Digimon Adventure 04

by Bluestar076

The journies between humans and Digimon continue! Now is the turn of the Chosen Children's offsprings to dive into Adventures! Very bizarre adventures. But little they know that they will carry on a bigger weight than that of their parents. (M for adults subjects such as drugs, criminals plots and violence)

25. Your Contract Has Expired - Part I

Digimon Adventure 04 Chapter 25: Your Contract Has Expired – Part I

By Bluestar076

Hello everyone! Bluestar here with finally a new chapter! It took a whole year to get back on this story but here we are XD! I don't know if any of you here follow my SYOCs, and I've tried to complete this first arc throughout last December but I inevitably failed. But now I'm here, hoping to do it now! It's been over six years ever since I started this story. Back then, I would have never thought of all the stuff that would have been in the middle (also because I was unsure whether to start new stories or not, then my distraction issues came around, and so forth), but despite everything, this remains my dearest project when it comes to Fanfiction. I wish to make it continue properly despite everything! So, for this month, I'll try to do my best to make these last four chapters of this first arc and see if we can start a new page for the Cheshire Cat Agency for the new year, as we're getting even closer to the end of this battle. But I think that I've talked enough. So, without further ado, I'd say that we can start right off with today's episode! As always, I hope you enjoy it!

Note: I do not own Digimon. All rights and characters belong to Bandai and Toei Animation. Also, this is a fantasy story, all references to real people, groups, places, laws, names, and marks are completely casual.

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Chapter 25: Your Contract Has Expired – Part I

"G-Gh…KH!"

Plutomon's last attack was tremendous, to the point that the mountain at File Island crumbled down. No one was left unscarred. Yet…Kasai tried to stand up.

"P-Piece of shit…I-I'm not done yet…" She mumbled, trying to get up with her two legs, which were still trembling.

The other members of the Cheshire Cat Agency and Norn looked at her with sad eyes. They shared her will to not give up, but they were all injured as well.

"Kasai, stop struggling like that. You won't get far in those conditions." Kouta told her.

The girl immediately turned around to look at him in the eyes. "And what should I do, then? Let Saiba win just as we were a step away from the end of all of this!? S-Screw that, I don't want to just stand here…"

Kouta was taken aback by that. "That's not what I'm saying but…"

Rikka looked down. "I was certain that Saiba was joined by a powerful Digimon but…I never expected to such levels…"

"But we were able to hit him, right? Isn't this…already something? Even if it's strong, he's not invincible!" For once, Yatsura tried to convince the others.

"Yes…but that single wound was everything that we could have done to him, even with all of our combined strengths. We couldn't even reach out to Saiba without getting close to that thing…" Chikara retorted.

"Cut with that crap! Kasai's right! Even if he reduced us like this, that shouldn't be a fucking reason to stay here! We're almost there, he's just the last obstacle! Are you really willing to quit right now!?" Tsuna exclaimed.

"Calm down, Tsuna. We never said that we would quit." Kumo told him. "But…we can't just jump in there either…especially with these conditions." He added, looking at the others. "I certainly don't want to quit right now…not before I'll be sure that Aija will be avenged…"

"Kumo…" Shoutmon whispered.

Hearing those words made Kasai try to stand up again. "I-I know that going just like this won't solve anything…but at the same time, I don't want to leave accepting that everything I had done up until now had been useless! I…I already don't know if I'll have much time left on my own. I at least want to know that what I've done up until now had been of use for someone- AH!" As she expressed her feelings, which was something she didn't do for a very long time, she tripped and almost fell, but got grabbed. When she looked up, she could see that it was her partner who grabbed her. "V-Veedramon…"

"I know, Kasai. I know well how you feel. And…you can say that I'm pretty pissed off as well about all of this! As your partner, it should be my duty to make you satisfied, right?" The blue dragon replied. He even looked around. "What do you say, guys? Do you feel the same?"

"H-Hey…don't think you can speak for the others…" DORUgamon told him while trying to stand up. "B-But…you're right on that regard…I don't want to…fall either."

"You bet I'm on your side! Me and Aria here didn't join just to see a mission fail, after all!" Growmon added.

"Y-Yeah! You can say that again!" Aria exclaimed.

"Still…" Leppamon spoke while standing up. "We need to see…if we'll be able to recover our forces in time. We won't be able to do anything like this."

Soon, all the Digimon stood up, even if injured, and looked upon their partners.

"You…still want to fight?" Sasuke asked.

"Hey! We're not fading away! I'd say that this is already a reason to continue! And don't tell me that you, of all people, want to quit!" Gladimon told him.

That sentence made his human partner smirk. "Absolutely not!"

"What do you say, Aisu?" Strikedramon asked his partner who was…thoughtful. She, like the others, didn't want to give up as well. But there was another concern in her mind at that moment.

Regarding her sister. When she coughed blood back up there, and right now she said that she didn't know how much time was left.

She couldn't let that slip. Especially considering that it was about her sister. With calm, she stood up and looked at her.

"Big sister…"

Kasai turned around to look at her.

Aisu looked down. "I feel the same about you. I don't want to quit as well, especially after everything that Saiba put us through. He harmed our father and sent us assassin after assassin to get rid of us. I want this story to end just like you, and I'm pretty sure that the others feel the same."

Kasai's expression didn't change, but she was still glad to hear that. "…Thank you, Aisu."

"But…before that…what happened back when we were fighting Saiba?" Aisu didn't waste any further seconds and went for her main question. "When you spit blood…and what Saiba said…is it true?"

Kasai slightly widened her eyes. The others all looked at her.

"Yeah…it was a bit odd and…worrying…" Rina commented.

"Kasai are…are you ok?" Kumo asked.

The girl, as tough as she was…couldn't hide it for longer…not after it was exposed to the rest. She couldn't have escaped it forever.

She took off her hat and looked down. The other detectives could see a Kasai…full of sadness for the first time.

"…Yeah. It's only fair that I tell you after what happened." Kasai started. She then…pointed at her own heart. "It's something I've tried to hide from you for a long time by now, but the truth is…that I have a sick heart that could…kill me from one moment to another."

Shock quickly pervaded in the area, as everyone was shocked to hear it.

"Y-You what!?" Toriko exclaimed.

"A sick heart…? W-What do you mean, Kasai? Do you have a tumor?" Kumo added.

Aisu felt her heart sink on that. Neither she… nor Veedramon knew about it.

Kasai shook her head. "No, it's not a tumor. It's…hard to explain but…one of my heart's valves doesn't work correctly, and as such, the blood doesn't get pumped the way it's supposed to be, and I end up vomiting it. The doctors said that it's an extremely rare condition that…could bring me to my death from one moment to another."

"What!? And you didn't tell me anything!?" Veedramon exclaimed, getting terribly worried.

Aisu started to tremble. "K-Kasai…how long does this go on!?"

Her sister felt more guilty. "…Ever since I was four. Mom and Dad were the only ones that knew of this. And they decided to not tell you anything to not make you worried, and…neither I did. And not only you…I didn't want to make anyone worried."

Aisu was just…bewildered by all of that, just like the others. And hearing that made her realize another thing. "Then…the reason you started to act like a Banchō all of a sudden was…"

Kasai looked down, biting her lower lip. And then made something everyone couldn't see coming.

She…bowed down, in regret.

"I…didn't want to make anyone worried. I wanted to make myself believe that I could live with that and as such…I wanted to be strong. But…only now I realize that I may have made things worse for a lot of you. All I can say is…that I'm sorry. You're free to not forgive me but…I want to know that I'm sorry."

Everyone…didn't know what to say. Ever since she joined the agency, and for those who had seen her even before that, they could always see Kasai as a cold and strong person who tried to go forward whatever the reason was, not caring in the slightest of all the adversities, somehow even comforting the others in her own way. Yet… at that moment, she was the one who expressed her concerns and told the truth.

"Kasai…" Veedramon spoke, feeling genuinely bad for his partner.

Then…Kyoko, who still didn't say anything until they regained consciousness…stood up…and came closer to the girl. She then kneeled down to stay at her level and…stared at her.

There was silence for a few moments and then…Kyoko spoke.

"…The next thing you're going to say is 'Why didn't you slap me yet?'"

"…Why didn't you slap me yet-" Kasai asked, cringing a bit.

Kyoko took the chance to smile at her. "Because I don't see the reason why."

The other girl looked up, surprised. "What?"

"True, it's not like you've made an entirely wise choice, especially considering that you kept it a secret for like, what, fourteen years? If you talked it to either one of us, I'm pretty sure that we could have done something to feel you at least better! But still…it's not like your situation isn't completely incomprehensible." The blonde girl explained.

"You…think?" Kasai asked.

"For fuck's sake, Kasai! Of course, it's not! What do you think I would have done after hearing that my partner, the one I've bonded with for the rest of my life, has a possible terminal disease? I would do my best to comfort her!" Veedramon exclaimed. "Well yes, I'd feel terribly bad, but I would still have fun smashing heads alongside you!"

"You should have been more considerate! And I'm pretty sure that it's not only about us Digimon. Am I correct?" Kabuterimon asked, looking around.

Upon hearing that question, Chikara scoffed. "Kasai…I think you're a terrible example of a detective with your ways. But…I can't say the same about your efforts and your motivations. You've still done your best like the others up until now."

"That's right? Maybe we haven't discussed that much ever since you joined, but you're still our cousin, part of the family! If you need to talk about something that makes you feel sad, just so you know I'm a pretty good listener!" Sasuke added.

"Hey, don't forget about me either!" Tsuna exclaimed.

"And don't forget about me! You used to work for my family and you did your best to bear with all my complaints back then! It's only natural that I would also be there for you in exchange, right?" Aria said with a wink.

"H-Hey, I'm also here!" Yatsura chimed in. "You have no idea how much you helped me feel better and more comfortable these days, even if I'm a tremendously paranoid person!"

"Aw, listen to you, Master!" ExVeemon told her.

Kumo was happy to listen to all those examples. "I think the rest is self-explanatory, Kasai. Even with all your flaws and fears…you're still part of our agency."

"And…you're still our friend who supported us ever since you joined and ever since this bizarre adventure started. Maybe this wasn't necessarily the case before but right now…if there's one thing you're not…is that you're alone." Kyoko told us. "Besides, we've been best pals ever since childhood, even if it doesn't look like it! So, even if you weren't a part of our agency, there's no reason I would leave you alone brooding and feeling worse!"

Even Aisu came closer to look at her.

"…You have no idea how pissed off I'm right now to you but…I feel like them." She told her before hugging her.

"Ah!" Kasai never expected that.

"And I surely don't want you to feel worse and isolated to make me feel better."

"…Are…you sure you can live with the fact that…you could lose me? I…I couldn't live with seeing you sad because of that…" Kasai asked.

"I don't know myself but…I've passed through a lot…I'll do my best to live with this as well. And…no one forbids me to make you feel better." Aisu told her before…smiling and kissing her on the cheek. "You know…even if you put up this tough mask for a long while by now…I could see that you never really changed."

"R-Really?" Kasai asked.

"Really. You're still the caring girl who tried her best to make everyone feel safe, and…you're still the sister I always loved."

To that…Kasai couldn't resist and smiled…while tears started to go down from her eyes ever since a long time. "G-Good grief. I…I never show it enough but…I love you too, Aisu…and I'm sorry. I hope I can explain things properly one day…"

"Hey! You will! Because I'm here to support you in kicking Saiba's ass for real!" Veedramon chimed in.

"And he's not the only one!" DORUgamon added.

It was then that Kyoko spoke up, noticing the last details with a smirk. "Kasai are you…are you crying?"

Everyone gasped at that.

Kasai noticed how everyone was looking at them and quickly got out of the hug and dried her eyes. "N-No, I think I got hit in the eyes or something."

"You never change, eh?" Toriko commented, getting a small laugh out of everyone.

Kasai simply smiled…and looked at everyone. "…Thank you for your understanding. It will be hard for me but…I'll try to be more sincere from now on, hoping that you'll still accept me for…who I am."

"You even ask? Of course, we do! Who else will stop Chikara when he complains too much?" Rikka told her with a smile.

"HEY!" Naturally, the other Chosen Child didn't take it too well.

It was then that the group could hear a few footsteps coming closer and a familiar voice.

"I was getting worried that you wouldn't make it, but I'm glad that this doesn't seem to be the case!"

When they turned around, they could see the familiar figure of Gennai smiling at them. "And I'm glad to see that you're supportive of each other nonetheless! You're clearly the offspring of Taichi and the others!"

"You're…the man who helped us shut down Saiba's computer! You're Gennai!" Rikka remembered.

"That's right. We meet properly for the first time, Cheshire Cat Agency." The digital man replied. "I came here to support you in this last phase of the battle. But it seems that the damage had already been made…"

"Well…" To give her answer, Kyoko showed him the USB keys. "We were able to retrieve the last USB keys we need but…Saiba intercepted us and used his Digimon to take us down. We also found out that his Digimon is an Ultimate-Level one called Plutomon."

"And I was terribly worried about it! I'm so glad that you're all ok…" Shiro said from her position, stunning everyone.

"Mom!? You're still here!?" Chikara exclaimed.

