Very few knew how close the Digital World came to changing forever that day. Least of all the Digital World itself, ensnared as it was by a malevolent force with far too much power. For some it was just another battle; for others, an opportunity; and for yet others, not even that. Just an unseen skirmish in a faraway region. So the Digital World was acting slightly weirdly in places. That was utterly normal.

Truly that is the worst way for the world to end. Just another daily change, leading to a new normal life. A new normal world, where justice and virtue are dished out by the whims of a single being. Nothing different. Nothing special. Just a normal life all the way until death.

Thank Yggdrasil for stroppy teenagers.

Eleanor held the bridge of her nose, breathing heavily. Martin stood before her, holding the communicator out awkwardly as static played at the end of it. Eventually a voice broke through; it was Skelton’s, talking in a concerned fashion.

“I don’t really understand this stuff but I can get that it’s not the best of plans...”

Eleanor raised a hand. “No, no, it’s...completely awful. I hate it. I hate all of you.”

Martin glanced at Callum, who shrugged. “What can I say? That’s fair.”

A shuffling of voices, and then Perez spoke up. “It’s a frankly terrible idea and I will assume all responsibility for that. But given where Sorimon is, and where she’s going, and where you are, it’s the only thing I can think of.”

Martin glanced back at Polypmon, who was tapping their front tentacles together, as uncertain as ever.

“I don’t think I can do this. I only just got out of there the first time.”

Empermon stepped forwards, and wrapped a claw around their tentacles, smiling up. “I’m with you. I can help you.”

Callum nodded. “We all can. This is our best shot.”

Another burst of static, and Perez spoke again, a bit more subdued this time. “I’m...sorry we can’t think of anything better-“

“Now wait a minute.”

Eleanor held out her hand, and Martin passed the communicator to her. The girl cleared her throat, and held it up close.

“Whatever the plan is, we’re in. We don’t have a choice. Well we do. We could just abandon everything and go and cry for an hour. That would be better. No, that’s not helping. I guess...well...we’ve come this far so we’re obligated to...no, that doesn’t work...with the power of friendship and fuck me I can’t do this.”

She scratched her cheek, and decided to start again.

“Things are terrible. It’s been a long few days, and we’re all very tired. And I don’t like you for what you put us through, whether you meant to or not. But actually, you know what, fuck it. We’re here. We can do something. We’re not the best people – shit, we are all god-awful people – but still, hopefully we can do something that’s vaguely in the right direction. And I’m happy to try for that.”

A small smile played on the corners of her mouth as she looked at Callum, Martin and their three Digimon partners in turn. “And so is everyone else. Whatever you have planned, if you think it’s gonna work, then I will half believe you, and half just go along with your moronic plan out of blind teenage ignorance and fatigue. Because fuck it, we might as well. That’s the best I can do. Is that okay?”

Pause.

“I must apologise. We are terrible adults.”

“Oh don’t worry. We all know that.”

Perez sighed. On the other side of the line, an entire world away, she looked at everyone else in turn. They all nodded, uncertain themselves.

“We’ve only done wrong by you all through your journey. It’s gonna be hard, but please trust me when I say that I’m ninety percent sure this will work.”

The line went dead, leaving the three humans in a small circle. Martin bit his lip. “Ninety?”

Callum shrugged. “Hey, I’ll take it.”

“I guess we’ve done far better on far worse plans.”

Eleanor folded her arms. “Why do you think we’re still here?” She chuckled. “Though this time, we go in together. And we stay together.”

“Right.”

“Definitely.”

Eleanor nodded, and led the others out of the main chamber.

“Time to go deck that shrew in the face.”

Drip.

Buermon felt a chill rush through his insectoid body, causing his fur to stand on end. He stared up at the far end of the chamber, watching the darkness swirling in the crack behind the fortress’s throne. The crack which he knew all too well.

He didn’t fear the Dark Area so much; on the contrary, his time there had given him a lot of time to think (and develop his many psychoses, but that was neither here nor there). Many times he wondered whether it wouldn’t be as easy to just break in and go back to endless sleep. Or endless wake. Whatever kind of purgatory it offered.

Drip.

That said, staring into the abyss this time he couldn’t help but feel a twang of uncertainty. Something was there. Something coming.

He glanced up, and noticed Cruachmon, still spinning gently above them all. He still didn’t move a muscle. But he was facing a different way. He was facing the Dark Area. And his eyes were fluttering in a sleep far more restless than before.

Buermon ground his teeth together. “Alrighty then, something’s definitely wrong.”

Drip.

The exasperated demon emperor turned around a yelled out towards the room, “Okay, can whoever’s making that bloody dripping noise please stop?”

Nobody answered, save from a giggle where the hell ponies were congregating, and a dirty look from Fantocciomon. The dripping noise increased in tempo.

Buermon snarled, and stomped through the great hall, folding his legs in on themselves and sitting down with a huff.

