Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Digimon: Apocalypse ❯ The Book of Shadows Chapter 2 ( Chapter 21 )

My name is Hiroshi Shibya, a soldier of the Digitalatri. I was not always a member of this divine church, at one time I was counted among the Odaiba Chosen, along with Keiko and Takashi. I was trained by Taichi Yagami himself, I was taught to be a leader. At one time, I was so proud of that fact, and I wore it like a badge. Whenever I traveled among Chosen from other parts of the world, I would tell them my name. They were not impressed, but then I told them I was part of the Odaiba Chosen, and they would become slightly more impressed, but it wasn’t until I told them that I was trained by Taichi Yagami, that I would become an instant celebrity. Even now, after I chose to leave the Chosen and join with Digitalatri, my reputation and training preceded me and I was made the General of the Digitalatri Army. However, I was still not able to stop Tatum, Sam and Vicente from being killed, nor was I able to stop the Demon Lords and the Chosen Council from destroying the Digital World.

But all was not lost, from the destruction of the Digital World, there came the prize we had sought, the realm of the Digital God. It did seem convenient that once the world was gone, the Digital God would appear, but I did not question, I had wanted to believe so badly. Now, it seems that we were mistaken, and our beliefs had nothing but lies… ------------------------------------ The Book of Shadows: Chapter 2 ----------------------------------

Hiroshi and Piedmon dragged Taichi, Yuri and their unconscious partners through the maze of tunnels until they arrived at a set of giant double doors, made of metal engraved with elegant designs. The clown pushed the doors open and forced them through. Inside was a room covered with shadows, only a small square near the door was illuminated. Lying on the brick floor was Plotmon X and Palmon X, while kneeling beside them was Mimi and Hikari. Miayag and Witchmon were standing at the edge of the shadow line, within the light. She gave a strange smile when she saw Taichi. “Ah, Juukeitei I see that you have decided to join us.”

Taichi glared at her, and his attention turned to his sister. He gasped loudly and ran to her side. “Hikari!” he gasped, “Y…your face…it’s…it’s bruised! Have…have you been fighting yourself?”

The younger woman glanced at Mimi, who shared similar injuries. “It’s…nothing…”

“Where are Takashi and James?” Miayag asked.

“No doubt finishing off Kido, Hogan, Barton and Ishida,” Hiroshi said, smiling at Keiko.

“Guess again!”

The Digitalatri and the X-Chosen turned their heads back to the door to see Dingo running inside with Gesomon X. Jyou and Anomalocarimon X were behind them, carrying James and his Betamon. Standing at their side was Michael, supporting a barely-conscious Yamato, while his Betamon X was carrying Gabumon X. Takashi and his Tsukaimon were lying on the floor behind them. Hiroshi’s eyes glowed red with rage.

“Takashi…James…I will kill you for hurting them!”

“Yeah?” Dingo laughed, “I’d like ta see ya try!”

Miayag began to laugh. “You do not realize in whose presence you stand before, do you?”

Jyou blinked. “W…what do you mean?”

The Digitalatri Priestess grinned broadly and raised her hands to the ceiling. The dark shadows of the room slowly parted as the illumination of the center square grew. The truly contents of the room was soon revealed to be that of a perfect afternoon sky: bright blue, a few white clouds, and a brilliant shining sun. That was what the X-Chosen thought at first, but then they soon realized that the shining did not come from the sun, but from the massive figure standing near the rear wall.

“What the hell is that?” Taichi shouted.

“Do you not know?” Miayag asked, “That is the supreme lord of the Digital World!”

“The Digital God?!” every X-Chosen exclaimed in awe.

“He’s real?” Mimi asked, shivering slightly.

Jyou plaed. “Uh, is it too late to convert?”

“Jyou!” Taichi shouted.

The older man shook his head. “Right, sorry…just lost my head their for a moment.”

Keiko grinned. “You’re gonna lose more then that after the Digital God gets through with you!”

“I believe she is correct,” Miayag said, crossing her arms, “Prepare to face they divine punishment.”

The X-Chosen braced themselves for the assault of the Digital God, but to their surprise, there came none. “Uh, not that I’m complaining,” Jyou said, “But…”

Miayag twirled to the massive figure. “I…I do not understand. D…do you not wish to punish them?”