"Of course I am! I'm part of the operation, have you forgotten?" His mother replied.

Gennai quickly looked at Plutomon's data from the detectives' Digivices and could make himself an idea of him. "Plutomon…so that's the true identity of the HADES entity. I should have figured that Saiba was joined by a powerful Digimon if he was able to take down Taichi and keep on going with such a plan. And he could get worse…"

"What do you mean?" BaoHackmon asked.

"We were indeed able to cut down Saiba's energy back at his corporation, and as such, there's no way he can complete the Perfect Cube by now. But even so, the energy that he had gathered up until now hasn't faded away. The cube can still have a form, and with that, Plutomon can still absorb it to become even stronger." Gennai explained.

Naturally, everyone got worried about it.

"If that's the case…Saiba could still get what he needs to achieve his plan of making the United States a superpower!" Yatsura exclaimed.

"We can't waste any further time! We've got to defeat him now!" Aria added.

"But with that, we're back at the starting point…It's already enough that we can stand up but…will we be able to sustain another round with these wounds?" Kouta reminded. But it was then…that another voice insisted.

"Maybe…I can help with that…"

When they turned around, they could see Norn coming closer to Culumon, reverting from her Evolution. The detail that immediately jumped into the eye was that…she was holding a small ball glowing with a strange clear blue energy.

"Norn?" Kyoko asked.

"That light…it's the same you used before, right?" Aisu asked.

Gennai seemed surprised by that energy, never expecting to see something like that. "That light…Homeostasis? No…it's…something else?"

Norn looked a bit embarrassed as she shook her head. "To this day…I still can't give myself an explanation of what this is. Sometimes it appears in my dreams and sometimes it manifests on its own, just like now." She then looked at the sphere. "And…I think that it wants to help you guys, or at least…it's letting me use it."

"Really?" Coredramon asked.

"Err, I'm still confused, what's that again?" Tsuna added.

"Leave the questions for later! Here comes some duper energy to help you!" Culumon replied.

Norn nodded. "Like Kyoko before me, I remained silent to see how the situation evolved. Because to be honest…after seeing what Saiba's Digimon was capable of doing, I was a bit afraid of the outcome. But…seeing you reminded me as well…of the fact that I joined in this battle with the intent of helping you guys end this. Besides…after the company you had given to me ever since we met…I would feel sad if you were gone because of Saiba." She replied. "So…if this could help you get back again…then so be it."

"Norn…thank you…" Aisu told her with a gentle smile.

The blonde girl nodded and looked at the sphere she was gently holding. "I don't know if you can hear me…or why you're letting me take control of you for this brief moment. But…if you're willing to follow me then please…help my friends…help us end this case once and for all." With those words, Norn raised the sphere, which started to slowly float…until it shone brighter, surrounding the area.

"Ack-! Uh?" Kasai was ready to cover her eyes, but instead…she and the others weren't affected by the light.

"I sense…a strange heat…" Veedramon commented.

"It's similar to the light of Evolution…it's something that's entering inside of us that gives us…power?" Starmon added.

"Ah! Everyone, look!" Shoutmon called out.

Just as magic…as the light gently enveloped their bodies…the wounds started to close or directly fade away.

Once the light faded away as well, everyone was fully healed.

"Impressive…" Gennai commented. "I can confirm it. That wasn't Homeostasis yet it felt familiar…then what is it?"

"I…I feel the light disappear. Maybe it's…back inside of me?" Norn wondered.

"Well…it's surely a mystery, but let's look at the positive side! We're all back in one piece!" Aria exclaimed.

"HELL YEAH! I CAN FEEL LIKE I CAN KICK MORE ASSESS NOW!" Tsuna shouted.

"N-Now, don't exaggerate, Tsuna. But yes, I feel the same!" Coredramon told him.

"Even after we're living in a world with supernatural creatures…I can say that this feels like a miracle!" Aisu said all happy.

"Well, we all know what to do first now, don't we?" Kyoko asked the others who nodded. Everyone turned at Norn and gently bowed.

"Thank you, Norn!"

That collective act of gratitude made the blonde girl blush. "C-Come now, I didn't do anything that important."

"Oh, come now! You basically saved us!" Culumon encouraged.

"That's right. And thanks to you…now there's only one thing left to do." Kumo ended.

Nothing else needed to be added. Everyone looked toward the sea. The night was still young…and the battle wasn't over yet.

"Guys…I…I don't want to be pessimistic but…even if we regained our forces, are we sure we'll be able to take down Saiba and Plutomon?" Yatsura asked.

"Don't worry, Master. We'll find a way. If he can be found, there's a way we can take him down." ExVeemon told her.

"That's right. Maybe you cannot reach the Ultimate level by yourselves, and some of us still can't reach the Perfect one. But…we didn't come all the way here pushing away mercenary after mercenary just to stand down for nothing. I…I want to take Saiba down…especially after knowing that I'm not alone." Kasai added.

"Eh eh! I'm very glad to hear you like this, Kasai! And…I don't think I need to hear everyone's opinion correct?" Kyoko asked the others.

"I certainly don't need to give you mine! I'm more for it!" Rina replied. "What's a case without its end?"

"That bastard is left exposed, all that he needs now is to get the L!" Tsuna added.

"Well…in that case, I think we have heard everything we needed to hear, right, Chikara?" Leomon asked his partner, who nodded.

"Yes. And even if we can't track him down, I'm pretty sure we know where he's headed. He wants to end what he had started." Chikara replied.

"…Somnus. Where his Perfect Cube is located." Kumo said before sighing. "It will be hard to stay there after last time."

Shoutmon came closer to him to give him a friendly pat. "Hey! No need to! We've made amends with her brother! All we need now is to close this act even for her!"

"Right!" Kumo answered back.

"Then it's all settled, right?" Aisu asked.

Kyoko nodded. "Absolutely! Come on, Cheshire Cat Agency! Let's put an end to this Saiba Case…for real this time!"

"YES!"

With everything done…with all the confessions made, and a new strength found, they went for their way. After they put almost all their Digimon inside the Digivices, everyone (including Norn, Culumon, and Gennai), jumped on Kabuterimon's back, who started to fly high, heading toward the last destination of that long battle.

The Digital World Capital of Somnus.

Aleksi and Sigmund could see them fly away as a black dot in the sky.

"They're still alive! And…they're probably heading toward Saiba." Sigmund commented.

"I think it's fair that we leave the end to them," Lighdramon added.

"What do you think, Aleksi?" Fla Wizarmon asked his partner who looked up.

"Yes…they're both the victims and the ones in the right here…still," Aleksi replied, clenching his fist. He felt like…he could still do something. He owed it to Kumo.

Kabuterimon went as fast as he could high in the sky…before seeing how the clouds were gathering, and familiar buildings could be spotted in the distance.

"I see it!"

"That's it…Somnus!" Rina added.

"We're here! You guys ready?" Kyoko asked everyone, who nodded. "Then let's go…"

Kasai fixed her hat and resumed her glare. She seemed to have regained her cold side, but this time…something felt different. She didn't feel forced to do so. Now that she knew that her sisters and the others were ready to support her…she didn't have to pretend anymore. Because she knew that in whatever way she wanted to live…as long as she remained the same deep inside, the others would still help her.

So, she decided to remain the tough person she ended up to become. But like the crest of her mother…this time, she would have been sincere to herself and the others.

"Old man…no…dad…mom, and everyone there. Wait for us." She thought.

"You won't escape us this time, Saiba Rei!"

---

In the meantime, it took a bit to fly all over back to the top of the skyscraper, but in the end, Saiba Rei and Plutomon could finally reach it again.

The god Digimon touched his wound and could see the blood, getting annoyed. "Unbelievable. A group of mortals being able to scar my perfect body…"

"Get over it, Plutomon. Even if it's a humiliation, you won't have to bother it anymore. It would have taken a miracle for them to survive our attack." Saiba told him before coming closer to the spot where the Perfect Cube was put to gather energy. "We ended up losing a lot of mercenaries and we got the risk that they could have gotten inside here. But that's all in the past now. In the end…I had always been the righteous one, and this is the best fate America could have gotten."

"Still, they were able to expose your ways. It won't take too long before the public sees you as a criminal." His Digimon pointed out.

"No need to worry about that. I'll come up with something. Besides…what a politician or a powerful man needs to be like that is to be good at lying. Humans can be easily corruptible. And besides…once you absorb this cube, I doubt that there will be someone able to oppose us." Saiba spoke. "I would have preferred to do things in the shadow…but those detectives and those who betrayed me forced me to take the brute route. If I'll have to soak my hands in more blood then so be it. I've come this far…and now I intend to achieve the end."

Just a few steps were needed for him to reach the cube.

"Just a little longer…the United States of America will regain their lost glory…and your devotion will be rewarded, Father. With this cube, I'll make sure of-" Full of himself, Saiba grabbed the perfect cube from the gem set put at the spire of the skyscraper…to realize something with shock. "What!?"

The cube indeed had a form…but he could see that it wasn't as bright as it should have been.

"Saiba, what happened!?" Plutomon asked.

Saiba was just…speechless. "T-The cube…I can still sense energy inside of it but…it's not full! This cube…is not complete!" He spoke.

"What!? It can't be! After all that energy we had gotten from all those Digimon we have captured!?" Plutomon exclaimed.

"I-I don't understand…everything was in position, there was no way someone could have-" As he thought of how it could have happened, Saiba stopped himself as soon as he got the revelation. "No…I understand…"

It wasn't hard to guess. After all…it happened that same day.

"T-Those detectives…of course! When we got the Rei Corporation building surrounded and forced to escape, they took advantage of it and somehow deactivated the computer that was gaining Digimon's energy! And now what's left of that energy is probably lost! Dammit!" Saiba was starting to lose it. Right at the end, there was a fluke that could have compromised the entire process. "Even in death, they keep on getting in the way!? No, I can't accept it! I've already won! I-" Saiba tried to convince himself of his position…but as he looked up, he could see something shine in the distance getting closer. "What…?"

"What is that?" Plutomon asked.

Saiba took a binocular for a better look, preferring not to have done it as soon as he saw what that glint was. "Impossible…!"

Kabuterimon was flying fast toward the city, and on his back stood all the members of the Cheshire Cat Agency.

"They're…still alive! Those detectives are still alive and have regained their strength!" Saiba said.

"WHAT!?" Plutomon immediately got enraged. "Foul mortals…not only do you damage my body, but you also manage to get out of it safely, wanting for more!? Unacceptable…Utterly unacceptable!"

"It's clear that they are heading for heading for us, and after they've gathered all the USB keys, they can easily enter here!" Saiba added. But right at that moment…

"You seem quite pissed, Mister Rei! I could swear to see some smoke coming out of your head!"

When Saiba and Plutomon turned around, they could see four familiar faces with their Digimon.

Koichi Kimura, Jake Ambra, James Belmond, and David Eligor, the four remaining mercenaries he had hired at the start of all of this.

"Oh, it's you…right. I did put you here after we have escaped from the corporation." Saiba spoke.

"Indeed, you do, Mister Rei. So, what happened? Did you take care of those detectives who were heading for you?" David asked.

Before answering that, Saiba looked back at the direction from which the Chosen Children were coming. Once again, even at the end of all this, they were still trying to defy him, and it was clear that this was going to be the real last act of that story. And that was the reason why he stood firm on his ground. Even if the Perfect Cube was incomplete…he had gone too far to quit right at that moment. He could still see his vision become true, and he wasn't going to throw years of planning just because a small detective agency wanted to get in the way.

Therefore, he took a deep breath and looked back at what was left of the hitmen he had hired. "I went on File Island and gave them the price of their stubbornness by taking them down. Yet…despite that, they somehow stood up again and now they're heading here." He explained.

"Oh geez, are you kidding me!? Just how idiotic can they be?" James Belmond exclaimed.

"And if they're coming here…does that mean that…?" Koichi then asked.

"Indeed. They were able to retrieve all the USB keys I gave to the others, who were taken down. Not even Cassidy was safe. And if that wasn't enough…they were even able to tamper directly with the Perfect Cube, which is incomplete." Saiba replied.

To that, even Jake frowned. "So…all of our efforts were partially cut down? Eh eh…oh boy oh boy, if that doesn't make even me pissed off…"

"And even Cassidy is dead…" Koichi whispered. "Were you able to feel at peace at least in your final moments…?"

"And now, they're heading here, thinking that they can end this and bring us to justice. But I'm sure that you don't want this to happen." Saiba continued. "Even if the Perfect Cube is incomplete, I can still get what I've been worked up to for a very long time. Jake, Koichi, James, David. Among those who got arrested, who turned their backs on me, and who lost their lives, you're the only four mercenaries I have left, and there's just a bit more left to reach the end. Now that they have the keys, they'll probably be able to get inside here without problems. I only ask you to get rid of them and not let them reach the top. If you'll be able to do this, I'll keep my promise and pay you all handsomely."

James immediately grinned. "You even ask? Apart from the reward, I surely want to get back for the humiliation they gave me just a few hours ago! And I surely wouldn't leave my partner Maximilian's death untouched. Count me in!"

"I've observed all their battles and actions up until now. Taking them down won't be a hard task. And I don't want to leave a job unfinished." David added.

