Knowing how one-track Coro usually is, one would imagine him being impressionable and easy to convince. So, many who do know him, especially his partner, would assume a cult brainwashing the lion cub with little effort...
"And that's how Arshan saved Tai!"
"Praise be the Black Sun!" "Whaaaooooaaa!" "Glory unto him! May he shine a new light unto this dark world!"
...Not the other way around.
But yes. Coro—or as they called him, Grand Exarch Coro—told stories of Arshan to the Cult of the Black Sun: the very ballooned ones he told impressionable children back in Ancient Troiamon. Somehow, the cultists believed Coro more than the children!
Arshan stopped his partner. Or he would have if he wasn't unconscious and put on a tabernacle for all to devote themselves to.
Nene shook her head as she watched Coro telling the crowd about "Arshan's Balls Attack" before leaving the two in relatively safe hands.
After entering an empty hallway, Nene took out a device and clicked the button. "Hello?"
On the other end, a male voice spoke. "You know," Takeya's voice rang. "Dracomon could sense a fight all the way under here. I thought you could handle Paladins before they reached Mega?"
"There were... complications... but I secured the ship... and the two new Digidestined. One of whom can access Dark Digivolution."
"Huh. You don't say," Takeya paused behind the line. "Bring them to me when you get here."
With that, the line closed. In the lone silence of the hallway, Nene couldn't help but think back to Arshan's actions. He seemed like a gentle soul...
Nene sighed, "How many more people will the Digital World break? He also doesn't deserve to be brought here... none of us were..." She caressed her Digivice longingly. "... And the ones we lost deserved this least of all."
What Nene didn't realize was that she was too lax. In her melancholy state, she failed to detect someone listening to the call she had. Uver, while trying to find her way, hid as soon as she heard a different voice from Nene's device. While Nene's call had information that Uver didn't understand, one phrase caught her attention:
Dark Digivolution.
Uver had a feeling that phrase might be what she needed. She quickly returned to Cas, who was hiding in one corner of the oil rig that turned back into a ship.
"Alright, Cas! Let's go thank Arshan and Coro!"
"W-What!?" Cas seemed horrified at the thought of meeting other humans. But actually, another feeling came over her: confusion. "Wait? Why do you want to thank them?"
"I mean, after all they did to help us, it's only fair! Besides, I'm tired of you being my second shadow, don't you humans usually stick together?"
"NO! NO!" Although Cas had just witnessed overwhelming power and speed from the likes of Omnimon and other Digimon, she showed more fear over meeting more of her kind.
"What the hell? Why not!?"
"I CAN'T. Don't make me!" Cas physically pushed herself smaller into the corner. "I-I only stayed with them because of how stressful everything was a while ago! Don't make me be with people!"
Uver's eyes narrowed. She stepped forward, her lips twitching into a snarl. She went up and yanked Cas' hoddie and pulled her close. "You WILL! I've had to deal with your constant whining all this time, and for a while, sure! I let it slide! But now? Now that won't work! I need that power—Dark Digivolution—that those idiots used! Or else we'll both be dead!"
Cas struggled from Uver's pull before she slipped up and crashed into the wall behind her.
Uver's eyes widened with alarm as she stepped forward to help... before she shook her head. "Ugh! We need this! ... Get yourself cleaned up. I'm gonna ask more about this ship." And silently check on the treasury that Micmicmon mentioned a while back. With that, Uver left Cas alone.
Cas rubbed her head before slinking back to the ground. Now that things weren't so stressful, her fears returned in full force.
And the only way to describe her fear was through tears and blood.
Needless to say, Cas only sobbed alone in the dark.
[?]
Kyoko felt like crying. She didn't know what Sistermon Ciel was doing, but it definitely wasn't driving. The only reprieve she and Sangomon had was when everyone felt those massive auras in the distance, making Ciel slow down.
"Oh?" The nun Ultimate looked over. "A fight between Megas is going on."
Her only response was groaning as she turned to see Arukenimon, Mummymon, Kyoko, and Sangomon slumping as if drained for life.
"N-Not again..." The spider Ultimate whined.
"Please... I don't even have a stomach and I feel..." Mummymon leaned over the jeep door to gag.
"Kyoko, make the world stop spinning," Sangomon eyes swirled.
The raven-haired girl tried to find her mind once more. "W-What?"
"Oh? What happened? Did you all take a nap?" Ciel asked.
Arukenimon's eyes snapped wide open as she got up and shouted, "NAP!? WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SENT TO ETERNAL SLEEP BECAUSE OF YOUR DRIVING, YOU WITCH!"
"What do you mean? It has been a while, so I am a tad rusty. I was doing my best to go slow." Ciel put her hand on her chin.
"S-Slow!?" Kyoko looked at the woman with disbelief. Astronaut Training was less intense than what Ciel pulled off!
"However, knowing Behemoth, if there is a fight between Megas, if he's not in it, he'll head towards it without question. It seems we hAVE A CLUE!" Towards the end of her train of thought Sistermon's serene face turned back into the adrenaline-hungry junkie that had been driving the group originally. Her scream towards the end was also a war cry/excuse to slam on the accelerator.