There was no answer. In fact, the figure remained completely still.

Dingo leaned over to whisper in Jyou’s ear. “I think this girl might be a few cards short of a full deck.”

“No!” the Digitalatri Priestess shouted, falling at the giant figure’s feet, “No, you…you are real, you must be! Please, speak to me!”

Then, a giant rumbled sounded through the room. The rumble soon became recognizable as a laugh, a deep, roaring laughter…coming from the unmoving-figure! Miayag, stumbled backwards and landed on her rear, staring up at the figure of her Digital God. “W…what?”

The figure continued to laugh. “I think it is about time to end this charade…”

The bright blue sky soon began to fade, like a dissolving screen, to reveal a castle room covered with cracked and dirty bricks, decaying vines wrapped the walls, and black mold sprouted from the corners. Outside, the paradise world began to fade as well, into a realm of darkness, with red, jagged rocks covering the landscape, geysers of red lava poured to the sky, and demonic creatures flew through the air, screeching and screaming in terror.

The massive figure laughed again. “Welcome to the Dark Area!”

The X-Chosen and the Digitalatri both stared in horror as the once angelic figure began to reveal itself as well, into a giant centaur-type creature, with two giant mouths attached to the top of the front legs, with massive nails and claws on the feet. The human torso was draped in a red shirt that extended down the elongated arms, two massive black wings extended from the back and a yellow tail fluttered behind it. Long blond hair was covered on top of the head by a bladed metal helmet.

“You!” Yamato gasped, “I…I know you! I…I saw you…I saw your painting, in…in the Demon Lords’ temple! You’re…you’re…”

The figure’s human torso bowed. “Allow me to introduce myself, King of the Vampires, GranDracmon at your service.”

Miayag gasped. “G…GranDracmon? W…where is the God of the Digital World?”

The large demon laughed. “You are a fool, I am the God of the Digital World!”

“No!” the priestess screamed, “That is impossible! You cannot be the divine god I serve!”

“But I am, my dear, I am,” he responded.

Hikari frowned. “I knew I sensed something…evil…”

Plotmon X mentioned to the decaying castle. “How did you do that?”

GranDracmon chuckled. “I have the ability to bring anyone I wish under my command, young digimon, it is a simple matter for me to alter a person’s perception of reality.” He turned to Miayag, “Isn’t that correct, my priestess.”

“I am not your priestess!” she protested, “I do not know who you are, or how you came to reside here, but I know the Digital God I serve, and you are not Him.”

He smiled. “Why do you keep denying what you know to be true? I have been here all along, moving the pieces of my grand chessboard to the places that I have seen to be fit. For you see, I know all and I see all, I am omnipotent and omniscient, what greater qualifications are there to be counted as a god?” He began to laugh, “Oh, but I have forgotten one, have I not? For to truly be a god, one must be worshiped, and I have worshippers, do I not, Lady Miayag?”

The Digitalatri Priestess stared with horror. “This…this cannot be!”

“Why do you continue to deny this?” the giant demon asked.

“”I deny it because it it cannot be true!” she shouted, “You will not lie to me any longer! I am Chihi Miayag, I serve the true God of the Digital World!”

GranDracmon began to laugh. “Ah yes, Chihi Miayag, descended from Yuushi of the First Chosen. The First Chosen, who were brought to this world to save it from the treachery of Murmixmon and his Ceria Empire, the First Chosen, the predecessors of Yagami, Ishida, and the other Chosen. Chihi Miayag, the cousin of Taichi and Hikari Yagami, Hikari Yagami, Chihi Miayag, who reclaimed the Center Island after untold-time, but could not save it from the Demon Lords.”

His grin grew even wider. “Only, I have been behind Ceria, the Demon Lords, and more aspects of your entire mission then you can possibly ever imagine. I am the darkness from the dawn of time, I am the shadows that plague your sight, I am the nightmare that steals your sleep, I am GranDracmon, I am the true God of the Digital World!”

“I don’t understand,” Jyou said, “What is going on here?”