Jake Ambra made a small laugh. "Oh, dear Mister Rei. You do forget that I am one of the most renowned criminals in the whole country, right? What type of star would I be if I were just to leave right at the end without making an unforgettable scene? Ever since we had started, I wasn't able to cut down a single one of those brats. And you can tell how annoyed I am as well."

And in the end, Koichi nodded as well. "I have my personal reasons for what I do. And I surely need that money. They've escaped far enough from my grasp. This time they'll see what I can truly do as a killer."

Saiba was more than satisfied to hear those answers. "Very well. I'll leave it to you then. Don't disappoint me."

"YES!" With those words, the four mercenaries and their Digimon moved toward the stairs and went down the building, leaving Saiba and his Digimon alone once again.

"Are you sure that we're still on the line, Saiba? This twist did derail our original plans a bit, at least." Plutomon asked.

"Yes…" Saiba raised the Perfect Cube. "Even if it doesn't have the energy we hoped we could get, there's still plenty inside this cube. Enough for you to reach new heights…"

As he did that, the cube flew towards Plutomon and entered inside his boy. Suddenly, the Digimon could feel a burst of power running through his whole body, with his dark aura expanding. His eyes glowed a crimson red. "Yes…I can feel it. The energy gained from all those Digimon is flowing directly into my data! I can feel it…my nature as a god is undeniable by now!" He exclaimed. "And I think…that I could give a proof of that…" With those words, he spread his dark aura throughout the whole city.

All the Digimon that were living there looked up…before getting corrupted and feeling their inner animal instinct grow. It didn't take long before they went on a rampage. Like with Fla Wizarmon before, the darkness was dominant in their hearts.

Saiba looked up with a pleased grin, thinking that he could have regained the upper hand. "In the end, this was nothing more than a fluke. I've tried to give you a quick death, but if you want so badly to be crushed down, then so be it. You have been in my way for the last time. If you don't want to accept that this was the right path for the United States and the rest of the world…I'll make you accept it."

---

In the end, after some moments of flying, Kabuterimon was finally able to reach the last destination of the Saiba case, the capital of Somnus, the same place where everything started, back when Saiba assaulted the government skyscraper and put the barrier around it.

As soon as the bug Digimon landed just a few meters away from the building, everyone immediately set their eyes on it.

"We're finally here…man…I know it was just a few months…but it feels like it had been even a few years since I saw it last time that day…" Kumo commented.

"Don't worry, Kumo! This time we won't be sent flying down from the top! It's time to get them back for that day!" Shoutmon told him.

Rikka quickly turned to Kyoko. "You still have the USB keys, right?"

The leader of the agency showed them right away. "Of course I did! I'm not that careless, you know?" She replied, a bit offended.

"Kyoko! Guys!" Suddenly, a new voice caught everyone's attention, making them turn around. When they did, they could see the familiar figures of the Lion Fang Agency come closer alongside their Digimon.

"Shark, guys! Are you all ok?" The leader of the Cheshire Cat Agency asked.

"Yes. So far, so good. How did it go on your side?" The other detective leader asked back.

Kyoko showed them to him and the others as well. "Yes. We're closer to getting our victory."

"Woah! You actually did it! Now all we need to do is take down the big man himself, right?" Shizuka asked.

"I'm afraid it's not that easy, unfortunately…he just clapped our asses and we got saved by a literal miracle…" Toriko told them.

"Yeah, it turned out that Saiba's mysterious partner is an actual Ultimate-Level-Digimon. Even with our combined forces, we were only able to wound him." Rikka added.

Paledramon sweated a bit. "What!? Really!?"

Sistermon Blanc started to tremble as well. "T-Then…there's no hope? I mean, if not even Taichi's WarGreymon was able to take him down, then we're all- OUCH!" She wanted to panic, but Sistermon Noir held her by the hood.

"Chill out, already!"

"It's still worrying though. Do you think we have a chance?" Taiyo asked.

But Veedramon kept a smirk. "Don't worry about it! We were able to wound him, we can defeat him! We just got to figure out how to do so!"

"Yes. Even if not all of us can reach the Perfect-Level, we were able to make it this far, and now we've got all thirteen USB keys to enter inside that skyscraper. We can still stop Saiba's plan." Kasai added before fixing her hat. "I refuse to quit right now that we're this close to the end of this case."

Kumo nodded. "We all do."

And then…Yatsura started to worry and make a paranoid face. "Aaaaah…"

Her partner ExVeemon could notice it. "Hm? What is it, Master?"

"I don't think it's time for another one of your paranoids!" Tsuna added.

"H-Hey! I freak out only, when necessary, but WHO CARES!? LOOK!" The girl retorted, pointing in a direction.

And when everyone turned around…they could see it as well: a sight that alarmed them.

"GRAAAAAAAAH!" Several Digimon were flooding the streets of the capital, all coming toward the detectives' direction. Their eyes were glowing with a sinister red color and they were releasing a purple aura.

"OH MY GOOOOD! WHAT'S WITH ALL THESE DIGIMON COMING AT US!?" Kyoko shouted immediately.

"Look at those auras! They must have been infected by Plutomon's darkness!" Aisu noticed.

Chikara gritted his teeth and looked up. "Could it be that he was able to see us and thought of a counterattack to push us away from the tower!?"

Everyone's Digimon stood in front of their partners, ready for a hazardous battle.

"Hold it tight, Aisu! I think this will get troublesome!" Strikedramon warned.

"No, wait! There are too many of them, you won't resist for too long!" Aisu exclaimed.

"We can't let them get closer either!" Growmon insisted.

"But…we're getting surrounded!" Aria said.

Norn tried to hold tight on Lekismon. "W-What do we do?"

Kasai was already tightening her fist. "Dammit…we already got some help…but it can't end here, I can't allow it!"

But then…just as they thought that the risks of getting killed were about to increase…

"MEGA FLAME!"

"FOX FIRE!"

Two different bursts of flames appeared and pushed back some of the Digimon coming from one direction, stunning everyone.

"Uh!?"

"METEOR WING!"

"HEAVEN'S KNUCKLE!"

"MOON SHOOTER!"

More attacks were coming from the other parts, pushing back the enraged masses…blows that the detectives could recognize.

"These attacks…could it be?"

And just like that…all of their parents alongside their partners at the Adult-Level, appeared in front of them, ready to take on the obstacles.

Taichi turned around at them with a grin. "Heya! I thought you could use some help!"

"MOM! DAD!" Everyone shouted.

"Ha! Do you have any doubts? Even if we're getting close to our middle age, we can still kick some asses when we want!" Daisuke exclaimed.

"You can say that again! Don't forget who taught you the bases, Coredramon!" His ExVeemon added.

"But…how were you able to get this quick?" Kyoko asked.

At that moment, Shiro turned around, close to Jou. "Hey, are you forgetting who has followed you thus far? As soon as I saw Saiba attacking you, I immediately warned the others, and they all came here as soon as you started to move at Somnus!"

"We put ourselves here for a reason, you know?" Teto added. "Plus, I couldn't afford to miss the chance to finally help my little angel, right Iori?" She asked

"Don't worry, we got you covered, Yatsura," Iori added.

Naturally, the young detective girl was starting to tear up. "Oh, mom…dad…"

"You are…willing to do this, really?" Kouta asked.

"Hey, don't forget who you're talking with, Kouta!" BaoHackmon told him.

"Correct! Even if our adventures ended a long time ago, there's still some room to intervene for us. I think we made it clear, we can't allow our children to get killed, even if it comes from a friend." Takeru added.

"I can break my vow to fight again for once if it means saving you and allowing you to proceed," Sora said. "Right, Birdramon?"

"Yes!" The giant bird Digimon nodded.

From the other side, the other Digimon were standing up again, roaring with rage.

"Ah, they're coming back! Let's make sure to stun them for good, Ikkakumon!" Jou exclaimed.

"You got it, Jou!"

"I think there's nothing else to add, guys. You can move on." Yamato urged them.

"Reach the government skyscraper and stop Saiba once and for all!" Garurumon added.

"Are…are you sure?" Kumo asked.

"Don't worry for us. There are times when you don't have to hesitate. It may be scary at first, but you'll find out that courage isn't hard to find." Taichi assured them with a smile.

"Just keep on going with the conviction that you won't lose! I could see it! You have a lot of resolution! You could even surpass us!" Greymon added.

"O-Old man…" Kasai whispered.

Even the members of the Lion Fang Agency were surprised upon seeing it. It's not like you could have seen the whole old frontier of Chosen Children coming up together as a whole. But doing so…inspired them. They all nodded to each other and reached them, ready to fight.

"Ah!? Shark, guys what are you doing!?" Kyoko exclaimed.

"Isn't it obvious? Doing the same thing we've always done ever since we met each other, covering your backs!" Shark replied.

"Go on without us! You have the USB keys! There will be enough space for you to enter the skyscraper!" WereGarurumon added.

"If you're worried about us, make sure to stop Saiba in time! Then we'll get our chance to celebrate!" Cheri added with a wink, while Sistermon Blanc prepared herself.

"But, are you sure…?" Aisu asked.

Even Norn and Culumon…decided to get closer. "Yes. Don't worry, if anything happens to all of them, I'll make sure to call out that light from before and help them all."

To that, Hikari and her partner looked at each other.

"A light…?" The human asked.

"Reminds me of something, don't you think?" Angewomon said back.

Everyone seemed confident in doing so. For the detectives of the Cheshire Cat Agency, it was still incredible that despite everything, despite the secrets kept, the grim situation, and the various problems…they were all willing to help them.

"Come on guys! No need to make those jaws! We'll make sure to come back in one piece! Now go, don't hesitate!" Mimi spurred them.

"Ah, wait, Mom!" Kasai called her out. "I…told everyone…about my disease."

Taichi and Mimi widened their eyes and looked at each other before looking at her.

"Don't worry…" Their daughter assured her before fixing her hat. "They could understand. I…hope I can get back to explain better."

That alone was enough to lighten the two Chosen Children. "Eh eh, this detective agency surely changed you a lot, my dear Kasai! Now go! Make Papa and Mama proud!"

"Take Saiba Rei down, all of you!" Taichi added.

"They're coming back! Prepare yourselves!" Togemon warned.

"YES!" Everyone exclaimed.

Then…Kyoko decided to do the right thing and called out for her detectives. "They've made their choices, guys! We should take advantage of it! The skyscraper shouldn't be far from here!"

Everyone looked at her and somehow…felt the same.

"Eh eh, you're right! Then what are we waiting for?" Toriko asked.

"LET'S FINISH THIS! LET'S GO!" Tsuna concluded. And with that…all the detectives of the Cheshire Cat Agency headed toward the skyscraper, eager to finish the case…for real.

"Glad to see that you haven't changed, guys!" Gennai added while following the others.

But before that, Kasai stopped for a moment…she turned around at someone who stood back.

"Taiyo!"

"Uh?" Taiyo turned around to see the girl having a resolute stare.

"Make sure to come back, got it?" With those words, she left with Veedramon.

The young boy didn't know how to react to that…but he knew the answer with a smile. "Yes, don't worry! I didn't just join for nothing!"

Paledramon looked at him with a smirk. "I think you have a new charge now."

Taichi and Mimi looked at the scene, with the latter getting excited. "Oh God…they grow up so fast!"

"Indeed…I have many things to say them again…" Yamato added.

"More than one reason to not back down like the other times, right?" Taichi told him with a smile.

Yamato closed his eyes and smiled as well. "Yes. Indeed."

"They're coming now! We'll stay here for a while if we want to free them from the darkness!" Koushiro warned.

"But we'll make it so…it's not the first time you do it, right?" Meiko asked him.

"Then, no regrets everyone!" Miyako exclaimed.

"That's right! The same goes for you guys!" Shark added.

"LET'S GO!" With one last charge…they all went against the rampaging Digimon, bringing forth a clash that would have occupied most of Somnus and made most of the citizens try to escape.

KA-BOOOOOOOM!

---

Once they got away from the mass of corrupted Digimon, the thirteen members of the Cheshire Cat Agency made their way through the capital of the Digital World…and finally…they were able to reach the place they were planning to raid for a long time by now.

The skyscraper of Somnus was standing imponent in front of them, surrounded by the black barrier.

"We're finally here, guys…" Kyoko commented. "All our efforts had finally brought us to this place where we'll end it."

Rikka took out her laptop and did quick research with her laptop. "The dark energy here is incredibly strong. This must be the work of Plutomon."

"And this also means that the Perfect Cube is up there. We may have interrupted the flow of energy, but I think that Saiba could still become pretty dangerous if he makes his Digimon absorb it." Leppamon added.

"Then let's not waste further time," Kumo concluded. They made a few steps closer and gave a closer look at the barrier.

"Here we are again, Coredramon! Vis-à-vis with this fucking barrier again!" Tsunayoshi exclaimed, making his knuckles crack.

Kouta immediately looked at him with a skeptical face. "You know…now that we have the USB keys, try not to bring it down with your fists, will you?"

"HEY! If that asshole of Jack Ambra didn't intervene with his stupid Digimon, we would have destroyed that barrier at the right time!" The other Chosen Child insisted. "Oh well, we'll be able to pay him back for this, at least!"