It took Kyoko a second to realize they were somehow moving faster than they were before. Her brain did pick up an interesting fact while they were reaching G-Force: she could hear her own screams behind her.
[In the ship]
"... Coro... right?" Cas wished she didn't have to do this. However, maybe it was a good thing that Arshan's Digimon partner was currently separated. What was less of a good thing was that he wore such silly robes! And why were his shoulder pads so long?
"Oh, hey Cas! How are ya?" Both heard a loud Clunk as Coro's massive shoulder pads hit the wall when he turned. "Hmm. Maybe I do need smaller pads... or ones that could break walls when I turn-oooo..."
"Errr," Cas looked away, not knowing how to speak.
Coro did not have that problem. "It's cool to finally meet ya!"
Unfortunately, Cas saw what Coro was capable of. Although she was less afraid of him, it didn't detract from the fact that she still needed to know about Dark Digivolution... she had to learn... for Uver...
Or at least, she tried, try as she might, words couldn't come out of her mouth. Lucky for her, Coro removed his robes for a moment and sat down against the wall.
"If you're feeling nervous, you don't have to speak. Arshan was like that too,"
Cas stared confused. Compared to Uver, Coro's tone was... much more relaxed and gentle. And she caught how Arshan was similar to her? But that was impossible—she needed to focus. Due to her past, she didn't know if Coro was lying to her, but she still needed to ask.
"Um, say," Cas thought back to what Uver screamed at her: the pair of words she was interested in. "I...um. What's Dark Digivolution?"
"Oh! It's what Arshan used to make me reach the Mega Level! Everyone says we're not supposed to do that!" Coro smiled. Even though Cas had not known Coro for long, she felt he was happy at the two achieving the power rather than disobeying many... she hoped.
"Not... supposed to?" Cas watched Coro nod before not saying anything else. "Umm, what do you mean by that? And... is it possible to learn this?"
"They kinda are part of the same answer!" Coro hummed as he took a second to collect his thoughts. "Okay so, Master Zero told me about it after I did it the first time. Digivolving usually requires strong emotions between human and Digimon. The stronger the emotion, the higher level a Digimon can reach," Coro looked up. "He did mention 4th Generation is somewhat different, but you don't have that Digivice so it's okay for now." The rookie continued. "You've seen Uver Digivolve! Your bond must be strong if she already can fight Ultimates as a Champion!"
Cas flinched at the mention of that. Had Coro been a sharper person, he would have noticed that wasn't the case.
"But," Thankfully, Coro went on. "Dark Digivolution is different. Any emotion can make us reach the higher levels, but they gotta be good ones. Digivolution doesn't just make Digimon stronger, but it also multiplies the human's emotions. Think of it this way: if you use courage to Digivolve, you'll be 50 times braver as your partner reaches Mega. If you use fear, you'll be 50 times afraid. And that's not the worst part: your emotions became theirs. So, Dark Digivolution will put everyone into a berserk state, Master Zero said he went through it himself multiple times."
Cas' eyes widened as she heard that. Her mind then thought back to when Coro Dark Digivolved. "But... you didn't?"
"That's cause Arshan is amazing!" Coro's eyes lit up. "He's an empath, and he can copy the senior's emotions needed to reach Mega!" Coro's smile stopped. "But, it also means I'm the only one who can Dark Digivolve and keep my sanity because of it. Arshan took the brunt of the pain that would have gone to me on a Dark Digivolution."
The pale woman's eyes widened. Strong... emotions... can cause Uver to get stronger? All of her feelings were strong but negative... Digivolution can amplify them? But it also meant that the pain Arshan went through... would go to Uver? Not to mention, there was no way she could feel other people's emotions, let alone use theirs to Digivolve Uver.
...Cas decided to not tell Uver about Dark Digivolution.
"Grand Exarch Coro!" Cas saw Digimon calling out to Coro and decided it was time to leave. She did so, leaving the rookie to watch her go as some of the cultists walked up to him.
"Come, we must show you our humble abode! And there you could spread the word of the Great Black Sun!"
"Okay!" Coro picked up his robes and giant shoulder pads before looking where Cas went. Coro couldn't put his finger on it, but something felt wrong about Cas; it was like she was... fearful wasn't the right word... but her very being radiated that she always thought she was in danger.
Coro hoped Arshan would wake up soon.
[Boat Edge]
Similar to how Behemoth was picked up, it wasn't long before Kyoko's group got the attention of the Black Sun Cult. However, even as the others collapsed on a vehicle moving at stable speeds, Sistermon Ciel stayed behind with a small wave.
"You guys have fun. I'm… going to do a few more little laps before I come back!" She said before she became a distant spec in the dark sea.
"Now do you see why even the Boss bans her from ever driving?" Mummymon gurgled words. It was much less coherent than it sounded, but somehow Arukenimon, Kyoko, and Sangomon still understood him.
