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.

Chapter 62: The Medallion Calls

Thomas Kasuto

Shendu Territory

3 Days

 

The waves of the ocean were all that could be heard. The sun was in the middle of the sky, and its light was reflected with a near-blinding glow on the surface of the water. The sand of the beach Zelda, Luna, and I stood on had been heated up quite a lot by the sun, and though I wore shoes, I could sense just how hot it was—mainly due to Luna’s complaints about it, as the young witch had taken her shoes off.

“Wouldn’t want these little beauties to get ruined,” she had said as she placed them into Zelda’s satchel before we arrived at the beach.

Zelda gazed at the vast ocean lying before us now. “This is my first time here,” she said. “To the ocean, at least…”

“I’ve never even been to Shendu Territory, let alone the beach,” I said. “The farthest east I’ve ever been was Elphierr Territory.”

“It’s…so beautiful…” The ocean’s sparkling light was reflected in my lover’s eyes; she seemed as completely mesmerized by the sight of the ocean’s water as I was with the sight of her beauty before me. “I could watch this all day…”

“As pleasant as that sounds, we have something we must do,” Luna said. “I’ll go see if I can find us a boat.”

“A boat?” I gave the witch a quizzical look. “Don’t you know some spell that will let us breathe underwater?”

“Of course I do! But, like most of my spells, that one has a time limit. That’s why it would be best for us to find a boat.”

“Couldn’t you just…magic one up?” Zelda asked.

“I could, but magic shouldn’t be depended on for everything. If you can do something with your own hands, you should do so.” Without any warning, Luna, in a single, fluid motion, removed her shirt. Neither of us were surprised, as this was something Luna frequently did at home. Her beauty and sexuality were two of the most dangerous weapons Lachesis had, possibly even more so than Pheragas’s axe, and Luna proudly and unashamedly used both to her advantage to lead to the downfall of countless nameless bandits. “Now, let’s see if I can find some poor, unassuming sap that I can…persuade…into letting us use his boat…” Luna had begun taking her long, dress-like skirt off until she was wearing nothing but her black and dark violet bikini. “Unless I don’t find anyone, this shouldn’t take too long. I’ll be back as soon as I can!”

“I should…I should probably…” Zelda’s face began to turn bright red as Luna walked away. “I…I don’t want my clothes to get wet…”

“You want to change? I can turn arou—”

“No, that’s okay; I did what Luna did,” she added quickly, and very, very quietly. “I…I’ve never worn one before, though…”

“You’ve never struck me as the type to wear a bikini before,” I said.

“…Me too,” she said quietly, nervously looking away from me as she began taking her boots off. “It must seem ridiculous, being nervous like this; what I’m wearing right now really isn’t too much more revealing than a bikini…”

“You don’t have any reason to apologize for being the way you are as a person,” I said softly. “To be honest, I find your shyness quite endearing. You’re really adorable when you blush like this.”

“Thomas…” Eventually, Zelda finished removing her clothes; she wore nothing but a blue bikini with a same-colored cloth wrapped around her waist. She was blushing furiously and trying hard to avoid my gaze.

“You do look very beautiful,” I assured her. “You may not ever believe me when I say it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.”

“…T—Thank you…”

“Wow! Lookin’ good, Z!” Luna said. “I’m relieved to see that you’re getting less shy, dear.” Zelda’s face went completely red with embarrassment.

“Luna, did you find a boat already?” I asked.

“C’mon, Thomas; with a body like mine, I’m surprised I didn’t get a few marriage proposals in the process,” the witch joked. “See that man over there?” Luna pointed, and a good distance away stood a lone man next to a motor boat. “Biggest perv I’ve ever met — which is definitely saying something — but I was able to convince him to let just the three of us use that boat of his.”

As far away as the man was, we could see him wave, and Luna turned around to blow him a kiss. “C’mon, we’d better go,” she said, rolling her eyes as she turned to face us. “We have to get to that next Horcrux before the Bio Hybrids do.”

Michalis

10 Minutes

 

“Damn it; we’re too late!” The boat with three of Lilithmon’s enemies took off, leaving Sephyrus and me alone on the cold, windy beach. They were soon out of sight, and I kicked a clump of sand away in anger.

“Not necessarily, my son,” Sephyrus said. “Suppose we were to arrive here first; what would we do?”

