AUTHOR'S NOTE: It's...been a while, hasn't it? I had to put this project on the backburner for so long. Life and a lack of financial stability got in the way and still kinda do). But I finally found the time to continue this story. And we're in the home stretch. I apologize to anyone on this site who's been waiting. But let's resume where we left off.
Chapter 47: Chaotic Clash
"Fire!" Chaosdramon warned. Streams of energy shot out from the cannons on his back. Darkdramon and RizeGreymon retreated from the area. The explosion swallowed up parts of DarkKnightmon's undead army. The recoil pushed the machine dragon back. The terrain under him started sinking from the cyborg's weight.
"B-blast!" he struggled to break free. His group had been warped into a desert shrouded in eternal night. The rain from above made the terrain slippery and muddy. With Chaosdramon's jet boosters trapped under the terrain, he couldn't take flight.
"A little help here!" the digimon waved his claw in a panic.
"Rize, go! I'll cover you!" Darkdramon ordered. The blade on his arm extended outward. "Giga Stick Lance!"
RizeGreymon dashed over to his brother. He grabbed Chaosdramon by the waist and used the propulsion from his mechanical wings to push upwards.
"Come on...!" Chaosdramon used all his might to free his legs. The moment his thrusters were freed, he shot up into the sky.
"Alright, together now!" the digimon aimed his cannons. RizeGreymon and Darkdramon paired up as well.
"Hyper Infinity Cannon!"
"Dark Roar!"
"Rising Destroyer!"
Their combined attack wiped out the majority of the remaining soldiers. MachGaogamon swept the stragglers from behind with a sound wave fired from his mouth. As the dust settled, the battlefield fell silent.
"That's it for now..." the wolf sighed, "How far were we diverted?"
"A few miles." Darkdramon scanned the area. "I can see them retreating toward a nearby tomb. Maybe there's a clue there."
"Onward!" Chaosdramon lead the way, "Let's greet them with an explosive surprise!"
"You're having too much fun..." RizeGreymon shook his head.
EmperorGreymon's group guarded the castle. However, the irregular data of the Chaotic Dominion started seeping into the Void from the gate that was opened. The landscape around them started transforming. The castle went from floating in a void of data to standing above a jungle consisting of enormous plants and foliage. The group of three scouted the perimeter.
"See anything up there, Magna?" he asked, keeping his guard up. From above, the mechanized wolf searched for clues.
"No enemies yet. If this were anywhere else, it'd be reassuring. The castle being affected from these transformations doesn't bode well." the digimon felt uneasy. "Anything on your end, WereGarurumon?"
"From what I see, the castle wasn't moved." the werewolf looked around from the highest point of the castle. He recognized each landscape had remained in the same direction as before the castle was transformed. "Everything still remains the same, location wise."
MagnaGarurumon weaved through the plants, avoiding getting tangled. As he turned around, he noticed movement.
"Grey, behind you!" he warned. The dragon warrior circled around, but his leg was caught by the flora.
"They're alive!?" the digimon slashed his sword down, freeing himself. As he grouped up with MagnaGarurumon, the plants shifted around to reveal their monstrous appearance. Soon enough, DarkKnightmon's troops showed up from around them.
"My sword is not a weed wacker!" the dragon complained, preparing for the ambush. The duo retreated towards the castle on higher ground. WereGarurumon joined them.
"I don't know about you two, but I'd rather not add 'sentient plants' to my list of losses!" EmperorGreymon summoned the flames sealed in his sword. He and WereGarurumon covered the ground forces from opposite directions. MagnaGarurumon covered both from the skies.
Apollomon, Marsmon and Sethmon were traveling through a metallic wasteland. Spires of Digizoid metal were scattered around. The sound of thunder boomed form the darkened sky above.
"Watch your step." Apollomon warned his fellow team. As they reached the spires, they were greeted by DarkKnightmon's army. The trio quickly prepared themselves. Apollomon rained down darts of fire from his hand. As he controlled the flow of battle, his body started emitting sparks.