"I guess we're ready then…" Chikara said.

"Yeah but…I hope to not ruin the mood but…does anyone here have an idea on how it works?" Leomon then asked, looking at everyone.

…A small silence followed.

"Y-Yeah…we didn't think of it…" DORUgamon commented.

Aria made a nervous smile with a drop of sweat coming down from near her head. "Eh eh…any ideas Rikka?"

Koushiro's daughter made a skeptical face before sighing. "As always, I need to do everything when it comes to this. You could have studied at least a bit of informatics before becoming detectives!" She said as she came closer.

"Hey, Mister Ken never taught me anything about it, so I thought I could do the same to the others! You're the informatic one here! It's already a lot that we know how to use a computer!" Kyoko answered back. "Well…except someone who's pretending to use it but in reality, he plays with a Super Nintendo."

Sasuke tried to look elsewhere. "IIIII don't know who you're talking about!"

Rikka looked carefully at the barrier, trying to figure out how it worked…before she realized something.

"Any ideas?" Aisu asked.

The other girl…simply took one of the keys from Kyoko and inserted it into the barrier and just like magic…the barrier opened for her for a few moments, making her and Leppamon able to pass through it.

"AH!?" Everyone exclaimed.

"There's a small USB recess if you look closely! Insert the keys one by one and you should be able to enter." Rikka explained.

Everyone was left…simply dumbfounded.

"A-Ah…that's it? Is it that simple?" Kouta asked.

Koushiro's daughter put her hands on her hips and looked at them smugly. "So? Think that you needed an informatic to figure out something like that?"

"W-Well, it's always a good thing to be precautious if anything!" Aria tried to defend herself.

"So…all we need to do is insert the keys and the deal is done, right?" Shoutmon asked.

"But this means…" Yatsura added before looking at Gennai. "We only have thirteen USB keys. How are you going to get in?"

But the digital man gave him a thumbs up. "Don't underestimate my reflexes!"

"Well…in that case…there isn't much that we need to do," Aisu concluded.

"That's right! Come on guys! Let's get inside!" Kyoko added.

And so…each agency member used a USB key to get inside the barrier. As they did so, they thought back to all the crazy situations and all the mercenaries they had to defeat, between those whom they could simply take down and those whom they were forced to kill. Many opponents…one after another made them a road to reach this last stage.

Molock Papillon and Butterflamon, Benjamin Wagner and BomberNanimon, Mario Gemini and Hyogamon, Sarah Suzuki and Hookmon, Jamal Aggarwal and Asuramon, Maximilian Astaroth and Deltamon, Yuuko Chitose and GeoGreymon Ludwig Everglow and Metal Fantomon, the Komodo Brothers and their Bakemon, Nui Kishibe and Hysyaryumon, Aleksanteri Virtanen and Fla Wizarmon, Sigmund Wagner and Lighdramon…and finally, Cassidy Monroe and Raptordramon (later turned Grademon).

All those enemies that bothered them…and now they were there, inside the barrier…ready to enter.

The ground floor of the government skyscraper was just as they expected it to be, a reception room with completely empty. The detectives could see some damages here and there, probably coming from when Saiba and his men had assaulted the place the first time. On the other side, they could see both a staircase and an elevator that led to the upper floor and an elevator.

"Man, it seems that they were quite lazy here. Not the sight you'd expect from a government palace." Aria commented while looking around.

Kumo immediately went to check the elevator and tried to press the button to call it but to no avail. "As I thought. It's out of service. They thought of this as well."

"Then the only thing we can do is go up there with our feet," Starmon added as he looked at the staircase.

"We need to reach the top and take down Saiba, simple as that, correct?" Toriko asked.

"Not only that. The USB keys made us only pass through the barrier. Now that we're inside, we must find a way to make it ultimately disappear." Rikka replied.

"And how are we planning to do so?" Aisu asked.

"There must be a control room for the electricity, security, and such. Once we find it, I'll make sure to use my capacities as a Cyber Sleuth to disable it." Koushiro's daughter continued. "Though it could take a while…"

"Don't worry! I'll help you out just as we did back at the corporation!" Gennai assured her before looking forward. "Since we have our priorities set, we'd better get-" He was encouraging the others to proceed but right at that moment…

SPLAT!

"GAH!" A large diagonal cut near his chest suddenly appeared, making him bleed and recoil.

"AH!" Everyone exclaimed.

"Gennai, what happened!?" Chikara exclaimed.

The digital being was still stumbled. "I…I don't know! I've suddenly got attacked by something!" He replied.

"At that speed?" Kumo asked before looking around. He…had a familiar sensation to that. "Wait…I know who it is!"

"You do!?" Aria exclaimed.

"Everyone, get ready!" Yamato and Sora's second son warned.

And just as he did so, more sharp attacks started to fly around the detectives and their Digimon, forcing them to put their arms in a defensive stance.

"GHHHHH!"

"These blows are just as fast as my Kurukuru Rekkūzan! It's a whirlwind of cuts!" Leppamon exclaimed.

"We can't get stuck for this long!" Veedramon exclaimed as he tried to throw a fist at high speed as he got used to. "ORA!" As he did it, he could feel his arm clashing with something. Thanks to that…they could all see him, as the attacker was forced to stop.

"NGHH!" Snimon growled as he stood in front of the blue dragon before jumping away.

"A Snimon!?" Strikedramon exclaimed.

"I've never seen one that could reach such speeds! Did…did human potential power up Digimon that much?" Gennai added.

But some of the detectives such as Kumo, Chikara, and even Kyoko frowned their eyebrows.

"That's not just a regular Snimon…" The blue-haired boy warned.

Just as Snimon prepared himself, they could hear a voice coming from above.

"That's right. And it appears that what happened just a few hours ago didn't teach you a thing."

When they all looked up, they could see David Eligor clinging on the roof before landing down on his feet.

Sasuke got more annoyed. "That's him! That's the dude who assaulted him with his ridiculous long nails!"

Kasai looked at him. "You know him? Is he another mercenary?"

"David Eligor. He says that he had been observing us throughout all this time and knows all of our moves." Kyoko explained to her.

"Yeah, a really annoying opponent," DORUgamon added. "We were aware that despite taking all the USB keys, there were still some mercenaries left, but if he's the first one, things could get really bad."

Eligor got closer to his partner. "It seems that you're a bit aware of the danger that is approaching you. I should complement you for the road you had made this far, but it ends here. I can't allow you to go any further now that we're reaching the final phase of my client's plan. If you value your life, you'd better leave now."

But Shoutmon and Leomon were already in front of the enemy. "Oh please! You think that we could back down right now!?" The latter exclaimed.

"That's right! Don't think that we have forgotten what you have done! Get ready to get the payback!" The red dragon added before raising his mike. "WREAH!" He and Leomon already tried to slam down Snimon with their weapons, but the insect Digimon once again shocked everyone, blocking their attacks with his long arms. "Y-You can't be serious!"

"Sharp Edge." Eligor's Digimon pushed both enemies away with a spinning attack that left them with a few cuts on their bodies.

"GAH!"

"SHOUTMON! / LEOMON!" Both Kumo and Chikara shouted.

DORUgamon was already flying high. "Power Metal!" He shot a large cannonball, hoping to crush Snimon under it. But the Digimon insect was able to move away with his wings at the right time, almost like he had an afterimage, and already reached the dragon's height, cutting him down with a straight attack. "GH!" DORUgamon crashed violently to the ground, with Kyoko reaching him.

"DORUgamon!" After trying to treat her partner, Kyoko looked at the enemy while sweating. "Dammit, it's happening again!"

"Man, at this point we won't be able to even pass through the ground floor!" Rina complained.

"Is there anything we can do?" Kabuterimon added, getting ready for the worst.

In all of that mess, Yatsura looked at the situation, sweating a bit. It was true. If Eligor held them there, they wouldn't have gone anywhere. They needed to come up with something and proceed.

But…truth to be told…Yatsura did have an idea for it, even if it scared her a bit. But…it's not like she hadn't done anything worse. After sticking with the agency for so long and even being able to defeat some of the mercenaries by herself, she was starting to think that she could leave her paranoids for once and…do the right thing.

"ExVeemon…" She whispered.

"Hm?" The blue dragon turned at her. "What is it?"

"Get ready. It's our moment." The Chosen Child warned him.

In the meantime, Eligor already closed his hand in a similar way to a knife. "Anything you can do, you say? You know there isn't. I wanted to be merciful and give you one last chance to save yourselves, but since you insist, all I can do is make you silent forever!" With those words, he and his partner went for the attack.

"WATCH OUT!" Aisu exclaimed as she and the others prepared themselves. But right at the last moment…

"GAH!?" Eligor got stopped by Yatsura who pushed him away with an elbow attack.

"What the!?" Even Snimon found himself getting suddenly blocked by ExVeemon, who was pushing back his two arms.

"T-TAKE THIS!" The blue dragon then violently pushed the insect backward with a kick. Both he and his partner stood in a fighting stance.

"Heh! You say that you have observed us thus far, but it seems that you didn't expect this one!" The girl said with a nervous smirk.

Eligor frowned underneath his mask. "What!?"

The girl then looked at the others. "Guys! I'll keep him busy down here! I'll reach you as soon as I'm done here!"

"Oi, Yatsura are you sure!? You just saw what this guy can do!" Tsuna exclaimed.

"I know! But I also know that we need to stop Saiba before he completes his plan!" Yatsura insisted. "I usually end up in the worst trouble but I've got used to it! Plus, I need to keep a high reputation for my friend Maki…" She then looked at the boy while blushing a bit. "And even for you guys. For once…let me be the shield!"

"Ah…w-well…" Tsunayoshi didn't know what to say.

Coredramon was even more confused. "Wait, why is she blushing?" He thought.

Kasai and Kyoko, on the other hand, were impressed by that act. That simple action solidified how the girl had grown ever since they met her. She indeed grasped the true nature of being a detective. And that was what made the two girls look at each other and smile.

The leader of the agency then looked at the others. "Come on then, let's proceed then. Let's not waste any further time."

Everyone looked at them…but understood quickly. It wasn't a scene they weren't used to.

"All right. We're counting on you, Yatsura!" Tsunayoshi encouraged her.

"MAKE HIM REGRET OF EVERYTHING!" Chikara added.

"You're doing great, Yatsura. I'm glad that I've become your friend!" Kasai concluded with a smile.

"Let's go, come on!" Kouta concluded. The whole group started to mobilize, alarming Eligor and his Digimon.

"What!?"

Before moving forward, Kyoko pointed at him with a smirk. "Your next line will be 'Oh no you won't!'"

"Oh no, you won't! UH!?" Even someone like Eligor couldn't escape the girl's prediction, but that didn't stop him or Snimon to try and catch back the detectives.

"X-Laser!" ExVeemon promptly attacked them with an X-shaped laser from his chest, forcing them to defend themselves.

"NGH!" Snimon went in front of his partner to defend him. When they looked up, the remaining detectives had already gone to the other floor.

"I can't believe it, they ran away!" Eligor exclaimed before looking at the only one who remained behind, only to deal with him.

"Are you surprised? Everyone makes mistakes, I'm the first to confirm it!" Yatsura told him before assuming a battle stance. "We are your opponents now. Don't think we'll let you win now that we're close to achieving victory!"

Eligor scoffed from underneath his mask, but his targets were already far away. Still…even if there was a small fluke, he still could recover.

"All right. I didn't think you were this desperate to stay behind for the sake of your mission. But there's nothing bad with starting one by one." He said, trying to call himself down.

"It's clear that you don't know what the word 'teamwork' means! And don't think that it's that easy to take both me and ExVeemon down! Others tried and failed!" Yatsura countered.

"Maybe…but I know exactly how to hit you in the right points," Eligor said back. "Yatsura Hida, daughter of Iori and Teto Hida. Ever since this hunt for you detectives had started, you were one of the most troublesome members, since you were able to take down both Yuuko and Ludwig. Your partner is also one of the few Digimon in your group who can reach the Perfect-Level already. Indeed, you show promising skills but…you have also one big flaw." He then started to explain before the eyes of his mask glowed for a moment. "You panic easily."

The girl gulped. "O-Oh God…you actually know a few things about us."

"You think I'm all talk? To defeat your enemy, you must know him well. It's a thing I've learned from my father…back when he used to raise me as a mercenary ever since I was a child. And ever since that…I've never missed a shot, and neither I will now." Eligor replied, showing a hint of his past.

"Master?" ExVeemon wanted to make sure that her partner was still ok.

After hearing that, Yatsura trembled for a moment. Maybe such an enemy wasn't exactly what she had hoped to face. But…it was also true that she proposed herself to face him so that the others could proceed. Just as the others had said…she had changed. There was no reason to falter now. She tightened her fist and glared at him.

"What you said was right…but what does it mean now? Even if you know what I'm going to do, I still won't back down! You'd better prepare yourself!" She countered.

"That's the Master I know!" ExVeemon added.

Eligor sighed. At this point…there was nothing more to add. "As you wish, naïve girl. Let me and my Digimon teach you the mistake of your ways." He then dashed toward the enemy at high speed.