“We would…find the Medallion,” I replied. “The Medallion of the Crescent Moon…the Horcrux we’re searching for…what else would we do?”

“And how, exactly, would we get it?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Medallion lies beneath the ocean’s surface, and I, without my ability to transform without DeathPhantomon’s jewel, would be unable to find it. Unless you are capable of Digivolving into something that can breathe underwater, we have no other way of getting it.” 

“So…we just wait for them to come back with it, and then we take it?” I asked. “Just like with the Stone?”

“Exactly,” Sephyrus smiled. “Michalis…how goes your…newest transformation? Have you attained flight yet?”

“Yeah, I’ve got my wings now.”

“Very good; I’m going to go to the restoration sight. When you retrieve the Medallion, bring it to me there as soon as you can.”

“Understood.”

Thomas Kasuto

2 Hours

 

“I think I…found something…” I climbed up into the boat, gasping for air, like Luna and Zelda before me, having been down in the water for longer than expected. In spite of having been down in the ocean before me, both women were still soaking wet, and their bikini-clad bodies glistened in the sunlight.

“Are you okay?” Zelda asked. I nodded.

“What did you find?” Luna asked.

“It looked…like a treasure chest,” I said. “I’ll bet…that’s where the Horcrux is. Luna…cast the spell again. I’m ready.”

“If you say so,” Luna said. The sorceress gently placed her hands over my shoulders as she began to speak in an eerie, incomprehensible language, as she had done before. “Okay, go!” I leaped out of the boat and once again dove down into the sea. In truth, I didn’t physically feel any different; it wasn’t as though I suddenly grew gills. However, it did feel rather weird to be able to breathe in water, and on several occasions, I found myself holding my breath.

Let’s see…where was it? For a few moments, I swam further and further down in silence until something caught my eye. A black treasure chest, caught between two rocks. That’s it! I made my way to the chest, and no sooner had I placed my hand on top of the chest than a giant, white tentacle wrapped itself around my arm. Oh, no…why now?!

“This is my treasure, Human!” I stared with horror into the featureless face of the Gesomon that held me in place. “Leave at once, or suffer the consequences!”

“No! I need what’s in that chest!” I shouted. I don’t even know if what I’m looking for is in there, though… I reached down for my sword and severed the Gesomon’s tentacle.

“You fool; you should’ve left when you had the chance! Coral Crusher!” I was barely able to wrap my fingers around one of the chest’s handles before one of Gesomon’s larger tentacles struck me across the chest, sending my flying through the water with the Champion level chasing after me. “You won’t get away from me that easily; Deadly Shade!” Gesomon squirted out a thick, black ink. Instantly, my eyes began to burn as the Gesomon wrapped his limbs tighter and tighter around my chest.

Damn it…I have to…lose this thing! Can’t let it…hurt Zelda… I tried in vain to swing the heavy, bulky chest, but Gesomon had me tied up too tightly to move my arms. Damn…I couldn’t have died…fighting bravely against one of those Bio Hybrids, huh?

“Fist of the Beast King!” A flaming lion’s head tore through Gesomon’s ink cloud and struck the Mollusk Digimon in the back of the head

“…Leo…mon…”

“Beast Sword!” Leomon’s sword cut through a majority of Gesomon’s legs, setting me free. Gesomon turned around, and when he saw Leomon he began backing away slowly.

“You okay, little buddy?” Leomon asked.

“Yeah…I’ll be fine…” the two of us began swimming up to the ocean’s surface.

“Oooh, Leomon, huh?” I heard the Gesomon ask, sounding somewhat impressed. “I’ve always heard stories of how strong Leomon was, but I never knew he could swim, too!”

 “Zelda saw that cloud of ink rise to the surface, so she and Luna sent me to check up on you,” Leomon explained, ignoring the Gesomon. In a matter of seconds, we had reached the ocean’s undulating surface. The Digimon Spirit climbed into the boat and helped me get the chest aboard before I climbed in after it.

 “Tommy, are you okay?! What happened down there?!” Zelda asked.

“It was a Gesomon,” I said.

“Did he use his Deadly Shade attack?” Luna asked. I nodded.

“It got in my eyes. I can’t see anything, now…”

“Oh, no! Luna, is there anything you can do for him?!” Zelda asked.

“This is the work of a Digimon’s attack, and damage from them can always be undone, dear,” Luna said. “However, it will require the use of a potion, one that I cannot make while we are out in the middle of nowhere. We’ll get him back to Shendu Territory, and I’ll see what I can do.”