"My my! What a string of serendipitous events!" One of the Digimon, an Apemon, addressed the newcomers. "First to find us were our lords and saviors, now newcomers also appear soon after! Are you perhaps followers of Lord Arshan and Grand Exarch Coro?"
Kyoko's mind created a mental record scratch as she heard two familiar names with not so familiar titles. "I'm sorry… what?"
"Pardon my excitement! It has been a rather stimulating day! Our first leader attempted to perform a ritualistic sacrifice," The group stared at the Champion as he politely spoke of such an act. But it only got worse as those hunting down Coro and Arshan realized they were in the middle of a cult. Mummymon and Arukenimon, in particular, gawked as they heard those two brats who couldn't reach Champion Level had already accessed the Mega Level and fought off TWO Paladins.
"Alas!" Apemon finished his tale. "To protect us all, Lord Arshan spent his strength. Now he is resting deep within the bowels of this ship!"
The group was in… Arukenimon suddenly blinked as she heard that. "Wait, what do you mean he spent his strength?"
"It seems that Lord Arshan is now in restful slumber when accessing his great power. We all watch him with great reverence in the bowels below."
Arukenimon smiled. It was a smile similar to a certain green mean one who tried to steal Christmas. "Why! How outstanding! Truly a captivating story!" She said, much to the surprise of others. "I'm sure even we lost souls would love to bask in the glory of the Black Sun!"
"We do?" Mummymon looked to Sangomon.
"Maybe she hit her head during Sistermon Ciel's drive?" The coral rookie shrugged her shoulders.
"Of course of course! Today is a glorious day! A sign of a bright future under his reign! Come, follow us, brothers and sisters, and we will follow the path of the black light!" Apemon turned around. "Allow me to get you the proper attire!"
Arukenimon waited for the other Digimon to leave before turning back to the others. "Alright, listen up! We've got a chance! That human brat is unconscious, which means we get him, then it'll be easy to knock out that fire runt if he's around! Then, we get both of them to return the gun and Behemoth, and the Boss will put me in charge after finding out how incompetent that nun was!"
"Uhhhh?" Kyoko muttered.
"Look, it's foolproof, even you two can't mess this up!" Arukenimon pointed at Kyoko and Sangomon.
"We didn't mess anything up!" Sangomon hotly yelled to Arukenimon. "Quit blaming Kyoko!"
Before Arukenimon could snap back, Apemon returned. "Come now, siblings under the divine light! It brings me great joy to welcome you into the loving arms of our burning savior! Behold, the new garments meant for you!"
The black robes were concerning, but Arukenimon noticed something else in the center of all the robes the Digimon wore. "Umm, brother Apemon, why is there a smiley face on these robes?"
"Ahhh! You see, Grand Exarch Coro thought the clothes were too dark and has thus ordered, "Man, these should be cooler. Put a smiley face on 'em!" and by his words, our eyes were opened to possibilities we never thought possible!"
"Wow! I like how mine has a squiggly smile!" Sangomon said as she received her cloak from another Digimon.
Kyoko sighed as she received one as well. "... Why am I joining a cult?" She paused for a second before correcting her complaint. "Why am I joining a cult to kidnap someone?"
[North: Southern Coast.]
Henry and Terriermon felt the sudden spike of auras as soon as they left the Zenith Zone exit.
"Oh no, please tell me that isn't Arshan and Coro," Henry got his Digivice ready.
"Henry, I think we already know the answer to that question," Terriermon jumped off his partner's head.
The two were about to Digivolve until the sound of magic—Nene's magic—hummed and in a flash of light, a figure appeared some distance away from Henry.
Ivan swung his arm, but it was too late in reaching Doumon. Instead, a giant stalagmite shattered in contact with his backfist swipe.
Ivan clicked his tongue. "I was not expecting Nene Amano to intervene," He lowered his arm and clenched his fist. "I missed my chance to ask her on a date!" He lamented over instead of the fact he was randomly sent away by her Digimon's magic.
"Is that Ivan!?" Terriermon blurted out before quickly cupping his mouth. However, it was too late as the imposing man looked upward.
"Henry Wong…" Ivan took out his Digivice, making Henry quickly do the same. "Not who I was after, but you're a part of Xros Heart, are you not? You can tell me where I can find more Restorers. DNA CHARGE."
"Biomerge!"
Lights of green and dark purple clashed.
[Back on the ship]
It wasn't long before the group found the bowels of the ship, where Arshan was laid on a tabernacle while everyone started to chant.
"Kyoko," Sangomon looked up to her partner. "What are they doing?"
Kyoko had no words, but understandably knew she was out of her depth.
"So Arukenimon, how are we gonna get the brat?" Mummymon's question was met with a hand to the face.
"Shush! I'm thinking!" On one hand, they could beat up the Digimon here, but there were a good number of them. And the last thing they needed was to potentially get the ire of a cult.
