Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Digimon: Apocalypse ❯ The Book of Death: Chapter 2 ( Chapter 18 )

Ola. My name is Iduia Ramiro, I am a Chosen from Brazil. I was born to a middle-class family, and while we did have our problems growing up, we were fairly well off. My father was a politician, not a very successful one. My mother used to say that he never had the ‘killer instinct.’ That always used to scare me, why would someone who is suppose to hold the people’s best interest in mind? My father used to just smile and not answer.

I guess that must have meant that he didn’t really have the leadership skills necessary to really lead a country. Of course, I wasn’t much of a leader either, that’s why the Brazil Team fell apart. I tried my best, but I just couldn’t hold them together, we were far too different. We parted ways after being together for only two years. But, that’s when things got really bad. I had been feeling sick for a few weeks, but when I woke up one morning and found that I could hardly breath. I was rushed to the emergency room, and to my horror, I found that my lungs had deteriorated to almost nothing in only a few short weeks. I would need pure oxygen to survive, and to get that oxygen, I needed a tank to be strapped to my back and a mask on my face. After that, my kidneys failed, and my heart a few days later. I was finally diagnosed with BD-2 after my physician realized that I was a Chosen. Under the advice of other Chosen, I, along with my Kokuwamon partner, moved to the Digital World.

We settled in a town called New Havenwood, and I opened up a small booth in the market where I sold hand-made jewelry. I always had a special skill with fine metal, which I guess made more sense after I discovered that I held the mysterious power over Metal.

Sora and Catherine hold the power over Fire and Light, but didn’t give up that power to the X-Chosen, so the Demon Lords captured them. Through a series of manipulations, the Demon Lords used the X-Chosen to force Sora and Catherine to give up their powers. Taichi, Jyou and Hikari fought and defeated Enk and Belphemon while Yamato, Mimi and Michael found the Demon Lords’ base and fought Karetu and Belzeebumon, but the damage has already been done. Cahiti now holds all our powers, and the end of the Digital World will soon begin… ------------------------------ The Book of Death: Chapter 2 ------------------------------

The four main continents of the Digital World were arranged in such a way that created a small circular sea on one side of the planet. The sea, the Sea of the Center, had resting within it an island called the Center Island. It was the legendary home of the First Chosen. When these mighty and powerful heroes first arrived, they created an empire to serve and guide the digimon against their enemies, the cruel and greedy empire of Cer, ruled over by the Emperor Murmixmon. That evil emperor won, and the First Chosen were forced to return to Earth. Since that time, the Center Island has been abandoned, that is until the Digitalatri, the self-proclaimed, heirs of the First Chosen took that island for themselves. They believed that it would serve as a sanctuary for them, but darkness was soon descending upon them…

A young man with a Kunemon for a partner were on patrol that evening, standing before the main gate, a fully fifty miles to the castle itself. Stretching before him was another twenty miles to the coast line. While staring at the roaring waters, he noticed a strange dark mass approaching them through the sky.

“Looks like a storm,” the Kunemon said.

The human stared for a moment before shaking his head. “That’s no storm! Give me the binoculars, quick!”

Kunemon used a web of silk stream to throw him the seeing devices. He placed them to his eyes and focused on the shadow in the distance. He was no able to clearly see an army comprised of demonic digimon, as well as Chosen, no doubt from the Chosen Council. Leading this army were figures he recognized from the new reports, Seiduka of the Demon Lords, as well as Raven Osborn of the Chosen Council. They were both riding Airdramons, which were decorated with dark ornaments. The young man dropped the binoculars and grabbed a large megaphone that was lying on the ground. He pointed the speaker at the First Chosen Castle and screamed into the transmitter. “We’re under attack! Red alert! Red alert!”

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Chihi Miayag sat on her bed, staring blankly at a small photograph, the only picture she had left of her mother. “I cannot believe how I did not see this before, my mother and Taichi and Hikari’s mother are so similar in appearance.” She held up a small hand mirror and glanced at her reflection. “I cannot believe that I did not see how similar I look to Taichi and Hikari. We are related, we all share the blood of Yuushi.” She frowned, “But those…those two heathens, have turned from their true destiny! The Blood of Yuushi has failed with them, but it will not with me!”

Her door flung open and Takashi appeared. Miayag glared at him. “How dare you enter my chambers!”

“I’m sorry, my lady,” he bowed, “But we’re under attack!”

Her anger melted into shock. “W…what? Who?”

“We believe it’s the Chosen Council and the Demon Lords…”

“Demon Lords?” she asked, “What would they want here?”

“I don’t know,” he said, “But Hiroshi and Keiko are already leading a defensive assault.”

She nodded and jumped to her feet. Takashi shook his head. “Hiroshi doesn’t want you to…”

She glared at him. “I am not going to stand by and allow them to take this island, or harm my congregation!”

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Outside, Hiroshi, Piedmon, Keiko and Pinocchimon were standing at the front of the Digitalatri army, staring down Seiduka and Osborn. They were positioned behind the outer gate, staring at the invaders through the barred gate. Keiko bowed. “My name is Keiko, this is Hiroshi, the General of the Digitalatri Army. The Second Black Death took away his ability to speak, so we will speak for him.”

Seiduka chuckled. “Yeah, whatever.”

Osborn sighed and rolled her eyes. “I am Raven Osborn, Secretary of the Chosen Council. The one in blue is Seiduka and the one in red is Asro.”

“What are you doing here?” Piedmon demanded.

Asro stepped forward. “We’re here to take this island from you.”

“Wait,” Osborn said, “Surrender now, and you won’t be hurt…”

“I beg to differ,” Seiduka chuckled.

Hiroshi shook his head. Piedmon crossed his arms and nodded. “We will never surrender.”

Osborn sighed. “I’m givin’ ya one last chance…”

“Forget it!” Pinocchimon shouted.

Osborn shrugged. “Well, I gave ya’ a chance.”

Seiduka raised his arm, then pointed it forward. “Attack!”

Before the Digitalatri could prepare, the combined force of the Demon Lords’ army and the Chosen Council army slammed into the outer gate, causing it to crumble into dust. A mighty and cataclysmic battle erupted: Devimons fought Sabidramons, Devidramons ripped and tore into Dokugumons, Golemons lifted large rocks and flung them at hovering Flymons and Yanmamons, Meramons, shot balls of fire at Evilmons; almost instantly, the island became covered with dying and dead bodies as the massacre began.

Hiroshi ducked and darted to avoid falling bodies and deflected energy attacks while his partner blasted and bashed his way through the Demons and Chosen Council warriors. As the duo made their way across the battlefield, they approached a small clearing the carnage. Waiting for them, standing with his blue cape blowing behind him, was Seiduka.

The Demon General chuckled as his Demon partner appeared behind him. “Hiroshi Shibya…”

The young man frowned, and Piedmon stood protectively in front of him. “And you’re Seiduka. We don’t understand, why did you come here?”

“Our King, Cahiti, wants this island, and that’s good enough for us,” he laughed, “Of course, I’d be just as happy without a reason.”

“You’re a monster,” Piedmon responded.

“We’re just passionate about our causes, same as you.”

Hiroshi clenched his fists tightly. “We are nothing like you,” Piedmon responded.

Seiduka just shrugged. “Yeah, you keep believing that.” He chuckled. “You know, since you won’t be living past this moment…” He pulled off his blue hood, revealing his face. Piedmon and Hiroshi both gasped in shock.