“Who would have thought that a few years in the Dark Area would make us all so depressing?”

It was true. After the unfortunate hunt had gone very wrong, Buermon had watched the demons return with less than enthusiastic takings from it all. Echidnamon had taken it the worst, sinking from boredom down to complete and utter apathy about doing anything at all. Fantocciomon had lost it at the sight of so many of his dolls being broken, and even now he was still sat in the corner repairing each one individually, something which he’d been doing for the good part of a week. Annihilamon had turned into a fragile blubbering wreck, Redcapmon had turned very sullen, and Oninarimon had marched off to pastures new ages ago, muttering something about ‘too many artists and too many interruptions’.

It wasn’t all bad, mind you. The hell ponies had seemed largely unfazed by the whole affair, although that was hardly surprising. What was more surprising was the other one who came bounding forwards with a spring in his step. Krampusmon skipped forwards, his back cracking and bells jingling.

“We all feeling down again today?”

Echidnamon unfurled herself a little from the corner, and shot daggers at the goat-man. “Not the time, Klaus!”

“Yeesh. What’s the matter with you all? You lose one battle and suddenly you lose all hope to try again? You are sad excuses for masters of villainy.”

Buermon bunched his legs together. “I guess villainy loses its spark after a while.”

Krampusmon scoffed. “Tsh. Pathetic. I’m off to terrorise something small and defenceless.”

Drip.

Buermon looked up. “Can you sort out that poxy drip while you’re at it?”

“Poxy? Really? You’re a grand emperor of Nightmare Soldiers, Buermon, show some dignity when you speak. Honestly.” Krampusmon turned, and marched off into the catacombs, waving behind him. “Anyhow, I’m a devil not a plumber. Fix it yourself. Plug one of the dolls in it or something.”

“Nooooooo.”

A rusty nail flew out from nowhere and clonked Krampusmon in the head, though he didn’t seem to notice as he trotted merrily into the darkness. Buermon gave an exasperated look at Fantocciomon, who hissed, holding his arms protectively over the several Bambolamon clustered in his lap.

“I’m never listening to any of you ever again!”

There was a slithering sound, and Echidnamon uncoiled in her entirety, rearing up beside Buermon. “You seem stressed.”

Buermon reached up, and rubbed his temple. “That’s normal.”

The naga looked towards the entrance of the catacomb, and sighed. “I guess he does have a point. We have lost our edge. That’s the Dark Area for you.”

“I dunno. I suppose it would have been inevitable anyway.”

“All My Efforts Are Nought But Wracked With Failure And Suffering And I Am A Black Hole Of Misery.”

Echidnamon stuck her thumb up. “Nailed it in one, Annihilamon.”

“The Void Appreciates Your Kind But Insincere Words.”

Echidnamon looked back down at Buermon, who was staring up at her with a confusing expression. She shrugged. “What am I supposed to say? You’re right. We’re nothing now. There’s no reason for us to be here; we might as well just climb back inside our hole and sit doing nothing like naughty children.”

“We could do...”

Buermon smiled. “Or...you know...the children are still out there. Somewhere.”

“I thought you were afraid of them.”

“Oh I am. Terrified. But as long as they are out there, technically you still have a reason to be here. You never finished your fight with them, right? So you have a reason until you either win, or until they mercilessly kill you.”

Echidnamon thought for a moment. Then she stuck her lips out. “I guess so. There is still a whole new world undiscovered out there.”

“I’m up for going to the surface and terrorizing helpless citizens if you are.”

“Perhaps.”

Echidnamon smiled.

“Thanks.”

Buermon beamed, and pushed himself to his feet, stretching a few feet from the wall.

He was about to raise the offer to the room, when the wall suddenly exploded, and all thoughts of world conquest vanished from their collective minds.

(From a larger perspective, it was another positive of the day).

A torrent of water exploded outwards, drenching Echidnamon and Buermon and sending them toppling over. The flash flood swept across the chamber in an instant, jolting everyone present out of their stupor.

They looked up, and as one they witnessed Ammumon stumbling forwards, holding Sorimon’s golem in a headlock, while she in turn had her mechanical teeth latched around Sindrimon’s arm. They staggered forwards, wallowing in about three feet of water and completely oblivious to where they were.

Ursula and Lorelie were slightly more observant, as they clung onto Sindrimon’s shoulders, the taller girl banging on his goggles to get his attention. He wrenched his face sideways, a keeping his chipper attitude up despite the unhelpful position.

“I’d love to help but I’m a little busy here!”

He looked further into the chamber, and slammed his mouth shut. “Oh...”

“You!”

“Humans?”

“What?”

“Um...”

Lorelie gingerly raised her hand, twiddling her fingers at the assembled audience. “Hello again...”

“AAAAAAAGH!”

The scream came from Fantocciomon, as he stomped one wooden leg in the water, pointing a shaking finger from which dangled several bewildered Bambolamon.