"Apollomon, take cover!" Marsmon warned. The sun general quickly took cover. Lightning struck down above the mountain of trash Apollo hid under. The mound started shaking. Sethmon charged in. the digimon cleared the debris for Apollomon to run out.
"We don't have many places for cover here." Sethmon guarded the two from behind.
"Then let us finish this quickly!" Marsmon summoned his flames.
"Yes, we must get to the others!" Apollomon focused energy into the crest above his body.
The three fused their attacks into one.
"The sun's rays will strike you down!" the lion declared. A blinding light engulfed the perimeter around them.
Rob's team struggled in their battle. Their arena had no ground. Instead, scattered around were huge meteors floating, kept afloat by the strange gravity of the area making everything lighter.
"Head...spinning..." Wingdramon groaned. His body spun slowly. The gravity was affecting his large dragon body.
"S-stay focused!" Rob gripped onto the dragon's shoulders as best he could. Arresterdramon used his tail anchor, slicing up a nearby asteroid in two to form ground.
"Land there!" the dragon pointed.
"Quick thinking!" Olegmon jumped as directed. He sliced a nearby asteroid in the same manner, making a platform for the other two.
"Reinforcements are here!" Tagiru pointed north. An army of NeoDevimon approached them. Followed by a giant metallic serpent. It's body was covered in gold and silver armor. The digimon had a giant blade on its forehead and its snout wielded a giant cannon. Olegmon seemed to recognize the snake.
"Deal with the lackeys!" he ordered. "I've got some unfinished business with that metal noodle!"
The remaining squad of Zamielmon, Splashmon, Gravimon and NeoVamdemon were fighting through a maze of mirrors.
"The World Shot!" Zamielmon fired an arrow from his body. It pierced through the glass in front of him, striking the horde of enemies behind it. The mirror quickly reformed and the maze started shifting.
"I've grown tired of this reflective smoke screen." NeoVamdemon frowned. He and Gravimon paired up. From around them, the figures of two digimon reflected off of the mirrors. One was a three headed beast clad in black armor. Its yellow eyes glimmered in the mirror as green flames emitted from its mouth. The second was a fox digimon with a pale face wearing a white garb with black pants. The black and white circles on its outfit were the most striking part of its appearance.
"Dealing with DarkKnightmon's army was expected." Splashmon growled, "I didn't expect Cerberumon to be part of it."
"Doumon's magic is powerful. Watch out." NeoVamdemon warned. Both fired off their attacks, breaking the illusions and causing another rotation.
"Where's that ugly puppet..." Zamielmon searched through the reflections.
"...behiiiiiind yooooou." the enemy taunted. Zamielmon turned and fired another arrow. It hit the reflection of a digimon that resembled a wooden puppet with a red beanie and blue overalls and wielding a giant hammer. The glass shattered and moved the maze once more.
"You two aren't the only ones tired of this." Gravimon fired energy from the wires attached to his body. They glanced toward the center of the labyrinth reflected off of the mirrors. A crystal sphere was radiating dark energy. From that energy, more and more reinforcements were being formed.
"If we can destroy that, we should be in the clear." Splashmon prepared for the next wave.
"Trump Sword!" Piedmon made the first move. The digimon released the pair of swords on his back. The blades circled around, moving unpredictably. While Dorbickmon could follow the erratic movement, he couldn't keep up with each blade at once.
"Behind you!" Piedmon taunted. While Dorbickmon countered the first sword, the second hit from the side, leaving a gash on his torso.
"Dorbickmon!" I tried to run over.
"Look out!" Slayerdramon rushed toward me. He pulled me out of the way. A different digimon appeared from under where I was standing, narrowly avoiding being grabbed.