“D…daisuke?” Piedmon asked.

“Sorry no,” he laughed, “Demon, go!”

Piedmon blinked. “Demon?” he asked. Before he could look to the air, he only caught a glimpse of a hairy, monkey-like creature before a sharp fist punched him in the side of the face. His head smashed into the ground from the brunt of the surprise attack. Hiroshi gasped, but was relieved when his partner leapt back to his feet. He wiped his injured jaw and stared at the grinning Demon. “That wasn’t fair.”

Demon crossed his arms. “Just because you’re not paying attention in battle doesn’t mean that I should wait.”

Piedmon whipped out his swords and held them tightly in his hands. “Well, now I’m ready. Let’s go!”

Demon roared with excitement and pleasure. Lines of flames shot from his fingers. “Flame Inferno!”

Piedmon blocked the streams with his swords, then continued forward. Demon charged, fists ready. The clown digimon placed his swords back into their holders and ready for a fist battle, but at the last moment, Demon placed his hands together and fired a large beam of fire. “Chaos Flare!”

“Ahh!” Piedmon gasped, twisting out of the way at the last moment. However, this left him open for Demon’s rock-hard fist slamming into his stomach. The clown lurched forward, but quickly grabbed his swords and stabbed them into the demon’s arms.

Demon pulled his fist back, but Piedmon continued his assault. He opened his fists and sends waves of pure sound through the air. “Final Spell!”

Demon countered with another Chaos Flare, smashing into the sound waves, absorbing and dismissing them. The flames continued on their path to Piedmon, but the clown rolled out of the way, throwing his swords at the demonic creature. “Trump Sword!”

The demon dodged the first two, but the second two pierced his chest and hung there. He only laughed and charged forward, executing an uppercut that sent the clown flying into the air.

“Yes!” Seiduka laughed, “Yes, kill them! Kill them all!”

Despite the roar of battle and the visions of death and destruction, Keiko was able to see the beginning of the battle between Demon and Piedmon. “Pinocchimon!” she shouted to her partner, “We need to help Hiroshi and Piedmon!”

The puppet digimon finished whacking an Evilmon with his hammer, then nodded at her. They began to run through the battlefield, but stopped when a red-caped figure appeared before them. Keiko narrowed her eyes. “You’re the one called Asro, aren’t you?”

She chuckled and gave a slight bow. “That is correct, I am Asro, the Demon Queen.” She mentioned to the woman with the pale complexion standing behind her, “And this is my partner, Lilithmon.”

“Queen?” Keiko asked, “Queen of the Demons?”

“Of course.”

The Digitalatri soldier frowned. “Why don’t you take that hood off and stop hiding?”

Asro chuckled. “Sure, if that is what you want.” She removed her cowl, allowing her long red hair to flow around her shoulders and revealing her face in the setting sun. Keiko and Pinocchimon both stared with wide and unbelieving eyes. “S…S…Sora?” the young woman gasped.

Asro smirked. “You wish, now!”

Lilithmon catapulted from the ground, swinging her left arm into Pinocchimon’s face, forcing him to slide back. He swung his giant mallet around to smack the demon woman in the side of the head, but she swung her left arm back around, blocking the weapon with surprising ease. She grinned wickedly at the wooden digimon. “Let me know when you’re ready to get serious.”

“Don’t let her psyche you out!” Keiko cheered, “Go, you can take her.”

“Hardly,” Asro chuckled, “We will destroy you all.”

Pinocchimon held his hammer tightly and swung again. Lilithmon leapt into the air before slamming both of her feet into the wooden digimon, forcing him to fall onto his rear. She landed on her right foot and was about to twist around to kick him with her left foot, but he jumped back to his feet and swung his hammer around, whacking the demon woman in the side of the head. She tumbled to the ground.

“Yes!” Keiko cheered, “Yes!”

Lilithmon slowly rose to her feet, her left hand clenched into a fist. “Great,” Pinocchimon muttered, “I think I got her angry…

“Angry?” the demon woman asked, “I’m pissed!” She charged forward, her purple cloak billowing around her.

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Within the confusion and chaos of the battle, a group of figures quietly and cautiously made their way through the carnage. They were Cahiti, Schmidt, along with their partners, Lucemon and Gaomon. Trailing behind them was Sora, Catherine and their partners: Piyomon and Floramon. Their hands were tied tightly in front of them, joined together by a long metal chain that was held tightly in Cahiti’s hands. The females were horrified at the war exploding around them.

“Not another one,” Sora sighed, “It’s just like Nightsun…”

“Oui,” Catherine answered, “Oui…”

Cahiti grinned as he stared up at the castle towering before him. “The castle of the First Chosen. Here…this is the only area in the entire Digital World where we will be safe from the Digital Hazard….”

Schmidt’s eyes focused on the castle gates. “It appears that we have company.”

“Yes,” the Demon King answered, “I can see that.” He handed the leash holding Sora, Catherine and their partners to Schmidt, and stepped forward to address the young woman and her Witchmon partner. “Ah, you are Chihi Miayag, I presume?”

The Digitalatri Priestess nodded slightly. “And you are Cahiti, Demon King, and you are the leader of the Chosen Council, Victor von Schmidt, ri….” She trailed off when she saw the imprisoned females. “Sora Takenouchi and Catherine Rupert?” Her eyes narrowed at her enemies. “Release them at once!”

Cahiti roared with laughter. “I’m afraid that will not be possible. They are instrumental in our continued manipulation of the X-Chosen.”

“What are you talking about?” Witchmon asked.

“I do not care,” Miayag responded, “If you will not release them and vacate this island, then I will force you to leave!” She held up her digivice, which transformed into the Staff of Yuushi. She held the weapon firmly in her hands and Witchmon evolved to her highest form, the Mega Kuzuhamon.

“I will give you one last opportunity to leave,” the fox woman said.

Schmidt reached for his digivice, but Cahiti held his arm in front of him. “No, we will handle this.” He mentioned to Sora and Catherine, “Make certain they do not escape.”

Schmidt nodded. Cahiti stepped forward while Lucemon hovered beside him. Miayag and Kuzuhamon held their ground. The Digitalatri Priestess glared at the Demon King. “Will you hide beneath that cowl for the duration of this fight, or shall you show us your face while you battle?”

Cahiti chuckled. “As you wish.” He reached up and removed the orange hood, revealing his face. Miayag and Kuzuhamon were in shock. The priestess hardly able to speak

“T…T…Taichi?” she gasped, “Taichi, What are you doing? Why would you lead an army of demons against…” Her shocked expression slowly turned to one of anger. “You are not Taichi. He would never have done the things that you have done. You have stolen his face and attempted to use his identity to further your own selfish goals, have you not? How dare you take his face. How dare you!”

As surprised as Sora and Catherine were at Miayag’s declaration of saving them, they were even more surprised at the display of anger from the priestess over Cahiti’s similarities to Taichi. “Sora,” Piyomon whispered, “Why is she so angry?”

The redhead shook her head. “I…I have no idea…”

Lucemon stared at Kuzuhamon. “I thought we were going to battle?”

The fox woman held her staff tightly, staring down the Child digimon. She wondered why he had not yet evolved. Was he not able to, or was his power so great, that even as a Child, he could still handle a Mega? She was afraid to discover that answer, but knew that she had no choice. She gripped his staff and charged forward. She lifted her staff to strike his head, but he quickly put his hands together and fired an attack that resembled ten planets arranged in a cross shape. Kuzuhamon quickly flung up her staff. The attack did strike her weapon, but still contained enough force to throw her back.