“You’ll pay for breaking my children! Javelin Twine!”

His fingers snapped open wide, and a cluster of wires spun outwards from his palm, congregating together and flying towards the trio at light-speed. It struck Sorimon in the chest, giving her enough momentum to through Ammumon off of her and kick Sindrimon away as she fell backwards.

Fantocciomon laughed, and wrenched his hand back. “Destroy yourself, you heathenous-“

His arm shuddered, and halted. The marionette looked worriedly to one side, then over at Sorimon as she pulled herself to her feet. Thousands of wires burrowed under her skin and metal muscle, but with every movement she tore them effortlessly. The tiny shrew squealed in indignation as the goliath roared.

“Who the FUCK do you think you are? Spatial Nail!”

She slammed her fist down, the movement pulling Fantocciomon over in an instant, and straight into the path of her shockwave. He went careering backwards, smacking into the wall with a crack. Dozens of Bambolamon jumped all around him, gathering beneath and keeping him propped up with those same dumb happy expressions as always.

Sorimon sniffed, and glared around, taking in the rogue’s gallery before her.

“So this is what you look like. Monsters of the Dark Area. Devils. The worst. My world has no use for any of you. Get out of my sight!”

She arched her back, the light glowing in the back of her throat as she pointed at Echidnamon, the nearest.

“Pinpoint Executioner!”

“Watch out!”

“Chaos Devourer!”

A pillar of sand knocked Sorimon away as her attack burst out, causing it to go slightly wide. The blast flew just to the side of Echidnamon’s head, grazing her hair, before it exploded behind her and sent her crashing down again. Annihilamon and Buermon rushed to her aid as Sorimon writhed against the new crystalline structure, grabbing hold of Ammumon.

Echidnamon’s eyes swum as she pushed herself up, her ears still ringing. She heard a little rumbling of wheels, and glanced up to see Sindrimon a few metres away from her. Ursula waved apologetically.

“Sorry about this. She’s with us. Sort of. I’d get out of here if I was you.”

“Barbaric Acid!”

“Got to go.” Sindrimon winked, and charged off through the water, waving his hammer wildly. “Vulkanabstieg!”

Echidnamon watched, stupefied, as the battle erupted before her. Ammumon and Sindrimon took it in turns to block off the shrew’s goliath, each landing heavy blows or getting in close, but with each attempt she simply slapped them away. Echidnamon blinked, as Buermon pulled her up, tapping the ground nervously.

“I just want to say, I did not plan this.”

“I...I...”

“Invasion!”

Everybody turned to see Krampusmon rushing back down the hallway, out of breath and clothes tattered. He gulped for air, before glancing up at Echidnamon. “We have an invasion! We’ve been invaded!”

Echidnamon pointed sideways, still staring off into the distance. “Yeah, I can...see that.”

“Not that! I-“ Krampusmon double-took, and pointed furiously. “What the hell are those arseholes doing here?”

“They just arrived.”

“Why?! We already have a problem! We don’t need bloody humans making it worse.”

Buermon raised two arms and grabbed Krampusmon by the shoulders, spinning him round to look him in the eye. “What problem? What the hell else could go wrong today?”

“The Void Is Concerned By Tiny Pink Armies Approaching Very Quickly.”

Buermon closed his eyes. For a moment he imagined himself back inside the Dark Area, just listening to the entire world around him without having to deal with any of its BULLSHIT-

He opened his eyes again, and looked to his left. Krampusmon was hunched over beside him, rubbing a smarting red burn mark on the side of his face.

“He calls himself the Impenetrable...”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me...”

Motimon the Impenetrable marched forwards through the puddles, with Tanemon and Kapurimon flanking him and over two-hundred tiny, bloodthirsty monsters marching along behind, holding remarkable formation despite the circumstances. Motimon stopped, and beamed, raising his paddle.

“Ooh look! Villains!”

There came a squeal from behind the lion demon, and Deinosmon of the hell ponies rushed forwards, her teeth chattering together.

“Ooh look! Snacks!”

Krampusmon held an arm up. “No, wait!”

“Yippee!”

“Yummy!”

“Sanguine Quartet!”

The four ponies reunited, and lunged forwards, only for Xanthosmon and Podargosmon to get blasted back by a hundred tiny projectiles. Motimon swung his paddle, and flexed, a glint in his eye.

“We go from oppressed, to soldiers, to finally monster hunters! Are you ready to rid this world of evil!”

A cry of triumph rose from behind him, and he charged, the pink swarm advancing en masse. The hell ponies re-congregated, and lunged at any tiny warriors they could get their hands on, but pretty soon they were completely engulfed, though clearly having the time of their lives. The pink mob spread, targeting every monster in turn with blade and tooth and the occasional plank of wood.

Krampusmon swung his birch staff from side to side, flinging swathes of Nyaromon, Koromon and Pagumon away. There was a thump, and a flash of light as Sindrimon skidded to one side, running over several of the little beasts. The devil glanced up, and scowled at Lorelie, who was trying and failing to get her bearings, and pointed an accusatory finger.

