Chapter 66: Lost Heart

Thomas Kasuto

Saias’s Villa

3 Days

 

As I awoke the next morning, I opened my eyes slowly, as they had grown unaccustomed to the light during the few days that I was blind. Well, at least Luna’s potion worked. Better by morning, just as she said. Lying on my bed beside me was Zelda. She lay on her side, facing me, and her eyes were open as well, though she didn’t notice that I was awake until I reached over and gently began stroking the side of her face. Startled, she flinched away slightly, but she began smiling when she saw that I was awake.

“Good morning,” she said softly. “Can you see now?”

“Yes; Luna’s potion worked exactly as well as she said it would,” I said. Zelda smiled her usual radiant and beautiful smile, but after a moment, it disappeared as her face returned to its original solemn, almost lachrymose expression. “Are you okay?” I asked. “You look like you’re about to cry…”

“Oh…no, it’s…nothing,” she said, forcing herself to smile. “Really…I’m fine…”

“Is it about what happened back in Shendu Territory?”

Once again, her smile vanished. Her eyes closed, and she slowly nodded. “I…I’m not sorry that I did it…that I stepped up to protect you when you needed me to. But that man…when I was attacking him over and over like that, I just…couldn’t stop…It was as if I was being controlled by all my anger, all my hatred…and I killed him. I know he said his deaths weren’t permanent like how a normal Human’s were, but I just can’t…I can’t get these feelings of dread to leave my heart, no matter how many times I tell myself that. And then, when I saw my reflection in Luna’s eyes, and I saw myself covered with all of that blood, and I saw all of that rage on my face, in my eyes…I really felt as though the dread and nausea together would have killed me. I…I never want to look like that again!” Her eyes began to well with tears, but none of them slipped out. “Thomas…was that…what it was like that the first time you killed someone?”

“I think…it might be different for different people,” I said after a moment’s thought. “Before I left Cyclamen City with Victoria, I had been alone for so long that loneliness had hardened my heart. I guess…that never really left me. The first time I killed anyone was while I was still training with Victoria, sometime after I had found Statuedramon. The man I killed was a lone bandit, and so I was able to easily kill him before he had hurt anyone. When he fell to the ground…all I felt was relief; relief to know that he hadn’t hurt anyone else; relief that I had escape unscathed. Victoria…she was so proud of me for what I had done to protect the people of that small village. I remember it all very clearly; she hugged me so tightly…she kissed me on the forehead…That’s why I’m able to kill so effortlessly…each time I do, I am reminded of the relief I felt from saving everyone that day, and the warmth of Victoria’s embrace that followed. But you…you had been alone for far longer than I had, and treated with far more cruelty than I could even begin to fathom, and yet you are still so pure of heart. You are a kind and gentle person; the nicest I have ever known. The emotions you felt when you killed him were quite natural for someone of your delicate temperament, and they are nothing to be ashamed of.” I reached over and stroked her face once again, and I ran my fingers through her golden, silky hair. “If you ever need to talk about it some more, I’ll always be here for you.”

“Thank you…Thomas…” Zelda took my hand and kissed the back of it. “I feel better, though, after hearing you. Thank you.”

“Happy to help,” I smiled.

“…So…what was it like to be blind?” Zelda asked.

“It was…very…dark,” I replied. “The worst part about it…was that I couldn’t see your smile, your eyes…and I didn’t get very long to see you in a bikini, either. I’m quite disappointed about that.”

Zelda giggled. “Well…if you’d like…I can show you again sometime,” she said softly. “If you’d like…”

“I would like that very much,” I smiled. We continued to lie in bed for a few brief moments, staring into each other’s eyes until someone lightly knocked on the bedroom door.

“Are you two awake yet?” Apollomon asked from the other side of the door.

“Yes, sir.”

“Pheragas, BlackGaomon, and Dianamon have returned. Come down as soon as you are able to.” Zelda and I glanced at each other with curiosity before climbing out of bed.

10 Minutes

 

“You both lost the Horcruxes?!” Statuedramon exclaimed. “How the fuck did that happen?!”

“I couldn’t really tell you, Statch; it happened so fast,” Dianamon said. “One minute, I was standing in the Savage Prairie, and the next, I was flat on my back, one step away from being knocked unconscious.”