"How unfortunate. I thought I had you..." the undead beast turned. Slayerdramon brandished the Fragarach. SkullBaluchimon struck the ground with its front legs, causing spires to rise from beneath us. Slayerdramon dodged left, carrying me in his arm. SkullBaluchimon tracked us, sending more and more tremors our way. Slayerdramon struggled to find safe ground.
"Shoryūzanpa!" He fired a beam from his sword. SkullBaluchimon whipped his tail, countering the attack.
"How unimpressive...is this all?" the beast was unfazed.
"Focus on yourself!" Fanglongmon surprised the beast from behind. He fired an energy beam from his mouth at point blank range. SkullBaluchimon slid backward. Fanglongmon charged in.
"Yellow Circle!" The dragon summoned a typhoon from the earth, trapping the enemy. The black aura surrounding SkullBaluchimon shielded the beast. The yellow dragon gave chase.
"Slayerdramon!" Fanglongmon called out. Coordinating together, the two leapt up in the air. Slayerdramon quickly used Fanglongmon to propel himself higher. The knight circled his sword around his body.
"Tenryūzanha!" Slayerdramon swung at SkullBaluchimon, tearing a gash into the beast's left leg. The digimon let out a roar. Wings spread out, it circled and slammed its tail into the dragon, sending him crashing into the frozen ground.
"Grave Bone!" the enemy bellowed.
"Look out!" I warned Slayerdramon. He recovered and rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding being trampled. The icy floor cracked, causing the lava below to erupt. Slayerdramon quickly jumped to safer ground. Fanglongmon landed nearby. He fired another energy beam into the lava. The massive wave engulfed SkullBaluchimon in the fiery depths beneath it.
"That should buy us some time." Fanglongmon made his way towards us. I climbed onto his back and the three of us hurried back to Dorbickmon.
His battle with Piedmon wasn't going well. He was losing both the advantage and his temper.
"Oh, how I missed that piercing glare and sore loser attitude." Piedmon applauded the dragon.
"I...will not...!" Dorbickmon rose to his feet. His sword grew stronger as his anger rose. The dragon rushed in with a downward slash. Piedmon sidestepped, closing the distance. Charging lightning in his palm, Piedmon pressed his palm against Dorbickmon's stomach, spreading it through the dragon's body. Dorbickmon froze in place. His sword withered away.
"Dorbickmon!" I tried to run to him. Slayerdramon held me back. Fanglongmon rushed in. Piedmon fired another blast, jumping away. The clown's sword play kept Fanglongmon back. However, the dragon pushed forward, giving us an opening. Slayerdramon quickly started resuscitating Dorbickmon. It was tense, but Dorbickmon gasped for air.
"Welcome back to the living..." Slayerdramon hoisted him onto his feet. Dorbickmon shoved his hand away, wobbling a bit. He looked furious.
"Dorbickmon." I called to him. The dragon snarled. He probably expected an annoying pep talk. I raised the Xros Loader.
"...let's wipe the grin off of that clown's face." I ordered. The shock on Dorbickmon's face was palpable. But he immediately rebounded with a determined nod. The digivice started glowing, surrounding the dragon in a dome of light.
"Dorbickmon, Xros Evolve!"
The light quickly faded with a spread of the dragon's new wings. From behind us, the lava erupted, revealing a wounded SkullBaluchimon. The heat had burned parts of the digimon's body. Fanglongmon turned back toward our aid. We had to be quick.
"Dorbickmon Dragon Mode, Slayerdramon, Digixros!"
Flames surrounded the two, fusing them both into Dorbickmon, DracoKnight Mode. SkullBaluchimon targeted me. Dorbickmon stepped in front, stopping SkullBaluchimon in its tracks. With his newfound strength, the lifted the beast by its fangs. Piedmon tried to interfere, but his swords were blocked by Fanglongmon's tail.