“This is why I can’t stand you people!”

“Hey, this arsehole is nothing to do with us!”

“Slay Bell!”

Krampusmon swung his staff, aiming half at Lorelie and half at the Yokomon crawling up his leg with a dagger in her mouth. The attack did dislodge the little pink blob, but it also sent him reeling backwards, having stunned himself with his own sound. He braced himself as a volley of In-Training’s launched themselves at him, but with a flash of metal and crimson Redcapmon appeared before him, raising his spike.

“Bloody Pike!”

Several of the attackers bounced off him. One was less lucky, as the goblin slammed his pike into its eye, causing it to pop in a shower of red sparkles. Redcapmon looked behind him, and saluted Krampusmon with a proud tear in his eye, before rushing towards his next target with a click-clack.

Krampusmon blinked, before bursting into loud laughter, swinging his jangling staff high.

“Now this is the hunt I was after!”

Chaos rocked through the fortress, as the hordes of the altitudinally-challenged swarmed over the harbingers of death and despair. Buermon tried to spin himself into the ground and pull the cavern away, but five of the little monsters clutched onto each leg and held him fast, leaving him no option but to snap at them and breath black and red flames that melted them where they stood. The Sanguine Quartet were having a whale of a time, with Deinosmon and Lamponmon gagging as they attempted to swallow several warpainted Tokomon whole, while simultaneously having gouges bitten out of them by yet more of the critters. Fantocciomon clutched onto the ceiling like an inverse spider, crying and swearing in gratuitious Italian at the monsters below. His raw emotion transferred to the Bambolamon, who descended like trapeze-artists, crushing and twisting the fuzzballs with their own brute strength. Although some of them had already been hoisted down from their high-wires, and were being brutally and graphically torn apart, still with that insane smile on their face.

Krampusmon had taken on Kapurimon, fending off blow after blow and retaliating with exploding boxes and waves of sound. Kapurimon’s helmet was dented, but her energy was unwavering, even when she had to fight in two directions at once as Redcapmon bounded alongside the larger devil like a squire, loyal to the end. Tanemon was fighting a more abstract battle as he fought through waves of grief and anger and pure nihilism, summoned by Annihilamon, who kept on the defensive and spouted desperate platitudes.

Of the demons, only Cruachmon and Echidnamon stood unmoving. Though not for long, as the latter felt a blast of lightning strike her face. She looked down, and saw Motimon the Impenetrable standing atop a pile of his fallen comrades, waving his paddle. He slammed his hand into his face and drew it down, the data coagulating onto his flesh.

“How does it feel to be fearful, most terrifying one?”

Something inside Echidnamon snapped, and she rolled her neck, her face splitting open into a vast grin.

“I wouldn’t know. I’m enjoying this far too much!”

“Excellent.”

Echidnamon convulsed, and a lump of her own flesh travelled up through her throat, wriggling as it did so.

“Gastric Hellspawn!”

Her mouth stretched open, and a mass of fat and bone and claws and armour spilled out; an amorphous mass that began tussling with Motimon as soon as it landed. It was fast, and unbelievably lethal, firing its own blades and slashing several times a second. But Motimon matched it blow for blow, and even after the blades struck his body three times, he summoned his power and rocketed through the beast, causing it to disperse instantly. Though he didn’t count on Echidnamon’s tail slamming into him on his venture, smacking him into the air. She slithered forwards, crushing In-Training levels underfoot as she raised her claws, but the miniature emperor simply hopped over her head and swung a fist into the back of her neck, even as she opened her mouth yet again.

“Hypernova Punch!”

“Typhon Swarm!”

Amongst the immense noise, however, one battle still raged on. Sindrimon and Ammumon stayed focused completely on Sorimon, who was fluctuating more with every movement. She lunged forwards, her fist splitting into thousands of spears that caught Ammumon on the shoulder, but a blow from Sindrimon’s hammer shattered her arm, sending her backwards.

“Tartarean Razor!”

The tendrils burrowed beneath Sindrimon’s wheels, upending him and nearly crushing the two girls behind him. He pressed against the ground, only for Sorimon’s tail to strike his spinning wheel, sending sparks in all directions and taking a chunk out of the frame.

“Get off him!”

Ammumon flipped forwards, sending her two feet slamming into Sorimon’s chest. The goliath snarled, and grabbed one of them, throwing the beast away, but she rolled and got to all fours, her chest heaving. A light flashed on her forehead, then from all the crystals over her body as the ground rumbled.

“Sands of Judgement!”

She swung her arms wide, and the ground disappeared beneath Sorimon, sending her into a trench, over ten-feet deep. Ammumon raised her arms, and the ground followed the motion of her arms; rising up, and turning red and crystalline as she danced elegantly before the beast.