The angel chuckled as he hovered in the air. “That is called my Grand Cross,” he explained, “And here is my second attack, Divine Feat!” He shot into the air only to come sailing down at super sonic speed, kicking the fox woman with all of his might. This time, however, she whipped her staff around and Lucemon’s attack struck the weapon instead. There was enough force in the angel’s attack to cause the staff to bend, but Kuzuhamon’s strength proved to be superior as Lucemon screamed in pain, no doubt having his foot broken.

Catherine and Sora grinned at one another, pleased to see their captors being injured. Miayag was pleased as well. “Well,” she said, “Perhaps the great Demon King is not as powerful as he claims to be?”

Cahiti grinned. “You have no idea.” He held up a digivice, which, like all the Demon Lords, was pitch black in color. “Lucemon, evolve!”

The angel digimon grinned as his body began to glow. “Lucemon, evolve to Lucemon Falldown Mode!”

The small, cute digimon had transformed into a taller, more mature creature, with a set of black demonic bat wings on his left which white angelic bird wings on his right. While Kuzuhamon and Miayag were amused by his appearance, they were not frightened in the least.

“You still only evolved once,” the fox woman pointed out.

“Don’t let that fool you,” Lucemon replied, “I’m much stronger now. Observe. Paradise Lost!”

He shot forward with a burst of speed. He slammed his fists in Kuzuhamon’s armor with incredible speed and force. He then twisted around, kicking her with enough force to send her tumbling into the air. He shot above her in the sky, and grabbed her ankles, placing both of his feet firmly into her armpits. He then shot down with all of his might, smashing her head first into the ground. He leapt off of her back landed peacefully on the ground.

Kuzuhamon crawled from the crater her fall to the ground had caused. Lucemon may have only been a Fully Evolved digimon, but his attack was enough to crack even the armor of the Mega Kuzuhamon.

The dark angel laughed. “Why don’t you give up?”

“Never,” Kuzuhamon replied, “I will never give up. I will fight to the end, to defeat you, to save this island, to free Sora Takenouchi and Catherine Rupert, but most of all, I will keep fighting…because my partner asks it of me!” She roared as she charged forward, holding her staff tightly, “For Chihi Miayag, I will fight to the death!”

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The battle dragged on for what seemed like hours; each side fighting as hard as they could, each warrior giving it their all for the sake of their cause. Neither side would admit defeat, nor would they accept it. They would have total victory, or total defeat.

Piedmon gripped his swords tightly as Demon stood before him. The clown charged forward, but the demon countered with a flame geyser from the palms of his hand. “Chaos Flare!”

Piedmon quickly placed his swords in an x formation, effectively shielding his body from the flame attack. However, Demon shot around and struck the clown’s neck with a quick shot from the side of his hand. The clown fell to his knees. The demon was about to attack again, but the clown spun his leg into Demon’s causing him to fall to his face. The clown kicked him in the side and jumped to his feet. He grabbed the swords on his back and flung them forward. “Trump Sword!”

Demon jumped back to his feet. “Chaos Flare!” This time, Demon’s geyser of fire struck the clown in the face and threw him onto his back. Demon charged over and grabbed the clown by the leg and slammed him into the ground. Piedmon jumped to his feet, but the demon would not allow him to recover. He began to punch and jab him mercilessly, throwing him lift and right. Hiroshi tried to protest, but Seiduka was roaring with glee.

“Yes!” he screamed, “Kill him, kill him!”

Demon grabbed the clown by the front of his shirt and began to pound him with his free hand. When Piedmon’s head fell back and his eyes rolled into his head, he dropped him to the ground.

Seiduka chuckled. “Excellent work. Let’s be on our way.”

Hiroshi ran to stand in front of the Demon Lord. The holder of the Crest of Wrath laughed. “Do you honestly think you can stop me?”

Hiroshi’s face was twisted into a stern growl. Seiduka shrugged, then quickly punched him as hard as he could. The Digitalatri general stumbled for a moment before collapsing at the side of his partner.

Seiduka mentioned to Demon. “Let’s go.”

Only a few feet away, Keiko was watching with anticipation as Pinocchimon battled against Lilithmon. The demon woman was fast and agile. She hovered in the air a moment before shooting down for an aerial attack. Pinocchimon waited until she was close enough, then swung his mallet around, smacking her in the side of the head. As her body twisted, he shot the mallet around in his other hand, striking her on the other side. He continued to alternate for a full minute before kicking her in the stomach and sending her backwards.

He panted as he grinned. “There, take that!”

Lilithmon growled. “Just for that, I’m taking off the kid gloves!” She moved her right hand out of her robes, allowing Keiko and Pinocchimon to see it clearly for the first time. At the sight of the gold, decaying arm, the young woman had to hold her mouth to keep from vomiting.

“Just wait until you see this,” Asro grinned, “Show them your powers.”

Lilithmon raised her right hand and charged forward. “Nazer Nail!”

Pinocchimon raised his mallet to block, but once Lilithmon’s hand touched his weapon, it dissolved into nothing. “Ah!” he shouted, staring at his now empty hands.

Lilithmon smirked. “Get ready, because I won’t miss this time! Nazer Nail!”

Pinocchimon stared as the demon woman charged at him. He glanced around in desperation before seeing a Evilmon hovering in the air. He shot a group of string from his hands, connecting them to the bat digimon, before flinging him around to block the path between him and Lilithmon. The devil woman’s attack touched the smaller demon, eroding him completely.

Her attack may have been gone, but she still had the momentum necessary to continue forward. Once she was close enough, she fired a blast of dark mist that enveloped Pinocchimon, causing him to fall to the ground, writing in unseen pain. Lilithmon grinned. “Phantom Pain.”

“You bitch!” Keiko shouted, running to her partner’s side. She glared at Asro, who only shrugged.

“Come, Lilithmon,” she said, “Lord Cahiti awaits.”

At the castle gates, Lucemon Falldown Mode and Kuzuhamon continued their battle. The fox woman held her staff at a ninety degree angel before spinning it around quickly in a circle. “Ura Izuna!” Four near-transparent black foxes erupted from her staff and flew to attack Lucemon.

The fallen angel chuckled and easily darted between each fox before appearing in front of Kuzhuamon. He began to assault her with a flurry of kicks and punches before the fox woman was able to twist her staff around and bash him in the back of the head. She twisted out of the way, but the fallen angel was directly behind her. “Thinking of escaping?” he laughed, “Take this, Paradise Lost!”

He once again executed his devastating combo attack, first bashing her with a barrage of punches, before kicking her high into the air. He shot above her, grabbing both of her ankles and placing his feet directly in her armpits. He shot to the ground with enough force to create a large crater, the brunt of which the fox woman took to her head. He leapt off of her and landed on the ground. He turned to see her lying body, but was shocked to see her standing on her feet, albeit wobbly and off-centered.

Lucemon chuckled. “I have an idea, let’s play a game. It’s called Dead or Alive.” He held out his arms, and a ball of light appeared in his right angelic palm with a ball of darkness appeared in his left demonic palm. “Let’s see which one happens to you!” He flung the ball of light at Kuzuhamon, which quickly enveloped him, forcing her to remain in one perfect spot. Lucemon then swung the ball of darkness at her. Both spheres of light and darkness exploded upon impact with enough force to shower most of the island with light and force. When the light dimmed, Plotmon was standing where Kuzuhamon had been only moments before.