“It vas de same vith me,” Pheragas added. “BlackGaomon and I vere at Lake Viscaria ven ve vere attacked from behind again.”

“I feel so pathetic,” BlackGaomon said. “That’s twice that, because of me, a Horcrux was taken…”

“Don’t feel so bad,” Apollomon said. “I’m glad you’re all back safely after having been attacked by the Bio Hybrids.

“They couldn’t have been attacked by the Bio Hybrids,” I said.

“Vu else vould have attacked us, den?” Pheragas asked.

“Well, we were attacked by the Bio Hybrids, too,” Luna said. “Both of them, actually. In fact, they released Generalmon from the Dark Area, and if I weren’t there to stop him, he would’ve destroyed Acacia City.”

“So, are we to assume that the individual or individuals involved in the theft of the sword are to be involved?” Apollomon asked.

“If you put all that information together, that’s the only thing that makes sense,” Luna agreed.

“And you say that Generalmon has been defeated?”

“Killed him myself.”

“And the swordsman that Zelda fought…has he any connection to the Horcruxes?” Dianamon asked.

“I don’t think so…The only thing he seemed to be interested in was fighting Thomas,” Zelda said. “No mention of the Horcruxes, the Bio Hybrids, or of Lilithmon came up during our fight.”

“Who was that guy, anyway?” Statuedramon asked.

“He didn’t tell us,” I said. “Rather, he didn’t know himself.”

“…In any case, with the Medallion of the Crescent Moon taken, along with the Wolf’s Flute and the Clairvoyant’s Mirror, that leaves only two Horcruxes we have yet to go for,” Apollomon said. “One of them lies deep in Lotisea Jungle, and the other far to the north in Nymphaea.”

“So, we either have the option of getting lost forever in the forest, or freezing to death in the tundra,” Statuedramon said. “Wonderful.”

“Not much choice there,” BlackGaomon said.

“Nevertheless, I propose we go after the one in Lotisea; we’ve been there many times before, and we’ll have a better chance of finding the Horcrux without a blizzard hindering us,” I said.

“Thomas is correct; the Horcrux in Lotisea would be the ideal one for us to locate first,” Apollomon said. “I am fairly certain the Bio Hybrids would also want to save the one in the harshest province for last.”

“So, where in the jungle is this Horcrux located? Somewhere far away, right?” Statuedramon asked.

“And what is it?” I added.

“This Horcrux, the Mask of Ages Past…is in a place the two of you have been to before,” Apollomon said. “It has been a little over two years since you have been there…to Deckerdramon’s Temple.”

“That old place?! There wasn’t anything of value there!” Statch exclaimed.

“Then MirageGaogamon was right in hiding the Mask there, if you and Thomas were unable to find it.”

“…Or, maybe it was already been taken by the time we arrived,” I suggested.

“Indeed; that is why you and Statuedramon should depart as soon as possible,” Apollomon said.

“As usual,” Statch added dryly.

“Um…What…about me?” Zelda asked shyly.

“Zelda…you are clearly under a lot of stress over whatever it was that happened to you in Shendu Territory,” Dianamon said in a concerned voice. “I understand that you do not want to talk about it with us, but the fact is that those events are clearly weighing heavily on your conscience. Until you have everything sorted out, Apollomon and I think it would be best for you if you were to stay behind. The decision is up to you, dear, but that is the course of action I would strongly recommend.”

Zelda turned to look at me. Her sapphire eyes bore deeply into mine, as if asking me what I thought she should do.

“This time, it would be safer for her to remain behind,” Apollomon said. “None of us wishes to see her get hurt.”

“I…I’ll stay,” Zelda said.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

She nodded, smiling at me. “I wouldn’t…want to get in your way. I’m sorry…”

“Don’t worry about it. You just stay here and get some rest, and I’ll see you when I get back,” I said. “I love you, Zelda.”

Chapter 65: Bloodlust

Luna Rosalina

Acacia City

Shendu Territory

 

“Dæmon Icircumflex!” Generalmon swung his axe down on me as a flash of light illuminated the area. A bolt of lightning descended from the sky and struck the Digimon, but not before the blade of his axe had found its way into my shoulder. Ignoring the pain, I pulled the weapon out as Generalmon dropped it, the bolt of lightning I called forth still electrocuting him.

