(Author's Notes: Hey, all! Chapter 89 is here. We're almost at the final battle. Nearly there.
I would love to squeeze Chapter 90 out before the new year, but I can't make any promises on that front. I'll at least do my best.
I had a real hard time coming up with a chapter title I was happy with for this chapter. After a couple hours, I'm mostly happy with this one, at least in comparison to the other ones. Sometimes it's hard to completely capture the themes of a chapter without making it either generic or overly wordy, haha. I'd have liked to be able to address the other theme too, but I think it's implied enough.
Anyways, enjoy!)
Chapter 89: The Fate of the Future
A storm raged that morning.
Streaks of light, fire, and darkness flashed across the sky.
Wind howled violently and lightning pierced the clouds. Hail fell from the sky, rocks and water spouts burst from the ground. Vines, roots, discs, javelins, and cannon balls poured out from within the tree line of the Great Forest.
A battle was taking place over the northern edge of the Great Forest.
It was not a battle between armies. In fact, the Nightmare Soldiers watched the overwhelming spectacle from a safe distance, knowing that to intervene would be folly.
It was a battle between ten warriors of an age past, and five demons who sought to conquer the present.
"Dive, AncientGreymon!"
"I know! I am, damn it!"
AncientGreymon plummeted in a controlled nosedive, ducking under a torrent of dark magic that just narrowly missed him.
AncientGreymon snarled, spreading his wings out before hitting the ground. He skimmed the surface of the field as he levelled out his angle.
The field was grey, the dried grass smouldering under the heat of his attacks. The ground was cracked and fractured – fissures split the ground in various places and jagged rocks jutted out from the earth erratically. The ground was littered with craters, torn open by stray attacks. The land bore the evidence that this intense skirmish had been going on for over half an hour.
AncientGreymon soared erratically across the landscape. His fiery wings were damaged, shedding orange feathers with every flap. Sweat matted his blond hair to the back of his neck. He hurriedly looked around, his sapphire eyes alertly running dual task of looking where he was flying and keeping track of their opponent.
He was right in the thick of the battle. Bright, crimson blood stained his draconic visage. It drizzled down his cheek from underneath his white mask. A deep crack on his forehead behind his nose horn also oozed scarlet, painting his helmeted face and leaking out down the front of his snout. As he snarled, rippling flames leaked out of the corners of his mouth, and smoke wafted out his nostrils. The dual cannons that mounted his shoulders glowed bright orange, smoke drifting from their barrels.
On AncientGreymon's armoured back was a white figure, shining like the light of the moon. AncientGarurumon was kneeling between the dragon's wings, deftly keeping his balance as AncientGreymon performed high velocity manoeuvres. The white, armoured wolf held the Sharpness Claymores in each hand. They glimmered with light, which AncientGarurumon weaponized as they shone off the blades' golden surfaces. AncientGarurumon looked around alertly, his ears twitching as he listened for danger. He was AncientGreymon's eyes, ears, and nose as they battled.
However, even he was showing signs of damage. Although he wielded his twin swords with discipline and ease, it was clear that he was favouring his left arm. Blood leaked down his bicep and trickled off his bent elbow. His armour was cracked and dented in various places, and crimson dripped out of one of his nostrils and onto his lips, solidifying the moment it touched his frigid armour and frost breath.
AncientGarurumon looked up, his fearsome, red eyes flashing as he launched a slew of light arrows into the sky at their opponent.
And that opponent was Lucemon.
Lucemon: Falldown Mode watched with blasé amusement as the storm of shining arrows surged towards him. Unlike the two warriors, he barely had a scratch on him, save for some singed feathers and sliced sleeves. He barely raised an eyebrow at the myriad of piercing projectiles poised to skewer him.
As the shining volley closed in on him, Lucemon casually swept his hand up. A massive, magical circle formed in front of his body. From within its arcane seal, a black maelstrom surged out to swallow the arrows of light in their unholy folds.
AncientGreymon snarled, watching as the Demon Lord negated AncientGarurumon's attack, seemingly with ease. "Damn it!" he exclaimed with fiery frustration, flapping his wings as he rose in the air. "How is he so much stronger than before?!"
"It doesn't matter! Focus, dragon!" AncientGarurumon instructed him.
"Haha…!" Lucemon mockingly exclaimed. He smiled with triumphant confidence as he swept away the darkness and light with a wave of his arm. "What's wrong?! Are you having trouble keeping up with me now? Such a pity…"
AncientGreymon snarled out white flames, glaring with fury as the fallen angel taunted them. "Why you conceited, stuck-up, little piece of shit! Wait until I get my hands on you and I'll wipe that smug smirk off your pretty face!" he blasted.
"Don't rise to it, AncientGreymon," AncientGarurumon told him. "Remember what we came here for."
AncientGreymon took a deep breath, inhaling the flames back into his mouth. "Right…!"
"Oh? And what is that?" Lucemon wondered with mock curiosity. "Wait… Let me guess. You are trying to keep us busy and soften us up in order to buy time for the Royal Knights. Did I get that right…?"
AncientGreymon's eyes narrowed and he released a low growl.
"Look around you. Look at yourselves," Lucemon taunted them. "You are losing this battle!"
AncientGarurumon ventured a glance around them.
Not far off, he watched as AncientVolcamon careened towards Demon, propelling himself with an explosive rocket boost from his dorsal volcano. Demon flew towards the Warrior of Earth head on, matching him with a magic-imbued punch of his own. Their fists collided, and there was a meteoric shockwave. However, Demon prevailed, and AncientVolcamon was sent careening back towards the ground like a meteorite.
As AncientVolcamon crashed into the ground in a wave of dirt, Demon unleashed a torrent of flames towards both him and the tree line where AncientTroiamon and AncientWisemon were launching attacks from. Before the inferno could engulf them, AncientMermaimon through up a barrier of water to contend with the flames. There was a horrible hiss of a steam and the flames were already beginning to overpower her wall of water, but her friends were spared the flames.
Meanwhile, AncientIrismon and AncientBeatmon zipped back and forth in the sky, trading blows with - but mostly forced to dodge - the raging Belphemon.
AncientSphinxmon traded beams with Lilithmon, a barrage of shadows shooting back and forth across the field. He was on the defensive, having to lunge to narrowly escape getting grabbed again by an otherworldly, hand-shaped creature that she summoned.
Finally, AncientMegatheriummon had to summon a wall of ice in front of his body to avoid getting struck by another of Barbamon's beams.
The Warrior Ten were almost at their limit. The Demon Lords were too strong. AncientGarurumon already had a feeling that they would not be able to beat them here. What he began to realize then was that he wasn't sure if they'd even be able to last for as long as they intended.
"Well, then…" Lucemon spoke, shaking his head derisively. "I think it's about time that I stopped playing along with this little game…"
With a self-assured smile Lucemon gazed down at the two warriors who had once defeated him…
"Filthy, little beasts like you… should be chained and collared!"
…And then he dove towards them.
"He's coming! Be ready!" AncientGarurumon informed AncientGreymon, standing upright on his back and crossing his swords in front of him.
"I'll be ready… and more!" AncientGreymon declared, flapping his fiery wings powerfully. He rose through the sky to meet Lucemon's challenge. He rose to meet him head on. "I'll take him from the front, wolf!"
"Don't be hasty, dragon!" AncientGarurumon told him, glaring up at Lucemon. "He won't fall that easily!"
"I know, but I'll at least give him something to think about!"
The Warriors of Flame and Light both rose in the sky, blazing like a shooting star. Flames coursed out of AncientGreymon's mouth and flooded through the cannons on his back.
"Omega Burst!" he roared.
"Absolute Zero!" AncientGarurumon shouted, his swords shining with blinding light.
A concentrated ball of flames ripped from AncientGreymon's mouth, followed by a dual torrent from his cannons. At the same time, AncientGarurumon fired a burning ray of light from his swords. The fire and light complimented each other and tore towards Lucemon, swallowing all of the dust and ashes in its path and set to consume him as well.
Lucemon descended towards them dauntlessly, outstretching his hand in front of him.
A glowing magical seal pulsed out from his hand, spinning in front of him, much larger than his own body. He beheld the rising swell of fire and light without concern.
The incandescent fireball howled as it hurdled towards him, dwarfing the fallen angel's body in size. It closed in on Lucemon. The roaring flames swelled as it neared, and the cutting light shone from within the blazing embers.
The fireball slammed into his magical circle and exploded. There was a deafening explosion as the fireball exploded like a megaton bomb. Concentrated fire burst outwards, blooming in the sky and swallowing everything around it. Burning rays of concentrated light streamed out from within the fire's folds, creating a deadly blossom in the sky.