“Oh damn,” Lucemon frowned, “It looks like you live.” But he grinned when the Child digimon collapsed to the ground, “But I guess unconsciousness is good enough for me. Thanks for playing and good night.”

Miayag stared with horror. “You are truly monsters!”

Lucemon glared at her and sent a blast of force smacking into her, sending her tumbling head over heels until she smashed into the side of the castle. Her body twitched for a moment before growing still.

“Oh no!” Sora gasped, “Miayag! Miayag, wake up! Please!”

“Silence!” Schmidt ordered. The Security General turned to Cahiti. “What now?”

The Demon King grinned as he mentioned to the castle. “Now we go inside and claim our prize!”

Schmidt grinned as he led the captive females through the gates of the First Chosen’s Castle. They maneuvered through the halls until they arrived at a large rectangular room. It was bare except for a circle of concrete columns. “Here.”

“Here?” Schmidt asked.

Cahiti walked to the center of the room. He raised his right arm, which contained the Soul Catcher. He held it above his head, and each one of the eight crystal began to glow.“I hold the power of all eight First Chosen. With the command over Fire, Water, Light, Darkness, Wind, Earth, Forest and Metal…I activate the Digital Hazard!” He slammed the ancient device into the stone floor, and the light from the crystals flowed into the ground.

Cahiti grinned as he lifted his arm. “This is the beginning of the end…”

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Almost two miles away, Taichi’s group of X-Chosen was riding atop Jyou’s Tylomon X, shooting through the calm sea as fast as they could. “Come on,” their leader said, “Come on…”

“Taichi,” Jyou said, “We’re going as fast as we can.”

He was about to respond when a loud rumbling sound suddenly erupted across the water. Taichi blinked. “What the hell is…”

The water suddenly erupted into tall twisting geysers, throwing the X-Chosen into the water. They struggled against the torrent, but the force of the twisting water was far too powerful. Taichi and Agumon X became lost in a whirlpool, dragged deeper and deeper until they felt something grab them and they were pulled through the surface.

They both panted and gasped for breath. Taichi blinked for a moment before realizing that he and Agumon X were seated atop Nefertimon X, along with Hikari. “Are you okay?” she asked.

They both nodded. “Y..yeah,” Taichi panted. He looked to the water and saw that Tylomon X and Jyou were still unharmed. The water digimon was more easily able to move through the stormy water with only one passenger. That left Nefertimon X to carry the rest of the group through the storm.

The sky had turned pitch black, and lighting crashed and bash across the darkness. Giant cyclones of wind had appeared, striking the quaking ground. The water erupted into streams that smashed into the coastline, sending waves of debris sailing into the air before they dissolved into nothingness.

“What the hell is going on here?”Taichi gasped.

“The world’s just falling apart!” Nefertimon X gasped.

Agumon X frowned as he stared into the distance. “Not everywhere.”

The others looked and saw that the Center Island was perfectly free from the ultimate storm occurring around it. “Come on!” Taichi shouted over the roar of the wind, “We’ve got to keep moving!”

“What about Yamato?” Jyou shouted back.

“I don’t think our cellphones are gonna work in this weather! We just have to hope that they’re safe!”

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By the time that Taichi’s group had arrived on the island, the battle had long since ended. Agumon X’s early observations had proved true, despite the roaring, storm occurring outside, the island had perfect weather.

The X-Chosen were not interested in the weather at that moment, they were more concerned with the littered bodies stretching across the field before them. Hikari placed her hand over her mouth and had to turn her head away. Taichi slowly stepped through the bodies of the fallen Digitalatri and Chosen Council members, his eyes darting to each one, until he located a group lying near the outer gate. He charged forward, leaping over bodies until he arrived at the side of a fallen young woman. “M…Miayag…”

The Digitalatri Priestess slowly opened her eyes. “J…Juukeitei?” she asked.

Taichi winced and quickly looked over his shoulder. He had been hoping that Hikari had not heard, but his younger sister came running to his side. “Cousin?” she asked, “W…why did she call you that?”

Miayag stared at Taichi. “You mean…you have not yet told her?”

Hikari narrowed her eyes. “Not told me what?”

Taichi moved his hands in an effort to silence her, but the Digitalatri Priestess continued to speak. “Hikari, your mother is the older sister of my mother.”

The young woman gasped and turned to face Taichi. “What?”

Her older brother sighed deeply. “Yeah…her mother is Aunt Kumiko….”

Hikari’s eyes bulged out. She stared at Taichi, then at Miayag, then back at her brother. “You knew this? How long did you know? How…how did you know?”

Taichi hesitated, and Hikari’s eyes opened even more. “Mom told you, didn’t she? W…when she woke up from her coma!” Her older brother did not respond, and she knew that her assumption was correct.

“H…how could you keep that from me?” she asked.

“Hikari…” he began, but she turned from him and knelt beside Miayag. She helped the younger woman to a sitting position.

“You’re really my cousin?”

The Priestess nodded. “Yes, we are all descended from the heroic Yuushi, the leader of the First Chosen. He was my grandfather, which means he is your grandfather as well.”

Hikari nodded. “Okay, then…my mother’s…our mother’s father was Yuushi?”

Miayag nodded. “Yes, that is correct.” She struggled to rise to her feet, but Hikari told her to remain seated.

“What happened?” Taichi asked.

“The Demon Lords,” she responded, “Along with the Chosen Council. They took this island from us…” She stared Taichi directly in the eyes. “They have your missing members as well.”

“Sora?” he asked. She nodded.

The young man mentioned with his hand. “All right, let’s go.”

“What about you?” Hikari asked Miayag.

“I…I will be okay in time,” she said, “You must go, you are the only ones that can stop the Demon Lords now.” She turned to Taichi once more, “But our relationship changes nothing between us. You are still unbelievers that I will punish for your insolence.”

Taichi felt a feel of regret in his heart. He did not know how to respond to this, so he simply stated, “Yeah, sure, whatever. Hikari, Jyou, let’s move.”

Hikari stared at Miayag with regret in her eyes, but continued on her way. Jyou stopped before her and knelt down to hand her a small bottle from his bag. “This is special medicine, it will work for both you and your digimon partner. Just apply it to the injured areas.”

She nodded in thanks and watched as the X-Chosen charged through the outer gate.

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Inside of the Chosen Council, Cahiti grinned as he turned to his assembled followers. “What is it?” Asro asked.

“Those predictable X-Chosen,” he chuckled, “They have come exactly as I knew they would.” He turned to Schmidt and Osborn. “Keep them outside the castle, but should they find their way inside….” He turned to Seiduka and Asro, “You will deal with them.”

Sora and Catherine were with them, their hands still tied tightly. Sora looked to the ground. “Taichi…”

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Outside, Taichi stood on Metalgreymon X’s shoulders and stared at the castle before him. Chosen Council soldiers were positioned on the top rafters, ready to defend their new acquisition. “All right, buddy,” he said, “You know what to do.”

“What’s that?” the dinosaur asked with a slight chuckle.

“Get me inside!” he shouted.

The giant dinosaur roared and stomped forward. More then a dozen Revolmon and their Chosen Council partners appeared from the castle’s upper wall and began to fire. Metalgreymon X whipped his metal arm around and used it to block the assault of bullets. “Damn it!”

“Hang on, we’ve got it!”

The dinosaur would have turn to Nefertimon X had he been able to. The angel digimon had Hikari on her back and they hovered above the Revolmon and fired streams of her Rosetta Stone at the attacking digimon.