“Ha…I’ll bet you’re sorry you wear all that thick metal armor now,” I said. “The Sage’s Bolas call forth an intense bolt of lightning, and metal is one of the best conductors of electricity…I’ll be truly impressed if your survive this.” I drew another cross on the gaping wound on my shoulder. This ought to help…Generalmon promptly fell to his knees. Steam billowed forth from the gaps in his armor from the electrical attack he had just endured.

“Generalmon…has been defeated?” Michalis asked breathlessly. “Why didn’t we help him, Sephyrus?!”

“He would not have accepted it,” Sephyrus answered. “A Digimon that prideful…would never request help from anyone else.” I sighed, and looked at the smoldering heap of armor kneeling before me. Generalmon’s fingers twitched, but he remained still.

But he’s still here, meaning he’s still alive. All I need to do is… I tried picking myself up off the ground, but to my surprise, my right arm wouldn’t move. Oh, no…did my spell not work? My arm can’t move! Why won’t the spell work?! A loud clanging took me out of my thoughts, and I turned my head to see Generalmon’s arm slowly reaching for his axe. The seven holes on his helmet’s visor emitted a bright red glare.

“You…will…perish!” he hissed.

“Not today, I’m afraid!” I quickly tore his axe out from his grasp and easily hefted it above my head. Geez, I’ll bet this thing weighs more than Zelda, Chrissy, and me combined! Generalmon’s helmet slowly moved as the Digimon looked up at me. “You won’t be getting revenge on anyone…Generalmon!” With but one swing of his axe, I sliced Generalmon’s head clean off. The Digimon’s blood came spurting out of his open neck hole, splattering across the front of my body. Good thing I’m still only wearing my bikini; this would take forever to get out of my clothes! The blood on my hands I immediately licked off as Generalmon’s headless body fell forward onto the ground before dissipating.

“And so, another Digimon returns to the endless abyss that is the Dark Area,” Sephyrus lamented. I was surprised by his sudden comment, and I had forgotten both he and Michalis were still nearby. “Perhaps—”

“Wow, Generalmon’s blood tastes amazing!” I interrupted, not really paying attention to the Bio Hybrids as I continued lapping up the blood that had stained my breasts, belly, and arms.

“…You scare me now,” Michalis said. “And I was already kind of afraid of her before, since she’s…so…pretty…”

“Want to try some?” I held my finger up close to Michalis’s lips, which quickly turned pale as he turned away.

“Let’s go, old man,” Michalis said somewhat weakly.

“Yes; we must report what has happened to Lilithmon,” Sephyrus said.

“What…did happen?” Michalis asked. “I can’t think clearly ever since that witch started licking up all of that blood…”

Zelda

 

“Show me the true might of your convictions,” the swordsman said. “Will you fight me to save the man you love…or will you avoid conflict so as not to see bloodshed?”

“No matter how many times you ask, my answer will always be the same,” I replied. “For bringing harm to him…for threatening his life…I’ll make you hurt. I’ll make you pay!”

“Then prove it to me!” the swordsman lunged forth, and I held up Thomas’s sword vertically to protect myself. The blades of the swordsman bounced up and slightly grazed my shoulders. I swung Thomas’s sword at the man, but he had already jumped out of the way before I could move.

Wow! This sword…it doesn’t weigh very much! I just hope I’ll be able to use it well. I just need to remember how Thomas used it… As I was lost in thought, one of the man’s blades whizzed past my head, making a thin cut form on my left cheek.

“Fighting you…it is no challenge,” he said. “I hold back, and still you do not retaliate.”

“You…you’re not even trying, are you…”

“If I had wanted you dead without the fight, I could have easily done so by now!” the other of the man’s swords flew through the air just above my head, very narrowly missing me as I ducked. I again swung Thomas’s sword, and though the man attempted to jump back, I made contact with his right thigh. His blood stained the sword’s polished surface, and my heart ached with a twinge of regret as the man’s face contorted with pain as his blood hit the sand.

Get a grip, Zelda! You knew it would come to this! I swung again at the man’s broad chest, leaving a thin stream of blood leaking out and down his stomach and staining his clothes. Through the pain, I saw him smile with a mild amusement.