“Don’t worry, Thomas; we’ll get you back safely, and you’ll see again really soon!” Zelda said.

“I’ve always wanted to challenge you, Leomon!” I heard Gesomon yell.

Leomon sighed. “Yes, I know,” he said. “That’s what I did with my life before dying; fighting Digimon like you who thought they stood a chance against me. In fact…that’s how I died, Gesomon. That’s how I became a Digimon Spirit. If you wish to fight me, I have no objections, though. I will defend my master and her friends with every ounce of my strength!”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear!” Gesomon yelled. “Gesomon Digivolve to, MarineDevimon!”

“…MarineDevimon…One of the strongest Digimon to hide in the depths of the ocean,” Luna said breathlessly.

“…I thought they were blue, though,” Zelda said. “Why is this one red?”

What?! A Digimon with a rare coloration, and I have to be fucking blind!

“It happens,” Luna said. “From what I’ve read, there’s like a one in eight thousand chance of seeing a Digimon with a different coloration.”

God damn it, no! Why?! Of all the times to be blind, why now?!

“Leomon Digivolve to, SaberLeomon!” A monstrously loud splash violently shook the boat as the Digimon Spirit leaped into the ocean. “You three, go on ahead; I’ll deal with MarineDevimon.”

“No way! I’m not sticking around for this!” MarineDevimon screamed. “I wanted to fight Leomon, not this oversized monster! I’m out of here!” Another loud splash was heard, but still, I could see nothing.

“It doesn’t hurt, does it?” I heard Zelda’s concerned voice next to me..

“Well, my eyes are burning, but I’m getting kind of used to it by now.” I felt Zelda — at least, I’m fairly certain it was Zelda — reach down and give my hand a gentle squeeze as the boat began to move once again, heading for the shoreline.

“Yeah, the burning’s to be expected with Gesomon’s Deadly Shade attack,” Luna said. I heard the lid of the treasure chest open. “…You did a good job, Thomas. You found it.”

“The Horcrux? Is it in there?”

“Yes; this is it,” Luna said. “Oh, wait; I guess you can’t see it…Sorry. I was holding it up to…show you…”

I smiled. “Don’t worry about it. As long as the Bio Hybrids didn’t get it, I’m happy.” In a few short minutes, I felt the boat come to a sudden halt.

“We’re back, Thomas,” Zelda said softly. After I was helped out of the boat by the two women, my ears soon picked up the wingbeats of an approaching Digimon.

“…Something’s coming,” I said.

“What? Where?” Luna asked. I could hear her shifting around in the sand, looking around.

Interesting; my hearing seems better now that I’m blind… “It’s a flying Digimon; I can’t tell which direction it’s coming from…”

“Corona Blaster!” The sound of multiple attacks resonated in the air as they struck the sandy beach, sending sand flying everywhere. “I’ll take that!”

“That voice…Michalis?!”

“I claim this Medallion in the name of Lilithmon! Ain’t it lovely?” I heard BioBeelzemon ask.

“Where are you?!” And how long has he had wings?!

“Oh…are you blind or something? Well, that’s not my concern; I got what I came here for, and soon, Generalmon will walk Arcadia once again! Later, losers!” The sound of BioBeelzemon’s wingbeats faded away, and soon, he was gone.

“What…what should we do?” Zelda asked. “We can’t fight him…not without Thomas’s help…”

“I’ll have to try; even if I can’t see, I’ll still fight him,” I said.

“No,” I heard Luna say.

“Luna?”

“I’ll go after him,” Luna said. “I’ll fight BioBeelzemon, and if necessary, that Generalmon.”

“By yourself?!” Zelda asked.

“We don’t really have a choice, now do we?” Luna asked. “You wait here with Thomas; I’ll go get the Medallion back.”

“Will you be okay by yourself?” I asked. I felt so helpless, and useless, not being able to fight. This was a new feeling, and it wasn’t like the time in the desert when Apollomon told me not to fight. This time, it was…crushing…like I was being deprived of my sole purpose in life.

“I could send Leomon or Dynasmon with you, if you’d like,” Zelda suggested.

“No; I’ll be fine on my own,” Luna said. “I’ll be back soon. I promise.” I heard the sound of Luna’s footsteps fade into the distance.