“Thanks, Hikari!” Taichi shouted.

Nefertimon X flew dangerously close to him before flying back into the air. Taichi frowned. “She’s really mad.”

“Of course,” Metalgreymon X answered, “I told you she would be.”

“Just go!”

Taichi swung his head around in an effort to locate the others. Hikari and Nefertimon X were hovering over top, while Jyou and Anomalocarimon X were skittering along the ground. Before they could help him, however, a sea of Evilmons and Devidramons erupted from behind the castle walls led by Osborn and Lilamon, while Chosen Council members and their Hanumon partners leapt over the wall. These digimon were led by Schmidt and Machgaogamon.

While the Evilmon and Devidramons began to cover the sky, Osborn hung tightly to her partner’s shoulders as Lilamon zeroed in on Nefertimon X. She pointed her hands at the angel digimon and began to fire beams from all her finger tips. Hikari hung tightly to her partner, waiting for the impact.

“Flower Cannon!”

The younger Yagami looked up in time to see a ball of energy strike Lilamon in the chest, throwing her arms into the air and her attack striking a number of Evilmon. Hikari twisted around and saw Lillymon X and Mimi flying towards them. “Mimi!” she shouted.

Taichi’s ears perked. “Mimi?” He twisted his head and saw Michael and Megaseadramon X sail by, with Yamato and Noriko riding atop Garurumon X on the ground. “Yamato, you made it!”

The blond man grinned. “Yup, and I brought reinforcements!” He raised his hand and Yuri, Dingo and the Daughters of the First came charging into the battlefield.

Taichi grinned. “Oh, kick ass! Yeah!” He turned to his partner. “All right, buddy, they’ll handle the others, you get us through that castle gate!”

“You got it!” The dinosaur stepped forward, but once again another wave of Revolmon appeared and fired. The dinosaur once again swung his metal arm to shield himself. “Damn!”

Yuri held tightly to Kuwagamon X as he maneuvered through a sea of Devidramons. One came to attack him from behind, but Anna and Unimon appeared, firing a Holy Shot into the devil’s back, deleting him.

Before he could thank them, another Devidramon appeared. This time they were saved when Iduia and Guardromon appeared. The robotic digimon fired his Destruction Grenades, blasting the devil from the inside out.

Down below, the Hanumon swung their bone clubs as they charged at their enemies. Black Tailmon executed her Neko Punch, pounding as many ape digimon as she could. The digimon that she failed to attack were destroyed by Lynna’s Ebidramon, Keeya’s Red Veggiemon or Yamato and Garurumon X. Maria was riding her Centarumon, and he used his Hunting Cannon technique to attack Evilmons in the air, as well as Hanumon on the ground.

Jyou and Anomalocarimon X joined Michael and Seadramon X as they swam through the sea of digimon, struggling to make their way to aid Taichi and Metalgreymon X. However, as they made their way through the Hanumon and dropping Evilmon, they were stopped by Schmidt and Machgaogamon.

“You!” Michael shouted.

The leader of the Chosen Council only smiled and nodded. A moment later, his partner leapt over his head and slammed into the ground. Anomalocarimon X and Megaseadramon X flicked their partners from their backs and charged at the in-coming wolf. Machgaogamon dove at Megaseadramon X, punched him hard in the side of his face, then shot down his long body, grabbed the serpent by the tail and swung him into Anomalocarimon X. The crustacean was thrown back, and he and the serpent became tangled.

Metalgreymon X, meanwhile, was still struggling against the Revolmon’s assault. He was forced to move slowly, keeping his metal arm in front of him, deflecting the barrage of bullets. Taichi held on tightly, but when a Devidrmon whipped in from behind and slashed the dinosaur across his back, Taichi slid down his partner and landed on the ground. The Devidramon was about to attack again, but Dingo’s Gesomon X wrapped his tentacle around the devil’s foot and flung him to the ground.

“I got ya’ back mate!” Dingo shouted.

“Thanks,” Taichi shouted. He turned back to his partner. “Metalgreymon!”

The dinosaur roared. “Get out of my way!” he screamed. He threw his arms opened, which revealed his primed Giga Destroyer missiles. He fired them, which struck the castle at full force. The bricks and mortar exploded and the entire wall collapsed, revealing the thick wooden doors that served as the entrance.

“All right!” Taichi cheered.

“Taichi!”

He spun around and saw Centarumon galloping towards him. Maria was on his back. “Get on!” the young woman shouted.

He nodded and jumped onto the centaur’s back. Metalgreymon X glowed brightly and regressed to his Child form of Agumon X. He leapt into Taichi’s arms.

The bushy-haired young man twisted and saw Yamato atop Garurumon X. “Come on!” he shouted, “Yamato, let’s go!”

The blond man turned to Taichi, then to the destroyed castle walls, then back to Taichi. He nodded. “Right!”

Noriko held tightly as the large wolf charged through the battlefield. “Black Tailmon!” she shouted,

The chocolate-colored digimon finished bashing a Hanumon. She leapt onto Garurumon X’s back.

Taichi twisted his head and saw that Michael and Jyou were busy with Schmidt, with Dingo and his partner rushing to their aide, so he called to the others. “Let’s move! Move!”

The Daughters of the First, along with the remainder of the X-Chosen, quickly followed Taichi and Yamato. However, as Lillymon X and Nefertimon X made their way across the battlefield, Lilamon floated up from the ground and attack the angel digimon in the underside, nearly throwing Hikari to the ground.

“You bitch!” Mimi shouted, staring down at Osborn.

“I’m jus’ doin’ my job!” she grinned, “Lilamon, finish them once and for all!”

Yuri and Kuwagamon X quickly shot over to aide the young woman and their partners. The others stopped before the castle entrance. “Hikari?” Taichi asked.

“Go!” she shouted, “We’ll handle her! Go, Sora and Catherine need you!”

Taichi reluctantly nodded and they continued on their path. They dove through the wooden doors and began to charge through the halls at full force. They continued on for what seemed like hours until they arrived at a circular room with three halls stretching into the distance.

“Great,” Yamato sighed, “Now what?”

Noriko turned her to the hall on the left. “Catherine’s down that way.”

Maria twisted her head to the hall on the right. “But Sora’s down there.”

“How do you know that?” Yamato asked.

“We can feel them,” Noriko answered.

The blond man turned to Taichi, but saw that he was staring down the right hall. He nodded slightly to himself and turned to look over his shoulder: Lynna, and Iduia were standing behind him, with Noriko riding atop Garurumon X with him. “All right, you three come with me!” He reached over and patted Taichi’s back, “Good luck. Let’s go!”

Lynna and Iduia gave the other young women a slight smile before vanishing down the left hall. Taichi turned to look at the young women behind him: Anna, Keeya, and Maria was riding atop Centarumon with him. “All right guys, let’s go.”

-----------------------

Yamato’s group ran through the hall until they arrived in a large room with a tall ceiling. “Where are we?” Noriko asked.

“Looks…like…an…arena…” Iduia commented.

“But where’s Catherine? “Yamato asked.

The small group began to turn their heads around, searching for their missing teammate.

“Here! Up here!”

Their heads shot to the sky. Hanging from the ceiling via a long length of chain was Catherine and Floramon, their hands tied tightly behind their backs, those handcuffs attached to the length of chain. The French woman twisted and twitched. “Get us down from here!”