"ExVeemon, let's go!" Even Yatsura prepared her gun while her Digimon spread his wings.

"Ok, Master! Let's kill this hoe! Beeeetch!" The dragon flew toward the enemy, starting to spin his entire body. "Spinning Lariat!"

To his surprise, Snimon moved up at high speed as if he left an afterimage like he did with the others before, and aimed at his back. "Shadow Slash."

"GAAAAAH!" ExVeemon roared out of pain as he was forced to stop the attack. He turned around to meet his enemy's eyes and tried to surprise him with the close distance. "Hearty Shatter!" He used a variant of his attack to attack him with a fireball, but once again Snimon jumped up and then flew backward. "How is he so fast!?"

"You are predictable as a movie that I watched a hundred times. You think I didn't get attacked like this several times?" Snimon mocked him before dashing against him with his arms at the ready, forcing the other Digimon to put his arms in a defensive stance. "Shadow Sickle!" He started to overwhelm him with a cage of cuts.

"Gh-GHHHH!" ExVeemon tried to resist as much as he could while his body started to get several bleeding cuts. "Come on…there's got to be a way to surprise him like I did before! He didn't expect the attack I gave him earlier!" He thought. He tried to open his eyes to see his attack clearly, but to his surprise, Snimon already had ended and instead, he tackled him. "What!?"

"Tai Atari!" After he tackled him, Snimon grabbed the dragon and threw him against a wall, effectively slamming him.

"GAH!" When ExVeemon opened his eyes after the blow, he could see Snimon already flying toward him, aiming at the throat. "I need to try!" He thought. "X-Laser!"

When Snimon saw the laser come toward him, he quickly moved to the right to dodge it and then aim for the kill. "I got you!" He raised his arm to cut his throat, but ExVeemon was able to block him at the right time. "Huh!? Tch, just a fluke-" He tried with the other arm, but once again, the blue dragon blocked the other arm. "What the!?"

"It is I that got you!" ExVeemon countered before giving him a heavy headbutt to temporarily stun him, giving him finally an opening to attack. "Combination! ATATATATATATATATATATATATAAAA!" He proceeded with a burst of punches, kicks, and elbow drops to finally attack him properly, making him recoil.

"AGH!" Snimon had to look down for a moment to recover his breath, and right then…he could see blood falling directly from his body. "W-What…?" He asked when he looked better, he could see that his body had some cracks. "He was able to pierce through my carapace?" He raised his stare and could see ExVeemon standing on his feet again. "It's already the second time that he was able to hit me…how is it possible? Me and Eligor should have seen all of their movements in the past, so how is it that I've got pushed back?"

ExVeemon breathed heavily but looked at Snimon with a smirk. "You didn't expect it, judging by your expression!"

"You're quick to sing victory. It seems that I'll need to remember better from now on. You're still inside my net, it won't be easy for you to escape." Snimon said back, trying to keep calm.

"I don't know how it will take for me to break your net, but probably not too long. I just need to get a few more confirms about it, but stay assured that I've found out your weak point!" ExVeemon countered.

"What!? You…" Hearing that he could be defeated annoyed the insect Digimon to the point that he started to tremble, including his antennas. "Don't think that you can act cocky just because you were able to attack me twice, you don't have the slightest idea of who I am! I'll teach your place, just you wait!" He threatened, ready to resume his attack.

In the meantime, Eligor was already running fast against Yatsura, who kept shooting at him with the gun. Somehow, his movements were even faster than those of a bullet, and he was able to dodge all the attacks.

"Come on, will you stay still already!?" She complained. And then, just as she was about to reload…

SPLAT!

"AH!" She witnessed with horror that her hip got a large bleeding cut. "What the!?" She looked back to see Eligor behind her resume his attack, cutting the other hip. "AGH!" Then she saw him in front of her, and just for a pure stroke of luck, she was able to block his hand, even if she had to put a lot of strength to hold him still. "GH! W-What's with those hands of yours!? When was the last time that you cut your nails?"

"Trying to act funny won't save yourself." Eligor countered with a cold tone. "You know…I always found weapons overrated. True, they're deadly, but people tend to underestimate the brutal force that bare hands can have. Apart from choking or killing fist after fist…we also have nails that can be precious. If treated properly…they can be no different from the arm of a mantis." He explained before stabbing Yatsura right in the belly with his free hands.

"AAAAH! BLARGH!" The girl spit blood from his mouth with her eyes widened in horror. The grip she had started to weaken.

"Do you understand now? I can already see your typical terror pervading your mind at this moment. But don't worry, I'll make it easy for you. Rest in peace!" Eligor was about to throw another attack with his hand after pulling it out but to his surprise…

"GRRRRR!" Yatsura glared at her while gritting her teeth and threw a violent kick at his neck, wiping him away on the floor.

"GAH!?" Eligor didn't expect it and got fully hit. When he looked up, he had to massage his neck as he still felt pain. "Are you kidding me!? You still have energy left to react!? GAH!" He didn't even have the time to acknowledge what had just happened when a bullet pierced his shoulder. When he looked back, he could see that the detective was pointing at him with the gun. She was breathing heavily, her eyes were tearing up and she was soaked in blood, but she was still pointing at him with the weapon. Also…as a fighter, he could see it clearly in her pupils: two small blue flames. "The eyes of the killer…? In a person like her?"

"D-Didn't I make myself clear, Eligor!? I don't intend to back down even if you know me! You'll have to behead me if you want me to stop, you bastard!" The girl exclaimed with a tone that showed fear but anger at the same time.

For the first time in years…Eligor felt like something was wrong. Even if he had observed her in the past, she was able to go with two direct blows. What seemed to be an impossible outcome was now starting to become reality. But how? He had never missed a blow, and now he was getting wounded back after he was able to knock out three detectives just a few hours earlier. He couldn't explain it to himself, but one thing was certain. He was starting to get angry. He stood up and prepared his hands again. "All right, I think you have talked enough for my tastes. If you want me to assault you so badly, then SO BE IT!" He quickly ran again.

But this time, instead of trying to shoot him again, she started to run around the ground floor, as if she was trying to escape or…maybe something else. "I need to find a way to stun him for good! Come on…think of something…" She thought.

"You think you can run away after what you have done!? You're more of a coward than I thought!" Eligor exclaimed before trying to catch her up with an attack from her hand.

Yatsura was far from him, but the attack was still able to reach her legs, cutting in half her boots, leaving her barefoot and with a large cut on both legs that made her fall to the ground. "GAH!"

She couldn't stand up again, as Eligor pummelled him to the ground by stabbing his hand on her left shoulder. "Look at you, whiny girl. As you can see, what you have done didn't change a thing. I'm still the one with the upper hand here. Don't think you can mock David Eligor that easily and then run away like nothing!" He exclaimed. Yatsura noticed a small sound of nervousness coming from his words…and decided to use it in her favor. By taking advantage of the fact that she pummelled him to the ground, she raised her leg to give him a violent kick in the testicles. "AAAAAH!" Even if he was a cold-hearted killer, not even Eligor could resist man's natural weak point, and he had to leave the grip, giving Yatsura the right occasion to throw him back with an elbow.

"I'm not escaping! You'll soon see for yourself how I'm going to take you down!" The girl exclaimed.

"Shadow Slash!" Meanwhile, Snimon tried to overwhelm ExVeemon with a double spin attack of his arms.

The blue dragon tried to resist, only to get pushed back and crash several times to the ground, but at a certain point, he was able to put his hands on the floor and regain balance with a jump, getting the chance for an attack too. "X-Laser!" He threw a laser from his chest that brought up a small explosion. But ExVeemon couldn't even wait to see if his attack worked as he found Snimon right in front of himself. "Uh!?"

"Shadow Sickle!" The insect Digimon immediately stabbed him near the chest with violence.

"GAH!" ExVeemon spit blood from his mouth, but still had the energy to glare at his enemy.

"You got me scared for a moment, I'll give you that. But it's clear that you still can't keep up with both my speed and experience. You should have quit when you had the-" Snimon was about to mock him for the last time before the final blow, but right at that moment…

"Strong Crunch!" ExVeemon took advantage of him losing time at words and bit him right at the arm, making him scream with pain.

"AAAAGH! WHAT!?" Snimon didn't even get the time to react that ExVeemon already charged a laser from his chest blasting him against a wall. "NGH!"

ExVeemon could take a moment to breathe. "And here I thought that it happened in movies, but it seems that real life isn't that different in that regard. You villains always lose time in talking!"

This time, Snimon stood up trembling from the blast. "Villain? No, me and Eligor are simple mercenaries who do their job. We're simply passionate about it. Like I said before, we never missed a kill, and this won't be the first time!"

"I don't see what passion there could be in killing people for getting money from shady people. You're self-deluded!" ExVeemon answered back.

"Isn't it the same thing you detectives do? If I'm correct, you have killed most of the mercenaries that Saiba sent to you, am I correct?" Snimon asked.

"Because we've been forced to! A death, whether it's a Digimon or a human should never come without justification or for petty reasons such as yours!" The blue dragon exclaimed.

Those words irritated Snimon further. "You should listen to yourself, thinking that you can act all-mighty. Unfortunately for you, there can't be just one model of behavior! You need to accept everyone's needs! But if you insist on ignoring that, I'll make sure that it will get stuck in your brain by forcingly putting it in there!" The insect Digimon spread his arms, even if one was badly wounded, and started to move them in a circle. "Let's see if you can resist a full-power SHARP EDGE!"

As he said it, ExVeemon could see a large storm of circular cuts coming straight for him. "Oh, crap! I won't have much space to dodge it!" The dragon thought. But…despite it…he could still see it: a single road that would have led him to his enemy…even if at a high price. "Still…if I decide to go through it…Snimon would have left himself exposed badly…should I go for it?" He thought. He looked at his partner, who was focused on fighting Eligor.

He could see that she had tears in her eyes, but she nonetheless kept pushing against the enemy. In that single expression, he could see her resolution striking forward to reach the end of the mission. Even if she was scared…she didn't care. She would have continued to fight until she would have won.

That alone…was enough to convince ExVeemon with a smile. "That's right…what type of Digimon would I be if I didn't go with the thoughts of my partner? If she's ready to take the risk…then so should I!" With that thought, he prepared his next attack.

Snimon was stunned. "What!? He's not trying to escape or defend himself!? Is he crazy!? What is he planning to do!?"

"Spinning Lariat!" ExVeemon started to spin at high speed…throwing himself toward the whirlwind of attacks. The cuts were already piercing through his body, making him bleed and risk losing focus and dying. But he tried his best to keep his consciousness active. "Keep going! You need to reach him now that he doesn't expect it!"

"Did he just throw himself amid blows!? I don't get it, why!?" Snimon wondered how much he could have been crazy…but he soon found the answer to himself. "AH!" Right in front of him, stood ExVeemon. The dragon was badly wounded…but his attack was still active.

"SNIMOOOOOOOOON!" He shouted with anger, as he crashed directly on the enemy, fully hitting him.

"GAAAAAAAAH!" Snimon was overwhelmed by the blow and got sent to crash first into the ceiling and then onto the ground.

ExVeemon landed on his feet, even if he was trembling due to the physical trauma of the cuts. "Gh…I did it…I was able to lay a direct blow at him…"

Back with the humans, Eligor started to attack relentlessly Yatsura with his nail, and the girl somehow started to get used to it, moving both head and body at the right time to dodge the blows.

"You can't be serious! You were helpless to my cuts just a few moments ago!" Eligor complained.

"What!? You thought that you could have been the only one to get used to enemy attacks? THINK AGAIN!" Yatsura exclaimed before lowering herself to answer with an uppercut that threw Eligor on the ground.

"KAH!"

Yatsura then started to apparently run away. This time, she had a clear direction of where she was heading. She was wounded, barefoot, and bleeding. But she prayed that the forces wouldn't have abandoned her. "I need to go there…!"

Eligor stood up and looked at her with a stare that meant death from underneath the mask. "There you go…acting like a bunny again…BUT THIS TIME I GOT YOU!" Running as fast as he could, reaching her in a matter of seconds, he went to finally chop her head and claim his victory. "DIE!"

Yatsura turned around, apparently scared, but in reality…it was what she wanted. "YOU FELL FOR IT!" She lowered her head in time and, it was then that Eligor realized her plan. "AH!"

Right at that moment, the girl was standing in front of the floor's electrical generator, and since she lowered herself, Eligor ended up stabbing the generator instead…getting a burst of electricity right in his body. "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

As he got paralyzed, Yatsura could finally deliver her answer. "TAKE THIS!" She threw a violent punch that not only pushed Eligor away but also knocked his mask off. "Ah!"

"NGAH!" After getting pushed away, Eligor touched his face, which was finally revealed. Apart from his blonde hair, he had tanned skin and black, downward eyes. But what troubled me the most…was seeing a bruise on his cheek caused by the punch. "My…MY FACE! YOU MISERABLE BITCH! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY FACE!?"

"Wait, really!? You wore a mask because you're a narcissist!?" The girl exclaimed.

"Unforgivable…how could you have done it!? I thought that I had everything in my memory to take you down! But instead, you came up with an idea to make me hit the generator!? How, HOW!?" Eligor continued.