AncientGreymon narrowed his eyes, watching the blooming fireball as the hot concussion blew past their bodies. "Did we get him…?" he wondered.
AncientGarurumon glared into the explosion, not letting his guard down for a moment. He watched the flames as they swelled out and parted, looking intently for the angel that he knew must still be there,
He watched alertly… carefully inspecting the flames as they parted.
There was no sign of Lucemon amidst the parting fire. He looked up – and then around, trying to spot the demon behind the flames. He listened carefully, attempting to hear amidst the roar of flames… He knew he wasn't dead. He couldn't be… right?
There was a voice…
AncientGarurumon's eyes widened with dread. He immediately knew his error.
"Dead or Alive…" the voice gently spoke.
"AncientGreymon, below!"
AncientGreymon's eyes widened. His head had been cranked upwards, and he immediately jerked his body forwards.
He saw Lucemon below them, underneath the nadir of the explosion. Lucemon was in AncientGarurumon's blind spot. The fallen angel had his magical circle raised towards them, and a gyrating orb was hurdling towards them.
"MOVE!"
"SHIT!" AncientGreymon swore, flapping his wings and trying to evade as fast as he could.
It was too late.
The spinning orb of ancient sigils and black magic opened up and swallowed AncientGreymon and AncientGarurumon in its folds.
"No!" AncientGreymon yelled, trying to brute force his way through it, only to be halted as he was shocked with a torrent of magic. "GRAAAAH!"
Lucemon chuckled and leisurely rose in the air towards them.
"How pitiful… Is this the most that the ten 'legendary' warriors amount to?" he asked, smirking haughtily as he ascended just above their level.
"You… bastard…!" AncientGreymon panted, glaring through the magical cage at Lucemon. "Don't forget who put you down before!"
"Silence, beast," Lucemon spoke, glaring at the interruption.. "Your superior is speaking."
Then, in a swift movement, he closed his hand shut. The gyrating globe suddenly imploded around AncientGreymon and AncientGarurumon, crushing them inside the prison in an overwhelming confluence of holy and demonic energy.
As the magical circle collapsed, there was a massive implosion of darkness and holy light, drowning out their pained cries.
"No!" AncientIrismon shouted out, turning towards the explosion after blasting away one of Belphemon's swinging chains. "AncientGreymon! AncientGarurumon!"
"Crap! This is bad!" AncientBeatmon exclaimed, wincing as he blocked one of Belphemon's chains with his scythes. "Troia!"
Lucemon laughed, rising in the air and watching as the mix of angelic and demonic energy separated from around their bodies. He watched as AncientGreymon began to plummet in the sky, his armour cracked all over, shedding metal and feathers as he fell. AncientGarurumon collapsed on the dragon's back, his own armoured body heavily cracked as well. Blood leaked from his nose and mouth, and he was just barely able to hook a notch in AncientGreymon's armour with his foot to keep from falling off.
"Guh…" AncientGreymon groaned, blood streaming down his face as he plummeted. He was just barely able to spread out his sprained wings, managing to catch himself on the wind and flap in place weakly to keep from falling.
He slowly flapped his wings, drifting to the side unevenly. He slowly raised his head, glaring up at Lucemon defiantly, even though it was struggle to do even that. He refused to let in end there.
"My, my…" Lucemon spoke, smiling arrogantly down at the two struggling warriors beneath him. He folded his arms, gazing down at them with utter contempt.
"Did you really think that you could beat me?" Lucemon asked them. "I am much more powerful than I was when I first evolved. Not only that, but I see the world clearly now. You see… that first time you both defeated me in the Sky Colonies… that was nothing more than a fluke."
"No… I am not the same Digimon that I used to be," Lucemon promised them, glaring down at the pair with cold, blue eyes. "I see the path to the future… You are mere obstacles, fighting stubbornly to drag this world back to a forgotten past. Nothing more. …You happened to defeat me once… but that will never happen again. I will not be defeated by the pale imitations of Susanoomon… the pathetic parasites of his long-forgotten power."
"W…What…?" AncientGarurumon breathed, weakly attempting to pull himself up.
AncientGreymon glared up at the angel with astonishment and confusion. "Susanoomon…? What are you on about…?"
Lucemon simply smiled and began to leisurely descend towards them.
"You see, lizard… mongrel… Your time has passed," Lucemon explained. "For you and all of your friends."
Lucemon's hands flickered with magical energy.
"You are artifacts of a bygone age… Pathetic vestiges of him. He… He was not fit to kiss my boots. Yet, you heathen relics are worth even less than him – you are mere fragments of his reflection. You dare talk to me as if you are my equals, yet you are only as strong as you are because you stole Susanoomon's power through those Spirits," Lucemon accused them.
"Between you and him, you have ended my life twice… You were lucky, as was he. Yet now, the Great Destroyer is no more, and you, his inheritors, are but flimsy imitations…" Lucemon smiled as he stopped above them. "Now, everything is different."
"The past is yours… but the future is mine," Lucemon explained, raising his hands, flashing with black and white energy, towards them. "Now… vanish like the ghosts that you are!"
"AncientGreymon! Get back!" a voice called out from behind them.
AncientGreymon immediately buffeted his wings forwards, throwing his body in reverse. At the same time, a torrent of roots, rock, and metal poles burst from the ground beneath them.
A tangled mass of wood, metal, and rock came shooting up diagonally towards Lucemon. The Demon Lord of Pride glowered and flew backwards as the wall of elements surged towards him, separating him from AncientGreymon and AncientGarurumon.
AncientGreymon watched as the mass of roots, outcroppings, and minerals shot up and drove Lucemon back. He looked over his shoulder and saw AncientTroiamon standing within the tree line, beckoning over with his head.
"AncientGreymon! P-Pull back! We have to retreat!" AncientTroiamon called out to them. "We have done all we can here!"
AncientGreymon growled and looked ahead of him, towards the wall of elements that Lucemon was blasting at. "Damn it…!" he reluctantly swore.
"Don't be rash… We stalled them for as long as we could," AncientGarurumon told him, getting to a kneel on his back. "It would be too dangerous to fight any longer."
AncientGreymon grimaced. He knew that they were right, as much as he hated to back down. "Yeah… Right…" he grumbled, flapping his wings and turning around.
"Hurry, AncientGreymon," AncientIrismon called over to him. "I'll give you a tailwind."
AncientGreymon felt her summon a sudden wind against his back, allowing him to fly with haste despite his aching wings. "Thanks, Iris," he thanked her, although he couldn't hide his frustration as he retreated back towards the Great Forest.
Meanwhile, Lucemon annihilated the wall of wood, rock, and metal with a blast of power, just in time to see the Warrior Ten disengage from combat and retreat towards the forest.
"Don't chase them!" Barbamon called out. "That's what they want. Those damn beasts want to delay us from reaching the Chasm for as long as possible!"
"Hmph…" Lucemon scoffed. As much as he wanted to wipe them out then and there, he made no attempt to follow them. He reluctantly accepted the wisdom of Barbamon's words.
With a cold glare, he watched as AncientGreymon was the last of the ten to disappear into the sacred forest. When the last of the red disappeared amidst the brown and green, Lucemon coldly turned around.
"…Another glorious victory against the heathen scum! Now march onwards, my Nightmare Soldiers! To our next victory!"
He faced the cheering Nightmare Soldiers, who erupted in exuberant conquest once again. As he looked around, he wore a triumphant smile on his face, but his fists were clenched tight.
"They are nothing but the ghosts of Susanoomon… He is gone… and like him… like Yggdrasil and God, they will vanish into the dusts of time."
"I will erase this wretched past… and create a new, bright and beautiful future…"
Several hours passed since the skirmish at the tree line of the Great Forest.
The sun had nearly set over the horizon. It was decided that the Demon Lords' army would stop for a rest, though they decided that it would be a pointless waste of time and energy to make camp. They would be up and marching again in a few hours anyways.
They were not far from the Chasm of Creation now. The Demon Lords agreed they had at least a little time to spare. The decision was pragmatic rather than altruistic; if their soldiers were too exhausted from the trek, then they would be less effective in battle.
Lucemon stood at the foremost edge of the Demon Lords' rest spot. He gazed across the dark, brooding landscape. Although the grass beneath them was wilting, and the skies remained turbulent and grey, he still enjoyed the sight of the vast panorama – or, rather, what it represented.