He smiled. “Ah, yes, I am speaking of things that you do not yet understand, So please, sit, and I shall tell you that which you wish to know. Where shall I begin? I could easily bore you with tales of the creation of the Digital World, and my war with the heavenly angels…maybe I should begin with the end of the war in heaven? Yes…for at the beginning, I attempted to overtake the heavenly realm of the angels. I turned several angels to my side, and they became my fallen angels, my demonic army. With seven powerful devils as my commanders, we attacked the angelic realm…and was thoroughly defeated. My seven fallen angel generals were destroyed, but I could not be killed so easily. I was injured and my impressive powers depilated, so the three great angels: Seraphimon of the Day, Ophanimon of the Twilight and Cherubimon of the Night, used their powers to seal me in the Dark Area, deep within the core of the Digital World. The result was that they used all their powers, and so they perished.” He sighed deeply. “And so I was trapped here, lo these untold years…”

“What about the First Chosen?” Miayag demanded, “And I really descended from Yuushi?”

“Of course you are my dear,” he grinned, “Ah…the First Chosen, I remember when they first arrived in this world. Through an error in reality, they were given the powers of the eight elements that comprised the Digital World. I realized that if I could harness that power, the Digital World could be removed and I would be freed of this prison. I enticed the Emperor of Ceria, Murmixmon, to construct the Soul Catcher to steal this elemental energy. He did not, as my control over him had begun to slip. However, he still managed to defeat the First Chosen’s empire and brought the Staff of Yuushi and the Machina Codex back to Cer with him. As for my Soul Catcher…it was hidden within a temple in the Desert of Asharlara, waiting to be used by another pawn.”

“The Demon Lords?” Miayag gasped, “You were behind the Demon Lords as well?”

“That is correct,” he smiled. “For you see, I was well aware that Taichi and Hikari were grandchildren of Yuushi, and I watched with anticipation to see if his great power would manifest in them. However, it did not.”

“It didn’t?” Plotmon X blinked. She looked towards her partner, “Then, what about…?”

GranDracmon began to chuckle. “Hikari’s power came from the Crest of Light, thus, when she was forced to release it in a pathetic attempt to turn back the forces of darkness, she began to lose it little by little, until this point, when all that is left of that great power is the occasional ability to detect evil.”

Hikari frowned. “It was good enough to sense you…”

He continued. “I was aware that Takenouchi was the grandchild of Hidokoro but she had not displayed that power as of yet. I waited for countless years for the power to resurface in the granddaughters of the First Chosen. But, as I waited and watched, I came to a conclusion; that power would only surface when brought to the brink of death, and with each and everyone of them infected with the Second Black Death, their bodies were already taxed to the brink of their lives. It would be a simple matter, and to do that, I would need an army of powerful servants. I would take the dark and negative energies from the Odaiba Chosen and create dark crests, Pride from Courage, Lust from Love, Wrath from Friendship, Greed from Knowledge, Envy from Purity, Sloth from Faith, and Gluttony from Hope. These crests were given to digital doppelgangers of deceased Chosen: Karetu from Takeru, Enk from Ken, Amikyo from Miyako, Shiokuro from Koushiro, Seiduka from Daisuke, as well as deceased Chosen would had been revived shortly after: Asro from Sora and Cahiti from Taichi.”

“How?” Jyou asked, “How were you able to do that?”

He chuckled. “This is the Dark Area, here is where the dead and evil reside. I am it’s master! Have you never questioned why, after accepting my power, the Digitalatri digimon evolved to your former, defeated enemies? And why, when you fought a Demon Lord, they summoned defeated digimon? Because I am the Lord of the Dead! I gave the doubles of the Chosen the corrupted crests and the digimon partners of my seven fallen angels and sent them to attack the granddaughters of the First Chosen.” He smiled. “They were not aware of their connection to me, for after losing Murmixmon from my control, I decided that a pawn would serve better then a controlled servent.”

Taichi frowned. “So, Cahiti didn’t know he was being used, huh?”

“No, he did not,” GranDracmon explained, “I merely…nudged, him in the right directions. For you see, it was my plan to have the Demon Lords merely awaken the power within the Daughters of the First, and then, once they were all assembled, steal that power! It took longer then excepted, but once Cahiti had that power within the Soul Catcher, he used it to destroy the Digital World, just as I wanted. With the world above us completely gone, I am nearly free, so close….”