“…Just don’t die!” I shouted. If anything happened to another friend when I could’ve been there to help out, I’ll never forgive myself…

“…Don’t worry. I would never be so cruel as to deprive Chrysania of her mother again.”

Chapter 61: The Phantom Unleashed

Thomas Kasuto

Mandala City

 

“You three are the ones who killed Lilithmon a year ago,” Belphemon said. The gigantic Digimon licked his lips.

“I’ve never heard of a Digimon eating Humans before,” Zelda whispered. Belphemon greedily looked down at her.

“You’re a bit on the scrawny side, Human woman; there’s hardly any meat on your bones at all,” Belphemon said. “I should save you for later, Human woman, so I can make you as fat as I can get you. A lot of fattening up would do wonders for your flavor! What was your name, again? I can’t quite remember.”

“The only thing you’re going to know is what it’s like to die a second time!” I retorted.

“…So…you think you can kill me, small Digimon?” Belphemon asked. “I don’t really care what you or anyone else thinks. Let’s just get this over with so I can go back to sleep! Gift of Darkness!”

“Come forth, Gigasmon!” As soon as Zelda summoned him, the Mineral Digimon reached up and caught two of Belphemon’s claws before they touched the ground.

“You wish to have a strength contest with me, Spirit?”

“Me no care how strong you is! Me will protect master!” Gigasmon said.

“Hah! Good luck with that!” Belphemon said. “My claws are clad in the flames of hell! You think someone like you could withstand their heat?!”

“What should we do?!” Statch whispered frantically. “There’s no way any of us could beat a Digimon this powerful! And I don’t wanna get eaten!”

“Oh, relax! I’m the one he’s going to fatten up!” Zelda whined.

“Should we go back and get Apollomon?” I asked. I looked calmly at Zelda, and admired how calm and composed she looked in the shadow of that enormous Digimon.

“I don’t think we have time for that!” Statch said. “Lilithmon is in Yew as we speak, summoning another Digimon! We need to hurry up and kill this one before that one gets out! But…I’m not big enough to fight a Digimon like this…”

“Big enough…Statuedramon, aren’t you capable of Digivolving?” Zelda asked.

“Not that I know of. I know most Rookie Digimon with a Human partner like me can do it, but I just don’t know how it’s done.”

“Without Apollomon to help us, Zelda, I think you might be the only one who can stop Belphemon,” I said. “The Digimon you summon are the only ones strong enough to stop him.”

“Enough! I grow weary of this!” Belphemon roared. “Lampranthus!” One of the chains coiled around Belphemon’s wrist moved on its own and struck Gigasmon across the head. The Digimon Spirit tumbled over backward and was struck again by two more of Belphemon’s chains before the larger Digimon swatted him away with his claws. Belphemon roared victoriously as Gigasmon vanished.

“…Okay. I’ll try not to let you down, Thomas,” Zelda said.

As if you ever could…I smiled as I watched as Zelda held up an arm to summon another Digimon. “Come forth, Dynasmon!” she commanded

“Dragon’s Roar!” Dynasmon unleashed an attack that struck Belphemon directly in the chest, managing to move the larger Digimon back a few feet.

“Eating Digimon Spirits is no fun,” Belphemon said. “Get out of my way so I can eat those Humans! Even though she’s way too skinny, that girl looks especially soft and tender…” Belphemon began to drool.

“Never; Breath of Wyvern!”

“Gift of Darkness!” Belphemon’s claws cut through Dynasmon’s attack, the flames of which dispersed into the air and vanished. Dynasmon was effortlessly swatted to the ground by the enormous talons before disappearing. “Done yet?”

“Come forth, Leomon!” Zelda yelled as the Champion level Spirit materialized,

“Fist of the Beast King!”

“Lampranthus!” Belphemon flailed the chains around his arms, striking Leomon across the side of his head and his shoulder before he could attack.

“No! Leomon!” She began to run to her Spirit’s side, but I held up my arm to stop her from getting any closer to Belphemon.

“Don’t worry; I’ll be fine…” Leomon, with a trembling arm, tightly grasped the hilt of his sword and removed it from its scabbard.

“Lampranthus!”

“Beast Sword!” Leomon quickly swung his blade, slicing clear through Belphemon’s chains before they were able to hit him.

“Gift of Darkness!”

“Leomon Digivolve to, SaberLeomon!” SaberLeomon, standing on his hind legs, was almost as tall as Belphemon; he let out a threatening roar that shook the entire city. Belphemon, with a look of near-concern on his face, halted his attack and drew his arm back.