In the distance, he could see the Primal Mountains towering over the surrounding landscape. They were almost there. The Chasm of Creation. He was so close he could taste it.
Ever since the debacle at New Terminal, which he decided was Leviamon's fault, everything had been going swimmingly for the Demon Lords. It had been triumph after triumph.
They had consolidated their territories and armies. They had fought back the Powers. They had captured the Arcane Ruins and Dark Point. They had captured Shroud and Saversburg. They had defeated the Royal Knights in battle twice. Now, they had defeated the Warrior Ten.
Momentum was on their side, and now, Lucemon knew, they were unstoppable. All that was left was the Chasm of Creation and God itself.
"Basking in glory?" a gruff voice asked from behind him.
Lucemon smirked, instantly recognizing the voice. "Demon," he greeted without turning around. "You could say that."
Demon walked over, garbed in his dark, maroon robes. "Don't celebrate too soon. We haven't won just yet."
"No, but we will," Lucemon arrogantly proclaimed. "We just have one or two more minor hurdles… and then we will be at our goal."
"No… Not yet," Demon curtly informed him. "Even after God has been destroyed, that is when the real work will begin. In the flames of chaos, we will need to mould the clay that is this world into our image. The rest will fall, but only if pushed."
"Hm," Lucemon mused wryly. "I am glad that we have the same ideas about the fate of God, Demon."
Demon stepped up beside him, staring intensely at him. "You're a dreamer, Lucemon. A charismatic one who can bend the masses to your will, but still a dreamer. I am a pragmatist. I know that this war will continue even after we have crushed God, the Royal Knights, and the Heavenly Choir. It will take blood and sweat to make the most of the chaos and crush the rest of the fools on Eniac. We cannot afford complacency."
"Yes, I see your point," Lucemon responded, looking forwards confidently. "One step at a time, however. Sell every victory as a triumph. The masses feed on short-term success – it perpetuates the momentum we need to make that future a reality."
"Very well," Demon answered. "We need momentum to win, but we also need something else… Loyalty. We cannot afford to have another betrayal like Leviamon. Not at this point."
"Hmm… Loyalty, you say. Why, I agree completely, Demon," Lucemon buoyantly said, glancing at the robed demon with piqued interest. "Tell me, Demon… is there anybody whose loyalty you are concerned about?"
Demon briefly looked over each shoulder to make sure that nobody was listening in.
"…Who among us has hired his own private army?" Demon rhetorically asked.
"Oh…" Lucemon mused, wearing a smile that suggested he was not at all surprised. "You must mean Bagramon. What do you make of him, Demon?"
"Between us, I don't trust him. I never have," Demon explained, his eerie, blue eyes narrowing into slivers. "He's too clever by full. He's always thinking… He thinks too far ahead for my liking."
"Oh?" Lucemon asked, his voice calm and neutral as he allowed Demon to talk. "What makes you say that?"
"For one thing, he was never truly with us," Demon declared in a hushed, but no less intense voice. "He wasn't with the seven of us, back when we were huddled in Beelzebumon's grubby little tavern, fomenting the seeds of our rebellion. Bagramon sat safely on the fence, dithering and wringing his hands. It was only after our seeds blossomed into flames that Bagramon decided to climb down from the spectators' stands and join us."
"You doubt his commitment? Why, it seems to me that he is quite committed," Lucemon mused with apparent even-handedness.
"No, not his commitment. I believe he experienced the folly of God for himself. That much is clear on his face…" Demon replied, turning to the blond-haired demon. "What I doubt are his motives… Why hire that mercenary company with his own pocket money rather than our war chest? It isn't him simply altruistically sacrificing for the cause… It is so that he has a card up his sleeve in the aftermath."
Lucemon smiled enigmatically at Demon. "Now, Demon…" he softly spoke to his robed companion. "…I could not agree with you more."
Demon raised his brow in surprise. "You couldn't?" he asked. "Then you see it too?"
"Of course. I am not blind," the black-and-white fallen angel confidently informed him. "I am well aware of what Bagramon is doing. I have suspected for some time now. I am glad I am not the only one with some sense."
Demon frowned, eyeing Lucemon suspiciously. "How long…?"
Lucemon placed his hands on his hips, thinking to himself. "I have always had my suspicions, but… I would say it was when Bagramon and I entered the Archives together," he apathetically mused. "I became aware of new information… That was when I realized that Bagramon had his own agenda."
Demon scowled darkly behind his hood. "…This agenda… What is it?"
"Don't misunderstand me; Bagramon's interests align with ours up to a certain point…" Lucemon explained. "That is, he wants to defeat the Royal Knights, the Sky Colonies, and capture the Kernel as we have planned. But after that…? I believe that is when our paths will irrevocably diverge…"
Lucemon closed his eyes and smiled self-assuredly, despite his words describing Bagramon's potential treachery. "I do not know exactly what he is planning, but my instincts tell me that, in that perfect world that he seeks, he doesn't see a future for Digimon like us – Digimon with the strength to challenge him." Lucemon opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder, seeing Bagramon walking far at the other side of camp. "For now, we require his knowledge and abilities in order to break into the Kernel – and he requires our power in order to do so."
"And when we do break into the Kernel?" Demon eagerly asked.
"When we do, we will have the advantage," Lucemon informed him with absolute certainty. "You see, Demon… Bagramon believes that he is using me. He thinks that we are just blindly following his plans like pieces in one of his board games."
A devious smile crawled on Lucemon's face. "However… what he doesn't know is that I am using him just as he is using me. With his diplomatic tongue, he thinks he knows how to placate me. He believes that I have a future for him in my new world…" Lucemon laughed haughtily and shook his head. "However, he simply cannot be trusted. Bagramon's usefulness will come to an end the moment that the Kernel has been breached. I will not give him a chance to turn on us…"
"Good…" Demon hissed in his scathing voice. "If you weren't going to, I would have."
Lucemon extended his hand outwards, grinning triumphantly as he gazed out at the horizon before them. "Bagramon's exit in this grand play is coming far sooner than he expects… and it shall not be the ending that he is expecting."
"Oh?" a voice said from behind them. "What's all this now? Planning a little coup, are we?"
Demon turned towards the voice with ire. Meanwhile, Lucemon barely turned his head, not at all concerned that their treachery had been overheard.
They both saw Barbamon making his way over, resting his Death Lure staff against his shoulder as he leisurely strode towards them. He had a wide smile of crooked amusement.
"What did you hear?" Demon demanded.
"Oh, nothing apart from the juicy bits. A little advice from an experienced schemer: try not to do it so obviously. You never know what spies Bagramon has in his pocket," Barbamon casually informed them. "Fortunately, he seems to be too busy himself to watch you with that precious eye of his." Barbamon stopped close to them. "So… did I get that right? You want to take out the half-hearted half-face?"
"Hmph. Barbamon," Lucemon greeted. "It isn't a 'coup' if we are the ones in charge… It is more like preparing for the future. It is merely some business that we will need to resolve in order for our plans to succeed."
"Pah! Whatever you want to call it – it doesn't matter. I want in on this," Barbamon informed them.
"Oh? Here I thought you two got along so well," Demon sarcastically replied.
"Forgive me if I don't trust someone who is hiring an independent army with his own money," Barbamon spat. "I've never liked him. He's too much of an idealist. How can you trust someone who once gave away his entire fortune? It's beyond reason!"
"Don't get too excited just yet," Lucemon told him. "We still have obstacles that we must overcome before we can start setting the stage for our new world. We won't do anything until after God and Yggdrasil have been dealt with."
Lucemon offered the Demon Lord of Greed a conspiratorial smile. "However… It is nice to know that we have your support," he added. "I am sure you know which side benefits you the most, don't you, Barbamon?"
"Tch. I'm not so peanut-brained that I'll be swayed by your honeyed words, Lucemon," Barbamon indignantly retorted. "However… I do realize that siding with the two of you would be far smarter than siding with an idealistic, unknown quantity like Bagramon. I am well aware of what he thinks of me."
"You had better remember that," Demon growled threateningly. "Because, know this, old man… If you betray us, I will wrap that beard so tightly around your throat that all those gems you hoard will come spilling out."
Barbamon rolled his eyes. "You always have such a way with words, Demon…" he flatly responded. "As if I would do something so short-sighted. If anything, you sorry pair need me if you have any hope of winning in the machinations to come. You're far too sure of victory, Lucemon, and you, Demon, you're about as diplomatic as that rock over there."
"Tch," Demon scoffed, folding his enrobed arms. "Needless to say, don't let the beans out of the bag. We don't want the wrong person finding out."