“Nearly free?” Hiroshi asked.

GranDracmon frowned. “Yes, for although I freed myself of the angels’ seal, I am unable to pass through the dimensions…”

“Dimensions?” Mimi asked.

“Yes, my dear, for my goal is to conquer your Earth!”

“But why me?” Miayag shouted, “Why me?!”

“Because, I am a vampire, and to break through the dimensions, I need more energy then I currently posses. Where would that energy come from, why not an entire world of worshipers?”

“So, that is all?” she sneered, “I was nothing more then a…a…”

“A pawn?” GranDracmon grinned, “Yes, that is correct, nothing but a pawn.”

“Wait,” she grinned, “There is a flaw in your plan, for now we know of your deception, and it will be an easy enough matter to warn them all. They will cease their worship, and you will be confined here forever.”

The demonic beast began to roar with laughter. “I have manipulated you for all this time, why would I reveal myself to you, unless you are no longer needed?”

She began to pale. “W…what are you saying?”

“I am saying you are being replaced!” He waved his hands and four figures appeared before him, each one was dressed in a cloak similar to the garb of the Demon Lords: one was dirty pink, another was a light orange, another was dull gold, and the last was dark green. “Now, introduce yourselves…”

The figure in dark green removed his hood to reveal the face of a younger teenager with short brown hair. The X-Chosen and Digitalatri were silent, the shock of seeing a person they thought dead had diminished, especially when standing in the presence of the dark mastermind. GranDracmon chuckled, “May I present Oiri, the dark double of Iori Hida. Next…”

The figure in dull gold removed his hood. “Asm, the dark double of Sam Anderson of the New York Team…”

The figure in light orange removed her hood. “Matut, the dark double of Tatum Heany. And now, the last one…”

The one in the dirty pink cloak removed her hood as well, revealing the face of Hikari Yagami. “Me?” the younger Yagami gasped, “But…how?”

GranDracmon mentioned to the Hikari-double. “Karihi here was created not through your death, but through the negative emotions that would have created the Crest of Darkness, but, your negative energy was in such a high quantity that it formed a separate entity. For you repressed every negative thought you ever had, and it collected and merged here in my realm. It is Karihi who will take your place, my dear Miayag, as my Priestess.”

The cousin of Taichi and Hikari did not respond, so the demon beast continued.

“And to power these four, I shall give them corrupted versions of the remaining crests…”

“Four?” Jyou questioned.

“Yes, Hikari’s Crest of Light, Daisuke’s Crest of Miracles, Ken’s Crest of Kindness, and the last crest was created from the power that Yuushi held, the power of fate! The Crest of Fate, is held by you, Chihi Miayag!”

She blinked. “It…it is?”

“Of course, how did you think it was possible for your partner to evolve to her Fully Evolved form without an external power source? But, it matters not, to counter the crests of Light, Miracles, Kindness and Fate, I create the crests of Death, Famine, War and Pestilence. They will be given to Oiri, Asm, Icathi and Karihi, the Four Horsemen of my Apocalypse!”

“No!” Taichi shouted, “You won’t destroy Earth too! We won’t let you!”

GranDracmon waved his hand and the four figures vanished once more. “You really think you can stop me? You have no idea who you are dealing with, no idea at all.”

“Wanna bet?” Yamato yelled, “You might be strong, but if we attack you all at once, not even you can stand up against that!”

Hikari turned to Miayag. She placed a hand on the younger girl’s shoulder. “Come on, we need to attack at once.”

The former priestess nodded. “Yes…Yes! Hiroshi, Keiko, Takashi, James, attack him!”

Each of the Child-level X-Chosen quickly evolved to their highest forms: Kokuwamon X to Kuwagamon X, Ganimon X to Gesomon X, Betamon X to Megaseadramon X, Palmon X to Lillymon X, Gomamon X to Tylomon X, and Plotmon X to Nefertimon X. Taichi and Yamato reached for their weapons: the Sword of Hidokoro and the Airguns of Lucien.

“Yamato!” Michael shouted, “You can’t! You just evolved to beat Takashi!”