“Good…for one with no experience in inflicting pain, it seems you are quite skilled,” he said. “This might actually prove to be quite entertaining after all.”

“Entertainment? Is that why you’re here?!” I asked. “You’re risking your own life just for a chance to become less bored?!”

“Not…entirely,” he replied. “As I said when we met, only one wielding a sword can defeat me, and after each death comes my rebirth, and with each rebirth, the memories of my previous life vanish without a trace, never to return.”

Rebirth…what does he mean by that? He isn’t a normal Human…is he?

“That is why I chose to fight you,” the man continued. “Without any swordsmen or women around to vanquish me, my memories will never be erased. Is it so wrong to want a few memories of my own before I die permanently, whenever that may be?”

“…No. No, there’s nothing wrong with wanting memories,” I said. “Every memory I have since joining Lachesis is very precious to me. But you…you threaten the life of the person I have the most precious memories with just to get them! As a member of Lachesis, I refuse to let that go unpunished!” The man lunged at me again, but this time, I was prepared; this time, as he approached me, I thrusted Thomas’s sword forward, and it became stuck in the man’s left shoulder. Once more, the man’s face became twisted in pain and agony. The fingers on his left hand unclenched, and the sword he had held fell into the sand.

“You are quite proficient with that sword,” he said. “However…that man is why I am here. If I am to live on, that man must fall!” The man shoved me out of the way and picked up his dropped sword with his right hand, which he immediately hurled in Thomas’s and Renamon’s direction. The weapon flew through the air with peerless speed toward the two, and had Renamon not shoved Thomas out of the way at the last second, either one of them would have gotten hit.

“Tommy, Renamon, are you two okay?!” The man’s sword fell to the ground, kicking up small amounts of sand and dust when it landed.

“Yes, we’re fine,” Renamon said.

“What happened?” Thomas asked. I turned and glared at the swordsman; his uninjured arm was raised, and he was prepared to attack once more. The sympathy and regret from making the man feel pain that had earlier filled my heart instantly vanished, and in its place came the unfamiliar emotion of rage. The expression on the man’s face was absolutely sickening; he looked so calm, as if he didn’t care if anyone here died. The rage I felt only intensified as I glared into his eyes; there was a look of bloodlust in them that told me he truly would have killed the most innocent child without provocation. It all happened so slowly in my mind; the man brought his sword arm down as I brought mine up. The tip of his blade nicked my forehead. No blood came out, though I doubt I would have noticed; my attention was solely on the vile man before me. Thomas’s blade had become stuck in the man’s wrist. The man’s other sword dropped onto the beach as he looked at his hand, which had become pale from the lack of blood. I removed the sword, and he immediately placed a tight grip around his bleeding wrist. He was completely unarmed, and unable to defend himself. In spite of this, I attacked him again, cutting him across his face. He stared at me in surprise as I attacked him once again, and again, and again. His blood was flying through the air — most of it ended up on me — and though he had fallen to his knees, not even begging for mercy, I didn’t let up. My body wouldn’t let me, but I didn’t try to stop it. Again and again, I struck him with the sword, as if releasing all the pent-up rage from my entire life. The man had soon fallen to his back, and I continued stabbing him in the chest until I felt a hand firmly clasp my shoulder.

“Slow down there, sweetheart.” In my wrathful stupor, I turned around and nearly attacked the person behind me with the sword. “What, you’re trying to kill me, now?” Luna asked. As soon as I saw her, the blade slipped out of my fingers. My eyes instantly became filled with tears as I saw my reflection in her golden eyes, drenched with blood, both my own and the swordsman’s. But what got to me the most was that look of rage and hatred I had in my own eyes, on my face.

No…Is that…Is that really me…?!All at once, the spiteful emotions I had grown accustomed to feeling vanished. My grief at the realization that I had killed a man hit my heart hard like a charging Monochromon. I was overcome with a horrible nausea so intense I feared my stomach would be ripped to pieces as I looked down at the dying man beneath me.

“You ok?” Luna offered me her hand and helped me up off the ground.

“Not…not bad…” the man said, coughing up blood. “Next time…it will be easier…”

No…No, I don’t want to get used to this!

“Well…that’s one more death for me…I wonder if I will…remember any of this when I am reborn?” the man asked.