"Not this time!" Fanglongmon shot a beam from his mouth, catching Piedmon off-guard. Dorbickmon hurled SkullBaluchimon in that direction. Upon impact with the ground, the floor shook violently. Fanglongmon regrouped with us. Piedmon and SkullBaluchimon recovered. The smug look on the clown faded.
"Have it your way, Dorbickmon!" Piedmon's patience had worn thin.
The pair started preparing a new attack. Dorbickmon and Fanglongmon prepared to respond in kind. Something felt wrong. I signaled to Fanglongmon. He noticed, and shifted his position to be behind Dorbickmon.
"Now reunite with your old friend; failure!" The two launched their combined energy in the form of a spinning blade of concentrated energy.
"Dragonic Flare!"
Dorbickmon released the gathered flames. The two forces collided in midair. The layer of ice crumbled under the shock waves. Lava erupted, melting the snowy battlefield. Dorbickmon was holding his own, but the floor supporting him was disappearing. He flapped his wings in an attempt to slow down the melting of the ice.
"You're running out of time, dragon!" Piedmon taunted. "Either our attack ends you, or the lava below melts your data to nothing!"
The dragon stayed silent, struggling. Yet his determination did not waver. Piedmon noticed.
"Oh, at a loss for words? Have you finally accepted your fate?" he kept rambling as the attack edged closer to the dragon. Once it was close enough, Dorbickmon readied himself. With a booming roar, he amplified his flames, pushing their combined attack back. The clown started worrying.
"What is going on?! His power is increasing!" Piedmon was aghast. The digimon looked around in a panic. And eventually noticed the issue.
"That Fanglongmon is gone! He's beating us 2-on-1?!"
With those words, it became clear; our plan had worked.
"Fang of the Emperor!" a voice echoed from behind them. Fanglongmon's jaws clamped down on SkullBaluchimon's neck, breaking their formation.
"Dorbickmon was the decoy?!" Piedmon yelled. Without them both, their attack was swallowed up by the dragon shaped flames. The clown quickly ducked out of the way. However, the flames caught his arm. Reeling from the pain, he noticed Dorbickmon too late.
"Where is he...?!"
"Blaze's Fury!"
Color draining from the jester's face, Piedmon looked up. All of the dragon's rage focused into his blade, cutting into him in a diagonal slash. The flames exploded, sending the clown plummeting into the ice. Fanglongmon threw SkullBaluchimon toward Piedmon.
"Gaia Tremor!" Dorbickmon stabbed the blade into the snow, reaching down into the earth below. The landscape around the enemy split open, trapping them in jaws of molten rock. Both dragons surrounded them, ready to finish the job. All of a sudden, the sound of a bell echoed through the area.
"What the...?" I tried to find the source of the noise. However, we noticed Piedmon and SkullBaluchimon started fading.
"...well, what a fascinating turn of events." Piedmon's anger had faded, back to his usual demeanor.
"What do you mean?!"
"Tell them, Dorbickmon." the clown smirked. "If you haven't forgotten, that is."
Dorbickmon started seething. "Their...time here is over."
"Time?"
"Much like your dragon friend here, we had also been sent here long ago as punishment for our sins." Piedmon explained. "Only, our crimes were much more severe. Being trapped here served as our punishment."
"And yet you're being freed?! Why?" I couldn't understand.
"I have to hand it to DarkKnightmon." Piedmon continued, "I didn't expect him to follow through on his promises."
"DarkKnightmon..." Dorbickmon snarled.
"Yes. Your old buddy, DarkKnightmon, discovered that the mechanisms keeping us trapped down here were linked to the core data that made Hell's Field. By finding that core data, he gained the knowledge of everyone's time left in their sentence."
"...and he used that to buy your loyalty?" I concluded.
"Very good!" Piedmon chuckled. "We thought he was insane at first! And then when he told us you'd be returning, what a bonus!"
"You...!" Dorbickmon started losing his temper.
"But bravo Dorbickmon!" Piedmon teased "You were SO close to besting us!"