Hikari had joined Michael in protesting the fused evolution of her brother. “Oniichan, you can’t! It made you so weak before…”

Both leaders of the X-Chosen ignored the warnings and fused together with their partners.

“Gabumon X warp evolve to Metalgarurumon X!”

“Agumon X warp evolve to Wargreymon X!”

The Digitalatri digimon were already evolved to their highest forms, all save Miayag and Witchmon. The former priestess ordered her Adult-level partner to evolve to her Mega form, Kuzuhamon. She then joined the other digimon as they assembled. They stood at attention in a massive semi-circle, surrounding the front of GranDracmon. “Get ready…” Wargreymon X said in a merger of Taichi and Agumon X’s voice,”…attack!”

The group of 13 digimon charged forward. The demon beast merely laughed. “You have no respect for the power I command.” He swung his hand in front of him, sending out a wave of energy that struck each of the digimon. They were thrown backwards; the two Adults and the four Fully Evolved digimon smashed into the rear wall and slide to the floor, while the seven Mega digimon were thrown to the ground, but remained on their feet.

GranDracmon raised an eyebrow. “You yet stand? I must have held back more then I thought. A problem that is easily remedied…” He held out his hands and bolts of electricity coursed through the air, striking the Mega digimon and trapping them within spheres of black energy.

He turned his attention to the four Digitalatri digimon. “Now, as for you, your power came from me, so, it is a simple matter to take it back!” His eyes began to glow slightly and the four Mega digimon stiffened and began to shake slightly. Balls of energy flowed from their bodies and vanished into the air. Metalseadramon regressed to Waruseadramon, MugenDramon regressed to Metaltyrannomon, Pinocchimon regressed to Garbamon, and Piedmon regressed to Blue Meramon. The stressed of a forced devolution caused them to become weak and they regressed even further, to their Child levels. GranDracmon then turned to Wargreymon X, Metalgarurumon X and Kuzuhamon.

“As for you three,” he grinned, “Prepare to meet they God…” The two mouths on the shoulders of his two front legs opened wide to reveal sharp jagged teeth. Those two mouths roared and sent out blasts of dark energy that smashed into the three digimon. They screamed as intense pain coursed through their bodies. They smashed into the floor, each one had returned to their previous forms, and each one was bruised, bloodied and unconscious.

“Oniichan!” Hikari screamed, running to her brother’s side. Miayag knelt down beside him, then turned to her Plotmon partner, who had her eyes closed tightly. She twisted to GranDracmon, her eyes dripping with rage and hate.

“You…you demon!”

He smirked. “Is there something you wish to say to me, my dear?”

“I will make you pay for what you have done!” she shouted, “I swear this to you, you will die by my hand!”

“I have another prophecy my dear; I believe it is you who shall die by my hand. Observe…” He pointed a red, bony finger at her and fired a beam of black energy that shot towards her chest. She realized what was about to occur and whipped the Staff of Yuushi around at the last moment. GranDracmon’s attack struck the mythical weapon and exploded, covering the young woman in a web of darkness that forced even her to scream in agony. She soon fell to the ground, unconscious as well.

Hiroshi and Keiko ran to Miayag’s side, while Hikari was nearly hysterical at the site of her fallen brother. Jyou was examining both him and Yamato. “They’re still alive,” he said.

GranDracmon grinned, “Then allow me to correct that oversight…” He took a step forward.

Dingo ran to the front of the group, and mentioned with his hands behind his back. Jyou slowly pulled Taichi onto his back, while Michael did the same with Yamato. Keiko soon understood and ordered James to place Miayag on his back. GranDracmon was too focused on his own power to notice. “Prepare to die.”

“Not today!” Dingo shouted, “Ya see ,we’re gonna do somethin’ that’s gonna stop ya right in ya tracks!”

“Oh really?” he asked, “and what would that be?”

Dingo grinned, “Here’s our secret strategy…get ready…and run!”

The Chosen and their partners instantly scrambled from the room and vanished down the dark hall. GranDracmon blinked for a moment, comprehending what had just occurred. He then began to laugh. “Do you honestly believe you can escape from me, especially when I can call forth your defeated enemies?”

He waved his hand and a figured slowly appeared before him, a figure draped in a black cape. GranDracmon smiled. “Go, and kill them, Myotismon.”