“A Digimon the same size as me? I thought Machinedramon was the only one,” Belphemon said.

“I have people I’m fighting for; you cannot hope to be a match for me,” SaberLeomon growled.

“Well, either way, let’s try to make this quick,” Belphemon said. “I’m getting tired of all this moving around…”

“Howling Crusher!” SaberLeomon reared up on his hind legs and shoved one of his front claws into Belphemon’s chest. Blood came surging out, staining SaberLeomon’s yellow fur orange.

“…Well? Aren’t you going to scream in agony like everyone else?” I asked.

“I would…but…it’d take too much…of an effort…” Belphemon smiled and looked down at the three of us. “Well done…I completely underestimated you, so I held back…If we ever fight again…you won’t win…this easily…” Belphemon, still smiling, fell over lifelessly as his body turned to small bits and clumps of data.

“My lady, I shall be taking my leave for now,” SaberLeomon said before disappearing.

“We’ve got to go after Lilithmon now!” Statuedramon said.

“She said she was going to Yew, right?” I asked.

“Let’s go; she’s probably summoning that Digimon as we speak!” Zelda said. I gently took her hand in mine as the three of us left the submerged subcontinent of Mandala.

Sephyrus

Yew

 

“DeathPhantomon is free!” Lilithmon exclaimed. The three of us stood in a secluded area of the city, and we were hidden from sight by a few warehouses. The jewel lay on the ground at Lilithmon’s feet, and beneath it, a black hole opened up, with a rather large, cloaked Digimon quickly flying out of it.

“It’s good to be free again,” DeathPhantomon said. “Well, Lilithmon, it seems as though thou art keeping up thine end of the bargain after all. The punishment I had in store for thee will have to remain as little more than a fond, fond memory.”

“Oh…thank you, DeathPhantomon,” Lilithmon said.

“On the other hand…” DeathPhantomon continued. “It seems that thou art failing to keep us here once we have been brought back. Alas, SkullCaliphmon, Myotismon, and even Belphemon hath fallen in battle. Lilithmon…if this keeps up, thy sweet, enjoyable punishment will turn from dream to reality.”

“Belphemon’s dead, too?!” Michalis exclaimed. “How could a Digimon as big and powerful as him be defeated so soon?!”

“It shall forever remain a mystery,” DeathPhantomon shrugged. “Belphemon hast begun his near-eternal slumber upon once again upon returning to the Dark Area.”

“Rest assured, DeathPhantomon; I highly doubt a Digimon of your skill would fall as easily to those Humans,” Lilithmon said.

“Of this, I have little doubt,” DeathPhantomon agreed. “For I shall not face them in battle.”

“You what?!”

“It seems as though all those who face those Humans are destroyed. I shall make mine escape before they arrive.”

“You coward! How can you be afraid of two Humans and a Rookie level Digimon?!”

“Thou may call it whatever thou wishes to; I call it keeping myself alive, free from the Dark Area. And so now, I shall bid thee a fondest farewell.” DeathPhantomon bowed as well as he could for not having any legs, then flew away.

“Oh, well…maybe it is better this way,” Lilithmon sighed. “He is right; at least those Humans won’t be finding him…Well, come on; let’s get back to Mandala.” Michalis and Lilithmon began walking away, and I prepared to do the same, but I stopped when I heard someone approaching.

“You are too late,” I said as I heard Thomas and Statuedramon walk up to me.

“Too late…you mean…the Digimon…has already been summoned?” Statuedramon asked, completely out of breath, as if he had run all the way over here.

“Yes, but you have no reason to be concerned,” I said.

“Why is that?” Zelda asked.

“The Digimon we summoned, DeathPhantomon, has run away, so to speak. He has no quarrel with you, and would prefer not to share the same fate as his allies.” I turned around to look at the three. “If you are fated to do so…then you will fight him. Of this, I have no doubt.”

“So, where are you going to go for a Horcrux next?” Thomas asked.

“I am unsure. We do not know the locations of any more off the tops of our heads. It is actually quite possible that you will get to a few of them before us. But just know that we’ll always be there to get them back.” Without another look behind me, I walked off after Lilithmon and Michalis.