"Be silent..." the dragon's arm started emitting flames.
"Such a shame, though." Piedmon lamented, "I really wanted to see that look in your eyes again."
"What look?" his words became more confusing.
"Be silent!" Dorbickmon readied a fireball.
"One of our many battles ended differently." Piedmon explained. "There was no anger, no desire to tear me to shreds. All that was left in your dragon friend...was fear."
"Fear..?" Fanglongmon turned his head.
"Despite being his opponent that time, I could tell that fear wasn't my doing." Piedmon continued. "It was like Dorbickmon...was lost somewhere else."
"Dorbickmon...?" I looked at him worried. He was ready to snap. Piedmon's jovial attitude suddenly faded. His tone of voice was ominous.
"What did you see, Dorbickmon...? What gives you so much fear..."
"I SAID BE SILENT!" Dorbickmon shot out his flames. Yet his attack made no impact as their bodies disappeared.
"Follow that bell to the chapel, where DarkKnightmon surely awaits you." Piedmon's voice echoed one final time. Dorbickmon's one chance for payback; gone. The dragon lashed out, driving his sword through the nearby rock in a fit of rage.
"Dorbickmon...? Are you...?"
Before I could reach out to him, Fanglongmon stopped me. He shook his head. Now wasn't the time. But would Dorbickmon be okay?
"...let us proceed." Fanglongmon directed our attention to the east. "The core should be near."
The rest of the trek was quiet. No enemies in sight. The further we strayed from the lava lake, the colder it became. After a few minutes, we saw a road spiraling around a tower made of ice. At its peak was the core of dark energy that was supplying DarkKnightmon with his undead army.
"This is it." I confirmed with the Xros Loader's map function. "All that energy is being focused into the core."
Together, Dorbickmon and Fanglongmon shattered the core. The data inside dispersed into the air. Soon after, that unnerving feeling in the air faded away. But still, something felt wrong.
"...you sense it too, I see." Fanglongmon noticed.
"I can't help but feel as if we're delaying the inevitable." I responded. We both looked up at the blackened sky. The bell chimed throughout the land, only much closer this time.
"There." Dorbickmon pointed. A few miles away, we could see the icy land melt away into a forest of dead trees. And in the horizon, the chapel stood on a hill.
"If Piedmon is correct, DarkKnightmon will head there." Fanglongmon turned to us. I gathered the scattered data from the core into the Xros Loader. The digivice was able to use that information to open up a portal to its source. Presumably, it would lead us to where the Royal Knights and Xros Heart were fighting.
"We are presented with a choice, it seems." Fanglongmon spoke up. I turned to Dorbickmon. He didn't seem to ponder it for long. His choice was clear.
"Fanglongmon...we're going to the chapel." I told the dragon.
"...somehow I knew that'd be your answer." he shook his head, sighing. "Although, I'd still advise you two not to face him alone..." Despite his warning, he couldn't help but grin. "'You two.' How refreshing it is to say that..." the digimon noted. He approached the portal. "We will meet again soon. Try not to fight like children in the mean time."
"Ch-children?" I frowned. Dorbickmon crossed his arms and grumbled. "I'd never..."
On that note, Fanglongmon entered the portal. It closed behind him. With Slayerdramon resting in the Xros Loader, it was just the two of us on the road.
"Ready?" Dorbickmon asked.
"Just one thing." I looked up at him. He furrowed his brow, confused.
"When you face DarkKnightmon..."
"Yes...?" he looked annoyed.
"...make him bleed. I want to see the fear he used be turned against him." I requested. It took him by surprised. Once he processed my request, his response was simple. The dragon cracked his knuckles and smirked.
"We'll knock that overgrown chess piece off his high horse." Slayerdramon chimed in. It also must have won me some favor with Dorbickmon. He placed me on his shoulder so I wouldn't have to walk this time. We started our trek down the tower.