“It’ll be my pleasure!” he laughed.

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

The X-Chosen and the Digitalatri continued the run through the halls as fast as they could, but the path they had traveled had been altered. The dismissal of GranDracmon’s illusion had revealed the halls of the castle to be decaying and rotting. Thus, any markers they had seen were now useless.

“There’s got to be a way out of here!” Mimi shrieked, “Where? Where?!”

Michael would have placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder if he was not already carrying Yamato. Instead, he said, “We’ll get out of here, I promise.”

Plotmon X stared down the darkened hall in front of her, then turned to the perpendicular hall that was intersecting. “Which way now?” She glanced over her shoulder to Hikari, but found that her partner was staring at the unconscious Taichi on Jyou’s back. She trotted over and gently pushed her head into Hikari’s leg.

“Don’t worry, he’ll be fine.”

The young woman nodded quickly. “Yeah, I know, but…” She forced a smile, “I…I just can’t help think that the last time we really saw each other was on the Center Island, when I was so mad at him because he didn’t tell me about Miayag. I’m sorry I was angry at him, and…” Her eyes suddenly opened wide and she twirled to the unconscious priestess. She ran over.

“Is she okay?”

James glared at her. “Why do you want to know?”

“Hey!” Dingo shouted, standing by Hikari’s side, “What was that for? She was only askin ‘cause she cares!”

“Don’t fight!” Mimi shouted, “We have to work together to get out of here!”

“She’s right,” Hiroshi growled, “A temporary truce…”

“Why temporary?” the older woman asked.

Before Hiroshi could respond, a loud, low growl was heard echoing through the halls. “What was that?” Yuri asked, “He has sent someone after us?”

“Great,” Gomamon X mumbled. He eyed the Digitalatri, “He’s going to kill you to keep you quiet and kill us just for the hell of it.”

Takashi’s Tsukaimon stared at him. “He won’t kill you to keep you quiet?”

“What’s the point?” the sea digimon asked, “You made it certain that no one would believe us anyway!”

“Gomamon!” Jyou shouted.

“How do you suggest we get out of here?” Keiko asked

Michael looked forward, then at the intersecting hall. “We go forward, left or right. Someone pick one!”

Ganimon X suddenly shouted, “Behind!”

Dingo frowned. “Weren’t ya listenin? That wasn’t one of the choices! Besides, why would we want ta go back…” He trailed off as he turned around and saw what had caused his partner to call out. Standing in the hall behind them was the vampire creature.

“Myotismon?!” everyone shouted in unison.

The vampire grinned, flashing a row of rotting teeth. “I am so pleased that you remember me.”

Plotmon X growled. “How could we forget your stench?! You murdered Wizardmon!”

He roared with laughter. “After all this time, you’re still going on about that? Let him rest in peace…then again, you always were a good servant, maybe I’ll send you to him!”

He grabbed the edges of his cape and flung them open, sending out a blast of energy in the shape of a dead face. “Nightmare Claw!”

The energy attack enveloped the digimon, all except for Kokuwamon X, Ganimon X and the four digimon of the Digitalatri. It made no difference, however, as the forced devolution cased by GranDracmon had drained them of too much energy, they were not able to evolve. Only Dingo’s partner and Yuri’s partner remained. The Russian and the Australian glanced at each other and nodded. They did not speak as they ran to the front of the group.

“What are you doing?” Hikari shouted.

“We’re just gonna buy ya some time,” Dingo grinned.

“What?” the young woman shouted.

“Our partners are they only ones who can evolve,” Yuri responded, “We will fight.”

Before anyone could protest, Ganimon X evolved to Gesomon X and Kokuwamon X evolved to Kuwagamon X. Myotismon only laughed. “So, is this the resistance you have given me? Very well, this shall be quick….”

The two young men turned to each other and smiled. “Ready for this, bud?” Dingo asked.

“Da,” he grinned, “Let us kick some ass.”

Their two partners stood before them, but, instead of charging forward to attack, they began to glow brightly, so brightly that their radiance began to combined together.

“Kuwagamon X…”

“Gesomon X…”

“Jogress evolve to Ookuwamon X!”