Luckily for them, a new Digimon, a Filamon, came in. "Brethren!" His voice couldn't contain his excitement or the news. "A new decree from Grand Exarch Coro! We are to begin holy sparring! He is blazing the path against Brother Behemoth on the deck!"
"Brother?" Mummy asked before everyone else ran after the Champion.
The last one to leave, Apemon, suddenly stopped and turned on his heel. "Oh dear me! I forgot about the Great Black Sun, perhaps I should carry him there, but alas! I am not worthy to even enter his personal space!"
"Do not worry, brother!" Arukenimon stepped up, speaking in a false happy tone. "Will bring the great one over to watch!"
"Truly, a noble soul!" Apemon started to tear up. "I will wait for his coming as Grand Exarch Coro enacts such a new act!" He exclaimed before bolting after the others.
"Haha! Now, grab the brat!" Arukenimon shouted, throwing away her cloak.
"You got it, Arukenimon!" Mummymon said as he used his wrappings to ensnare an unconscious Arshan.
"W-Wait," Kyoko tried to voice out. "Don't handle him…so… roughly?"
"You know what?" Arukenimon grabbed and tossed the teen over to Kyoko, making her yelp as the unconscious teen knocked her to the floor. "You lost these two in the first place, so you get to carry him!"
"Hey!" Sangomon narrowed her eyes at Arukenimon. "Don't mess with Kyoko or you're messing with me! Coral Pressure!" She shouted as bursts of water came out of her limbs. Arukenimon lifted her hand to parry the shots of water.
"Oh please, you're not like that other punk. Look, I'm even going easy on you because Boss and that nun have a soft spot for you. Now let's get going!"
"Uhh to where, Arukenimon?" Mummymon asked as he helped up Kyoko and made sure she could carry Arshan. "Ciel is still driving around, so how are we getting off the ship?"
Kyoko and Sangomon noticed Arukenimon freezing where she stood.
"... There has to be a life boat around here somewhere! N-Not to mention, we still need Behemoth and the fire punk! Since apparently they're fighting, we can catch them when the runt gets beat up by Behemoth! We'll just scan the area to look for better escape routes in the meantime!" Arukenimon nodded her head, saying as she TOTALLY thought of all that beforehand.
"Amazing as always Arukenimon!" Mummymon gave a thumbs up while Kyoko sighed. Sometimes Mummymon was actually a decent person, but Arukenimon was such a bad influence on the guy.
Sangomon continued to give the stink eye to the spider Ultimate but helped Kyoko. The raven-haired girl herself felt pity as she looked over and dragged along the teen. Now that she took a good look… the teen had wounds: bruises that made bits of his skin look blue and scars that looked like they came from before they arrived in the Digital World. It took her a second to remember—even for a bunch of cultists, Arshan chose to help save them when trouble came his way.
"... Why are you going through so much trouble helping people?" Kyoko asked in a whisper.
"... Because…" Arshan stirred in his sleep, as if hearing her. "I know what it's like being helpless."
Kyoko blinked. She made sure that Arshan wasn't awake, but he must have subconsciously answered her.
But she wasn't the only one who was reflecting silently. Sangomon wanted to be stronger, and thinking back, she thought back to how Coro fought. He could fight both Arukenimon and Mummymon as a rookie, maybe she could learn how to fight just as he did. But that also meant they needed to…
"Hey, Kyoko," Sangomon whispered while the two Ultimates were ahead. "Wanna ditch them?"
Kyoko was able to bite her tongue before yelling out in surprise before looking back at her partner. "W-What?"
"I wanna see Coro! I gotta ask how he got so strong!" There was determination in Sangomon's eyes. Her partner's determination was both a blessing and a curse to Kyoko, and currently it was taking on the curse aspect.
"What? Why would you want to…" Kyoko trailed off when the group heard a voice.
"UGH! Where is Mimicmon!? He said they had a treasury and then he went ahead of me in this corpse maze! How the hell does that cage Digimon know where to go!? He just told me this corpse transforms randomly from time to time!"
Around the corner, a Digimon, Black Gatomon Uver from what Kyoko's Digivice showed her, walked into the view of all four carrying an unconscious Arshan.
…
"What the hell are you all doing?" Uver asked.
"W-Why we're just bringing our lord and savior to the rest of the group!" Arukenimon pretended to be a cultist.
However, Uver narrowed her eyes. "No you aren't," She then pointed to Kyoko. "That's a human, and what she's holding is a Digivice; it's the same as that Matt punk."
Mummy and Arukenimon reacted after hearing the name. "Did she just say Matt? Holy shit, those punks fought Matt Ishida and DIDN'T get caught!?" Mummymon looked back at Arshan.
"Who's Matt?" Sangomon tilted her head.
"A punk. Him and his Omnimon. For such a legendary Digimon, there sure are a lot of…wait… how do I know there's a lot of them? Or there used to be…" Uver put a paw on her head before shaking it.
Arukenimon was getting impatient. If there was one person here, the others might come and find out they weren't taking their "savior" to the right place. "Alright, cat's out of the bag. Screw it! We'll just tie you up and send you packing! Blame your own bad luck! Spider Thread!"