“Just hang on,” Noriko said with a slight smile.

Catherine gave her a slight sneer. “Oh Noriko, it is so lovely to hear your wonderful sense of humor once more!”

“Don’t start,” Yamato said, “Now come on, let’s find a way to get her down….”

Noriko placed a hand on the blond man’s shoulder. “Wait, something’s wrong…”

“What?” he asked.

Noriko glanced around the room. “I feel…Iduia…”

Yamato raised an eyebrow and glanced over at the Brazilian Chosen. “Yeah…?”

“No!” she protested, “I mean…two of them…”

“She’s right!” Lynna exclaimed, “Someone’s here…!”

A wave of flame suddenly erupted in the center of the room, forcing the Chosen to shield their eyes. When they lowered their arms, they saw two figures standing before them, one a human in a blue cloak, the other a demonic creature covered with black fur.

“Seiduka!” Yamato exclaimed.

The Demon General bowed deeply. “Greetings.”

“You bastard!” Lynna shouted, “Let them go!”

He ignored her and continued speaking. “The heirs of the First Chosen…It’s a shame that you can’t measure up.”

“What…did…you…do…to…the&# 8230;Digital…World?” Iduia demanded.

Seiduka raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you mean the maelstrom that’s occuring right outside this island? Sorry, I didn’t have anything to do with that. You’ll have to bring that up with Lord Cahiti.”

“We’ll do that,” Yamato said, “Once we get Catherine.”

Seiduka laughed. “You’ll have to get by us first!” He pulled a gray-glowing crystal from within his cloak and jabbed himself in the chest. It flowed into his body, sending waves of silver color across his entire body. A whirlwind of gray energy exploded around him, the vortex pulling in Demon. The energy exploded, revealing the combined Demon and Seiduka. The fused being resembled the Demon General, only with gigantic, hulking muscles and long arms.

He flexed his massive biceps and roared. He charged forward, swinging his hulking fists forward. Garurumon X arched his back quickly, flinging Noriko and Yamato into the ground. The wolf jumped into the air, evolving to his Fully Evolved level of Weregarurumon X. He swung his fists into Seiduka/Demon’s fists, and the two engaged one another in a power struggle for a full minute before the fused being was able to overpower the wolf, throwing him to the ground.

Guardromon fired a barrage of missiles from his forearms. “Destruction Grenade!”

Seiduka/Demon batted the attack aside with ease. Black Tailmon galloped forward and leapt at the last second, executing a series of back flips before arriving at the fused being’s head. She performed her Neko Punch, slamming his face with her curled paws. The demon only chuckled as he whacked her in the back with the side of his hand.

Lynna’s Ebidramon raised his claws, which suddenly doubled in size. “Twin Neptune!” He slammed the claws in the demon’s back, but to his horror, it caused no damage.

Seiduka/Demon spun around, knocking his fists into the shrimp. Once Ebidramon was off-balance, the demon began to assault him mercilessly. Pounding and bashing at him again and again.

Guardromon fired beams of red light from his eyes. “Warning Laser!”

The attack struck Seiduka/Demon in the back, lurching him forward. Ebidramon skittered out of the way, and the fused demon spun to assault Guardromon, but instead of the machine digimon, he found Weregarurumon X waiting for him. The wolf pulled his fists back and threw them forward, unleashing a wave of energy. “Kaiser Nail!”

Seiduka.Demon raised their hands to block the attack, but once the energy struck their limbs, they skidded back slightly and a grimace of pain appeared on his face.

“Yamato!” Noriko gasped, “I...I think that might have hurt him!”

“I think she’s right,” Weregarurumon X added.

“Quick!” Yamato ordered, “Attack him together!”

Guardromon raised his arms and fired his Destruction Grenade at the grinning demon. Black Tailmon leapt into the air, executing her Neko Punch attack on the back of the missiles, adding even more momentum. Weregarurumon X fired his Kaizer Nail attack, enveloping the projectiles. The combined attack continued on a straight path to Seiduka/Demon.

Noriko grinned. “I think I’m going to enjoy this…”

The fused demon laughed. He held out his palms and a wave of fire erupted. “Flame Inferno!” His attack struck the combined attack, and the two battled for control until Seiduka/Demon’s attack won. Both attacks were sent flying backwards. Guardromon and Black Tailmon were saved when Weregarurumon X leapt in front of them, taking the full force of the attack.

“Weregarurumon!” Yamato shouted, watching his partner fall to his knees, “Come on, tell me you’re okay!”

The demon began to roar with laughter again. He pointed his fists forward. “Flame Inferno!” The wave of fire struck Black Tailmon, sending her tumbling backwards. Another attack hit Guardromon, while another impacted against Ebidramon. The Chosen stared in horror at their fallen digimon.

“No!” Iduia shouted, “Get….get up!”

“Come on, Ebidramon, ya’ got ta do it!” Lynna exclaimed.

“It’s no use!” Seiduka/Demon shouted, his laughter filling the entire room, “I win, I win! You can’t stop me, you never could! I’m the greatest, I’m the strongest! I’ll tear you all apart, I’ll kill you all, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me!”

“This guy’s off his rocker,” Noriko muttered.

Up above them, Catherine struggled against her binds. “No, Yamato! No!” A bright light began to shine from within her body, a bright, white light that illuminated the room. Seiduka/Demon grinned as he twisted his head to stare at her.

“What are you trying to do now?” he asked, “That’s not going to work. I will kill you as soon as I’m finished with Ishida and the others.”

Yamato growled, but noticed that there was a light coming from below him as well. He glanced down and saw that the Airguns of Lucien were shinning brightly, the same light as Catherine.

“No!” he shouted, “We still have a chance! Everyone, we have to attack him together!”

“Are…you…sure…?” Iduia asked.

The blond man nodded. “Yes, Weregarurumon…?”

His partner grinned and nodded. “Yeah, I gotta.”

Seiduka/Demon laughed again. “Plan all you want, you’ll never defeat me!”

Yamato gripped the Aiguns tightly. “Now!”

Weregarurumon X charged forward, firing his Kaizer Nail attack. The fused demon countered by executing his Flame Inferno. While he attempted to over power the wolf’s beam, Black Tailmon slunk around beneath his feet. She leapt up to his chest level and executed a series of Neko Punches. Seiduka/Demon growled and glanced down. He did not notice Ebidramon skittered around until the large shrimp swung his enlarged claw around, executing his Twin Neptune technique on his already sore chest. Yet, he still did not show any signs of injury.

“You’re up, Guardromon!” Weregarurumon X shouted. The mechanical digimon dropped down in front of the wolf, allowing Yamato to sneak onto his partner’s back.

Guardromon fired his Destruction Barrage attack again. Seiduka/Demon batted the first set of missiles aside, but the second set struck his sore chest. This time he frown, but quickly changed it to an amused laugh.

“Is that the best you can do?” he laughed.

“Hardly!” Weregarurumon X shouted. He ran forward, throwing his hands into preparation for his Kaizer Nail attack. Seiduka/Demon fired his Flame Inferno, and the two attack techniques struck each other with a blast of force. The wolf struggled, but the demon laughed.

“You don’t understand yet, do you?” he chuckled, “You cannot defeat me! I am invincible!”

At that moment, Yamato leapt from his partner’s back to his shoulders. He pointed the Airguns of Lucien at the fused demon’s face. A look of puzzlement and horror quickly appeared as Yamato pulled the trigger. A pure beam of light erupted from the barrel and shot into the demon’s mouth. The beam continued until it exploded out of fused being’s back. His body twitched for a moment before his arms dropped to his side. There was an explosion of data, and Seiduka/Demon was no more.