"Yatsura!" Right at that moment, ExVeemon came closer to his partner. "You're ok!? Look at your body…"

"Eh eh…these are the risks of the job. It's not like you're that better, though!" The girl answered back.

"D-David…" Even Snimon came closer to his partner while trembling, stunning him.

"You too!?"

"You two are really self-illuded. What you said before was correct. And you indeed need to know your enemy to take them down, but your downfall had been thinking that you could rely solely on that! You can never know what could happen in a battle, especially when your enemy can think of a counterstrategy!"

"WHAT!?" Eligor exclaimed.

"I realized it as soon as you were reacting to my blows, Snimon. You knew how I normally fight and react during a match, so all that I needed to do was think outside the box and come up with something that you couldn't think I had done, the same thing that the Master here probably did. In short, this is your weak point: surprises! Something that you cannot read!" ExVeemon added.

"Relying only on what you see and think that we could limit ourselves to that wouldn't have brought you anywhere. Because we're beings that adapt to situations by nature, not machines!" Yatsura added.

"D-Damm mutts…" Snimon cursed.

"S-Surprises, you say? No…I refuse…to believe in such a thing. All that it took for me was to carefully observe the enemy to chop their heads off…that's how I had always done in years. You can't be and you won't be a difference! You are just a number like the others, just another work to do as a mercenary!" Eligor added, trying to react even if his senses were getting dizzy due to the electric shockwave.

To that, Yatsura looked…disappointed. "I can't believe I was getting scared of someone so ridiculous and disgusting. If you see people and Digimon only as numbers for your precious death count, then…I don't think that you deserve an easy treatment."

"A-An easy treatment!? The same that you refused!? Fine, have it…your own way! We'll…tear both of your bodies to pieces while…enjoying it! No one messes with me!" Eligor retorted.

And to answer that…Yatsura raised her Digivice. "Are you sure?"

"What!?" Snimon exclaimed.

"Now, ExVeemon!" The girl made her Digivice resonate with her Digimon, making him transform.

"EXVEEMON! SUPER EVOLUTION! PAILDRAMON!"

As he witnessed the evolution, Eligor remembered a detail that made him widen his eyes in horror. "No way…you're telling me that you had endured this fight without the evolution from the beginning!?"

"It's a reasoning we made together! Considering that Snimon is an Adult-Level, we thought that we could have held the evolution for the finale! And considering how you can barely move, we say that this is the perfect occasion!" Paildramon explained.

Yatsura nodded and prepared herself. "I hope you get ready for what's coming! Considering that you broke my 100$ boots, expect a payback coming directly from these legs!" She warned. For a moment…she remembered what Kasai had told her back when they made their first mission together.

"You…made a miracle…"

"I'll make it happen again…I'll let them win…I'll make the miracle…LET'S GO PAILDRAMON!" She exclaimed before throwing herself alongside her partner.

"GHHH!" Eligor started to panic for the first time in years. "A-ATTACK, SNIMON!" His Digimon tried to react, but at that point, both of them were immediately attacked by a barrage of blows.

While Yatsura started to overwhelm Eligor with a barrage of kicks, Paildramon attacked repeatedly with the spikes of the shells on his arms. "ESRIGMA!" And once again, both the detective and their Digimon could unleash their battle cry.

"ATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA OWATTAAAAAAAA!"

After one violent blow, while Snimon faded away in data, Eligor got violently thrown outside the building, full of bleeding wounds.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" And then he crashed to the ground in horror, as he exhaled his last breath. The vigilant eye of Saiba Rei was finally out.

Yatsura fell on her butt and started to breathe heavily. "Anf…anf…anf…anf…anf…anf…"

Paildramon on the other hand, reverted back to his Adult-Level form, and thanks to the evolution, he was healed of some of his wounds. "Are you ok, Yatsura?"

"Yeah…somehow…kh!" Yatsura replied before holding her found. "Ah, dammit…even if we saw through them, he surely got me well."

"Don't move too much!" ExVeemon told her before looking around. "Ah, there!" He saw a medical kit on the floor they were standing on and immediately grabbed it to start treating his partner.

"Thank you…I wish we could go already up and help the others but…it seems that we'll stay here for a while, at least for now." The girl said.

"Of course! I could never let you go there with those wounds!" The dragon told her. "And…let's see it on the bright side. We still won! With this, there's one less mercenary to think about, even a dangerous one!"

"Yeah…it's still incredible for me that I could think clearly in this situation. I…did change, didn't I?" Yatsura observed.

"Yeah, you did! You surely would have run away just a few months ago. But hey, it's natural! After all, you still wanted to become someone like Hercules, right? It's only natural that heroes grow up! ExVeemon told her.

To that, Yatsura's cheeks became slightly red and she looked down. "Well…I just wanted to make the others win and finish this case as a good detective. Plus, I had you on my side! There was no way I could have lost!"

ExVeemon is only happy to hear it. "I'm glad you were able to come out of your shell."

Yatsura felt relaxed to the point that she laid her head on the floor, looking at the ceiling. "I…still have a lot of things I need to clear on my side if I want to feel completely ok but…this is a good start, I think! I just need to…move forward, like the others!" She commented. "And knowing how the others are better than me, I can feel it…if we were able to take down Eligor…the others would surely win! We'll all win!"

"Glad to hear it, Master! Maybe we'll get the time to assist them in the end!" ExVeemon told her with a thumb up.

Overall…Yatsura was satisfied. Satisfied with the fact that she survived, that she won, and that she helped her friends. "Still…" She looked at her legs, even wiggling her toes a bit. "WHY DID HE HAVE TO CUT OFF MY BOOTS!?"

---

After Yatsura opened the way for them, the rest of the Cheshire Cat Agency, accompanied by Gennai, made their way through the skyscraper of Somnus, reaching the upper floors. Once again, as they moved forward, they could see the remains of the damages that occurred during the attack that happened around two months earlier.

"Guess that nothing really changed," Kumo commented before sighing. This time, the memory was livider. After all, it was there where they defeated Saiba's first mercenary and then witnessed the death of Aija and Turuiemon.

Shoutmon put a hand on his leg and assured him with a determined expression. "Remember what we said."

Kumo nodded back. "That's right. We even made a promise to both Aleksi and Sigmund. Let's not disappoint them."

Kasai looked for a moment at them in silence before turning around. Right at that moment, Veedramon noticed something. "Hm? What is it?"

"I may be wrong but…did you see that door with the lightning symbol?" The blue dragon asked.

The rest of the group came closer and apart from the symbol, they could also see the written 'Restricted access for the staff'.

It was then that Rikka thought of something that could have helped them. "Kumo, do you remember where Saiba put the barrier back when they attacked this palace?" She asked.

Kumo shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. I arrived in time only to see them occupy the building…and kill Aija. When they threw me out of the building, they already activated the barrier. But…I think I understand where you want to go, Rikka." He replied. All eyes were on him as he said so. "Considering the symbol and the written, this must be the room for the building's electrical system. So, even if it may not be the room, we should be able to deactivate the barrier if we hack into the system, correct?"

"Ah! You can really do it?" Aria asked.

Rikka nodded. "Yeah, we only need to hope that this could be the right room and have some patience, but I should work out on it."

"As expected from Rikka! You're on fire, today!" Leppamon told him.

"Heh! I just want to get this over with like everyone else!" Rikka answered back with a smile before looking at the others. "Guys, like Yatsura did, leave me here. I'll enter here and see if I can deactivate the barrier from the electrical system. You go on and reach Saiba."

"Are you sure you'll handle it?" Sasuke asked her.

Leppamon came closer to his partner. "Don't worry. Don't forget that he has me on her side! Thanks to Norn, I think that I have enough energy to defend her as much as I can!" He proclaimed.

Then, Gennai came closer to the girl as well. "Plus, she may need extra help when it comes to deactivating that barrier. I'll stay behind as well."

Koushiro's daughter already had some backup, but…despite that, Aria didn't feel sure enough. But she wasn't going to deny Rikka's proposal, instead…she would have assisted it.

"Hey, Growmon…how would you feel about staying here for a while? Would it bother you?" She asked.

Everyone looked at her surprised.

"Hm? Well…yeah, considering that we're getting closer to the end of this case, I'd be a bit disappointed if I didn't get the chance to fight a bit. But hey, I've already done enough, and if it's to help, I surely wouldn't complain!" The red dinosaur replied with a smile.

"I knew I could count on you!" The blonde girl told him before coming closer to Rikka.

"Aria?"

"Don't worry, Rikka! I think that you may need some more backup! And who could do it better than a friend?" Aria continued with a wink.

Then…even Rina was convinced. "Ah! Wait, Aria! We're coming too!" She said before reaching her.

"Uh? You sure, Rina?" Sasuke asked.

"Of course! Back when we did that mission together in Traverse Town, I and Aria were an incredible couple! So, if someone tries to chime in to interfere with us, we clap his ass, right Kabuterimon?" Rina explained.

"Well, you could have put it in a less vulgar way, but I'd say you're right!" Her Digimon agreed.

To that, Rikka made a soft smile. "Guess that convincing you otherwise won't be an option. Thanks, guys."

"Oh, no need to! Ever since I joined the agency, I've always loved to hang out with you!" Aria assured her before snuggling her cheek against Rikka's for a moment.

"All right, folks! You keep on going and proceed with this climax! We'll stay here and see what we can do!" Rina said to the others.

"Heh. Guess that you and Yatsura are planning to leave me alone, eh?" Sasuke asked.

"Oh, don't worry, Sasuke! You know what they're capable of! Let's keep on moving for them, too!" Gladimon assured him.

"Oh, right! We better give them a great victory!" The Chosen Children agreed.

"Then, good luck! Make sure that the barrier that is standing outside will only be a bad memory!" Kyoko told them before looking at the others. "Come on, let's go!"

"Make sure to give the computer a fist for me! So, I'll confirm that it could have been knocked out with a fist!" Tsunayoshi added before leaving.

"Tsuna, come on, are you serious!?" His partner, Coredramon exclaimed.

With that, the group became smaller, as Rikka, Aria, Rina, their Digimon, and Gennai remained in front of the door.

"All right…let's see what we can do here, and make it quick," Rikka commented…before having a drop of sweat fall near her head. "Though…I think it's locked…does anyone have an idea on how to enter?"

CRASH!

As soon as she asked it, Growmon threw down the door with a claw attack, making a loud noise, and leaving everyone with their jaws open.

"That's the way." Growmon simply spoke before entering.

"Growmon, goddammit! You could have had more tact! When this will all be over, they'll probably make us pay for it!" Leppamon complained.

"Oh no, it was a valid way! I would have done the same! But…I would have had my hand broken…" Rina added.

Gennai looked with a drop of sweat as well and tried to calm the situation. "C-Come on, we can enter, and that's all that matters, right?" He spoke. But his thought was another. "Are these really the current generation of Chosen Children? Now I can confirm the voices about them being violent…"

Once they had entered, they found themselves in a room full of cases and lights that extended for a few meters.

"Our guess was correct…this is the building's electrical system. All the electronic devices of the skyscraper, including their servers must be connected by this room. Which means…" Rikka commented. She looked around carefully between the various cases to see if one of them looked different than the others.

Even her friends did the same. "Do you see anything different?" Aria asked.

"Hmmm…nothing much. I just noticed that most of the cases here have a blue ascension light, while there's one case that has it purple." Rina replied…before realizing what she said. "Wait a minute!"

"Where is it, Rina?" Kabuterimon asked. The girl pointed at it and everyone went to control it.

"Hey, it's true, the light here is different, almost like a bootleg hidden in a box full of authentic material!" Growmon noticed as well.

To have further confirmation, Gennai touched the case with his palm and closed his eyes…sensing an energy that worried him a bit. "Yes…I can feel a dark energy coming from this case, probably similar to that of the HADES entity."

"Then…we were right…this case must be connected to the barrier!" Rikka concluded.

"What do we do, then?" Kabuterimon asked.

"I'll connect my computer to this case. Then I'll try to hack into the system and manage to disable the barrier once and for all. Gennai, I'm counting on your assistance." Rikka explained.

"I stayed here for this reason!" The digital being told him.

Koushiro's daughter already started to pull out the laptop. "It may take a while, but if we work correctly, we may-" But then…just as she was about to take it from her bag.

"GAAAAAAAH!" A fireball fully hit everyone, throwing them to the ground.

"What…what was that!?" Kabuterimon exclaimed.

"Dammit, we were right! They left someone here!" Aria added.

"Not only that…this attack…it can only be!" Leppamon had his thoughts, which turned out to be correct as they turned toward the door.

James Belmond and Yatagaramon were right there, looking at them with a smirk. "Oh my! I almost thought that you would have done something that ridiculous. Luckily, we were able to get in time."

"And it also seems that we have a good number of meddlesome pricks in our hands, including that being I can't say if it's a Digimon or a human!" The crow Digimon added.

"What? You know me?" Gennai asked.

Aria and Rikka immediately frowned at the sight of the mercenary. "Well, Rikka…it seems that we had gotten quite lucky, don't you think?" The former asked.

"You can say that again…" The latter replied before standing up. "Disabling the barrier can wait. Before that…I'd say that we use this chance to get our payback against you, James Belmond!"

