smirked. "I see. And how did your first lesson go?"

Nokia groaned. "Hard. Just thinking about all of what Mameo, Magnamon, Zero and the self-proclaimed geek stuffed into my head makes my brain hurt… But…I'm not giving up! If it means helping everyone, I'll keep powering through!"

"That's the spirit. Although…make no mistake Nokia. This won't make you perfect in the end. No matter how much you learn or what you do, you'll always have a weakness or a flaw. …Just like the rest of us." BeelStarmon took two pistols out.

Nokia stared at them. They weren't BeelStarmon's Rizoma do Loto. "Hey…aren't those Beelzemon's?"

"His Berejena. The two of us actually crafted each others' handguns. He's taken good care of them all this time. You know…part of me is still kinda pissed off for him leaving. And for not telling us why he did all this time. He could really be annoying sometimes."

Nokia smiled. "From what I heard; brothers can be like that at times."

"Tell me about it. But still…I was wrong about him in the end. Beelzemon was still looking out for the team and upholding their principles. In his own clumsy way."

"To protect those who can't protect themselves." The girls looked up as Keisuke aproached. "To punish those who terrorize the weak."

"Keisuke…" Nokie faced the boy.

"He saved my life twice you know. Once in this reality and once in the last."

"You met Beelzemon in the last reality?" BeelStarmon asked.

"Yeah. It was after the Paradise Lost Plan. Beelzemon wanted to punish a SkullMeramon who was attacking weaker Digimon. But he was hiding behind a security device that he needed a hacker to get through, so he hired me. I found the SkullMeramon picking on a DemiDevimon and confronted him, but he was really strong. That's when Beelzemon showed up and helped me out. After that he said he'd help out if I needed him. To make us even. …But…I still feel like I'm the one who owes him after all this."

"Me too…" Nokia frowned. "He was the one who snapped me out of it in the end. He gave his life for mine. And he reminded me how important it is to fight for what I believe in…that's what gave me and Omegamon that awesome power."

BeelStarmon looked at the Berejena in her hands. "Beelzemon wasn't perfect. But he still fought for what he thought was right. He accepted what came from his actions and respected those who do what they think is the right thing."

"He did." Keisuke nodded. "…And I'm glad I met him."

Nokia nodded. "Beelzemon is one of many lives lost in our war…and I'll never forget him."

BeelStarmon smiled. "This world will probably remember him as the Deadly Digimon of Gluttony…but to me…he'll always be one of the Musketeers." She looked at the pistoles she made for her brother. "So, I'm going to hold onto these. And I'm going to live on like he wanted. So once this war is over…I can show him what his ideals created."

Nokia wiped tears from her eyes. "Yeah… I'm going to make a world where humans and Digimon can get along. Maybe…maybe then we won't have things like what happened to Beelzemon happen again. And maybe someday…he and the other Digimon we lost can be reborn to live in that world with humans…" BeelStarmon rubbed Nokia's back as she sniffled.

Keisuke looked at the sky. 'Beelzemon…thank you for everything. If we do meet again…maybe we can finally have that battle we wanted. Until then, I'll keep getting stronger and protect the ones I love and the ideals I believe in. Just as you did.'

Kiryu, Crusadermon, Dynasmon, Craniamon and BoltBoutamon were kneeling towards Leopardmon. "…And that is what I overheard from the Resistance."

"I see." Leopardmon nodded. "So, it seems the issue with Matadormon and Lucemon has passed."

"Indeed." Crusadermon replied. "I do love it when a problem solves itself."

"It is not all good news Crusadermon." Dynasmon replied. "Both Keisuke and Omegamon have accessed new powerful heights."

"That's not all." Craniamon glanced at BoltBoutamon. "It sounds like that woman found a way to hack into your artificial X-Antibodies nullifying their effects. This could render them useless."

"It was a lack of foresight on my part." the Malevolent Fist replied. "I honestly did not expect someone to try to hack them. I will add security measures to all my future artificial X-Antibodies, so it doesn't happen again."

"Get to that now." Leopardmon said. "I want that issue taken care of posthaste."

"Right away your majesty." BoltBoutamon got up and left.

Leopardmon turned to Kiryu. "As for you Kiryu…It seems I can no longer task you with handling GranDracmon. And the issues with the Resistance are on the rise. So, you now have my permission to continue your campaign against the Resistance. However, I will not tolerate another incident like what happened at Extinguish Keep. You must keep your emotions in check on the battlefield."

"Understood. I am a soldier. Your orders are my duty."

"Good. Dismissed."

Kiryu stood up and turned to the door. 'I will not let another chance slip through my fingers. Next time…we settle things.'

And so ends the Lucemon/GranDracmon arc of this story. I felt it was fitting that Keisuke delt GranDracmon his final defeat. I also wanted to mature Nokia a bit. I know she goes through her own development in Cyber Sleuth but here it was past time she learned the counsequenses of recklessness and that there are other ways to approach issues then…well…

Nokia: Alright chums, let's do this! NOKIAAAAAAAAA SHIRAMINE!

Arata: Oh my god, she just ran in.

Anyway, what adventures await our heroes next? Find out next week!