Yamato panted heavily as he slid down his partner’s back and to the floor. “Bastard…” he muttered.

“Yamato!” Catherine shouted.

“Oh, right. Um…” He looked over to Iduia, “Get her down.”

The Brazilian Chosen nodded and climbed onto her partner’s back. Guardromon floated into the air, and, after cutting the French woman and her partner free, safely transported them back to the ground.

Catherine charged at Yamato, hugging him tightly. “Oh Yamato…Yamato…you do not have any idea how happy I am to zee you! Oh, Yamato…!”

The blond man’s face twitched in uncertainty of how to handle the woman’s sudden show of affection. He saw out of the corner of his eye the strange look Noriko was giving him. He managed to push the French woman away.

“Catherine,” he said, “Look, um, we’ll have to talk later, okay, but….”

Her eyes suddenly shot open in shock. “Sora!” she exclaimed, “Sora, she is…”

“Taichi’s got her covered,” he said, “But let’s go see if he needs a hand.”

---------------------------

On the other side of the castle, Taichi’s group had just entered a room similar to the room where Yamato’s group battled Seiduka/Demon, save for a black curtain that was hanging on the rear wall. Taichi twisted his head around quickly before he spotted a fallen figure lying in the corner of the room, a figure with spiked red hair.

“Sora!” he shouted. He leapt from Centarumon’s back and ran forward. Maria’s eyes moved from Taichi to the fallen Sora. She was lying on her back, with her eyes closed, she even had a black cloth of some kind lying across her body, exposing only her head. She appeared to be dead, and the Latino woman hoped with all of her might that she was not. As she stared at her, she tried to sense the energy that normally flowed from the redhead’s body. She could not sense Sora’s normal power, instead, she sensed…Anna?

“Taichi!” she screamed, “Get back, that’s not Sora!”

The bushy-haired man screeched to a stop, but it was too late. He was already too close, and the false Sora leapt to her feet, throwing the cloth from her body, revealing that she had both of her feet, something the real Sora did not, having lost the left one to BD-2.

She glared at Maria. “Damn you, you ruined my surprise.”

Taichi narrowed his eyes. “Asro.”

The Demon Queen bowed. “At your service, my lord.”

Yagami clenched his fists in anger. “Where’s Sora?!”

She grinned. “Why do you want her? Come on, I am her, only better and more endowed…”

“Fuck you!”

Asro chuckled. “That’s the idea…”

“Shut up you whore, where’s Sora!”

The Demon of Lust sighed deeply. “Very well.” She mentioned with her hand, and the black curtain rose to reveal Lilithmon standing before two figures that caused Taichi’s heart to beat faster: Sora and Piyomon. They were held to the concrete wall by thick metal braces around their upper limbs and waists.

“Sora!” Taichi shouted.

“Taichi!” she screamed, “Taichi, go, leave! Don’t worry about me! Hurry!”

The bushy-haired young smiled slightly, but that smile faded when he turned to Asro. “Let her go now!”

She laughed and rested her hand on her hip. “Come now, do you really think it will be that easy? If you want to save her, you’ll have to defeat me first!”

“Yeah, whatever,” he said.

Lilithmon marched over to her partner. The Demon Queen pulled a light blue colored crystal from her robes and held it before her. She grinned and jabbed herself in the chest. Waves of light blue flowed through her body. The light increased in intensity, swirling and pulsating around her. The light pulled in Lilithmon, and the two beings fused with a burst of blue light. Standing in a seductive pose was a being that resembled Asro, except with Lilithmon’s robes, and her gold, decayed right arm.

The fused demon flew into the air before shooting forward. Agumon X quickly evolved to his highest form of Metalgreymon X. He raised his metal arm and slammed into Asro/Lilithmon, knocking her into the ground.

The demon woman leapt back into the air, her decayed arm visible and free. She charged at Metalgreymon X. “Nazar Nail!”

Unimon flew around behind her and fired his Holy Shot, striking Asro/Lilithmon in the leg. She stopped in air and turned to face him, a grin sliding across her face. “All right, big guy, let’s see how you can handle this!” She shot in front of him, punching and pounding him with her left hand. Anna held on tightly as she was thrown about.

“Anna!” Maria shouted. She patted on her partner’s back, “Help them!”

Centarumon held up his remaining arm and fired a beam of energy into Asro/Lilithmon’s back. The demon ceased her attack on the unicorn and turned to face the centaur. She dove at the ground and slammed her fist into Centarumon’s face. She saw from the corner of her eye Red Veggiemon catapulting his vine arms at her. She ducked to avoid them, then grabbed one of the arms and began to spin him around in the air before releasing him into Metalgreymon X’s under-chin.

She roared with laughter, “This is too easy! Come on, let’s get serious!”

“You bitch,” Metalgreymon X growled. He pointed his metal arm at the fused demon. “Trident Arm Version 9.9!” He fired the clawed front of his arm, intending to grab her, but she executed a back-flip, kicking the claw back at the dinosaur. It struck him in the center of the forehead. Keeya’s Red Veggiemon appeared in front of her and raised his vines.

“Red Thorn!” He began to assail Asro/Lilithmon with a series of punches directly in the face. The demon smirked as her face was uninjured. She grabbed one of the vines with her hand and pulled forward as hard as she could, bringing the vegetation digimon close to her gold arm.

“Red Veggiemon!” Keeya shouted, “Watch out for that arm!”

Asro/Lilithmon was about to strike him with her Nazar Nail, but he managed to swing his other vine up to knock her arm into the air. He squirmed out of her grip and tumbled on the floor.

The demon was not given a chance to prepare another attack as Centarumon and Unimon fired their energy attack at the same time, striking her on both sides of her body. She stumbled for a moment before pointing her palm at the unicorn and fired a black mist that enveloped him. “Phantom Pain!”

Unimon moaned in pain and he flittered in the air before crashing into the ground, sending Anna tumbling off of his back. The Russian woman climbed to her knees and used her hands to locate her partner in her private darkness. “Unimon, speak to me!”

“I…I can’t move!” he moaned.

“Red Veggiemon!” Keeya shouted, “Take her down!”

Asro/Lilithmon glanced over her shoulder as the plant digimon once again tried to assail her with his elastic vines. She grabbed his arms and swung, smashing him into the wall. “Why don’t you try something different?”

Sora and Piyomon tried their best to free themselves, but to no avail. “Oh, it’s useless,” the pink bird sighed.

The redhead shook her head in frustration. “They’re here to save us! We can’t let them do it by themselves! We have to help them!” A bright wave of red light began to erupt from her body.

Asro/Lilithmon glanced over her shoulder at the glowing young woman. “Oh, what are you doing now? Can’t you just accept defeat?”

Taichi stared at Sora with awe. He noticed a bright red light glowing from the Katana of Hidokoro. He held them weapon before his eyes, glanced at Sora, then back at the sword. “Metalgreymon!” he shouted, “We’ve got what we need to finish this!”

“Oh really?” the demon asked, turning her head back to him, “So Takenouchi glows and you think you’re going to beat me?”

Taichi stared at her. “I don’t think, I know. Centarumon, attack!”