To the Ultimate's credit, had she done this to any other Digimon, it would have worked.
But Uver was not "any other Digimon". Especially with how she snatched the near-invisible thread mid air with her claw and narrowed her eyes.
"...What?" Arukenimon had a strange sense of Déjà vu.
"Alright, fine," Uver rolled her neck for a warm up. "I needed to let off steam when I found out I couldn't kill these idiot cultists."
The small champion closed the distance between her and Arukenimon, her paw already laced with crackling electricity. "Lightning Paw!" The blow of the impact smashed into Arukenimon's cheek and sent her crashing into Mummymon.
Sangomon knew something was off when a Champion was as powerful as an Ultimate. "Kyoko, run!" The rookie didn't wait as she yanked Arshan's legs, making Kyoko yelp and follow her partner past a corner.
"UGH!" Arukenimon pushed Mummymon out of the way and glared at Uver. "WHAT IS WITH THIS NEW GENERATION!? Are all their partners freaks!? That's it! No more miss nice Digimon!" Arukenimon unleashed her spider form in a powerful burst. Despite her form taking up much of the hallway, her speed was enough to reach a shocked Uver before punching her through the ceiling.
…
For a second, Arukenimon and Mummymon only stared at the hole in the ceiling. It was notably dark and silent, more so than either expected to be.
"Hey," Arukenimon looked over to Mummymon, who was scratching his head as he took on his Digimon form. "Was it me? Or were those symbols on that Digimon very familiar?"
"What symbol?" Arukenimon asked.
Then, a voice responded, but it wasn't Mummymon.
"Okay. I'm killing you."
Glowing eyes snapped open and turned to slits in the darkness above.
[Kyoko and Sangomon.]
"Oops!" Sangomon lost balance as she was helping pull Arshan. She regained her footing and kept running, even as they got towards the outside.
It didn't help that a storm brewed as the ship struggled to steady itself.
"Come on, Kyoko," Sangomon started heading towards the deck. "Let's go meet with Coro!"
"H-Huh? I-I thought we were avoiding him!?"
"That was Arukenimon's idea and it sucked! Besides, we need Behemoth anyway and he's with Coro!" Kyoko could tell—by the way she yanked on the unconscious teen they were awkwardly carrying— Sangomon was more excited to meet with Coro than about the mission.
She knew the two had similar personalities and got along even after meeting briefly, But Sangomon's tone suggested more. "Sangomon, why do you wanna meet Coro?"
"Cause he's strong! Like that other cat we just saw, I wanna know and be stronger so I can protect ya!"
"Protect… me?" Kyoko repeated with disbelief. The idea of someone caring for her felt alien as isolation and failure were always constant companions in her life before coming here.
"Yeah! You're amazing Kyoko! I wanna be as close to you as Coro and Arshan are!"
At the mention of wanting to be closer, memories flooded Kyoko: numerous birthday wishes, all of them the same, yet ending with unchanging heartbreak. She yearned for the love of someone who would never give it, let alone appear in her life. All her attempts, good and bad, ended up hurting those that did love her. Her failures created a small but immutable part of her whispering in repeat at the back of her mind, "This is why you were unwanted."
And the worst part of it? It whispered something new. "It's only a matter of time before you disappoint Sangomon as well. She'll see who you REALLY are… and she'll hate you too."
Kyoko bit her lip, but then yelped when she heard an explosion. She was so lost in thought, she didn't realize that they had already reached the deck.
"Hahahaha!" Kyoko watched as a motorbike cartwheeled its entire form at mach speed, slamming into the ground where Coro was a mere second ago. But the rookie landed on one foot…then used it to launch himself back at Behemoth. Many, even the cultists around them, watched in awe as Coro grabbed the side of Behemoth, and slammed him upside down.
Engines roared as wheels spun… but Behemoth was immobile, akin to a turtle flipped on its shell, unable to do much at his current state.
"Good fight!" Coro beamed with a smile. He was no longer wearing his giant shoulder pads and was back to wearing nothing.
"Whoa! Well done, Grand Exarch Coro!" The cultists all cheered.
"He beat Behemoth!" Sangomon's eyes were wide as she dropped Arshan's legs and ran up to her fellow rookie. "Coro!"
The Coronamon blinked before he turned to see the Digimon running up to him. His features lit up. "Oh! Sangomon! What are you doing here? Did you do that surfing you talked about?"
"I wish! Anyway, Coro, I gotta ask, how are you so strong?! I wanna fight like you!"
"I'm strong?" Coro tilted his head, as if not realizing most Digimon couldn't do what he did. He shook his head. "Ah! But I asked this with my Sensei Karatenmon too! He told me that he can't teach anyone how to fight like him, but fight as a better version of themselves!"
Sangomon nodded before she blinked. "What does that mean?"
"I dunno," Coro shrugged his shoulders. "But he always made it sound cool. …You know what? You gave me an idea! I mean, Behemoth has been telling me how he wants to fight the Water Titan."