“Jogress…?” Hikari said in awe, “Amazing…”

Dingo and Yuri were in shock as well, as was Myotismon. Both young men knew that their enemy would not be in awe for much longer. “Ookuwamon!” Dingo shouted, “Hurry up and attack!”

Ookuwamon X swung his large pincer claws around and smashed into the side of Myotismon’s head. He stumbled backwards for a moment, then swung his large firsts around and bashed the beetle directly on the nose. The beetle flew into the air and dove from the sky, but the vampire grabbed him by one of his legs and smashed him into the wall.

Yuri was watching intensely, when he suddenly turned his head over his shoulder. The rest of the X-Chosen, as well as the Digitalatri, were still standing in the hall. “What are you still doing here?” he shouted, “Run!”

“We’re not leaving you!” Michael shouted.

“We’ll be right behind ya!” Dingo responded, “Go, go! Move yer assess!”

Hikari and Jyou reluctantly began to flee from the battle by running down the hall. They were soon followed by Mimi, Michael and the Digitalatri. Once they were a sufficient distance ahead, Ookuwamon X slashed his giant claws into the wall, causing a large group of bricks and mortar to fall onto Myotismon. The undead creature began to swing his arms around to shield himself from the falling ceiling. When the smoke cleared, he could see the Chosen disappearing in the distance.

“Trying to escape from me?” he laughed, “How foolish!”

He began to run after them as fast as he could. Farther ahead of him, his prey had quickened their pace. “You will not escape from me!” he shouted, “Grisly Wing!”

Waves of bats shot out of his hands, flying directly towards the Chosen. Before his attack could strike his enemies, however, Ookuwamon X once again appeared before him.

“Destructive Impulse!”

He suddenly began to swing his arms in a violent, wild fashion, striking and bashing him with his clawed arms. Myotismon swung his knee up and smashed the beetle in the underside, then grabbed his front two arms and pulled as hard as he could. Ookuwamon X moaned in pain for only a moment before his back legs swung around and began a barrage of kicks into his chest.

The Chosen stopped for a moment, but were quickly ordered by Yuri to keep moving. They continued down the hall and finally arrived at the castle’s entrance “Finally!” Mimi gasped, stepped through the large door, “Now we can get the….”

She trailed off as she stared at the landscape stretching before her. Where before there had been a beautiful, peaceful meadow, there was now a rotting, heat-infested Inferno, with streams of fire erupting from the ground and demonic creatures hissing and screeching around them. The path was still clearly defined, however, and the Chosen knew that the gate that would free them from this place was at the end.

The roar of Myotismon was heard behind them. “We’re got to keep moving,” Jyou said, shifting the unconscious Taichi on his back.

“What about Yuri and Dingo?” the young woman asked.

She was answered when the Australian and the Russian came running out of the dying castle. Ookuwamon X and Malomyotismon could be seen battling in the hall. “Move!” Dingo shouted, “Move it now!”

The Chosen and the digimon partners continued to run forward, charging down the path as hard as they could. They ran for what seemed like hours before arriving at the small television set that would serve as their escape. Hikari was about to reach for her digivice, when the ground suddenly shook violently, like an earthquake was erupting beneath the surface. When the group spun around, they saw that Myotismon had flung Ookuwamon X through the air where he landed only a few feet in front of them. The demonic vampire displayed a burst of speed and had quickly arrived before them.

“Going somewhere?” he sneered.

Before anyone could answer, Ookuwamon X leapt back into the air and slashed the underside of Myotismon’s chin. The vampire stumbled back, and the beetle continued his assault. He raised his claws above his head. “Scissor Arms Omega Cubed!” he shouted. His physical strength suddenly tripled and he began to bash and punch Myotismon with all of his might, causing even the towering Mega to stumble backwards. Eventually, however, his burst of power wore out, and the vampire began his own barrage of physical attacks.

The Chosen watched with horrified interest. Each one glanced over their shoulders to the Digital Gate, then back at the battle. Dingo glanced over to Yuri, who was staring back at him. The two young men glanced to their Jogressed partner, then over their shoulders to the Chosen and their injured digimon partners. They glanced at one another one final time and nodded.