“So…who is this guy?” Luna asked.

“…Don’t know. Wonder about that myself,” he replied, before fading away in a similar manner to the Digimon when they die. 

“Are you okay, Zelda?” Thomas asked.

“Oh…yeah…I’m fine…” I absentmindedly stroked my cheek where I had been cut earlier and examined the blood. Luna bent over and licked the blood clean off my fingers, but I barely noticed. My heart was still beating rapidly, my palms were soaked with blood and sweat, and tears clouded my vision. “Did I…did I do the right thing, Renamon?”

“You were only trying to protect Thomas,” Renamon said. “Granted, things did get a little hectic near the end, and I would have stopped you earlier, but you told me to stay with Thomas…So…” Renamon nervously rubbed the back of her neck. “I guess…I should be asking you that.”

“What happened?” Luna asked gently.

“That man came, and he…and he wanted to fight Thomas, and he did at first, but Thomas got hurt, so I fought him instead…” The tears had begun rolling down my cheeks, mixing with the blood. “He…he tried to kill us, and he…he almost…did…”

“He was clearly a skilled swordsman,” Renamon said. “You ought to be proud that you were able to protect your friends.”

“Proud?! I…I hurt him! Killed him! Why should I be proud of that?!” I burst into tears as I spoke. Luna pulled me into a warm and, in spite of the blood that covered her, very comforting embrace.

“…So, Generalmon’s dead,” Luna suddenly said.

“Oh…How did…that work out?” Thomas asked, clearly caught off guard by Luna’s statement.

“Well, he put up a good fight, but he was no match for me, of course,” the witch said.

“And the Medallion?” Thomas asked.

“What about it?”

“Did you get it back?”

“…Ffffffffuck!”

“Don’t worry about it, Luna; we do still have the Stone,” Thomas reminded her. “Also, they don’t seem to know that the Sword was also taken.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Well, now that all of this is over with, we should head back to the villa,” Luna said. “I hate to say it, Thomas, but you’re going to have to wait until we get back to Yew for me to make a potion for you to see again. The five different territories of Celosia each have their own unique way of studying and using magic as part of their cultures, and I’m only familiar with Valencia’s way of doing it.”

“That’s okay; I’m already kind of used to it by now.”

“Renamon, do you think you could help me get these two back to the villa?” Luna asked.

“I would be happy to,” the Digimon Spirit said.

Chapter 64: From Love Comes Hidden Strength

Zelda

Shendu Territory

 

“Thomas!” Tears began to well in my eyes as I saw him land in a bloody, motionless heap. “Thomas! Thomas!!!”

“Don’t….worry…” he examined the wounds on his chest with his hand, which became soaked with blood. “I’m fine…I’ll be fine…” Thomas began to pick himself up off the ground, but in spite of all his struggling, he collapsed once again.

“Come forth, Dynasmon!” I cried.

“…A Digimon Spirit?” The swordsman looked up at the Exalted Knight Digimon, undaunted and unsurprised as I made my way over to Thomas.

“My lady…This one is…different,” Dynasmon said.

“What do you mean?” I asked. I raised Thomas’s body up off the ground by the shoulders and rested his head in my lap.

“I sense a strange power coming from this one,” the spirit replied. “I feel…like there’s more than a single soul in his body…that he’s experienced more than one life.”

“I have,” the swordsman said, not even bothering to look at Dynasmon. In contrast, Dynasmon didn’t once avert his eyes from the man, carefully watching his every move down to the blinking of his colorless eyes.

“…What is your name?”

“I have none, Spirit.”

“What shall I call you, then?” Dynasmon asked.

“You do not need to call me anything. All you need to know is that all of your power is meaningless if you wish to challenge me.”

“What do you mean?” Dynasmon asked.

“Digimon Spirits…their power dwindles in my presence, as if I’m sucking away their very life energy.”

“…What are you?” Dynasmon asked. “You aren’t a Digimon…but you aren’t a Human, either! Wait…are you…”

“Enough! Fight me!”

“Very well; Dragon’s Roar!” Dynasmon held up his claws, but nothing happened. “Dragon’s Roar!” Again, nothing happened. “So, I was right. You really are—”

The swordsman interrupted Dynasmon, cutting through his body with his swords. The spirit roared and howled in pain before vanishing.