"I will make the goddess of water eat rubber!" The upside-down motorbike shouted.
Coro went on. "But Arshan told me we need an army to fight her! So, why not have everyone here fight? We can all become stronger like Arshan said—isn't that right, pal?"
Kyoko heard Arshan groan in his sleep as his partner looked over to him.
"I'm taking that as a yes!" With Coro saying that, the cult erupted in cheers. "Okay, so!"
Whatever Coro was about to say next got interrupted when the floor some distance away from the group erupted as a geyser would. Mummymon screamed as he fell from the sky and landed on a crater.
"Oooo… It's like fighting an evil version of Kari!" The Ultimate whined. "Was she holding back on us the entire time?"
A second later, Uver popped out in her giant Nerfertimon form, angrily shooting lasers as Arukenimon continued to web her face.
Coro, who was not always the sharpest crayon in the tool shed, read the situation between the three fighting wrong. "You know what? That's a better idea! Everyone, start fighting! I'm sure something will come out of it!"
Kyoko looked down and wondered why it felt like Arshan's blood pressure was rising despite being unconscious. She got her answer when the cult listened to Coro's words and started an all out brawl.
Up above in the ship's helm, Nene and her Digimon were steering and managing navigational duties until they felt the ship shake.
"Are we under attack again?" Doumon held up a talisman.
Thetismon looked forward in the window. "No? Wait. Why is a riot breaking out there?"
Nene clicked her tongue before reaching for the boat com systems. "This is your Captain speaking. Kindly stop punching each other repeatedly in the face."
The cultists listened.
Somewhat.
They instead started throwing energy attacks and kicking their opponents in the face after they were told to stop punching. Those who didn't have arms to punch continued what they were doing.
Nene narrowed her eyes. "It occurs to me that cults back on Earth preyed on the vulnerable and gullible. … Digimon may be the latter."
Back down below, the fighting was getting out of control. Though, Coro was handling himself fine and Kyoko found herself safe because no one wanted to get near their "lord and savior".
"GET OFF ME!" Uver yelled as her forehead gem shined. Arukenimon knew what was coming, so instead she strengthened her webs and pulled. This made Uver point downward as she used her laser, making an explosion on the deck.
"Aaaah!?"
"Huh!? Sangomon!" Kyoko's heart dropped as she heard Coro scream. She lowered her arm and saw the fire rookie looking over board.
Kyoko's whole world slowed. She dropped everything she was doing—(especially Arshan as he fell to the floor with a thud)—and ran over to where she saw Coro.
"Where's Sangomon!?" The raven-haired girl yelled.
"She and some others fell overboard from Uver's attack! The water is bad here! Even fliers struggle to get back up!" While Coro spoke, Kyoko barely heard him. But she understood enough that Sangomon, the first friendly face she had when coming to this world, was in danger.
She scanned the waters as Coro tried to get help and slow down the fighting. She saw Digimon in black robes, but she frantically searched for the bright colors of Sangomon or any sign of her voice. Then, she saw her—struggling to stay afloat before dropping into the black waters.
Kyoko knew she had failed others… but all those thoughts and that voice from before were silenced as one overriding feeling overcame her.
"SANGOMON!" Kyoko didn't hesitate. She jumped off the rails after where she saw her Partner Digimon sink.
The waters in the Digital World were nothing like the ones on Earth, especially from the sea of the Water Titan's domain. The pressure was already twice of normal surface waters, and even though Kyoko saw Sangomon, her bright colors were fading in darkness pretending to be water.
It didn't stop Kyoko from swimming as fast as she could at her partner. The little one was surprised to see Kyoko but it wasn't long before the young woman got her and swam back—
Kyoko's eyes widened as she lost sight of the surface. This was why even aqua Digimon feared this ocean: they'd get lost forever if they entered here.
Seconds went by and even that was too critical. Kyoko felt her lungs starting to ache. But, she wanted to save Sangomon. She didn't—She couldn't fail another—
And then… light.
Kyoko saw her Digivice shining in the darkness.
[On the ship]
"Ugh, my head?" Arshan woke up in pain. As his senses returned, he half expected to wake up in a bed. Instead, he woke up on the ground, wet and dusty, and surrounded by Digimon fighting each other.
"Oh, great! Arshan, you're awake!" If there was one constant , Coro was always there whenever Arshan woke up. "I need your help to stop a riot." Now, if only Arshan could stop waking up to the most asinine situations…
Water geysered upwards behind the pair, making Arshan stand up. He and Coro heard a familiar but different voice scream, "Water Wave!"
A large wave of water rose and slammed into the deck, but just as quickly as it came, it finished, bringing back those that had fallen into the sea from Uver's reckless attack. Arshan shook his head, only to look up and see…
"Kyoko!? What are you doing here?!" His Digivice flared, revealing the Digimon that she was on top of: a Shellmon. Champion. Wait—Arshan recognized the voice now—was that Sangomon's evolution?