Maria held tightly as her partner fired his Hunting Cannon at the devil woman. She smirked as she batted the attack aside with her golden arm. Centarumon fired another blast, and she swung it aside as well. This continued until her temper got the better of her and she charged forward to execute her Nazar Nail. However, Metalgreymon X fired his Trident Arms Version 9.9. The devil woman did not have time to avoid the attack and the claw threw her to the ground, the middle point piercing through her torso and into the ground.

“You think this will stop me?” she laughed. She raised her gold arm and was about to strike Metalgreymon X’s metal claw, but Taichi shot around and held the glowing sword inches above her head. She stared at him with horror before he swung down with all of his might, separating her head from her shoulders. Her body scattered into data and vanished.

“That bitch,” he muttered, placing the sword into the sheath hanging on his waist. He suddenly remembered Sora and twisted his body around. For some mysterious reason, once Asro had been destroyed, the bonds that held the redhead and her pink bird to the wall had vanished.

Sora had attempted to run forward, but due to her missing left foot, she fell onto the floor and had to use to wall to climb but to standing upright. Taichi ran to her side. “Sora….”

The redhead grinned broadly. “Taichi…y…you don’t have any idea how happy I am that you’re….” Her emotions suddenly overtook her and she fell onto him, wrapping her arms tightly around his back.

“Taichi!” she sobbed, tears falling from her eyes and into his chest, “Taichi…t…they told me you were dead….Taichi….I…I missed you so much! I….I thought you were dead…..!”

The bushy-haired young man was startled. He had only rarely seen Sora cry like this. He hesitated for a moment before wrapping his arms around her back as well, pulling her into a tight embrace. “It’s okay,” he said, “I’m here…”

She pulled back and stared at his face. He slowly moved his hands to her head, gently using his thumb to wipe the dirt and tears away from her mouth. She smile slightly, and he did the same. Their heads slowly moved together, their eyes closed and their lips locked tightly.

Maria felt a slight pang in her heart, but she ignored it and smiled broadly. Anna relied on her ability to read Maria’s Earth powers to find the Latino woman. She placed a hand on the younger woman’s shoulders. “Tell me,” she said, “Are they…”

Maria nodded, but when she remembered that Anna could not see that, she replied, “Yes, they are.”

Taichi and Sora continued to kiss, completely oblivious to the outside world. That is, until they heard a female voice shout out, “Yeah, way ta go, girl!”

They pushed apart and twisted their heads to the room’s entrance to see Lynna jumped and cheering in the air. The rest of Yamato’s group was there, and the blond man was giving Taichi a slight smile and an equally as slight nod.

“Sora!” Catherine exclaimed, running over to her. The French woman hugged her tightly. “We are finally free!”

“Y..yeah,” the redhead smiled, wiping away her tears, “We’re finally free, but it’s not over yet.”

“She’s right,” Yamato said, “There’s one Demon Lord left, and I got a feeling he’s the worst one of all.”

“Yeah,” Taichi said. He turned to his partner, “What do you say?”

The dinosaur growled. “Let’s kick some ass!”

------------------------------

They ran back through the halls until they arrived at the perpendicular hall once again. Maria glanced down the hall containing the decending staircase which led to the main entrance. “I hope Hikari and the others are okay…”

“They’ll be fine,” Taichi said, turning to the ascending staircase, “We’ve got our own problems to deal with.”

They slowly made their way up the staircase before arriving at a set of thick marble doors. Taichi and Yamato nodded at each other and the two males pushed the doors open, revealing a large, cathedral-type room. Stone pews lined the walls, the windows were covered with stain glass designs of the First Chosen, and standing at the back of this room, specifically, standing on the raised altar, was Cahiti and Lucemon Falldown Mode.

The Demon King grinned. “A fitting place, don’t you think?”

“For what?” Yamato asked.

“Why, to watch the end of the Digital World of course. And then, I will remake it in my own image. I have won, I will be a god…no, correction, I am a God!”

Taichi growled. “You’re nothing but an egotistical manic who’s about to get his ass kicked!”

“Hold on,” Yamato said, “I want to ask him something.”

He smiled. “Ah, I bet you want to know how my Crest, the Crest of Pride was created, am I right?”

The Chosen did not respond.

“I shall take that as a yes. But, I think you all know how Pride was created, right? It was Skullgreymon!”

Taichi flinched. Sora placed a hand on his shoulder, but he kept his gaze on his evil double.

“I see that I’ve struck a nerve,” Cahiti chuckled, “Yes, it was Skullgreymon. You, Taichi, thought that you could do everything because you possessed the Crest of Courage, and with that, you could make Agumon evolve and save the day, and everyone would praise you as a hero, right? But your arrogance overtook your mind and thus, the Crest of Pride was born.”

Taichi began to laugh. “If you’re trying to psyche me out, it won’t work. I put that mistake behind me a long time ago.”

Cahiti only shrugged. “Very well. Why don’t we get started, then, huh?” He raised his right arm, which contained the energy-siphoning Soul Catcher. The eight crystals on the ancient device began to glow brightly, and they sent a wave of energy down the Demon King’s arm and surrounding him and Lucemon both. Bolts of energy began to crackle around the whirlwind of multicolored light, building in intensity until the light exploded, revealing the newly created fused being. He resembled Cahiti, except with Lucemon’s angelic and demonic wings and his black and white outfit. The Soul Catcher vanished.

Taichi and Yamato stepped forward, their partners right behind them. “This is it!” Yamato shouted.

Taichi nodded, “Yeah, I only hope we’re ready.”

“Of course you are!” Catherine grinned, placing a hand on Yamato’s shoulder.

“She’s right,” Sora said, placing her hand on Taichi’s shoulder, “But maybe you might need a little…more…” Her smile faded. “Now I’m giving you the power that I should have at the beginning.”

Catherine nodded as she stared at Yamato. “Me as well.”

Both young women closed their eyes, and the powers they held, that of Fire and Light, flowed into their respective warriors. The Katana of Hidokoro glowed brightly in Taichi’s hand, while the Airguns of Lucien glowed in Yamato’s hands. Both weapons soon exploded in light, enveloping the X-Chosen and their digimon partners.

“Agumon X warp evolve to…”

The light from Sora erupted from the Katana of Hidokoro flowed around Taichi, silhouetting him within a deep shade of red. Agumon X charged towards him and the light from the blade struck the orange dinosaur, turning him into beams of glowing light. The light struck Taichi’s body, transforming him into a muscular dinosaur man covered with orange skin, sharp and jagged armor. The Katana of Hidokoro had changed to a long metal blade and attached to his right metal gauntlet.

“Wargreymon X!”

“Gabumon X warp evolve to…”

The light from Catherine erupted from the Airgun of Lucien flowed around Yamato, silhouetting him within a bright shade of white. Gabumon X charged towards him and the light from the gun struck the blue dog-digimon, turning him into beams of glowing light. The light struck Yamato’s body, transforming him into a muscular canine man covered with blue metallic skin, and multiple firearms. The Airgun of Lucien had changed to a long metal shotgun and attached to his left metal gauntlet.

“Metalgarurumon X!”

The two Mega digimon hovered in the air before Cahiti/Lucemon. Metalgarurumon X glanced to his partner and spoke in a fusion of Yamato and Gabumon X’s voice. “You ready?”

Wargreymon X laughed and answered in a mixture of Taichi and Agumon X’s voice. “Oh yeah! Let’s kick some ass!”

To be continued….

Author’s note: Miayag called Taichi Juukeitei, which is a way of saying male cousin. At least according to the online dictionary that I used.