"However… we do want to have more allies than Bagramon, should a power struggle ensue," Lucemon mused, stroking his smooth chin. "Should we try to enlist Lilithmon?"
"No, not her," Barbamon swiftly responded. "I've seen her cozying up to Bagramon as of late. Anything we tell her, she would likely use against us." The bearded demon tapped his staff, thinking to himself. "…Belphemon? Would he be a better option?"
"Perhaps… He is one to go with the flow," Lucemon considered.
Barbamon nodded in agreement. "He wouldn't rock the boat. Not if we present him with a unified bloc of strength," he mused.
Demon nodded. "He's always been weak that way. The path of least resistance. We should use that to our advantage."
"Fine, fine. I'll speak to the oversized puffball," Barbamon responded, turning and beginning to walk away. "Let's not even bother with Beelzebumon. He's a law unto himself. More trouble than he's worth, I say!"
"Very well. You do that, Barbamon," Lucemon responded, watching Barbamon as he walked away from him.
With that, Barbamon started walking back towards the army. As he looked ahead, his face was concealed from their view, hiding the conniving grin that formed on his lips.
"You have my support for now, Lucemon, but only because I think it is the best way forward for me," Barbamon thought devilishly to himself. "The moment that you stop being valuable to me, you had better believe that I will cast you aside like a counterfeit coin. You truly believe that you are going to create a worthless new world. If you think I'm going to let you strip this world of all of its value, you are sadly mistaken!"
"I am the brains here. I will be several steps ahead of all of you," Barbamon inwardly proclaimed, his eyes gleaming and his smile stretching wider. "I will build my wealth and influence through shrewd strategy, using whatever alliances I need to, and I will trade them out just as fast. I will build myself an unstoppable treasury of power and wealth, and, then, everyone will be coming to me for everything."
Barbamon released a craggy chuckle and he squeezed his Death Lure staff with a ravenous grip.
"When that happens… nothing in this world will be out of reach for me. It will all be mine!"
Demon watched suspiciously as Barbamon walked away. "…He could be a problem. He's always been out for himself. Can we trust him?" he wondered.
"For now, at least. Barbamon knows what benefits him. Right now, that is us," Lucemon answered, without concern. "In the end, it doesn't matter if he supports us or not, though it would be easier if he did so."
Demon frowned at Lucemon. "Why is that?"
"Because, Demon, we already have me," Lucemon definitively stated.
Lucemon's smug smile crawled a little wider. Then, he turned to face Demon with a look of serene enlightenment on his fair visage.
"Do you know something, Demon…? Even when I was a child, I knew that I was destined for great things… I supported the Exodus, but, as time went on, I realised that the Heavenly Choir was far too small for me. I was surrounded by tiny minds. Minds that were too inert, too lacking in knowledge and imagination. Minds that were content to carry on, but that could never be 'great'."
"However, I knew that I was different. I knew that I was special… I had something that none of them had."
Lucemon chuckled and shook his head with superiority.
"And, do you know what? When I was in the Archives with Bagramon, I learned something… I was right."
Demon remained quiet. He eyed Lucemon with wary silence, but he said nothing.
"You see, Demon… I was a great Digimon not only in my current life since the Rebellion, but far in the past, as well," Lucemon informed him, his airy words carrying an aura of destiny.
"I am the Dragon of Chaos… the messiah who brought the stagnant era of Huanglongmon to an end – the one who brought an entire Cycle to an end. Revolution runs in my very digicore. It is my destiny - my future to bring this stagnant world as we know it to an end… and to usher in a new world," the Demon Lord of Pride determined.
Demon's eyes widened for a moment, gazing at Lucemon with intrigue. "The Dragon of Chaos…? …Hmph… I knew there was something about you, Lucemon," he murmured. "Very well… I'll go along with you and your plans. You're strong, and you're more willing to make hard decisions than Bagramon is. After all, you and I both want the same things… An end to this weak and stagnant world."
Demon closed his eyes and nodded. "It seems that the seeds that Bagramon has sown are finally coming home to roost…"
Lucemon smirked. "I knew I could count on you, Demon," he told him, before turning away. "First, the Royal Knights. Then, the false gods. Then, whoever is left to stand in our way… They will fall like dominos."
"They will…" Demon said, side-eyeing Lucemon out of the corner of the slit in his hood. He calmly turned away as well. "I shall take my leave. It's time we've started moving again."
"Very well…"
Demon eyed Lucemon's back for a moment before walking back towards the Nightmare Soldiers' army. As he strode, his beast-like fists clenched and cracked beneath his long, ceremonial sleeves. His indigo eyes blazed with silent intensity and indomitable zeal.
"This world has become soft," he internally brooded. "All these Digimon, living in their peaceful societies have forgotten what it means to value strength. The Heavenly Choir was soft and weak. It's the same with everywhere else… Societies of weaklings propping up other weaklings. The core purpose of Digimon is to survive, grow, and dominate the competition. It is to amass power and crush all those who oppose us."
"I, Demon, will be the pinnacle of that strength. I will be the fulcrum who all other Digimon will look up at with fear and respect."
Demon's burning eyes narrowed with clear-minded wrath, and he strode ahead with dauntless focus.
"Laugh while you still can, Lucemon. I will use you for as long as I need to, but there will come a time when your usefulness will be at an end too. There is no place for either you or Bagramon in my world… This world has no need for messiahs. What it needs… is a single ruler with an iron fist."
"You may be the Dragon of Chaos, but I am the Demon of Order."
As Demon strode away, back to his troops, Lucemon was left on his own.
The fallen angel gazed up at the sky with a smile on his face, watching a single, glimmering star that shone through the apocalyptic clouds.
"Yes… I will be the star that guides this dark world into a bright future," Lucemon quietly declared.
"I, and I alone…"
At the other end of camp, Bagramon walked towards the wagon train.
Bagramon was looking for somebody. He wanted to find them before the army set out again. He wasn't sure if he would have another chance to speak with them.
He walked past the Devidramon that were taking the chance to rest before they had to go back to pulling the carriages. It was as he rounded one of the large carriages that he saw who he was looking for.
Sitting on a luxurious chair was Lilithmon.
Lilithmon sat leisurely, taking this chance to stretch her legs after a long carriage ride. She fanned herself while allowing a pair of PicoDevimon attendants to feed her grapes. As she relaxed, she also put her feet up – on the back of a Boogiemon who willingly acted as her footstool.
Lilithmon swallowed one of the small fruits and then looked up with interest as Bagramon entered her field of view.
"Oh, Bagramon. I was wondering where you got off to…" Lilithmon greeted him.
"I was looking for you, as it happens…" Bagramon responded, looking at her and her servants. "I was hoping that you and I could have the chance to talk before we set out again. This will probably be our last chance before we reach out destination."
Lilithmon raised her brow. "Suuuure~," she agreed. "Come and take a seat. Care for some grapes?"
Bagramon glanced at her servants hesitantly. Although he knew they probably wouldn't betray her, he didn't want to take any chances. "…Actually, I was hoping that we could speak in private. The matter is somewhat… sensitive."
Lilithmon stared up at Bagramon for a few moments. Then, a tiny smile appeared on her violet-painted lips, and she sighed. "Oh, very well…" she agreed, making a brushing motion with her hand to dismiss the PicoDevimon. Then, she removed her feet from the Boogiemon and gave him a light nudge with her foot. "You too. Get going now."
"Yes, Mistress!" the Boogiemon readily agreed, leaping up and making himself scarce with the others.
Lilithmon propped her arm on the seat that was basically a throne, and rested her hand against her cheek as she gazed up at Bagramon. "Yes, Bagramon? You have my attention…" she informed him, as if granting him an audience.
Bagramon stared at her with a pensive and serious expression. "…Will you promise to keep this between us?" he asked her.
Lilithmon looked up at Bagramon, her brow arching as her bored expression lightened up with interest. "I promise. Go on, Bagramon…"
"…Our final confrontation with the Royal Knights is at hand. With God's safety on the line, I would not be surprised if the Heavenly Choir did not try to stop us too… If we defeat them, we will have secured a monumental victory. We will have captured the Kernel and defeated our strongest foes," Bagramon explained. "However, after our external foes are defeated… I fear that what unites the Demon Lords will vanish, and self-interest will prevail over what is best for the world."
"Ah… Yes, I see what you mean," Lilithmon responded, a knowing grin forming on her lips. "It is a tale as old as time. And the others all certainly have form…"
"…I am putting myself in a vulnerable position by telling you this, but, out of all of the Demon Lords, you are the one who I trust the most," Bagramon told her. "…Will you help me? Can I count on your support?