“What…what are you?!” Thomas asked. The man ignored his question and turned to face me and Thomas.

“If you’ve no strength left to fight, then this will be over shortly.”

No…No, I can’t let him die! I grabbed Thomas’s sword from the ground beside him and stood to face the swordsman.

“So…is it now your turn to fight me?”

“Zelda…don’t do it…”

“I’m sorry, Thomas, but I’m not going to let this man kill you!” I said.

“And there’s nothing I can say…to change your mind?” Thomas asked.

“I’m afraid not,” I replied. “I’m doing this because I love you, Thomas.”

“So instead, you’re choosing to sacrifice yourself and the life in your belly?”

“W—What?! No, I…I’m not pregnant!” I felt my face turn red and slightly warm, and I myself felt quite flustered. “Why do you keep saying that?! Do I look…big?” I looked down and examined my belly.

“Zelda…Even if you did…you’d still be beautiful…”

…Wow…I have the sweetest boyfriend in the world…

“Now, go kick his ass!” Thomas said loudly, though he must have said it a little too loudly, as he began coughing up blood. “I…I believe in you…”

“Come forth, Renamon!”

“You called, Milady?” Renamon asked.

“Yes…I’m going to do something a little drastic here,” I said. “I want you to stay with Thomas while I do.”

“As you wish.” Renamon knelt down next to Thomas and lifted his upper body off the ground.

“You shall not win,” the swordsman said. “I can see it in your eyes; you detest violence and bloodshed, so you’ve always left the fighting to those around you.”

I tightly gripped Thomas’s sword.

“There’s nothing wrong with being the kind of person you are,” the swordsman said. “But…you will never be able to inflict pain on others like that.”

“I’m fighting for the man I love, just as he’s always done for me,” I said. “I will win. I have to.”

Luna

 

I lay on my back in a daze, looking up at the cloudless sky. Generalmon stood over me; he had not moved since he had attacked me. His violet armor gleamed in the sunlight, sending rays of bright light into my eyes. I wiped the blood off my face and tried to stand up, but an unbearably sharp pain in my ribs stopped me, and I fell back down. into the bloodied sand.

“Judging by the look on your face and the sound of your scream…I’d say I broke a rib or two,” Generalmon said. I glared up at the huge Digimon, and he began to laugh. “Hurting other people…is so much fun! And while I greatly enjoyed harming you, I have some business to take care of.”

“No…wait…” Ignoring the searing pain in my stomach and ribs, I stood up and faced Generalmon. “I can’t…let you…get away…”

“Don’t be so foolish; I didn’t even use half my strength against you, and I broke a few of your ribs. While I admire your dedication, there is nothing you are able to do about your predicament, but I will fight you if that is what you want,” Generalmon said. He clenched his fist, and sharp spikes rose from the knuckles of his gauntlets. “I guarantee you; the next time I hit you, you won’t get off so lucky!”

“Go ahead and try!” With my own blood, I drew a cross-like design on my belly. The dark bruise left by Generalmon’s fist vanished, as did the pain in my ribs. “Ahh…much better! This symbol…it is a healing sigil.”

“…You’re quite resourceful, aren’t you? Perhaps you will be a worthy opponent after all.”

“Oh, I have to be resourceful; I wouldn’t be a very good sorceress if I weren’t!” I replied. Without Generalmon’s notice, I began drawing a different symbol on the palms of my hands, this one resembling a sun. “And if I weren’t any good at what I do…nobody at Lachesis would want me and my daughter around…”

“A touching story. Now, shall we begin?” I nodded. “Ars Prima!” Generalmon lunged toward me and aimed a punch, with his spiked knuckles, at my head, but before he could hit me, I jumped up and punched him in the chest. His armor became dented where I struck him, with a few small cracks here and there. Generalmon clutched his chest and looked down at it in bewilderment. “What the hell?! What the hell did you just do?!” I showed him the symbols I had drawn on my palms.

“Like the Honest Cross I painted across my belly, these symbols grant their mage special abilities,” I said. “The twin Suns of Courage…they grant inhuman strength. Are you certain you still wish to fight me, knowing that?”