"Ah? James Belmond? You know him?" Rina asked.

"Yeah, we faced him back at Kowloon just a few hours ago. We couldn't finish the deal because of Cassidy's Raptordramon evolving into Grademon. But…I don't think he'll be this lucky now." Leppamon replied.

"Ah! In that case, let us help! If he made you piss off that badly, then there's no reason for us to hold back. Kabuterimon!" Rina immediately called her Digimon, who was ready to fight.

But despite that, James didn't change expression. "Oh, so you both remember me and put me on your top priority? Normally I would feel honored, but considering what you are attempting to do, I can't say that properly." He said before assuming a stance with his Digimon. "Sure, what Cassidy did was surely comfy, and I would have thanked her later if she wouldn't have died against you. But…don't think that I can't be dangerous on my own. You forget that I'm a renowned mercenary as well."

"I see that we're getting cocky, now. But don't think that we forgot what you or your Digimon is capable of!" Aria told him with a smirk.

"That's right! And should I remind you that they're not alone this time?" Rina added. "In fact, I can't wait to punch you until you-" Before she could finish her line, she found herself wrapped in a net of strings. "Ah!?"

"What!?" The others exclaimed.

"Please, you thought I would have stuck to talking for long? You do know that I can't let you disable the barrier, right?" James said as he held the strings. He raised them high to violently throw Rina against a wall.

"AGH!"

"RINA!" Kabuterimon shouted before turning at the enemy aggressively. "Bastard, just you wait!" He spread his wings and immediately flew toward them.

Yatagaramon did the same. "It seems that it's showtime!"

"Indeed." James agreed before striking a pose. "It's time for round two! Let's avenge Maximilian Astaroth for real this time!" He ordered, making his Digimon fly toward the opponent.

"Leppamon, Growmon, join him!" Rikka ordered as she and Aria raised their Digivice.

"LEPPAMON! / GROWMON! SUPER EVOLUTION! TYLINMON! / MEGALO GROWMON!" Once they evolved, the two Perfect-Level Digimon threw themselves on the attack against Yatagaramon. "GRAAAAAAAH!"

The bird Digimon put his wings in front of him to defend himself from the triple attack. Surprisingly, the armor in his wings was enough to resist all three attacks.

"What!?"

Yatagaramon already laughed out. "What did you think that you were the only ones who could rely on solid armor?" He asked as the Dokkosho on his wings were already spinning. "Gurendama!" Several fireballs were shot that pushed the three Digimon away.

"GAAAAH!"

Megalo Growmon opened his eyes quickly in anger. "Don't think you can play us for fools!" He exclaimed. Electric shockwaves already departed from the cannons on his chest. "Megalo Spark!"

"Mega Blaster!" Kabuterimon shot a blast of electricity as well, combining the two blows that forced Yatagaramon to fly around.

"Oh my! We're already getting aggressive, I see! Too bad that it won't be enough!" Surprisingly, he was able to move freely despite the attack behind him.

"He's too fast! At this point, we won't be able to attack him!" Kabuterimon complained.

"Unfortunately, I cannot use my Atomic Blaster here, or I would end up making a huge mess. But stay assured, Kabuterimon…he's not the only one who's fast!" Megalo Growmon added, sounding overall confident.

And just as he said, while he was busy running away from the blow, Yatagaramon could hear something flying from above, and when he looked up, he could see Tylinmon heading at high speed toward him. "Ah!?"

"Shippū Tenshouken!" The flying Digimon tried to stab his opponent several times with his horn, even unleashing his battle cry. "KYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAAAAA!"

Once again, Yatagaramon used the armor on his wings to defend himself. "Ha ha! You are just wasting your time!"

But Tylinmon smiled underneath his beard. "I wouldn't be so sure."

"What?" The bird Digimon asked, and right at that moment, the sphere of electricity generated by the other two Digimon finally reached him, fully attacking him. "GAAAAAAH! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?" He couldn't even get the time to recover that Tylinmon already slammed him on the ground. "G-Gh…" With a few burns on his feathers, he stood up, only to see Kabuterimon trying to stab him with his horn. "AH!" Out of panic, the bird Digimon started to jump backward before he could fly again.

"We've got you both on the ground and in the middle air, there's no escape this time!" Kabuterimon threatened.

To help, Megalo Growmon threw his Pendulum Blades from his arms and started to follow Yatagaramon like boomerangs. "Double Edge!"

"Kh!" Yatagaramon started to fly around again, and this time, when the blades reached him, he used his claws to divert them away. Right at that moment, Tylinmon tried to assault him by dashing at high speed while being surrounded by a holy aura. Yatagaramon moved up in time and charged his next attack, now that he had all three Digimon right below him. "Let's see if you like this! Mikafutsu-no-kami!" He charged energy from the Dokkosho of his legs and fired it at maximum power.

"GAAAAAH!" The three Digimon shouted with pain as they were overwhelmed by the blow, but still standing.

And even if in pain, Tylinmon knew how to answer, as he looked up with a resolute stare. "Don't think this will be enough! Kaishin no Hadou!" He spread his wings and generated a golden aura that dissipated the attack, even healing himself and his friends a bit.

"Woah, thanks, Tylinmon! I didn't know you could do it!" Kabuterimon observed.

"Neither did I! Now I know what it feels to be a holy Digimon."

Yatagaramon on the other hand scoffed. "Tch! I'll admit, you could lay down a few more troubles than expected, but certainly not something that can't be repaired!"

"Oh really? Then come here and tell us on our faces!" Kabuterimon exclaimed.

"WHAT!?" Yatagaramon felt provoked by that and immediately dived against them. "LET'S SEE IF YOU ACT COCKY AFTER THIS!"

Kabuterimon was stunned by that. "W-Wait, it actually worked!?"

Yatagaramon started to attack with his claws and his talons that shone deep crimson, starting to generate a fast barrage of blows that hit all three Digimon, who tried to answer as they could.

"Shippū Tenshouken! / Double Edge! / Beet Horn!" The three Digimon of the detective agency tried their best melee attacks, bringing up a series of clashes that left several scars on the surrounding cases. Somehow, Yatagaramon was able to constantly move and attack while defending himself from their blows.

Kabuterimon started to sweat. "Dammit! We can't let him damage the electricity of this place further! Kyoko and the others might get in trouble because of it!"

"Keep on pushing like we did before! We'll be able to hit him further!" Tylinmon encouraged the others.

"Ha! Insisting on your self-deluded hopes won't bring you anywhere! This bird of night is out of reach for you!" Yatagaramon countered before starting to spin with his whole body, managing to push away the three Digimon. Once they were out of his reach, Yatagaramon flew up and attacked them with the fire from his Dokkosho on its legs again. "Mikafutsu-no-kami!"

As an answer, the three Digimon shot energy blasts back, and everyone got hit on both sides.

"AGH!"

Once the smoke faded away, all Digimon had burns on their bodies, but their grit remained.

"Tch…once again, you are hard to die, eh?" Yatagaramon asked.

"And you still didn't see nothing!" Kabuterimon countered.

"Come on, then! Dance 'till you're dead!" In the meantime, James unleashed more of his strings in an attempt to get the two detectives, but to his shock, they moved around and dodged them perfectly. "What!?"

"You think we would leave ourselves get foiled by the same trick again!?" Both Rikka and Aria exclaimed as they threw a double punch in James's stomach, making him spit blood.

The mercenary gritted his teeth and answered by trying to knock both of them with two karate chops. The two girls jumped away to dodge that and resumed their double rush. To their surprise, James was able to answer both girls with his attacks, bringing them up to a match.

"He can resist on two of us!?" Aria exclaimed.

"Keep moving! We'll overwhelm him eventually!" Rikka added.

But James resumed his smirk. "You'd think that I would go easily on you? After all the troubles that you have caused us in the past? You detectives had played enough." He told them before lowering himself and punching them in the stomach, giving back their attack.

"GAH!"

"Now it's our turn." James then spread his strings with knives on them, planning to make them fall on the two girls' bodies. "Have you ever wondered how it feels to play with darts on a human body? You're going to find out."

Aria and Rikka were trying to recover from the blow, so they weren't going to make it in time. But luckily…James felt his strings getting grabbed.

"What!? WOAH!" As the strings got pulled, he got dragged as well, only to see Rina in front of him when he went back down.

"Oi, did you forget about me!?" Ken and Miyako's daughter exclaimed before starting to punch James repeatedly, making him bleed.

"GAH!"

"Oh, my! She's going heavy with him!" Aria commented.

"Oh, right, you're the newest member. Well…just so you know, even if Rina seems dumb, she actually knows how to hit hard, especially when she feels offended." Rikka explained.

Aria had a drop of sweat fall near her head since she could confirm it. "I-I got a taste of what Rina is capable of, but not to this extent…"

Rina on the other hand kept on punching James, making him bleed. "TAKE THIS, AND THIS, AND THIS, AND THIS, AND THIS!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Suddenly, James reacted with a kick to her face, making her crash against a wall.

"ACK!"

"RINA!" Both Aria and Rikka exclaimed.

James cleaned his face from the blood and glared at the girl as she stood up. "And you call yourself a detective!? Attacking me like I was some sort of punchbag!? What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"Oh, you're the one to talk!" Rina countered as she stood up. "You consider yourself a lucid person when you kill and serve freaking psychopaths!? I may not be smart, but I can surely recognize someone rotten like you when I see one!"

That made James bust a vein from the frustration. "LET'S SEE IF YOU'LL STILL WANT TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS ONCE I'M DONE WITH YOU!" He shouted before throwing a punch at her.

Rina answered with a punch as well and their knuckles clashed. Immediately after that, the two of them started to attack each other. It was like looking at an old martial arts movie, and Rina was able to keep up with James, something that made him frustrated. "All right, how do you like this!?" He kicked her legs to make her lose her balance and fall to the ground. He then grabbed a knife and attempted to cut her throat, but right at that moment, Aria chimed him and pushed him away with her shoulder. "GAH!"

"Phew! Thanks, Aria! I was already seeing Uncle Osamu call to me!" Rina thanked.

"Kh…dammit…EH!?" James stood up and already saw Rikka run toward her, willing to overwhelm him with several bare-handed blows. "You think that three against one is unfair!?"

"You should have thought twice before interfering with us considering your decreasing numbers! Or better yet, you should have thought twice before accepting Saiba's insane proposal!" Rikka countered. Right at that moment, the other two girls joined her and pushed James back with a punch, making him crash against a table.

"AGH! Gh…" He looked up, only to see the three girls glaring at him.

"Just so you know, we're pissed for several reasons. So, as we said, don't think that we'll hold ourselves with any interference!" Rikka warned them.

James had to spit some blood but still glared at them. "Oh, just keep on talking too soon. If you push me further…I'll have to become veeeeery bad."

"HAAAAAA!"

"WREAAAAAH!"

Meanwhile, as the clash between Digimon continued, Both Tylinmon and Yatagaramon started to spin at high speed and then clashed in two large whirlwinds.

"You won't resist for too long, just give up!" Yatagaramon threatened him.

"It doesn't matter whether I falter first or not. You never learn a thing, the strategy is always the same!" Tylinmon answered back before looking down. "He's all yours!"

Megalo Growmon and Kabuterimon already charged back their energy and shot it at the same time, releasing another burst of electricity at the bird.

"OH, NOT THIS TIME!" Yatagaramon had learned his lesson and quickly dashed upward to dodge the blast. All of his Dokkosho parts were ready and charged. "It seems that I'll have to go a bit further with the three of you! Get ready for the full power!"

"Oh man, this looks bad!" Megalo Growmon exclaimed as he sweated a bit.

"Don't worry, I know how to at least confuse him a bit!" Tylinmon answered. "Jinsoku no Kokoroe!" He started to move at high speed, generating several afterimages of himself that quickly surrounded the environment around Yatagaramon, covering even the other two Digimon.

"What!? Hey, when did you learn to multiply yourself!?" Yatagaramon exclaimed, stunned.

"You may find out that I can be full of surprises! But the question you should make to yourself now is 'where did I go?'" Tylinmon answered. His voice reverbed several times as if all the replicas were talking at the same time. "Maybe here? Or there? No don't listen to him, I'm here!"

"GRRRR! ENOUGH!" Getting more frustrated, Yatagaramon started to shoot all of his fireballs everywhere, causing more explosions and making more replicas fade away, but it didn't seem that the real deal or even the other two Digimon were making their appearances. "WHERE ARE YOU!?"

"Look better! Tylinmon's voice echoed. Right at that moment, a golden cut appeared on Yatagaramon's body, followed by others.

"GAAAAH! Dammit, DAMMIT!" Yatagaramon kept on blasting with no results. Even if he was fast and precise, he could get frustrated easily. Something that his opponents could catch quickly and use to their advantage.

Then, as if the cuts weren't enough, Kabuterimon appeared behind him and completely grappled him with his two arms. "NGAH! W-WHAT!?"

"You were so focused on finding Tylinmon that you forgot about us! Danger Sting!" He electrocuted his whole body so that Yatagaramon could be electrified as well. Once the damage was done, he threw him on the floor, where Megalo Growmon was waiting for him.