Lilithmon gazed up at him watchfully. On the expressive half of his face, there was a concerned - almost insecure – frown. Despite how normally calm and confident he was, in this matter, he seemed anything but. Lilithmon could tell that political manoeuvering wasn't something he was comfortable with.
Lilithmon had to put a hand to her mouth to suppress a laugh. He almost looked like a lost puppy to her. He was just so sincere and honest. It was so deliciously quaint that she couldn't help but be amused and pleased by his innocence. She knew that he was someone she could work with.
"You can count on my support, Bagramon…" she assured him, smiling charismatically up at him. She slowly rose to her feet. "I know the others well… I know what they're like. You are right to think that you won't be able to rely on them. And… I also know that I will be able to trust you."
"You and me can help each other…" She smiled warmly and began approaching him. "I'm happy to stand with you, Bagramon. I promise you that."
Bagramon looked down with a hesitant frown. "Even though I look the way that I do…? I know I look abhorrent."
"Oh, Bagramon…" Lilithmon raised her hands and cupped Bagramon's cheeks, taking his half-wooden cheek in her left hand without hesitation. She lifted his head so that he looked her in the eyes. "You're still as handsome as you always were. In fact, I might even prefer this new you… You are more mature, charming, and you know what you want. ...Now, where is all this doubt coming from? You aren't getting cold feet now, are you?"
A small, ashamed smile appeared on Bagramon's lips. "Cold feet… No…" he reflectively answered. "We're so close now. These past few days have just been… stressful. I suppose the closeness of our goal and the magnitude of what we're doing is catching up with me. I assure you, I am more determined now than ever…"
"Good… We can't afford any moments of hesitation now," Lilithmon spoke, gently stroking his bearded cheek. "As you say, the others aren't going to just sit on their hands, so we are going to have to be focused."
"Yes… Yes, you're right. I won't let what has happened cloud my judgment. It was just a shock…" Bagramon answered with a sigh.
"What exactly happened?" Lilithmon asked, sliding her hands down off Bagramon's face. "This 'phantom assassin' I heard about…"
Bagramon shook his head. "It was DarkKnightmon… He is back. Somehow, he is back… He wanted to stop me."
Lilithmon stared at him with subdued surprise. "…DarkKnightmon?" she asked, blinking. "Well… that would throw anyone through a loop, I suppose…"
"That is why I have been distracted… but my resolve is unchanged," Bagramon assured her. "Even if I see him on the battlefield, I will not hesitate to kill him if he tries to stop us."
"He is a dogged one, that's for sure. Shrewd but relentless. I remember, he would stop at nothing in the Dark Area…" Lilithmon sighed and placed a hand on her hip. "For what it is worth, between the two of you brothers, I much prefer you. You are the clear catch, if I do say so myself. He is handsome for sure, but he is far too… serious."
Bagramon smiled slightly. Part of him wondered what sort of experiences Lilithmon had with her brother. At the same time, he didn't really want to know. He couldn't afford to think about him any longer. It was like Lilithmon said. They needed to be focused from now on.
"Lilithmon?" he asked. "May I ask you something?"
Lilithmon tilted her head a little. "Why, go right ahead."
Bagramon gazed at her with soft, inquisitive eyes. "…What are you hoping for at the end of all this?" he wondered.
Lilithmon let out a contemplative breath as she thought about the weighty question.
"Hmm…" she mused, folding her arms. "What I want, Bagramon… is to be able live my life the way that I want."
"Simply put… I want freedom and I want pleasure. I want to be able to indulge my desires in whatever way I see fit, without anybody trying to stop me," she continued, gazing confidently and resolutely into his eyes. "I don't have some grand plan to overturn the world like Lucemon does. I just want to take what I can get, using the best way forward for my own interests. As long as I have power and security at the end of all this, that's all that matters to me."
"I see… and that's why you're happy to side with me over Lucemon?" Bagramon questioned.
Lilithmon grinned and nodded. "I know that you have plans of your own, but I also know that whatever Lucemon's planning will be far worse than what you are… I have a sense of what Lucemon wants to do. The new world that he wants to make… that is not a world that works for me. His goals do not align with mine. As such, I will actively work against him. Therefore, from what I can see, you and I have shared interests. You're the best path forwards for me, and I, you."
"I couldn't agree more…" he agreed. Bagramon looked at her questioningly. "What is your read on the other Demon Lords? Would any of them be willing to work with us?"
Lilithmon let out a hum as she thought about it. "Well… neither Demon nor Barbamon trust you. They think you're too idealistic and that you wouldn't have their interests in mind. The brutish general and the wily old man make dangerous enemies, but they would have made unreliable allies anyways. Forget about them," she advised him. "And as for Beelzebumon, you can't count on him for anything. Who knows where he even is?"
A concerned frown formed on Bagramon's face. That didn't leave him with many options. "…What about Belphemon?" he wondered.
"Belphemon… is a possibility," Lilithmon admitted. "The trick is that you have to put a strong case to him. Normally, Belphemon would either rather keep out of the conflict altogether or play both sides… However, ultimately, he will choose the path of least resistance. If he thinks that siding with us will be the easier and more stable option, then he may join us over the others."
"Thank you for the information. I should go and find Belphemon, then," Bagramon responded.
"No need…" a deep, growling voice said from nearby.
Bagramon and Lilithmon both turned. They watched as Belphemon's large, hulking form suddenly emerged, out from behind the nearest carriage.
"Oh, Belphemon…" Bagramon greeted calmly. "We were just talking about you."
Belphemon lazily stalked over to them, his large stature dwarfing both of them. "I thought my ears were burning…" he murmured. His lips curled back to reveal his sharp, jagged sets of teeth. "All good things, I hope…"
"We were talking about how we would like your help," Bagramon informed him. "I was about to come looking for you."
The beast-like demon stared down at him. He grunted, seeming to accept his answer. "Yeah, well… lucky for you. I was just looking for you myself…"
Lilithmon eyed him critically. "Shouldn't you be watching Seraphimon?"
"Tch. What's the point? He's passed out," Belphemon grumbled. "Why do I have to be the one to watch him anyways? The bastard's not going anywhere. He's just an anchor we're dragging around at this point."
"He is a very valuable anchor… We still have a use for him," Lilithmon informed him.
"We're almost at the Chasm of Creation. I promise it won't be much longer. Please, bear with it a bit longer," Bagramon diplomatically assured him. "Now… you mentioned you wanted to speak to us about something?"
Belphemon stared down at Bagramon warily. He folded his arms, causing the heavy chains that garbed them to rattle.
"…You go first," Belphemon told him, clearly not wanting to lay all of his cards on the table just yet.
"Now, now, Belphemon," Lilithmon spoke, sauntering up beside Bagramon. "Whatever we say, you have to promise not to go running off to tell anybody else."
Belphemon grunted and tilted his snout up. "And what if I've got information for you two…?" he coyly offered.
"That would be another story…" Lilithmon responded, eyeing the large Demon Lord with piercing interest.
Bagramon stroked his beard. It was clear that Belphemon was bartering, and that he had advantage in terms of information. This was fine. He wanted to entreat Belphemon anyways…
"Very well, Belphemon," Bagramon responded. "Lilithmon and I have a proposition for you… Not to get too ahead of ourselves, but we believe that this alliance between the Demon Lords won't last far beyond our victory over God, the Sky Colonies, and the Royal Knights… We would like you to join us as an equal partner. I'm sure you already know, but… Lucemon, Demon, and Barbamon all have their own agendas. They all want power, and if they have their way, there will be in-fighting and chaos."
"Bagramon's right. It will be like the bad old days of the Dark Area civil wars. You don't want to be caught in the middle of all that again, do you, Belphemon?" Lilithmon slyly added.
A wry smirk crawled onto Belphemon's furry face. "…Heh," he chuckled. "Funny you should say that… I just spoke to Barbamon, actually… He was trying to get me on board with a plan…"
Bagramon frowned. "What plan…?"
"Seems like Lucemon, Barbamon, and Demon feel the same way you do… They're hoping to make a move against you at some point. They want me to join them…"
Bagramon's eye widened, and he fought back the scowl that began to form on his face. "…I see…" he responded, attempting to rein in his surprise and anger. "…And what did you say?"
"…That I'd think about it," Belphemon apathetically explained. "I figured you should know, since you're new at this… I wanted to see what my options were… and if I'd get any better offers."