“You…FUCKING WHORE!!!!” Generalmon struck me across the face, his knuckle spikes leaving deep gashes in my cheek. “You dare talk down to me as if I’m some kind of coward?! Those crests might make you strong, but in comparison to me, all that makes you is a very strong rat!” I softly brushed my fingers across the cuts on my cheek.

Heh. More blood for me to use. What an idiot… Generalmon began walking over to his axe as I painted yet another symbol in the dirt. In the blink of an eye, Generalmon stood in front of me.

“Dæmon Icircumflex!” Generalmon swung his axe down on me as a flash of light illuminated the area.

Chapter 63: Nameless Challenger

Thomas Kasuto

Shendu Territory

 

“Can you see anything yet?” Zelda asked. Her voice was filled with concern. “Your eyes don’t hurt anymore, do they?”

“I can’t see anything, I’m afraid,” I replied. The two of us had been sitting alone on the beach with our, or at least my, back against what felt like a tree. The entire time, Zelda sat with her arms wrapped around my shoulders, as if to keep me safely in place while I couldn’t see. “My eyes still burn quite a bit from that attack, though.”

“Aww, poor baby…” Zelda intertwined her fingers in between my own as I felt her lips press up against my right cheek.

“Zelda…you haven’t…you’re still wearing your bikini, aren’t you?”

“I don’t want to let go of you for a second while you’re still like this!” Zelda exclaimed. “I don’t know what it’s like to be blind, but I’m not going to leave your side if I can help it! I could never…abandon you…”

Wow…I have the sweetest girlfriend in the world… I smiled and placed my arm around her waist, enjoying the moment and the soft and silky feel of her skin. I gently brushed my fingertips across her belly, and I could feel her laugh as my fingers worked their way around her navel. Without warning, I felt Zelda shift nervously. “What’s wrong?”

“…Someone’s coming again…”

“Who is it? Is it Luna?”

“No…It’s a man…” I noted a small tinge of fear in her usually calm voice. “He’s walking up to us.” Soon, I heard the footsteps of the man as he walked through the sand of the beach. “Who are you?”

“…I…do not know,” the man said. “It seems I have forgotten.”

“What do you want with us?” Zelda asked.

“There is a swordsman in your embrace; a particularly well-known one from where I came from,” the man continued. “I wish to challenge him.”

Luna

Acacia City

Shendu Territory

 

Where are those two?! My eyes were frantically scanning the sky, hoping to find BioBeelzemon. I can’t believe I lost sight of that bastard! Though it was only for a brief moment, an incandescent surge of white light filled the sky. By Goddess Arcadia…I’m too late! They’ve already—

“Welcome to the plane of the living, Generalmon,” an unfamiliar voice said. I turned around, seeing a clearing near the outskirts of Acacia. There, I saw Michalis standing with another man I could only assume to be Sephyrus. In front of them was a heavily armored Digimon whom they addressed as Generalmon. So as not to be noticed, I hid myself behind a tree.

“Skip the pleasantries, Sephyrus,” Generalmon said. “I’m interested only in conversing with Lilithmon…so that I may remove her head from her body.”

“But…that would prevent the rest of you from being freed!” Michalis said.

“Not necessarily,” Sephyrus said. “I am capable of doing so as well, remember?”

“Yeah, but they’d all be weaker without her around, right?”

“The child is correct. You may be capable, Sephyrus, but without Lilithmon — without all twelve of us — our power is diminished. Unfortunately, she must live on so all twelve of us can remain at full power,” Generalmon said. “Now, the only thing that I need to do is find a way to revive SkullCaliphmon, Myotismon, and Belphemon without need of foolish Horcruxes so that that can happen.”

“Not so fast, Generalmon,” Sephyrus interrupted. “You…do realize where you are at the moment…do you not?”

“No…please, enlighten me, Father Sephyrus.”

“At this moment, we stand in the outskirts of Acacia City of Shendu Territory. The exact same city where you were killed by Omnimon.”

“Did you say…Acacia?”

Sephyrus nodded. Generalmon snapped his fingers, and a large, imposing axe materialized in his gauntlet-covered hands.

“Hey, where are you going?” Michalis asked as the tall Digimon began to walk toward the city.

“With this axe, I shall tear even the universe itself to shreds!” Generalmon roared. “But first…Acacia must fall. This eyesore of a city must pay for the injustices it has given!”

