Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Digimon Tamers: The Next Level ❯ Episode 18: Twin Conclusions ( Chapter 18 )

"You? Kill us?" Justimon repeated. "Ha! How stupid can you be…"

"Smart enough to know that if I kill you, I get a reward," Metal Tyrannomon smirked.

"And so it begins…" Justimon groaned. He sighed and shook his head before looking back up at Metal Tyrannomon. "Guess I'll just have to make an example of you to everybody else…"

Valkyrimon looked over at his friend and started at the look he saw in Justimon's face. For a second, he was reminded of his fight with Revenmon, Justimon's dark Mega form.

"I'll squash you like a bug!" Metal Tyrannomon roared, charging with surprising speed at the pair. He swung his massive left claw in a sweeping arc, and Valkyrimon was forced to leap backwards out of the way. He hadn't needed to, however, as Justimon had blocked the attack, his arm transformed.

"That the best you got?" Justimon asked with a slight sneer. "Try this! Accel Arm!" He clenched the three fingers on his arm into a fist and delivered a hook to the side of Metal Tyrannomon's head. The mechanical dinosaur staggered back to one side as Justimon flexed his arm in front of him. "Care to try something else?"

Growling loudly, Metal Tyrannomon thrust out his right hand, a port spiraling open on his palm. "Giga Destroyer II!" A trio of missiles shot out from it towards Justimon. With a grin, Justimon rushed forward with a shout of "Voltage Blade!" As he weaved between the missiles, he slashed with his sword once, twice, three times, each strike leaving behind explosions as the missile was split in two.

Metal Tyrannomon reared back in surprise as Justimon was suddenly directly in front of him. "That one's no good either," Justimon told his opponent. Before the Ultimate could react, Justimon twisted around, bringing his energy blade slashing down before springing away.

Valkyrimon winced and turned his face away, as Metal Tyrannomon's severed right hand dropped to the ground, dissolving in a burst of data. Metal Tyrannomon howled in pain, the stump of his arm spraying what could either have been blood or oil.

"Learned your lesson yet?" Justimon asked him. "Or would you rather lose something even more important? Like your head?"

"Damn you!" Metal Tyrannomon raged. "Damn you!"

"Tell you what. I'm feeling generous right now. Leave right now, and you won't have to die. How does that sound?"

"You're… too strong," Metal Tyrannomon answered, backing off slowly. His face, mechanical though it was, showed fear plainly. "You win…"

"What do you know," Justimon laughed, turning away. "He does have some brains after all. C'mon, I'm sick of this. Let's get out of here."

Speechless, Valkyrimon had just turned to walk away with Justimon, but a glow made him look back. He turned too late to see light erupt from Metal Tyrannomon's chest in the form of a laser beam. "Look out!"

Justimon turned with a sigh and leapt forward at the Ultimate dinosaur. "Pay attention now!" he called to Valkyrimon. "Tip number 22!" He twisted to one side only enough that the laser carved a large gouge into the metal of his shoulder instead of passing through his body. Valkyrimon watched as Metal Tyrannomon recoiled in horror as Justimon rapidly advanced. Justimon's energy blade extended for an instant and he landed in a crouch just past Metal Tyrannomon.

"Damn you… to… hell…" Metal Tyrannomon said, his voice fading to nothing. He collapsed forward onto his knees, his severed head falling to the ground with a loud clang. It erupted into data, and his body followed a second or two later.

"Can't say I didn't give him a chance," Justimon grunted, rising to his feet. "Now, let's head back." With that, he started to walk away in the direction of the city.

Valkyrimon stared at his retreating back for a second, still at a loss for words. "R-right," he called. "Right behind you…"

"Umm, what was all that?" Guardromon asked.

"I… have absolutely no idea…" Kazu admitted. "Was that what he meant when he said I shouldn't look up to him?"

******

Black War Greymon clenched a hand to his side where Antylamon's axe had connected. He was slightly hunched over and breathing wildly. "You'll pay… You'll all pay!" With a grunt, he kicked sharply at Lopmon's unconscious form, sending the Rookie bouncing across the ground. "First," he continued, whipping around to face Gallantmon, "You. Heh-heh. You're my greatest threat, but not for long!"

"Get out of here!" Takato yelled, turning towards Kenta. "Go!"