Sorimon snarled, and scrambled up the embankment, the goliath’s head drooling.

“Barbaric Acid!”

“Release!”

Ammumon clapped her hands, and the sands all cascaded towards Sorimon like a tsunami, the grains of sand forming a thousand tiny flint arrowheads that pierced her all over, even as the acid melted them away. Sorimon’s main body got a full blast, and she screeched, though she remained conscious enough to see Ammumon leaping at her, golden claws unsheathed.

“Now you’re mine!”

“No!”

Sorimon raised her stubby arms, and the goliath’s head split open, sending yet more wires towards Ammumon. The goliath’s head clamped down, shaking viciously and tossing the beast away, straight into Sindrimon as he tried his best to catch her.

“Spatial Nail!”

The blast hit them both square on, and they tumbled backwards, crashing into the steps before the portal to the Dark Area. The shrew staggered forwards, the goliath’s jaw re-aligning itself with horrific clicks, as the tiny shrew gloated.

“Look all around us! Is this really such a wonderful world? All this chaos? All this evil? And the rest of your precious humans aren’t even here to watch you die! How does it feel to mean so little?”

Ursula’s fist tightened, and she went to take a step, but Lorelie’s hand grasped her shoulder.

“Wait.”

Ursula turned towards her, and noticed Lorelie’s screen. It was showing an envelope. Mail. Contact. She leaned in close.

Ammumon glanced back at the two, before shifting her body between Sorimon and Sindrimon, brandishing her claws.

“Nobody means that little. Not me. Not even you. It’s just a shame you can no longer see that.”

The golem’s arm swung back, and Ammumon was cast aside, cracking the steps and crying out. “This world leads us only into darkness!”

Lorelie and Ursula looked up together, both defiant as the grabbed Sindrimon by the shoulders.

“Then maybe all we need is a little light!”

Sindrimon gasped, and he dropped his hammer, his hands grasping his beacon. He spun sideways and faced the throne’s dark vortex directly as fire and energy flowed through his entire body, reaching his fingertips.

“Gluhlampenexplosion!”

It was a desperate move. A tiny little light in the tunnel.

But one little light saw another. They swam. And the others held on tightly.

From the darkest point of the core to the deepest point of the catacombs, they swam forwards, reaching out.

As one, they grabbed hold of the lip of the abyss.

And pulled.

The void shuddered, and quaked with enough force to shake the room. Not that most of the beings present even noticed, so engrossed were they in their own struggles.

Sorimon, however, was fixated. She screeched with indignation as the black mass expanded, pulsed, rippled, and finally tore apart, sending three disgruntled teenagers and three terrified Digimon toppling onto the stairs below the throne, falling in a large pile. The void shifted, and sealed up behind them. The Dark Area may have been weakened, but it was still far from a pleasant detour.

Still, it had worked.

Callum got to his feet, holding his head as he staggered. “Am I blind? I can’t see? I can only see red. Did we make it?”

“Yippee!”

“What the-“

A Bukamon flew at his head, having been expertly bowled by a couple of Bambolamon. Callum yelped, and ducked, and the little seal bounced from his scalp, and rocketed into the open void with a plop, his wails of joy being swallowed up in an instant. Callum and the others straightened themselves up, and beheld the chaotic scene right in front of them.

Eleanor opened her mouth, and closed it again, watching as Krampusmon staggered backwards in front of them, with a Pagumon repeatedly smacking him across the face with a Bambolamon’s disconnected leg.

“What in the sweet-and-sour land of hope and FUCK is going on?”

Martin pointed sideways. “I see the problem right there.”

Sorimon’s shoulders heaved as the tiny creature atop her head pointed outwards.

“You aren’t supposed to be here! You were finished! Ended! You’ve had your chance!” She lowered her hand, and for a moment the tiny figure just looked tired. “Stupid humans. Why can’t you even get something as simple as giving up hope right?””

Callum shrugged, holding his arm out as the metal unravelled. “Sorry about that. I guess we’re just stubborn.”

Martin rolled his shoulders, his D-Psyche clicking. “Or fickle. Definitely fickle. No idea what we’re doing.”

“Or you know, just a pain in the arse.”

Eleanor stood in the centre of the three, her D-Psyche sending little green arcs out into the stone steps. Before all three of them stood Empermon, Terramon and Polypmon, limbs raised and ready to join the battle. Eleanor shrugged.

“But you know, while we’re good at giving up, we don’t stay down for long. We have friends here. We need to finish the job.”

Callum looked sideways, and waved down at Ursula and Lorelie, who stood just behind Sindrimon. Lorelie was holding her palms together. Callum smiled.

“Sorry we took so long.”

“YAAAARGH!”

Sorimon trembled, and sank lower into her goliath, who bulged out, the artificial skin splitting and releasing further wires.

“I’m still stronger! I’m stronger than all FIVE of you!”

“Oh yeah?”