"Oh, you're awake now! Great! Now we don't have to lug you around!" Shellmon answered before looking back to Coro.
"Wow, Shellmon! Now you're definitely stronger!" The Rookie said. "I guess my plan worked after all!"
Arshan blinked before he looked at his partner. "What plan?"
"I started a riot and hoped for the best."
"We're going to have another talk, aren't we?" Arshan shook his head before a loud slam caught everyone's attention.
"Okay, that's it!" Uver, who was still a giant Nerfertimon, gathered energy. She did not appreciate getting drenched after being webbed up the whole fight against Arukenimon. "I'm going to blow you all up!"
"Doumon, sleep spell please."
From above, Doumon appeared and slapped a paper seal on top of Uver. The symbol glowed and quickly, Uver collapsed, transforming into her smaller form and beginning to snore.
"Moneymoneymoneymoneymoney…." She breathed before inhaling and repeated the word in blissful sleep.
"She… is going to be an issue." Nene walked up with her arms crossed before looking over to Arukenimon, Mummymon, and Kyoko and Sangomon. "Now then, who are you?"
"Oh they're our friends!" Coro blurted out, making the pink-themed woman look over to him and Arshan. "We met them when BZ surprise adopted us!"
"B…Z…?" Nene raised her brow before shaking her head. "Be that as it may, can I ask that you not cause another riot? The Corpse of the Steel Titan doesn't have much power to expend in healing itself. I need it in as good condition as possible."
"Sure thing, September!" Coro gave a thumbs up before looking at Arshan. "That's the right word, right?"
"I believe you meant senpai?" Arshan raised his brow before he shook his head. "Wait. Why are they here?"
"Many reasons," Arshan turned to see Sistermon Ciel walking up to them, who was also looking at the four. "Mostly, you did steal from the boss. And he does want what you took back."
Coro put his hands up as if to fight. "If BZ wants his gun back, he has to pry it off Arshan's hands!"
"CORO, stop hyping me up!" Arshan's scream was sadly unheard over the cheers of the Black Sun Cult at his boldness.
Ciel couldn't help but smile at the two. "Well, what about Behemoth? How did you steal him?"
"I-I mean," Arshan turned back to Sistermon Ciel. "Behemoth is his own person. We didn't steal him."
Behemoth, still upside down, concurred with Arshan. "They brazenly stole me from my last owner. And I enjoyed every moment of it." Okay, no he didn't.
The teen groaned.
Sistermon Ciel smiled but had the decency to hide it behind her hand. "Well, as much as I wish to continue speaking. I believe it is time to settle things down. Kyoko," Sistermon Ciel turned to the girl with a smile that held bits of pride but also concern. "Perhaps I should get you to a private place to dry."
"Private?" Kyoko repeated in confusion before she realized something: she was drenched wet when she tried to save Sangomon. But she also realized something else: she was wearing a white blouse… that was extremely wet. So… the fabric was easy to see through. She shrieked before covering herself. Digimon probably didn't understand too much, but the only humans nearby were that odd woman she never saw before and…
Crimson faced, but mortified, Kyoko turned to the only other human who wasn't a girl.
"Arshan, why are you closing your eyes and turning to the distance? And why is your face red? I didn't know you could do that!" Coro pointed as Arshan kept his eyes shut. Despite doing that, his ears were very red.
"The Black Sun has shown his amazing powers of changing his colors! All hail the Black Sun!" "Hail the Black Sun!" "Hail the Black Sun!" "Hail the Black Sun!"
Kyoko with Shellmon, were quick to take Sistermon Ciel's offer while the cult was distracted fawning over Arshan. But as they all left, Nene and Sistermon Ciel shared a look, as if knowing both of them would need to have a word with each other.
Arshan in the meantime…
"Oh right, Arshan, here! I got you matching robes!" "What do you mean, robe—what are you wearing?" "I got even bigger shoulder pads! And a cool title called Grand Exarch." "I'm sorry. They call you WHAT!?"
Arshan wondered why he only found peace when he was knocked out cold.
[Later.]
"Sangomon, are you alright?" Kyoko, after getting properly dried off thanks to Sistermon Ciel and some kind cultists, asked her partner. The two were given a room to rest while Sistermon Ciel went to talk to "Dumb and Dumber" in Arukenimon and Mummymon.
Had Kyoko and Sangomon been paying more attention, they would have noticed it wasn't Sistermon Ciel's Main intention.
"I'm better than alright; I'm great!" Sangomon puffed herself up. "You made me Digivolve! Now I can protect you so much better!"
"You…" Kyoko was at a loss for words. "You still want to be my friend?"
"Of course I do! Especially after you saved me! We'll be together through thick and thin!"
Kyoko was equal parts relieved… and worried. Sangomon smiled in a way that showed she still wanted to be Kyoko's friend… but a small part of the girl still was unsure.
Yet, Sangomon hugged her partner, making Kyoko put such thoughts aside for now.