Thomas Kasuto

Saias’s Villa

20 Minutes

 

It was nearing the end of the day and close to sundown by the time we had made it back to the villa. Apollomon was the only other person that sat with the three of us in the living room as we retold what happened.

“Well, I’m impressed you all managed to defeat Belphemon by yourselves, and I’m even more pleased none of you got hurt,” he said.

“Statch and I didn’t really do much of the fighting; it was all Zelda and her Digimon Spirits that defeated Belphemon,” I said. I glanced over at the woman I love only to find her blushing in embarrassment.

“Well, nevertheless, I’m glad you weren’t hurt,” Apollomon repeated. “However, it is even more troubling to know that a Digimon like DeathPhantomon is roaming Arcadia freely.”

“What kind of Digimon was he?” Statuedramon asked.

“Again, I never fought him, so I only have a vague idea of what he is like,” Apollomon said. “From what I was told, however, I can only surmise that he was an exceedingly cunning and crafty Digimon, one who uses his surroundings, even the shadows themselves, to his fullest advantage, and on the rare occasions he was backed into a corner, he was able to change his form and regain the advantage he previously had. This is not a Digimon you will be able to defeat if you fight him unprepared; however, with the way he fights, there is no real way to be prepared for him.”

“Wow…how could we defeat someone like that?” Statuedramon asked.

“I am uncertain as to how he was ever defeated in the first place, unfortunately,” Apollomon said. “The friend of mine who killed him, Flamedramon, passed away before he was able to tell me how he was successful.”

“Flamedramon?! Hold on a minute—!”

“Oh, yes; he’s not the same Flamedramon we are all familiar with,” Apollomon added quickly.

“If he’s not targeting any of us, then we might not be in too much danger,” I said.

“That may be, but as long as he’s still out there, we should be on our guard,” Zelda said.

“So, what of the next Horcrux?” Statuedramon asked. “Even Sephyrus said that they don’t know specifically where any of them are, so what should our next move be?”

“Well…I have a few ideas of where some might be,” Apollomon said. “But it’s getting late. I’ll tell you what I know tomorrow morning.”

“…Fine,” Statch sighed. The three of us left the living room and began walking upstairs to our rooms. Zelda and I now shared a room, as well as a bed, while Statuedramon had a room all to himself.

“…Tommy?” Zelda asked as soon as I closed our bedroom door. “If Belphemon…if he had made me fat like he said he would’ve…Would you still love me?”

“Of course I would, sweetie!” I walked up to her and embraced her. “He could have fed you until you were bigger than he was, and I would still love you. I will always love you, no matter what.”

“…Thank you, Tommy. I will always love you, too…”

The Next Morning

 

“So, you said you had an idea of where some more of those Horcruxes might be?” Statuedramon asked. All the members of Lachesis stood in the villa’s living room, standing around a map of Arcadia that lay across a table in the middle of the room.

“…Possibly,” Apollomon said. “Over on the other side of the continent, near Shendu Territory…in the ocean…that is where the Medallion should be.”

“If it’s in the ocean, I might be able to get it,” Luna said. “I know of a spell that enables Humans and Digimon to breathe underwater.” Apollomon nodded.

“Good; you’ll go with Thomas and Zelda to Shendu Territory to find that Horcrux, then.”

Shendu...I don’t know what help I would be underwater, but…I glanced over at Zelda. Shendu Beach is said to be really beautiful…that’s something I’d like to share with her…

 “The next one, the Flute, should be somewhere in the Savage Prairie, in Elphierr Territory.”

“I was born in Elphierr Territory, so I know my way around that area,” Dianamon said. “I’ll go search for the flute.”

“And the next one, the Mirror, should be near Lake Viscaria in Lotisea Province.”

“BlackGaomon and I vill go and get dat vun,” Pheragas said. “I need to make up for de vun I lost.”

“You didn’t fail us, Pheragas,” Dianamon said. “None of us knew somebody else might be searching for the Horcruxes.”

“Everybody, proceed with extreme caution,” Apollomon warned. “It is extremely likely that each of your groups will be attacked by those seeking the Horcruxes. Chrysania, Statuedramon, and I will remain behind so not all of our members will be out at the same time, in case you all do get attacked.”

“You know, as much as I hate the thought of being left behind…that’s a really good idea,” Statuedramon said. Apollomon nodded.

“Everyone, make your preparations and depart as soon as possible.”  Luna, Zelda and I all left for our rooms to prepare for our undoubtedly long journey.