This city…did something to him?! Why? Wait! Maybe…maybe that could be why Generalmon is an evil Digimon… Generalmon’s heavy footprints interrupted my train of thought as he again began advancing toward the city. Whatever; it can wait! Right now, I have to stop him! I ran out of hiding and placed myself between the city and the behemoth of a Digimon.

“…You wish to stop me?” Generalmon asked. Were his eyes visible, I was certain they would be glaring at me.

“So, those two have sent their bikini-clad witch to do their fighting for them, have they?” Sephyrus asked.

“Yeah, she sure is,” Michalis said, staring at me.

“Michalis, please refrain from ogling the witch,” Sephyrus said.

“A witch?” Generalmon’s helmet turned to face Sephyrus. “Is she any threat to us?”

“I cannot say for sure, as I have never had the honor of seeing her magic.”

“If you do not know, then she must not be very imposing. Stand aside, witch!”

“I don’t know why you have a grudge against this city, but I can’t let you destroy it,” I said. I snapped my own fingers, and a small orange flame twisted around my arm. I snapped again, and the flames leapt toward the Digimon, igniting him in a raging inferno that was so intensely bright, it darkened the sky.

“As I thought…you are no threat to us.” Generalmon trudged through the flames, his violet-colored armor not even singed and shining beautifully. “But you…you look…familiar…”

“I’ve never met you in my life,” I said. After a moment, Generalmon sighed.

“…I know how to deal with you spellcasters…you spend all day studying your magic, leaving you no time to train your body. You, my dear, I could snap like a twig with only a single hand.”

“I’d like to see you try!” I taunted, forming another wisp of flames in my hand.

“Permission granted!” Generalmon stuck his axe blade-first into the soil, and as I prepared to attack again, the huge Digimon ran toward me with a speed that shouldn’t have been possible with all the armor he wore. “Ferreo Pugni Dæmonis!” I had been completely caught off guard by his speed, and Generalmon, taking advantage of my surprise, rammed his huge fist into my belly. I fell over backwards as blood spilled out of my mouth. The blood promptly fell and landed on my face as soon as I hit the ground.

Zelda

 

“You wish…to fight him?” I pulled Thomas’s head up against my chest. “But…he…”

“Enough chatter. Only one wielding a sword has the ability to vanquish me…for once and for all,” the man said. He snapped his fingers, and two long blades formed in his hands. “I wish to eliminate those strong enough to do so. I have been killed many times…and each time I am reborn, I am unable to remember any of my past lives. I wish only for it to end.”

“No, you can’t! Thomas—!”

Thomas placed his hand over my shoulder, as if to stop me. “It’s okay,” he said. Struggling, he stood up and felt around for his sword.

“…You are blind?” the man asked. He sighed, and said, “Well…there is no honor to be found in murdering someone at a severe disadvantage, but if it means keeping my own life and memories intact, then I will do what I must.” The man’s long black hair, tied up in a ponytail, shook slowly and freely in the air as a light breeze moved past us. “Or, if you’d prefer…I can fight the both of you. That would be ideal for me; you two appear to be lovers. Is there any offspring of yours in her belly? A child that could potentially grow strong enough to vanquish me?”

“Thomas…please…” I reached up and grabbed his hand. Smiling, Thomas bent down and kissed me on the lips.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered as he pulled me into a hug. “I won’t die. Like you did for me, I will never leave you behind. But I won’t let you fight this man. He’s too strong, and I am not going to risk losing you.”

“Thomas…” Finally, Thomas was able to find his sheathed sword at his waist, and in no time, it was in his hands.

“So…you really wish to challenge me, even with your disability,” the man said.

“Only if you promise me you won’t hurt Zelda!” Thomas said.

“Attacking a defenseless woman would go against the code of chivalry. You have my word of honor. Now, let us begin!”

“No! Thomas, please! Don’t do this!” I felt my heart racing faster than ever at the sight of this man. Something about his very presence seemed familiar, but I did not recognize this man in any way.

“Don’t worry…I’ll keep you safe,” he replied. “I will always…keep you safe.” Thomas gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, but the nameless swordsman was already behind him. By the time Thomas noticed this and turned around, he had already been viciously cut by the twin swords, and he fell to the ground, bleeding and unmoving.