But… while she was hugging her, she didn't realize her room door was left wide open. Nor did she realize far down the hall, someone eyed her and her partner.
Cassiopeia knew something was off when she heard explosions, but was too afraid to move from her hiding space. While wandering around, she noticed the raven-haired girl that appeared. To her, a new human was someone to avoid at all costs.
She had to find Uver.
"You know as well as I know who she is!" After traveling for a bit, Cas stopped in her tracks as she heard screaming from one of the halls. She turned on her heel—
"That Gatomon is too dangerous to be kept around!" Cas' heart dropped as she recognized who they were talking about: Uver. A woman, possibly that Nene woman they heard? No, the one shouting was much louder and felt more mature. "You know what that symbol she wields means! I heard what the other said: even among Digidestined, she was too powerful for her levels! How do you know the worst won't happen?!"
"I have my own contingencies in that scenario," Now that voice, Cas recognized. That was Nene Amano. But her voice also held an edge. Wait, why were they talking about Uver? And… why did it sound like they knew her? "The Digital World must be getting desperate if "that" has been made one of a Chosen Pair. And that partner of hers… it doesn't take much to realize she's beyond out of her depth. Even more than yours and the boy combined."
"Leave Kyoko out of this. Why are you here? Last I heard your—"
"You will be silent, Sistermon Ciel," Nene interrupted the Digimon. However there was a beat. Some whispers came around the corner but Cas couldn't make anything of it. "Oh? How careless of me. I could have sworn this area was private. Kindly leave, eavesdropper."
Cas yelped before running away.
Nene knew who was listening. An idea started to form in her head. After hearing about Uver… her mind started to realize something when comparing what she knew… to what she saw in Coro.
"Curious… are those two… the same?"
The Digital World must be getting desperate… if they're raising failures against the Tyrant who killed them.
[South]
Tai sighed.
"You've been doing that a while," Mimi spoke as the South Group continued further to their destination. While they did have some fun in the food festival Shou Cutemon brought them to, they knew they had to make progress in their mission. Currently, the 5 humans and 5 Digimon walked down windy knolls where grass reached the waist of the humans. Some of the rookies struggled to walk or were simply carried by their partners. Not only that, as they traveled, they could see many oddly placed water wheels instead of windmills. Granted, the two newcomers were quickly told the Digital World was randomly generated with items on Earth.
"The best we could do was send Henry north in hopes his path would meet with Arshan's. For all we know, Arshan could have run into the Paladins already! What's worse is that he may even be forced to use the Dark Digivolution again..." Tai rubbed his head.
"If he does, wouldn't it be easier for Henry to sense him?"
"Zero, by the time Henry would sense him, I think it would be too late." Perhaps it was best Tai was completely unaware that Arshan had just done exactly that, especially against his very own best friend, Matt.
"I have faith in Coro! Even I could tell he's a force to be reckoned with!" GD beamed. Or everyone would have seen him beam if he wasn't just a gap in the tall grass.
"Oooooo," Alph, who was being carried by Rei, had his eyes wide open. "Is he a good fighter?"
"He's second to me!" GD boasted. "He was able to force Sensei Karatenmon to use Mind Reading on him!"
"Oh! You're a good fighter?!" Alph narrowed his eyes.
"Alph," Rei sighed.
Itsuki wiped his brow. To him, the explanation about the Digital World was still unbelievable. All of it: the partners, Digidestined, alien world, the Immortal Tyrant. Yet, he couldn't find another answer. As he looked in the distance. He squinted his eyes as he saw something that stuck out to him.
"Huh. That volcano is moving."
Tai stopped in his tracks. Everyone else saw the Zero Tamer turn to Itsuki with wide eyes. "What did you say?"
Itsuki flinched under the senior Digidestined's gaze. "I-I saw a volcano?" He pointed.
Tai didn't wait as he fished for his telescope and looked in the direction the newcomer pointed. Everyone did the same, and indeed there was a Volcano in the distant horizon. And sure enough it looked to be moving.
"We need to go, now! Zero, Digivolve to Ultimate!"
Everyone heard the panic in their leader's voice. "Tai, what's wrong?" Stefania asked as Tai evolved Zero into Rizegreymon.
"That's not a volcano!" He yelled before the entire earth shook violently.
"It's Ancient Volcamon! The Titan of Earth!"
[Author's note.]
A bit on the shorter side, and some slight filler, but I thought that it was a good time to stop the chapter. Had to change up a few ideas and plot plans when I was moving things along, but hopefully they still are pretty good!
Gonna cycle for a bit again. We're going to see what the south team is doing with some views of what the others are doing too.
I have to admit initial plans I had went out the window, so I have a lot more to write about this story, but I kinda enjoyed this slower chapter and focus more on two of the OCs: Kyoko and Cas! I have fun ideas about them and who else is in the northern section.
But, I wonder if any have noticed: we're seeing more and more of the other Titans. East gets Ice, North gets Water, and now? South gets Earth. How will the Digidestined handle these new Titans with such a make-shift group? Find out as Failsafe continues!