The three tamers took a step forwards in unison, their D-Psyches bursting with lights which reached forwards and wrapped around their partners in turn; blue, purple, green, one after the other. Eleanor grinned, her hair whipping in the wind.

“Prove it, you maniac!”

“Empermon...Polypmon...Terramon...Psyche Synergise!”

“Spatial Nail!”

Sorimon wasted no time; she leapt forwards and sent two vast arcs throttling towards the three, but the arcs of energy intertwined and rose upwards, shielding them from the worst of the blast.

“Evolution Activate!”

The trio’s voices rang out as their bodies glowed; no longer the chaotic energy of the first time, but now controlled. As one. As true friends, for the first time.

And their partners grew, the energy dispersing as each of them crashed down in their Ultimate forms, cracking the ground where they stood as they surrounded the goliath. Ursula and Lorelie watched as their own partners joined the circle, closing the loop and brandishing their weapons.

“Ammumon!”

“Sindrimon!”

“Ophicleimon!”

“Siphonamon!”

“Minogamemon!”

Their voices sounded as one, echoing through the catacombs.

Now the other warring factions were beginning to pay attention. Echidnamon’s fist slammed into the wall as Motimon landed on top of her forearm, and they both stared at the cavalcade of monstrosities before them. Echidnamon whistled. “Damn...”

She looked down to see Motimon the Impenetrable rubbing his eyes.

“Are you crying?”

“It’s...it’s just so beautiful...” Motimon sniffed, and wiped tears from his eyes. “I’m so proud of them all.”

Echidnamon raised an eyebrow, and smacked her forearm against the wall, intending to crush him.

“Up here!”

She swung upwards, but Motimon was just out of her reach, all his emotions suddenly vanishing again and replaced with that smile.

“Far be it for me to be overshadowed, no matter how beautiful the blessing to be witnessed!”

Echidnamon smiled, rolling her knuckles as bugs crawled beneath her skin. “You are weird.”

“Cosmic Buster!”

“Typhon Swarm!”

“MORONS!”

Sorimon jumped for the nearest gap as Ophicleimon’s blast of sound rushed through the air behind her, and Sindrimon’s hammer swung downwards and cracked the stone where her feet had been just seconds before. She landed in Siphonamon’s line of fire, as the huge jellyfish, despite finding it rather cramped, was as agile as they had ever been. Lights danced down their tubular body, congregating at their mouth.

“Synapse Pulsator!”

They fired, each blast sending out orbs that rained multicoloured sparks down on the warriors around, turning the whole battle area into some bizarre flashing spectacle that was almost as lethal as a genuine rave situation.

(Almost, but not quite)

The Technicolor display did little to halt Sorimon however, as she dodged the blasts one by one, before rushing at the wall and climbing up, slashing at Siphonamon’s tail.

“You morons! I’ve fought with you! I’ve seen you! I know how you battle; there’s nothing you can do to me!”

“Vitality Sphere!”

The great orb of Minogamemon’s staff slammed down, trapping the shrew beneath with a splutter. The turtle pressed down from on top, lights flowing into her from the glowing roots.

“You may have fought with us, but it doesn’t look like you really understood us.”

“Screw you! Barbaric Acid!”

The goliath spun around, spraying the noxious liquid all over her prison. Minogamemon retracted, spinning her weapon, before kicking out as the shrew leapt at her. Her foot connected, launching Sorimon away, where she was intercepted by Ammumon.

“Sands of Judgement!”

“Mercy Melody!”

Sorimon could do nothing as the wave of sand struck her goliath, sending her flying back. Nor could she shake off the wave of solidified sound that vibrated her to her core, dredging up dreadful feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy that she was desperately trying to repress. The goliath fell against the ground an utter mess, one eye flickering. Sorimon’s head split open briefly, her eyes bulging wide as she stared at the catacombs around her.

“I’ve had enough of this! This is my world! I’ll fight where I want to!”

Before anybody could stop her, she stuck both claws of the goliath deep into the rock beneath her, and wrenched them outwards.

The effect was instant. With great booms like cannons firing, huge fissures rocketed up opposite walls, snapping the chamber in two from bottom to top. The warring factions hissed as sunlight from several miles up struck their bodies – some of them for the first time in their lives. They paused, but Sorimon kept straining, the rubble congregating around her body and plugging the wounds and breakages of her golem, which grew in size yet again.

Ophicleimon and Sindrimon charged, crashing into the great beast and forcing her out into the open, but the damage was done. No longer catacombs; now the warriors fought at the bottom of a vast ravine, with walls sloping several miles up and sending avalanches of rock and metal down towards the beasts below. Sorimon reached skywards, and cackled wildly.

“Witness me, Yggdrasil! I bring light to the depths of the Dark Area! I will be more of a god than you could EVER be!”

She spun around and raised a claw, closing her palm around Ammumon’s fist even as the sacred beast swung again.