"You have my assurances about everything I've said already," Bagramon passionately reaffirmed. "Whatever you want, Belphemon, I'm more than willing to oblige. I have no desire for wealth or power like they do. All I care about is purging the injustice from the core of this world. As far as anything else goes, I see you and Lilithmon as equal partners."
Belphemon let out a long, contemplative hum. "…You make a lot of good points…" he deliberated, idly scratching the fur of his pectoral muscle.
"At the end of the day… the only thing I care about is having an easy life," Belphemon explained. "I just want people to stay out of my way… and to let me do whatever the hell I want… No obligations... No expectations… I'm the one who gets to decide…"
"Then…" Bagramon tentatively spoke, eyeing the Demon Lord of Sloth uncertainly, "you will help us?"
Belphemon's trunk-like arms remained folded as he thought about it. "…Yeah, probably," he furtively responded. "Let me think about it a bit more. We'll see."
Bagramon frowned at his vague response. "Very well… Will you keep this between us?"
"Yeah… They'd lose it if they knew. It'd be stupid for us to start tearing each other's throats out before we've even finished off the Choir and the Knights," Belphemon mentioned, half-shrugging as he turned away.
Belphemon turned his barrel-chested body away, his winged back facing the two fallen angels. He let out a grunt and looked over his shoulder at them. "…Like I said, I hate you less than I hate them," he told them. "Just don't get too ahead of yourselves. It might not pan out like you want."
Without another word, Belphemon lazily lumbering away, making his way back to the makeshift camp.
There was a hesitant expression on Bagramon's face as the demonic behemoth trudged away. He turned to Lilithmon. "He seemed unforthcoming… Was that a mistake?"
"Hm? Oh, no. That was actually quite receptive for Belphemon," Lilithmon confidently assured him. "He'll never agree to anything without first giving himself a way out. I wouldn't worry."
"Very well…" Bagramon responded, sighing heavily. "…What about Leviamon? Is it worth entreating him?"
"Fish-breath?" Lilithmon asked with distaste. "Well… I would rather he be on our side than theirs, but you have seen how unreliable he is. He is more trouble than he is worth, in my opinion."
"Yes… but I think he at least tolerates me, and I know he hates Lucemon," Bagramon considered.
Lilithmon sighed. "Let's see how this all shakes out before deciding," she answered.
Lilithmon looked over at the army, watching as the resting Nightmare Soldiers were ordered to their feet in preparation to leave. "It looks like Demon's getting the troops ready to move again," she noted with a beleaguered air to her voice. "I suppose it's back to the cramped carriages."
As Lilithmon began to rise, Bagramon offered her his hand like a gentleman. She smirked at the gesture but took his hand and stood to her feet.
"I guess it's time," Bagramon replied. "There won't be any more stops before we reach the Chasm of Creation."
He let go of Lilithmon's hand and turned, casting his perceptive gaze across the ranks of the army. His sight passed over Barbamon, Demon, and then, finally, Lucemon…
As his Invisible Snake-eye fixed upon the blond-haired demon, his brow furrowed with burning resolve.
"And once we do…"
His hand creaked as it tightened into a crushing fist.
"Everything will change."
The Digital Hazard continued to rage.
The state of ruin spread across the continent, disaster and decay following in its wake. It kept on escalating, the storms getting worse by the day. It showed no signs of abating.
There, at the epicenter of the calamity were two Digimon. That pair walked alone, underneath the cataclysmic sky.
ChaosDukemon made his way across a sprawling field of withered grass. The flowers that once adorned the landscape had withered and died in his presence. Now, he simply travelled towards a pallid brown and grey flatland.
He walked down what looked to be a long-faded road that had been overtaken by field flora. It was clear that it had been a long time since anyone travelled this way. Nor had he expected anybody to. He knew exactly where they were.
Wandering boredly behind ChaosDukemon was Beelzebumon. The Demon Lord of Gluttony strode at a leisurely pace, while the Behemoth puttered at a crawling roll behind him.
It had been a long few days. Beelzebumon tried to make entertainment for himself where he could, even though his travelling companion wasn't the most receptive company, nor could either of them get much sleep with the storm raging constantly overhead.
Currently, Beelzebumon was doing his best to break up the long journey and awkward silences. At the moment, that meant talking about whatever entered his head.
"Man, that cape of yours is pretty badass! You know, in a lame, Virus Buster sorta way," he continued to prattle. "Do you think I could pull off a cape? I mean, it ain't exactly my style or anything, but I think I can make pretty much any outfit look cool. It's all about how you wear it, you know? You just gotta have confidence! Like, I wear leather because I like the look and feel of it, but I don't need to wear it to look as cool as I do. Like, gimme lace stockings – I'll wear that shit and rock it!"
ChaosDukemon stalked ahead with a weary expression. He walked a little bit faster, trying – but not trying too hard – to outpace the Demon Lord. He mostly just ignored the Demon Lords' ramblings, focusing mainly on travelling to the right place.
"Anyway, how do you keep it so clean?" Beelzebumon continued. He reached down and grabbed the hem of ChaosDukemon's cape in his claws, innocently lifting it up to inspect it. "Do you Royal Knights have a dry-cleaner or some fancy tailor or some shit? It's too damn nice – you wouldn't think you've ever seen battle. I gotta go to an apothecary in Shroud to buy the stuff I need to clean leather, and then I gotta lather everything myself!"
ChaosDukemon growled and reached back, yanking the cape away from Beelzebumon's hand. "Hands off," he warned him, shooting the Demon Lord a threatening glare..
Beelzebumon grinned and held his hands up. "Must be a tailor," he wryly remarked, stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets. "Sooooo… are we there yet?"
"No," ChaosDukemon answered, the word as sharp as a fine blade. "Nearly…"
"And you still ain't gonna tell me where we're goin'? If you tell me, maybe I can help you spot it. We've been walking around these empty fields for fuck-knows how long. You ain't lost, are ya? You seem lost. We're lost, ain't we? I think we should ask for directions."
"I'm not lost," ChaosDukemon growled. "I know where I'm going!"
"Can we at least buy a map?"
ChaosDukemon's eye twitched. He was about to reach his breaking point. He spun around, his cape whirling behind him, as he fixed a cutting glare at Beelzebumon.
"No! We're almost there! Just stop talking!" he shouted. "What are you even doing here?! Why are you still tagging along?! Just go somewhere and fight until you die!"
Beelzebumon came to a stop. His grin faded, becoming replaced by a cold expression.
Slowly, he began to reach over his shoulder, his hand nearing the handle of the Berenjena.
ChaosDukemon tensed up when he saw Beelzebumon going for his gun. Scowling, he summoned the Balmung and the Gorgon in his hands. His heel dug into the dry soil as he prepared himself.
Then, Beelzebumon drew his shotgun and fired upwards, directly into the sky.
ChaosDukemon was about to attack, but then he stopped when he saw the demon wasn't aiming for him. It was then that he heard a distant squawk.
He looked up. A figure suddenly fell out of a low-hanging storm cloud. The winged creature was spiralling to the ground, frantically flapping one wing in order to try to keep aloft. However, it only succeeded in slowing its fall and prevent itself from nose-diving into the ground.
ChaosDukemon watched with a cold frown as a white and brown feathered bird fell to the ground in a helical descent. The bird skidded along the ground ungracefully, somersaulting and sliding across the dirt until it came to a stop just a few meters away from them.
"Huh. I had a feelin' we were being tailed," Beelzebumon explained, shrugging as he turned to the fallen bird.
ChaosDukemon turned to inspect the spy with a cold expression.
The short, round bird was in the shape of an owl. The Owlmon groaned and squirmed on the ground in a daze. His left wing had two small holes in it from ball-bearings that Beelzebumon had fired. Around the Owlmon's neck was a sky blue kerchief with a gold, winged eye symbol.
"…He's from the Order," ChaosDukemon spoke, taking a step closer to the downed bird. "The Reconnaissance Squadron."
Owlmon grimaced with pain, trying to prop himself up on his good wing. He twisted his head to the side, and he blanched when he saw Beelzebumon and ChaosDukemon standing over him.
Beelzebumon cocked his head to the side, looming imposingly over the scout. "So, your buddies are spyin' on us?"
ChaosDukemon glared down at Owlmon with withering eyes. "…I'm not surprised," he hissed. "Yggdrasil wants them to deal with me, after all…"
"S-Sir Dukemon…" Owlmon nervously beseeched him. "P-Please... They were just worried about you… I was… tasked with finding you…"
"Uh huh," Beelzebumon cynically replied. He stepped forwards and aimed the Berenjena at the Owlmon's face. "…So, what are we doin', Dukey? What's the plan? Want to scatter this guy or what?"