Kenta hesitated for a second, unsure of what to do. Quickly, he nodded, and dashed headlong away from the crouching Mega, Marine Angemon hanging tightly on his shoulder. Takato watched him go until the boy was a safe distance before turning back to witness Black War Greymon charging up another attack. "Damn…"

"Gaia Destroyer!" Gathering up his strength, Black War Greymon launched another of his fireballs and sent it streaking towards Gallantmon.

"Dammit," Takato cursed. "Gathering energy is taking too long!"

Before the Gaia Destroyer could reach its target, Gallantmon noticed a thin golden streak intersect and pass through the energy ball. As the energy dissipated, he could see a large golden staff jutting out of the ground, rings clinking slightly.

"Sakuyamon?" Gallantmon said in shock.

"What's this?" Black War Greymon roared. "Somebody else trying to interfere?"

Sakuyamon landed lightly next to her staff, pulling it from the ground. "If you plan to hurt my friends," she stated, "you will have to go through me."

"Then, die!" Black War Greymon charged, claw pulled back to strike. Sakuyamon brought her staff to bear, caught the dark Mega's swing, and slashed out at his face. Grunting, Black War Greymon brought a claw up to block the strike, sparks flying as metal met metal. Quickly, Sakuyamon released the staff with one of her hands, bringing it in front of her body. "Amethyst Wind! Cyclone!"

From the ground around the embattled Megas, a massive funnel of flower petals erupted, their surprisingly sharp edges cutting even further into Black War Greymon's already ravaged armor. The dark Mega lurched backwards, staggering due to the myriad small wounds from the attack. "D-damn you," Black War Greymon growled. Sakuyamon's attack still spiraled around her, keeping the dark Mega at bay.

"No more," Sakuyamon stated. "No more will we allow you to harm our friends!"

Sakuyamon held her staff in front of her, parallel to the ground. She held her hands together as if in prayer, staff hooked in her thumbs, and started chanting softly. Gathering her power, Sakuyamon called out, "Feel this purifying light and be destroyed! Amethyst Mandala!!" With that, she thrust her staff into the ground directly in front of her, the rings on it jangling loudly. Light burst forth from the staff in a spherical wave, advancing quickly on Black War Greymon.

"I… I," Black War Greymon stammered, "Will not be destroyed!" Raising his arms high above his head, he gathered energy for his signature attack. "Gaia Destroyer!" He flung his attack forward, meeting Sakuyamon's wave head on.

The wave continued to expand and push the Gaia Destroyer backwards, but Black War Greymon held his ground and slowly the wave's advance began to slow, then stop. Frantically, Sakuyamon thrust her hands forward, continuing to pour energy into her attack, chanting furiously. "Just a little bit more!"

It was too late. Her wave lost all momentum as Black War Greymon's attack began to press through and finally broke apart, the Gaia Destroyer arcing directly towards her. "No!" Sakuyamon cried. "Crystal Sphere!"

The ball of dark energy met Sakuyamon's staff, vaporizing it into data, before impacting with her hastily erected shield. The force of the attack blew her backwards, disrupting her spell shield, waves of dark energy licking at her body, eliciting screams from both partners. Sakuyamon's badly damaged body slid to a halt, plowing a large furrow in the soft ground.

"Rika! Renamon!" Takato cried out from inside Gallantmon. "C'mon, hurry up!"

Sakuyamon struggled to a sitting position, legs curled beside her. "Are… are you all right, Rika?" Renamon asked.

"I… I think," Rika replied, wincing from the pain "We have to… get up…"

As Sakuyamon attempted to stand up, Black War Greymon quickly advanced, wrapping his hands around Sakuyamon's neck and lifting the Mega above his head. Her air flow restricted by the tightness of the grip, Sakuyamon choked for breath, her hands grabbing at those around her neck.

"You… put up a good fight," Black War Greymon huffed. "So, I'm giving you the honor of being the first to die."

Eyes closed and hands to her neck, Rika squirmed futilely, her choking echoing that of Renamon. "It can't… end… like…this…," she wheezed as the dark Mega's grip tightened. Just as darkness began to creep into the edges of her vision, she felt something as if a spark had suddenly passed through her body. Black War Greymon must have felt it too, as Rika felt his grip suddenly loosen. Sakuyamon collapsed to the ground, hacking and coughing.

"W-what's going on?" Black War Greymon gasped. "Where's all that energy coming from?"