“You know the worst part about you betraying us and attacking the world and everything? You’ve become...just...so...BORING!”

She strengthened each word with another swing, her final one actually bursting the eye at the end of the goliath’s snout. But as that shrivelled up, another wormed its way into its place. The goliath grinned, before lunging and sinking its teeth into Ammumon’s shoulder, tearing out a great chunk of flesh from the divine devourer.

“Primordial Staff!”

There was a flash of light, and the shrew was whipped away, vines dragging her into the walls of the ravine as Minogamemon swung away. The turtle landed opposite her, coiling her legs and springing forwards to land a devastating kick.

“Pinpoint Executioner!”

Sorimon’s goliath fired point-blank into the turtle’s shell, sending her crashing backwards. The turtle pushed herself up; disorientated, but mobile. She watched helplessly as Sorimon scuttled further up, and threw her staff directly into her path.

“You’re not going anywhere!”

“Spatial Nail!”

Sorimon reached out, but a cable-like tail coiled around her body. Siphonamon threw her body sideways, flashing intensely along their length. The goliath rolled, with the tiny form of Sorimon looking left and right as three other creatures rushed at her.

“Tartarean Razor!”

Sorimon spun, her tail splitting into hundreds of others to deflect the blasts that came flying at her. Ophicleimon reached her first, slamming his beak down and screeching in her face, but she retaliated, slamming into his tubular chest with a headbutt.

“Barbaric Acid!”

Ophicleimon covered himself as the attack struck his wings; most of it just running off, but some eating in and creating ragged holes in the dark material. He lowered his guard, his eyes flashing blue as frost gathered around him.

“Night in Antarctica!”

The great auk bellowed, the snowstorm tearing at the goliath’s flesh and causing the core in her chest to flash. She backed away, and turned to run, only to find Sindrimon banging on his anvil with one hand, and grasping his beacon with the other.

“Gluhlampenexplosion!”

Sorimon cowered as fire and ice struck her from both directions. Her true body could feel her flesh curling and withering, and she screamed, raising both arms.

“Spatial Nail!”

The shockwaves arced upwards, knocking both assailants off their balance. Sindrimon didn’t have time to guard before Sorimon’s tail struck him in the chest, drawing blood. He slammed down with his hammer, but her palm struck him, a second shockwave knocking him off his wheels and causing him to roll.

“Mercy Melody!”

The pistons poking out of Sorimon’s back went into overdrive, and she charged towards Ophicleimon, her momentum carrying her forwards even as the black beam froze and shattered her flesh. Ophicleimon ducked just in time as Sorimon swung at his head with her loose jaws, and he thrust his body forwards in a bone-crunching tackle, managing to strike the spherical core at her throat. Immediately pain coursed through his head, followed by his entire body as Sorimon slashed at his side, tearing his left wing even more.

“You’re NOTHING!”

“Chaos Devourer!”

“Spatial Nail!”

Sorimon ducked as the pillar of sand just arched over her head, and she brought both claws up, stabbing Ammumon in the side as the pillar collapsed. Ammumon gasped, but her momentum carried her forwards, and she brought her own hooked claws into the goliath’s cheeks, tearing out three teeth on either side. The sacred beast wrenched her arms sideways, and slammed Sorimon’s head into the ground. The giant shrew writhed, and tendrils exploded out from her mouth, hooking around Ammumon’s limbs and hoisting her skywards.

“Sands of Judgement!”

The beast clapped her hands together as the cascading dune rushed into Sorimon’s face, but the shrew held strong, walking through the torrent and pressing the divine beast against the ravine wall. One jaw was hanging off, and the goliath’s entire body was sparking and dripping, but its strength was still unrivalled.

“I hope you feel like you’ve accomplished something.”

Ammumon struggled, her mouth making no sound as the asphyxiating paw pressed harder and harder. Sorimon’s tiny form twitched, and laughed briefly.

“I want you all to see how wrong you were when I kill every single thing HERE!”

“Synapse Pulsator!”

The blasts struck Sorimon in the back, and she whirled around, returning fire at Siphonamon. The great jellyfish spun, the acid only grazing them, and they coiled downwards, slamming their metal rings into the ground below.

“Pinpoint Executioner!”

Sorimon convulsed, and fired, the projectile exploding just behind Siphonamon and obscuring them as they slithered away. Sorimon lunged forwards, but Minogamemon landed before them, one foot cracking the earth at their feet as she spun her branch.

“Primordial Staff!”

The weapon caught Sorimon in the chest, hoisting her up. She found her bearings and launched herself up, tearing her claws down Minogamemon’s right arm as she rushed for her head, but the giant turtle flipped backwards, thrusting her other arm out and elbowing the goliath. Acid sprayed over her shell, but she struck again, landing two thunderous hits and knocking Sorimon into the wall.