The Owlmon's cheeks lost their colour, and his face sunk with terror. He looked up at Dukemon, his eyes pleading behind his visor.
ChaosDukemon stared down at the pathetic bird frigidly. His heart was cold and empty. At one time, he would never have even considered it. His heart would have erupted in protest, and he would viscerally refused and chided Beelzebumon for ever considering it – and that's the very least he would have done.
Now, however… He didn't really care. He didn't feel anything. Any moral conscience that he once had… it was crushed beneath the darkness of the Digital Hazard. Right now, this Owlmon was an enemy. The Order was an enemy. The Royal Knights and Yggdrasil were enemies. And anyways… if this Owlmon didn't die now, he would only die later when the world was destroyed. What did it matter?
His lips parted. He very nearly told Beelzebumon to do whatever he wanted.
However, something stayed his tongue. His eyes lingered on the Owlmon's kerchief… the emblem of the Reconnaissance Forces. As he stared at this scout of the Recon Forces, the visage of Grani flashed in his memory.
Grani loved the Reconnaissance Forces. He put everything into making them the best they could be. Now… for all his nihilism, ChaosDukemon found himself unable to destroy something that was so important to Grani.
ChaosDukemon suddenly nudged Beelzebumon's arm with the edge of the Gorgon, angling the shotgun away from the Owlmon.
"No," he firmly told him.
"…What? You serious?" Beelzebumon asked with shock.
"…I thought you didn't kill weak Digimon."
Beelzebumon frowned and withdrew his shotgun. "…I don't!" he poutily countered, feeling a little affronted. "But, I mean… You okay with lettin' this guy go? He's gonna tell the other Royal Knights where we are, ya know."
"Good," ChaosDukemon answered. "It doesn't matter if they know where we are. I intend on finding them."
Beelzebumon raised his brow and shrugged, scratching his head with the edge of his muzzle. "I guess when you put it like that…" he conceded.
ChaosDukemon loomed over the injured Owlmon, pointing his Balmung lance down at him. "You… If you can still fly, get out of here while you still can," he commanded.
Wincing with pain, Owlmon pulled himself to his talons, looking up at the dark knight hesitantly. "Sir Dukemon… please return…"
ChaosDukemon's striking, yellow eyes narrowed bitterly. "Don't call me that anymore… I am not a Royal Knight any longer," he told him.
He glared down at the scout resolutely. "Go back to the Royal Knights. And when you do… tell them that I will destroy this world. Tell them that, if they try to stop me, like it's their duty to do so… then I will kill them with my own two hands."
ChaosDukemon turned his back to the owl, glowering with simmering rage.
"That is my destiny… to destroy the Royal Knights… and Yggdrasil and this world along with them."
ChaosDukemon looked over his shoulder, glaring down at Owlmon. "Now leave. Before I change my mind."
The Owlmon grimaced but tentatively flapped his wings to see if he could still fly. He found that he was able to keep himself aloft, but with great pain and needing to favour his right wing.
He looked at ChaosDukemon reluctantly, but he knew there was nothing somebody like him to do apart from follow his orders. The Owlmon began flying off unevenly, heading on a southward bearing, back the way that he came.
Beelzebumon sighed and holstered the Berenjena that was in his hand. "So… what's the plan now?"
"We keep going," ChaosDukemon replied, walking forwards. "We're almost there."
Beelzebumon glanced behind them, seeing the Owlmon flying away, and then back at ChaosDukemon, who was already continuing down the faded, overgrown path.
He shrugged and wandered after him with Behemoth rolling behind him.
Just over half an hour passed.
ChaosDukemon and Beelzebumon continued down the path. It was nearly invisible at this point, but ChaosDukemon seemed to be able to follow it exactly.
Beelzebumon, meanwhile, wandered a short distance behind him. There was an annoyed look on his face as he looked around at the landscape.
They were wandering across yet another vacant field. It was a sprawling grassland of withered grass and wilted flowers. There wasn't anything of note in sight, apart from a small stream off to the left. All he could see were flat grasslands for as far as the eye could see.
At first he had questioned ChaosDukemon's sense of direction, but the fallen knight had been certain of their bearings. Now, he was questioning ChaosDukemon's sanity. Maybe this whole evil evolution thing wasn't, in fact, all that good for his mind.
"…Hey, Dukey!" Beelzebumon called out to the wandering knight ahead of him. "I thought you said we were almost there!"
ChaosDukemon didn't turn around. He continued walking, straight forwards. His comportment was rigid and intense.
"…We are," he responded, his yellow eyes glaring directly ahead of him.
"I don't see anythin'!" Beelzebumon complained, looking around impatiently. "It's fields from here to the horizon!"
ChaosDukemon remained silent.
He continued walking ahead, the path he was walking on now so faded that he was walking off of it and continuing on based on instinct.
As the thunder bellowed above them, ChaosDukemon walked through a patch of grey, withering flowers, the petals scattering from the light breeze of his cape.
He walked towards the flat field of grass, not far from the eastern-most bend in the stream. In the center of the field was a small trench, weathered over and levelled out with the passage of time.
There was a small hill off to the east of the field. A familiar hill.
The landscape was overgrown with plants and foliage. Even a few stray data packets rolled across the field and along the base of the hill.
It was a place completely untouched by Digimon.
ChaosDukemon walked towards the edge of the area. Then, he came to a stop.
He gazed out across the landscape, and the hard look in his eyes softened, just slightly.
"…We're here," ChaosDukemon spoke. His voice was distant. "I've only been back here once… It's hardly changed."
Beelzebumon walked up behind him and came to a stop. "…Eh?"
He looked around. However, there was nothing… The only thing he could see was a stream, a sorry excuse for a hill, and yet another continuous field. Was ChaosDukemon crazy? Was this one big practical joke?
"Uh… What the hell do ya mean 'we're here'?" Beelzebumon asked, his expression flattening as he craned his head incredulously towards his travelling companion. "It's a damn field, same as the last one."
ChaosDukemon took one more step forwards. It was a tentative movement, as if passing some sort of invisible threshold.
"…This is where it all began… This is where the Digital Hazard first activated…"
ChaosDukemon's yellow eyes wandered from the stream, across the field, and over to the hill. His cadence was wistful, almost nostalgic. As he took in the moment, his stiff posture slackened imperceptibly.
"…This is my hometown."
ChaosDukemon gazed across the empty, forbidden landscape. It was lifeless apart from the turbulent breeze that blew the withered blades of grass. Nothing had changed. Nothing had been touched. It was like some kind of forbidden zone that only the Digital World itself dared to touch.
Beelzebumon stared at ChaosDukemon with stunned confusion. "Uh…" he balked. He followed the knight's gaze to the empty field, just to make absolutely sure that there was nothing there. There were no buildings. It was just empty landscape.
It was then that he began putting the pieces together.
"…Oh…" Beelzebumon uttered in dumbfounded revelation. He shuffled awkwardly, glancing at the knight beside him. "…Uh…"
ChaosDukemon walked in front of him, over to the base of the hill. "Marauders attacked this place. Burned it to the ground. Killed almost everyone," he explained. "That's when it activated… With its power, I slaughtered all of them…"
Beelzebumon rubbed the back of his neck, his brow raised as he hesitantly watched ChaosDukemon. He wasn't entirely sure what to say.
ChaosDukemon knelt down at the base of the hill. He reached down and dug his fingers into the soil. Then, he withdrew a handful of earth, watching as it dried into infertile dust in his hand. He allowed it to scatter through his fingers, blowing in the breeze onto the dry grass.
ChaosDukemon stood back to his feet, gazing up the hill once more time with distant nostalgia. Beyond the crest of the hill, he could see the storm of his apocalypse raging, the dark, violet clouds swirling violently overhead.
There was a time where he could have expected Grani to emerge - to be there for him. …Not anymore. This time, he was alone, and he intended to see his destiny through to the end.
ChaosDukemon turned his head, glancing over his shoulder at the Demon Lord.
"If I'm going to destroy the world… it's only fitting that I start here."
For a few moments, only the sound of the raging wind could be heard.
Beelzebumon watched with a frown as ChaosDukemon turned around to face him. "I guess you're pretty serious, huh?"
ChaosDukemon gave him a look, imparting the cynical resolve in his eyes.
"…Beelzebumon," ChaosDukemon spoke, staring keenly at the demon. "Why are you following me?"