The battle raging near ExoGrimmon's seal was chaotic. On one side, the Royal Knights fought with aid from the Xros Heart army. On the other, DarkKnightmon with his army of undead digimon. The surplus of data he gathered allowed him to revive those who fell for his cause; the two Deathmon, Reapermon, SkullSatamon and Gulfmon. Digixrossing with MaloMyotismon, he clashed with Alphamon and Shoutmon DX. The knight was able to parry their attacks, keeping his distance and avoiding close quarters combat.
"Delay the inevitable all you want!" he mocked them, "But ExoGrimmon shall rise again and wreak havoc once it escapes!"
"Even if it does, we will stop it AND you!" Shoutmon declared, locking his blades with the knight's spear. Alphamon prepared an attack from behind the king. He fired green energy beams from his hands. The grey Deathmon jumped in front, countering with its own attack. The explosion surrounded them in smoke. BasiliskKnightmon broke free from Shoutmon's hold. The two distanced themselves, Shoutmon landing next to Taiki.
"Nene! Kiriha!" Taiki called to them. The three gathered their Xros Loaders.
"Great Xros!" They called out. The army united their strongest members into Shoutmon X7.
"Seven Victorize!" the king fired an enormous energy beam, wiping out numerous digimon on BasiliskKnightmon's side.
"Sleipmon! Dukemon!" Alphamon directed them.
"Bifrost!" Sleipmon called an icy blizzard, freezing the troops.
"Final Elysion!" Dukemon vaporized the frozen digimon with a beam from his shield. As more of his forces fell, the knight grew visibly angry.
"Worthless...!" he growled. The knight gathered energy in his hand and shot it upward. It created a small eclipse over the battlefield. Clenching his fist, the orb shattered, raining down small blasts of energy onto the heroes. Craniamon covered the smaller units with his shield.
"Plasma Shoot!" Magnamon fired off rockets from his armor, intercepting the rain of energy. As they kept up their defense, BasiliskKnightmon rushed to the alter. However, UlforceVeedramon intercepted him.
"Ray of Victory!" he fired off his attack. The villain dodged, taking out the Darkness Loader.
"Xros Open!"
Despite Ulforce's speed, BasiliskKnightmonw as able to split into his three component digimon. MaloMyostismon blinded the battlefield with an illusion. UlforceVeedramon was able to avoid the range of attack. But he lost sight of the knight.
"Where is he?!" he looked around frantically.
"The seal!" Duftmon found SkullKnightmon.
"Now absorb the remaining dark energy and be freed!" the knight forced all the data from his fallen army to coalesce into the seal. A large boom echoed through the land. The bell tower chimed. Alphamon turned to the others.
"Back away as far as you can!" the digimon warned. The seal slowly expanded outward, shooting out sparks. SkullKnightmon leapt away, gloating.
"Behold, the full extent of my revenge on you despicable Xros Heart members! Fall before the might of ExoGrimmon!"
MaloMyotismon blinded the battle field one more time, giving them a window to escape. Shoutmon X7 braced himself.
"Damn it...!"
"Wherever he goes, the others can find him." Alphamon summoned a blade of light. "But we must keep ExoGrimmon from escaping into the Digital World's surface at all costs!"
The seal opened up. From the deepest recesses of the pit, a titan towering over even Shoutmon X7 emerged. Clad in purple and black armor, it had a dinosaur-like body. The wings were comprised of amber colored energy. The tip of the digimon's tail had an axe attached to it. Data spewed out from the seal beneath it, corroding the land into bits and pieces. What remained was a bog of negative energy. ExoGrimmon let out a resounding roar, shaking the entire dimension. Even in the other areas that were separated, the digimon could be heard.
"We're too late..." Wingdramon looked south at the glowing energy miles away.
"Blast that accursed knight..." NeoVamdemon observed from the east. Apollomon in the western area turned to Marsmon and Sethmon.
"We must hurry." he ordered, rushing to the portal.