"Assault Balancer!" Since Yatagaramon was still stunned because of the electricity, he was left wide open for Megalo Growmon to hit him at full power with his tail, even unleashing his battle cry. "NONONONONONONONONOOOOON!"

"NGAAAAH!"

In all of this, Gennai looked at the battle carefully. "Amazing…I'm seeing more cooperation and thought than with their parents. James Belmond and Yatagaramon may be skilled as mercenaries, but Rikka and the others have teamwork on their side. If they play their cards correctly, they will win. I would help at least Rikka and the others but...I didn't bring my sword with me." He thought. "Still…" He looked at the two enemies. "Despite getting all those attacks, those two are still standing…something is not right!"

Yatagaramon started to feel the weight of the blows, to the point that he had enough. "Ngh…James! I think we've seen enough! We need to wipe them away with our secret trick!"

The three Digimon and their partners stopped. "Uh!?"

James looked at his partner and smirked. "Oh, you mean that? Eh eh…yeah, you're right. We may have underestimated you a bit, detectives…but playtime is over." He spoke. He pulled out his Digivice, which emitted a black aura.

"What? That darkness…?" Aria asked.

"It's the same that came out from Saiba when he summoned Plutomon!" Rikka added.

"What are you planning to do!?" Rina asked.

"You have to know that ever since I've started to work for him, I've got into Saiba's sympathies, especially for when I pushed Kumo off this building the first time. So…let's just say that I got a little backup for my services." James explained as the darkness of his Digivice went toward Yatagaramon, filling him with energy.

"Aaaah…much better…"

"You!" Kabuterimon explained.

"Now…since you have pissed us off enough, I think that you need to have a preview of what it means to stay in the mouth of hell. Now, Yatagaramon!" James ordered.

Yatagaramon spread his large wings and emitted black energy from his entire body. "Haguro!"

The darkness pervaded the entire room, effectively blinding everyone.

"GAAAAH!"

"W-What happened!? Where's everybody!?" Rina exclaimed as she tried to look around.

"This technique…is the same that he used at Kowloon! Are you trying to escape again, coward!?" Rikka shouted.

"Escape? Oh no, it's different this time. As I said before, there's no way that I'll let you have your way after everything you've done…and now that you've almost beat us to a pulp, it has become personal. So…as you shout in the darkness where no one can hear you…I'll enjoy your last wails of pain." James explained. His voice echoed in that blackness.

Those words made everyone realize it. "No way…"

"Eh eh. Too late! Let the torture begin!" James concluded.

"LOOK OUT!" Gennai shouted, worried.

SPLAT!

As soon as he said it…cuts already started to form in the detectives and their Digimon's bodies.

"GAH! W-Where!? AAAAGH!" They could feel it coming from everywhere, but it didn't matter where they looked or where they tried to attack. They couldn't see a thing, and as such, they couldn't tell where the attacks came from. They could hear claws piercing through their bodies, but without a way to answer back. All they could do…was to scream.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"N-No…it can't end like this!" Aria said as she tried to hold on.

"Aria, resist!" Megalo Growmon tried to encourage her, but even he started to feel the pain. "NGAH!"

"Dammit…I've been in the darkness several times, but not like this- GAH!" Even Gennai felt victim of the blows.

And in all of that…James was enjoying as his Digimon performed the execution. "Ah, yes…these screams are like the perfect choir for my ear. It may be the umpteenth performance after all the people that I murdered…but every time is as magical as the first one. Keep on screaming, cry in anguish as I deliver back all the pain you had given to me!"

"GHHH! YOU…ASSHOLE!" Rina countered as she tried to stand up.

"Oh no, no, no. Such language shall not be admitted at my theater. I think it's time…that you learn the lesson. Go ahead, Yatagaramon."

The bird Digimon's laughter echoed in that darkness. "As you wish."

SPLAT!

"GAH…" An added cut near the chest formed in everyone making them fall to the ground, almost motionless.

"And that's how you conclude a masterpiece. Scream…and then silence." James concluded. Or at least…that's what he thought. He could then hear some struggles. "Hm?"

He couldn't see them…but Rina, Aria, Rikka, and their Digimon were all trying to stand up again.

"Don't tell me that after this, you are still willing to fight," James said, almost disappointed.

"Don't even try it! This technique envelopes everything in three kilometers around me in darkness. No matter what you do or where you go, you won't be able to see anything!" Yatagaramon added.

"You think…that we could give a shit?" Rikka replied as she tried to stand up. "You can keep on cutting as many times as you want to satisfy, but if you want us to stop, you need to chop our head right now before you'll regret it!"

"We can't falter now that we have one of our goals right in front of us, you don't scare us!" Tylinmon added.

"HA! You should listen to yourselves! Trying to act brave in those conditions? Please, you're nothing more than a joke now. And besides…why would I make everything end when I get the pleasure of seeing my enemies crawl down as I stay triumphant once again? That's what many people tend to forget when they win…how good it feels to enjoy victory over the enemy's decaying body. I may be a mercenary, but I like to do my things with class, give one last stunning performance before sending the foul ones to hell." James continued…before hearing more groans. "And you're still trying!?"

Rina and Kabuterimon were close to each other. Even if they couldn't see anything, they could feel that they were close through touch.

"C-Cut it out with this crap already! Do you think we enjoy hearing about a psychopath's sick fantasies? 'Cause I don't! And I don't think the others enjoy it either!" Rina retorted.

"And do you think that you're in charge of changing this? Please, spare me your complaints when you have already lost." James said, almost getting annoyed.

It was then…that both Rina and Kabuterimon grinned (although it was hard to understand it with the Digimon).

"Uh!?" Both James and Yatagaramon exclaimed.

"Rina…?" Aria asked.

"Look…I may not be as smart…or charismatic as the others in my agency. I was able to graduate from school and get a job early. Even if I got lucky with my life, I don't consider myself that much of a person, and it's something that makes me damm sad! But…it's also because of this that I fight! My mom always told me to try my best in everything and I would have found something I'm actually good at. And since my friends here are helping me out…there's no way that me or Kabuterimon will fall for it!" Rina explained. "Your boss had done some shitty things like stealing from others, killing people, harming Mister Tai, and trying to become some sort of dictator! He even lied to Mister Koushiro! Do you think that all of this wouldn't make me piss off!? Especially when you brag about you being a shit!?"

"Of course we wouldn't! And that's exactly why we're going to make you shut up!" Kabuterimon added. "W-With a special trick of our own."

James and Yatagaramon started to sweat. "Ok, you're getting delusional now! What hopes do you have for hoping to get out of this!? You can't see anything, you're swallowed in full darkness!" The former asked.

"Well, you know how it's done! If there's darkness…you need to make some light. And I know how." Kabuterimon replied. And right at that moment, several static noises could be heard from him. They couldn't see it, but his body was getting filled with electric shockwaves.

"This noise…?" Megalo Growmon asked.

"W-What are you doing!?" Yatagaramon asked.

"My main element is electricity, which I use to throw my attacks. But that's not the only thing that I can do. I can also store it in my body enough to unleash it afterward. It's a risky move and I've almost collapsed several times in the past as I've tried it. But leaving this aside, if I gather my energy correctly, I can unleash it enough to make a flash like those you see in the blink of an eye before a blackout."

"R-Release electricity?" James asked before realizing it. Doing so made him widen his eyes in horror. "No, don't tell me! He started to gather energy ever since Yatagaramon used Haguro!? He sustained all that pain just so that he could then answer!?"

Even the other two girls and their Digimon realized it.

"Wow…once again I have the proof that…Rina can be a genius sometimes!" Aria commented.

"Eh eh…I always think that it's luck that Kyoko had gathered us all in here." Rikka added.

"Now, how about we teach you to don't talk too soon? Whenever you want Kabuterimon!" Rina ordered.

"With pleasure!" The insect Digimon replied before planting his arms on the floor.

"YATAGARAMON, STOP HIM!" James shouted, out of panic.

"AH!" Yatagaramon tried to head over to him…but it was already too late.

"WREAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Calling upon all the energy that he could gather, Kabuterimon unleashed the electricity that he had gathered up until that moment, which rose like an electric tree that burned away all the darkness. And not only that…

When everyone could see again, they could see how Kabuterimon's electricity was also reacting with the various cases in the room.

"That's right! If the devices of this room react with Kabuterimon's static energy, they may cause an overcharge and this means...!" Gennai commented.

"They thought outside the box…let's hope that it does not get us!" Aria concluded the phrase.

And it was like they said. All the devices reacted to the electricity, causing an overcharge…that fried the two enemies.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Both James and Yatagaramon were overwhelmed by the electricity that made their bodies smoke and unable to move further.

"J-James…please tell me that this is a nightmare!" Yatagaramon cried out.

The mercenary on the other hand was simply horrified. "I-I don't get it…everything was perfect until the last moment; it was a strategy that always worked and I even got Plutomon's darkness on our side this time! Where did we go wrong, where!?" As he wondered this, he could see the three detectives getting closer with their Digimon, ready to end it.

"I think that I've already told you earlier, James Belmond. You made a mistake when you decided to accept Saiba's proposal. And I think that you've gone too far with all your madnesses." Rikka warned him.

Aria was already getting excited. "Just so you know, Rina, I'll thank you properly after we're done here!"

"Really? Oh, thanks! Then how about we give him the payback you'd been waiting for?" The third girl concluded.

The three Digimon already smirked. "Gladly!"

James and Yatagaramon would have loved to react and put things as they were just a few minutes ago…but they knew well that wouldn't be the case. Their bodies were still passing through the static electricity, leaving them exposed…to one final barrage, added with one last battle cry.

"SHIPPŪ TENSHOUKEN! BEET HORN! HAMMER EDGE!"

"KYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAKYAAAAAAAA! / IKKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! /NONONONONONONONONONONONOOOOOOOOOON!"

While he got overwhelmed by the attacks and his partner faded away in data, James could only scream one regret as his last words.

"T-THIS IS NOT FAIR! I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED A BIGGER ROLE IN THIS MISSION! GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

He then got violently thrown away, crashing several times against more than one wall. When it was done, he was already dead, full of bleeding wounds.

"WE DID IT!" All the girls and their Digimon cheered up in victory. And in all of that…Gennai watched amazed.

"E-Even if they were in that deadly situation, they used their brain and their will to pass through it…even if they are a bit bizarre and violent…I can see it…this generation of Chosen Children is as bright as the ones that preceded them…" He commented.

"Anf…anf…anf…" Even if they were able to win, the small group had to regain their breath, with Megalo Growmon and Tylinmon reverting to their Adult-Level forms.

"Though…if I have to be honest…I wish that after all that charge, Kabuterimon would have been able to evolve. Is there anything we are missing yet?" Rina wondered.

But Kabuterimon remained optimistic as he gave her a friendly pat with a small laugh. "Don't worry! I believe we're on the right way! Plus, I've been stuck in this form for over twenty years, so I don't mind waiting a bit further!"

"That's right! And besides, you still get the big merit of this victory, Rina! We surely owe you one!" Rikka told her.

"Yeah! We even get two benefits from it: we got rid of another mercenary…and we have the road clear for disabling the barrier! Well, at least for now!" Aria added.

To that, Rina could only scratch the back of her head while blushing a little. "C-Come on now…I only did my job!"

"But you did it in a good way!" Gennai added, reaching them. "I'm sure Miyako and Ken would tell you the same."

"Oh, of that I'm sure! Mom always said that I would have always made her happy!" Rina commented back.

Rikka made a gentle smile and then turned back to the case with the purple light. "Well…considering that Rina had saved us, doing what we were supposed to do is the least I can do to repay." She then came closer and could finally get the laptop to connect it with the case. "We just need to hope that no other mercenary will come around."

"We should be assured in that regard! Apart from James and Eligor who got blocked by Yatsura on the ground floor, there should be only two mercenaries left, and Saiba probably left them on the upper floors." Growmon assured her.

"Only two left, eh?" Aria commented before looking up. "I hope the others will make it."

"Nah, I wouldn't trouble that much! If they do like we did, they'll kick the necessary asses!" Rina assured her. However, the blonde girl was a bit confused.

"I'm…starting to see a certain fixation with you and kicking asses…" Aria said.

"Oh, don't worry! It's natural for her. I think you saw her when she hung out with Sasuke." Kabuterimon specified.

"All right, I'm connected…I'm counting on you, Gennai." Rikka warned.

"I'm here, don't worry." The digital being told her.

"We're all here," Leppamon added. Everyone looked as Rikka started her operation. Even if she was tired from the fight, she couldn't afford to stop…not until the case was finally over.

"I'll probably stay here knowing the technology that Saiba had used to make this barrier…but I'm willing to do my best, just as you guys should do up there. We're near the end…just a bit more, and we'll be done…"

And just like she thought…everyone was doing their best.

From the original Chosen Children and the Lion Fang Agency that were keeping the corrupted Digimon at bay in the streets of the city, from Yatsura and ExVeemon that were resting on the ground floor, from Rikka and her small group that were going to start the hacking process…

To the remaining Chosen Children that were proceeding further through the skyscraper…near the end…

They were coming closer to Saiba Rei…and his remaining backup forces.