“Hey, you guys!” Dingo shouted, “Ya gotta get back ta Earth!”

“What?” Jyou gasped.

“He is right,” Yuri said, “You are too hurt, we will handle this!”

“He’s too strong!” Keiko shouted, “You won’t survive! Let us help you!”

“Please,” Hikari said.

The Australian man turned to the short-haired young woman. “Hikari, your brother’s unconscious, aren’t you worried about gettin’ him some help? What about Yamato, and Miayag?”

Hikari hesitated. She then turned to her brother, who was resting on Jyou’s back. “I…I…”

Michael glanced at Yamato, who was resting on his own back. He took a deep breath. “I think we need to leave.”

Mimi twirled to him. “What?”

He sighed again. “Look, I don’t want to leave either, but…Dingo’s right, GranDracmon’s attack hurt us too much, we’ve got no choice!”

“Hurry!” Yuri shouted, “Do it now while Ookuwamon X has him distracted!”

The others were hesitant, but eventually agreed as well. Hikari reluctantly opened the gate and they soon escaped from the Dark Area, all except for Dingo, Yuri and their combined partner. Myotismon chuckled devilishly.

“You should have left with the others,” he laughed, “For soon I will kill you, and then I will head to Earth and destroy them as well. You have only prolonged their suffering!”

Dingo grinned. “Ya don’t scare us, man. Ookuwamon, tear him apart!”

Ookuwamon X raised his claws above his head and slashed them into the side of Myotismon. The vampire floated into the air and created streams of red energy from his hands. “Crimson Lightning!”

He whipped the beams of energy around, striking the beetle repeatedly on the top of the head. Ookuwamon X did not appear injured, however, and grabbed the vampire within the pincers of his left hand only. He raised his right hand, ready to strike, however, Myotismon created another Crimson Lightning in his left hand and maneuvering with his wrist to slash the underside of the beetle’s chin. The cumulative attacks had taken their toll, and Ookuwamon X split back into his two previous forms; but, even injured as he was, he only regressed to his Adult forms of Kuwagamon X and Gesomon X.

“I don’t understand,” Dingo blinked.

“Maybe it is because he was newly evolved?” Yuri suggested, “He did not have enough energy to hold their form, but still enough to remain in their Adult levels?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Myotismon grinned, “I will still kill you both!” He formed another Crimson Lighting, this time in the form of a laser beam, which pierced Gesomon X’s head and through the backside. The squid trembled for a moment before falling onto his face. He glowed brightly, and devolved to Ganimon X. Myotismon however over to execute a kill-hit, but Kuwagamon X appeared before him and forced him back. Dingo grabbed his partner.

“You must leave,” Yuri said.

“I’m not goin’ anywhere!” he shouted, “You’re not strong enough now!”

“He speaks the truth!” Myotismon laughed, “Prepare to die! Crimson Lightning!”

He began to gather energy in the palms of his hands, but Kuwagamon X charged forward, his claw glowing with energy. “Crunch Arm!”

The beetle charged forward while the vampire readied his attack. Dingo and Yuri both held their breaths…

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

When the Chosen fled the Dark Area, they had arrived on Earth once again in Jyou’s apartment. The Daughters of the First had been waiting in Taichi and Hikari’s apartment, which was lucky, because they combined Chosen barely fit as it was. They had only a few moments to collect themselves before Jyou’s desktop computer once again began to glow brightly, ejecting two figures onto the floor.

“Dingo!” Hikari shouted, “Where’s…where’s Yuri?”

The Australian man sighed deeply. “He…he and Kuwagamon X fought Myotismon ta the end, but…they….they didn’t make it…”

Hikari and Mimi both gasped. “What?” Michael shouted, “What happened?”

Dingo was hardly able to even speak. “M…Myotismon was about ta attack, then Yuri and Kuwagamon ran forward and…” He twisted his head to the side, “…there was an explosion, Myotismon’s gone, but…so’s Yuri and Kuwagamon. They’re…they’re gone…”

Michael and Jyou could only stare forward, a dull expression on their faces, while Mimi and Hikari were crying softly. Their digimon were hugging each other tightly .The X-Chosen could only relieve the horror and sadness as, once again, they were forced to accept that one of their friends, was gone forever.