"Yes…" Gallantmon breathed. "I can feel it… Thank you… Grani!"

Black War Greymon turned towards Gallantmon in time to see the Holy Knight's shredded cape tighten around his body like a cocoon. Rays of light began to show through the holes, gradually brightening in intensity until Black War Greymon was forced to avert his face.

"What the… What is this light?"

"It is," Gallantmon replied, lifting his head, "your downfall!!"

He rose in a flash, his cape transforming to pure light and erupted outward, curling back in and forming ten translucent wings. With a wild cry, the armor that covered his body burst, only to reform brilliantly red, and much grander. The last part to transform was his head, which he then brought down to stare Black War Greymon directly in the face.

"That form…" Rika rasped, still rubbing her throat. "Just like… during the final battle… with D-Reaper…"

"Yes," Renamon answered hoarsely. "It seems… that Grani… is still with us, in one way or another…"

******

"Awesome…" Kenta breathed, looking over Gallantmon's new form. "I… I've never seen anything like it…"

"Nuh-uh!" Marine Angemon agreed.

"Is that… really Takato?" Suzie asked, cradling Lopmon in her arms. Marine Angemon immediately flew over to the unconscious Rookie and began to blow his healing bubbles.

"Sure is…" Kenta answered, letting out a low whistle. "That's just awesome…"

The only one who didn't show any surprise was the man in the business suit who was still watching the entire proceedings. Kenta looked over at the man, but he wasn't paying attention.

"Who the hell is that guy…" he wondered aloud.

*******

"Black War Greymon!" the new Gallantmon declared. "For harming my friends, you shall pay the ultimate price!"

"You… you… will never be a match for me!" Black War Greymon roared, raising his arms. "Gaia Destroyer!"

"Fool!" Gallantmon swung his right arm, a double lance of pure energy appearing in his clenched fist and slicing through the attack easily. With a cry, he leapt forward, a sword of pure light forming in his left hand.

Growling, Black War Greymon snatched his discarded shield from the ground and held it in front of him.

"You cannot escape my wrath!" Gallantmon called out, slashing out with both weapons. An X of light appeared across the black shield before it broke apart, evaporating into data.

Eyes wide in shock and horror, Black War Greymon stepped back even as the new Gallantmon advanced on him.

"No more…" the Holy Knight started. "No more shall you be allowed to exist!"

Black War Greymon looked down as Gallantmon plunged his lance deep into the dark Mega's chest. "N-no!"

"Final Justice!"

Black War Greymon let out a tremendous scream of pain as, one by one, rays of light pierced his skin from the inside and his body exploded in a violent shower of light and data.

"It," the transformed Gallantmon said slowly, "is done."

In a flash, he reverted back to normal and collapsed to his knees, his body surrounded by light as he split back into Takato and Guilmon. With a cry of dismay, Sakuyamon ran over to him, dividing into Rika and Renamon once more.

"Takato! Takato!" Rika said frantically. "Are you all right?"

"I… will be," Takato smiled faintly. "Thanks for your help…"

They were soon joined by Kenta, Suzie, and their partners, all of whom were relieved to find that he was all right. It wasn't until they heard the sound of a slow clap that they remembered there was still somebody else there.

"I must say," the man in the suit said, only the slightest hint of a smile on his face. "I'm rather impressed. I was worried there for a while, but luckily, I hadn't overestimated your strength."

"It's about damn time you gave us some answers!" Rika told him. "Who the hell are you?"

"You need to work on your manners, young lady…"

"Why you…"

"Just answer the question," Takato put in, interrupting Rika. "Please, who are you?"

"Well, since you asked so nicely… My name is Kurouji. Ichiro Kurouji, at your service… Prodigal Son…" Mockingly, he added in a slight bow. "Now that the introductions are out of the way, I really must be going," Mr. Kurouji said, turning his back. "Oh, and Tamers? Revel in this victory while you can, for such opportunities shall be rare indeed." Touching a device around his wrist, he vanished as a Data Stream swept over him, leaving the Tamers staring at the spot where he had been.

"He's gone…" Takato grunted. "And that was a D-Band he had too… Who is he, really?"

"C'mon," Kenta said. "Let's get back home. The others are probably worried out of their minds about now."

"Thanks for you help everybody," Takato smiled. "I couldn't have done it without… you…" Takato's smile froze on his face and he abruptly collapsed face down in the dirt.

"Takato!!"