From the north, Dorbickmon and I could see the pillar of energy lighting the sky, illuminating the shadow ExoGrimmon cast over the land.
"So that's ExoGrimmon..." I felt the sense of dread the digimon's presence exerted. Dorbickmon looked unfazed. Or rather, he hid it better.
"Look." he pointed. Up in the sky. SkullKnightmon was heading to the cathedral.
"It's like Piedmon said." Slayerdramon spoke up. We hurried through the forest. Eventually, we arrived at the bottom of the hill. The sky in the area was a crimson hue. The grass as well, and wilted trees were scattered around the field. To the east was a vast amount of large crystals. The catherdral looked worn down. A few of the stained glass windows were broken. Dorbickmon opened the gate, which creaked eerily due to wear and tear. As we climbed up the steps, we could see the other areas that made up this land. And in the center was where ExoGrimmon was located. We reached the doors of the cathedral. DarkKnightmon will be inside.
"...ready?" I looked at Dorbickmon. He stood silent. His flaming sword materialized in his left hand. He kicked the door open. At the end of the hall, DarkKnightmon waited.
"Fire-Fury General..." he growled. The knight's tone was different. Less grandiose.
"No more running." Dorbickmon raised his sword at him. DarkKnightmon reached for his spear. He rose to his feet and faced us. The look in his eyes was nothing short of pure, silent, rage.
"I never expected you to survive this long..." he admitted. "The revenge I seek against Xros Heart...is nothing compared to the contempt I feel seeing you still alive..."
His spear charged up and let loose a stream of lightning. Dorbickmon blocked with his sword. DarkKnightmon rushed forward. The two clashed in the center. His strategy was different. Less evasive than previous encounters.
"Every plan that failed...and there you were in the center of it. You, that human, and even that sham of a dragon knight at the very end!" the digimon raged. With each swing of his spear, he pushed Dorbickmon back. The dragon stayed on the defensive. He deflected each strike and waited for his opportunity. DarkKnightmon's anger grew further.
"You dare still stand against me!? A disgraced failure whose only claim to power revolves on emotional instability!? Your title as Death General was a result of MY efforts! I was the one who found you in that wasteland! I rewarded your archaic way of life with a title worthy of how useful a pawn you were! You should bow to ME! Not this inexperienced brat! And especially not that sham you call a king! I've controlled the board this entire time. A mere pawn like you can never overthrow me!"
DarkKnightmon's movements grew quicker. He slammed Dorbickmon from the side, throwing him into the other side. Dorbickmon staggered, but recovered quickly.
"Dragon Breath Tonic Fire!"
The knight split his spear in half, deflecting the oncoming flames upwards. They shattered part of the ceiling, which allowed him to retreat into the upper floor. Dorbickmon gave chase.
"Slayerdramon!" I called him out of the Xros Loader. We both followed onto the balcony, DarkKnightmon hovered in the air. The clouds shifted, revealing a crimson moon illuminating the sky. The glow of the Darkness Loader swirled around the knight.
"This. Ends. Here." he threatened. The Darkness Loader engulfed him in shadows. "MaloMyotismon, DigiXros!"
"Hurry, you two!" I called to them. Dorbickmon evolved into Dragon Mode and then joined Slayerdramon.
"DigiXros!"
Both forms evolved at the same time. BasiliskKnightmon spread out his wings. His hand was raised up in the air. Calling his weapon, it materialized into his hand. A scythe on one end and a mace on the other. The chain near the lower end let it double as a whip. Evolving into DracoKnight, Dorbickmon grabbed the sword hilt on his belt. Flames emerged from the gem on it, forming his blade. BasiliskKnightmon was determined to kill us. This time, we will avenge Examon. His time toying with our lives is over. The evil knight spun his weapon around in his hand at a speed so fast it turned into a saw blade.
"Be extinguished, Fire Fury!" he roared, launching his attack. Our final confrontation against him has begun.