"I told ya already, didn't I? I thought it'd be fun!" Beelzebumon exclaimed. He then glanced at the empty landscape. "I mean, this ain't exactly my idea of a fun outing, but we'll get there eventually."
"That's it? Amusement?" ChaosDukemon asked suspiciously, his voice low and incredulous. "You're willing to put up with all this? Haven't you realised by now? I bring destruction everywhere I go… Yet, you say you're willing to put yourself in danger just for fun?"
Beelzebumon grinned and shrugged. "Eh. What can I say? I'm a glutton for punishment."
ChaosDukemon stared at him disbelievingly. "I don't believe you… What is it you want, Beelzebumon? What are you hoping to achieve at the end of all this?"
The casual smirk on Beelzebumon's face waned, and he turned to face ChaosDukemon directly.
"…I told ya already, Dukey. You were the best fight I've ever had," Beelzebumon explained. He was completely serious as he spoke.
"This whole Digital Hazard thing? It don't make one fucking particle of difference to me. All I care about is having that feeling again. You and me, duking it out…" Beelzebumon informed him, staring straight into his eyes. "I'm hangin' around to make sure that nobody takes you down before I do. I'm gonna be the one to do that, ya hear?"
ChaosDukemon narrowed his eyes balefully. "I told you before, I won't hesitate to kill you."
Beelzebumon chuckled confidently. "An' that's what I'm countin' on," he replied, smirking devilishly. "No inhibitions. …Cuz I got news for you, Dukey: I don't want this world to end. You say you're gonna bring the end of the world and fulfill your destiny or some shit… I don't give a fuck about destiny. I make my own decisions. I ain't about to follow some path that God or Yggdrasil or whoever the hell else set out for me. That's why I rebelled against God in the first place. I like living my life for pleasure. I'm just selfish that way."
Beelzebumon grinned dangerously at him. "So, at the end of all this, you're gonna try your hardest to kill me, and I'm gonna try my hardest to kill you," he explained. "Either I win, and I eat your data and have the greatest fucking high of my life, or you win, and I die, and this whole shitty world dies anyways, so what's it matter? It's as simple as that."
ChaosDukemon closed his eyes. "…I guess it really is that simple," he responded. "So you're sticking around to… what? Guard me?"
"I guess you could say something like that," Beelzebumon answered, flashing him a grin. "Like I said, I ain't gonna let anybody else get to you before I do."
"…Have it your way," ChaosDukemon responded, walking past him. "It won't make a difference to me."
Beelzebumon turned with him. "So… what do you want? Just to destroy the world? That's it?"
ChaosDukemon stopped.
"…This Digital Hazard was embedded in my digicore from my creation. I want to know why," he darkly responded. "I want answers… but more than that, I want revenge. Against Leviamon. Against the Demon Lords. Against Yggdrasil and the Royal Knights. When I have those things… I will complete my function and end this world like I am supposed to. I won't stop fighting until it all ends."
Beelzebumon grinned. "Sounds like a plan," he casually replied. "So, we done your trip down memory lane? Was this all ya came here to do?"
"…Yes," ChaosDukemon replied. "I'm ready to begin."
Beelzebumon looked up at the stormy sky, trying to make out the time of day. "Y'know, Lucy and the others are pro'bly gonna reach the Chasm of Creation by tomorrow morning. Your old buddies pro'bly won't be far behind. With how far we've come, we probably ain't gonna make it to the party by walking."
Beelzebumon jumped on the Behemoth. Then, he looked over at ChaosDukemon with a smirk, patting the seat behind him.
"You better hop on, Dukey. It's the only way we're gonna make it in time," Beelzebumon told him.
ChaosDukemon frowned and looked at Beelzebumon and his bike suspiciously. He found the idea distasteful, but he also realised that Beelzebumon probably had a point. Even if he flew, he would be far too slow.
"C'mon, we don't bite! She won't mind as long as I'm driving," Beelzebumon encouraged him. "We're gonna miss all the fun, otherwise! And am I wrong in thinking we're on a time limit?"
"…Fine," ChaosDukemon grudgingly agreed.
The dark knight walked over and climbed on the Behemoth, sitting behind Beelzebumon.
"Get comfy and hold on tight," Beelzebumon said, looking up and over his shoulder with a grin. "We're gonna haul some ass from now on!"
ChaosDukemon reluctantly held Beelzebumon's hips as the Behemoth suddenly started kicking up dirt and wheeling around. As earth ejected behind them, the motorcycle started accelerating with a mechanical roar.
The pair tore up the desolate landscape as they sped across the field, hurrying back south the way that they came.
As ChaosDukemon held on tightly, he glared ahead, his eyes hard and cold.
"Alphamon… Omegamon… Everyone. The only way you're going to save this corrupt world… is if you kill me. Otherwise, I'm going to end it all."
"I'll destroy everything… with my own two hands."
Lightning cracked overhead.
To the north of the Chasm of Creation, a tributary river flowed from the Primal Mountain range. The water gushed in abundance, forming a deep, tributary river that would eventually flow into the Rust River.
However, the water flowed irregularly that night. It wasn't just the storm's doing. It was as if the water was being parted by something deep underwater.
It was then that a huge mass of red emerged from the dark depths of the river.
Water splashed aside, inundating the banks of the river, as a massive, reptilian creature emerged from underwater.
Leviamon emerged from the darkness, his wet scales shimmering in the faint moonlight. His yellow eyes blinked away the liquid as he broke from the river flow.
A low, malevolent snarl rolled from deep within his throat. His cheek muscle twitched.
Two long, tender gashes, reaching from his left nostril all the way to below his left eye, stung with burning intensity as they were exposed to the cool, night air. The long streaks of raw, hewn flesh glistened as Leviamon's head emerged from out of the river.
"Damn them…" Leviamon snarled under his breath.
He gazed across the dark landscape, to the south. He could see the small peaks that marked the Primordial Pass, the northern entrance to the Chasm of Creation. He didn't have a good view of the chasm itself, that deep, mountainous gorge that sunk deep below the rocky tableland. However, it was not far from him. Only a few kilometers away.
What he was focused on in that moment was a myriad of flickering lights that were slowly moving in the direction of the Chasm.
They were the lights of torches, carried by an advancing army.
Even in the dark, Leviamon knew that it was the Nightmare Soldiers, and they had nearly reached the Chasm of Creation.
"It won't be long now…" Leviamon muttered to himself. "Tonight, they'll have the Chasm, and sometime tomorrow, the Royal Knights will arrive. That's when I'll make my move…"
"Look at them all… They think they have the Chasm of Creation all to themselves. They think they're gonna take down God without me… Lucemon, you and the others have got another thing coming. Digitamamon got my message and his legion's ready to go. You're gonna be in for a rude awakening…"
Leviamon began to scowl, but the mere movement of his lips caused his snout wound to flare up with pain.
"Urgh. Damn it! Dukemon, you bastard," Leviamon hissed with pain. "You think you can do this to me and get away with it…? Wait until I sink my teeth into you, dragon or not… "
Leviamon watched the distant lights and torches of the Nightmare Soldiers' army as they proceeded towards the Primordial Pass.
"You're all gonna pay… I'm gonna show all of you – everyone who's betrayed me. After everything I've done for all of you… you all kicked dirt in my face," Leviamon growled.
He clenched his teeth tightly as blood leaked out of his unhealed scar and multi-coloured steam puffed from his nose.
"Now it's your turn… Royal Knights… Demon Lords… Angels… You're all going down," he bitterly promised.
As he scowled, he felt the burning in his face.
"Especially you, Dukemon…" Leviamon whispered. "I told you I'd take everything from you."
Leviamon's scaly brows tensed harder.
"…And especially you, Lucemon…" he continued, snarling lowly. "I'm gonna wipe that smug smirk off your damn face once and for all."
Leviamon's large talons sunk deep into the soft sediment of the river bed.
"As all you idiots fight it out, you're not gonna suspect the one guy who you forgot about," he breathed. "I'm gonna take everything you have and devour all your data so that I'm the strongest one. I'm gonna wipe you all out and destroy God and Yggdrasil along with you. Then I'll the one standing at the top…"
Glowering fearsomely, Leviamon's jagged teeth glistened like the rushing torrent of water below. He glared at the distant army as it proceeded into the Primordial Pass without him.
Leviamon backed up, beginning to sink below the rushing water of the river once again. Most of his body began to submerge, concealing from distant view.
As his snout skimmed the surface of the turbulent waves, he made a resentful promise in his heart.
"And if I can't… then I'm gonna take this whole world down to hell with me."