The goliath landed well, and spat, jettisoning one of her jaw segments as her forelegs coiled inwards towards her chest. With a roar she lunged forwards at the off-guard Minogamemon, but Siphonamon reappeared, coiling around the turtle’s arms and spreading their frill. A burst of colours exploded in Sorimon’s face, and she twisted in mid-air, slashing wildly at Siphonamon’s face. The jellyfish rolled upwards, then arched over, lights travelling down the full length of their body.

“Tesla Tsunami!”

The wave of electricity flew far and wide, with Sorimon taking a direct hit. She hit the wall and tumbled down, her false muscles spasming as she pulled herself to her feet, only for the ground to pull itself away from beneath her. She looked up too late to see Ammumon slam her hands into the ground.

“Chaos Devourer!”

The attack struck true, clamping around Sorimon and raising her on high. She struggled, breaking one arm free of its crystal prison, but Minogamemon landed behind her, her weapon glowing green.

“Primordial Staff!”

The goliath’s movements were halted in their tracks, held by crystal from below and wood from above. Sorimon’s true body wrenched at the wires all around her, her face contorting in fury. But she couldn’t get away. Couldn’t do much more than watch as Ophicleimon, Siphonamon and Sindrimon gathered around her.

“Tesla Tsunami!”

“Night in Antarctica!”

“Gluhlampenexplosion!”

The three blasts met in the centre, and swirled around, sending trails of pink, orange and white far up into the sky above. The picture was spectacular, but none of them had time to appreciate it.

Minogamemon felt it first. The tremor. The retaliation. She held her staff out before her, summoning all the power she could as a silhouette curled in the frozen firestorm.

“Everyone brace yourselves!”

“BALLISTIC EXECUTIONER!”

A barrage of pellets sprayed out, and they all exploded at once, sending a multicoloured shockwave out that downed even the giants among them. They hit the ground hard, and struggled to push themselves up again, as the flames died down and the ice melted away. The goliath stood on a pile of broken crystal, its eyes dead for just a second. Its fingers twitched, and they reached up towards the dimension sphere dangling from its throat, which flashed bright red, screeching. Even amongst the floating embers, the warriors could see the data coagulating around the goliath’s skin, clotting wounds and splicing wires. It arched its back, and staggered forwards, its leg buckling for a second, then holding firm.

There was a giggle that echoed amongst the war-cries and screams from the battle around them, as Sorimon stared down at her five foes, breathing heavily.

“I could...I could do this all day...”

The five closed in, and energy flew through the air once again. By now the vast battle was stabilising a bit. Or just dying down. Dozens of In-Training levels littered the floor; out cold, or just unable to move. The carpet of corpses itself had been thinned out considerably, with several now returning to the great mass of data in the sky. Amongst them was Tanemon; a hollow stone-like shell held inside his own twisting vines, which coiled around Annihilamon and kept him prisoner. A last confused stand against the living void, despite his protests that he had absolutely nothing to do with any of this and just wanted to return to the sweet release of non-life.

Motimon’s forces weren’t the only ones littering the battlefield. The dismembered bodies of Bambolamon lay amongst them, with Fantocciomon fending off the beasts himself, his own legs being torn off while he wept for his fallen children, trying to repair them as quickly as they were being destroyed. Amongst the Sanguine Quartet, Podargosmon and Deinosmon were the only ones still moving freely. Xanthosmon had lost her hind legs, though she still dragged herself forwards with gusto and malice. Lamponmon didn’t move at all, sprawled out in the sea of rent corpses. Missing an eye. And trailing half her intestines, still pulsing with the wriggling bodies of dozens of Motimon’s warriors. The deadly price of a luxurious banquet such as this.

The hell pony wasn’t dead, mind you. Just in a severe food coma.

Undetected by the remaining warriors, the humans waded through the mass of water and gelatine and reached one another, staying at the edge of the ravine. For a brief moment, they embraced, the reality of the past few hours overcoming them for a moment.

Then they huddled together, keeping an eye on their partners’ struggles.

“It’s not enough.”

Ursula peered up, as Sorimon grappled with Minogamemon and sent her reeling with a devastating kick to her lower shell. “We can keep attacking her all we want, but as long as she has the Funnyman and the power of the core she’s just gonna keep repairing herself.”

“Well what are we going to do? We don’t have anything else.”

“Yes we do. Or...we might.”

Everyone turned to Martin, who raised his palms. “The flash drive? The ones Perez and everybody gave us? They’re supposed to recover the digital core. It should just give us an edge.”

Eleanor bit her lip, looking sadly across at Callum. “But we don’t have them anymore. We tried during the last battle, but they were all destroyed.”

“...not all of them...”

Everybody looked over at Ursula, who slowly unfurled her left hand, revealing the final device. Eleanor sniffed. “You’re beautiful. Has anyone ever told you that?”

“Thank Hinkymon. He’s the beautiful one.” Ursula blushed, before pocketing the device hurriedly. “So what do we do?”

Eleanor clenched her fists. “We need to get it right up there, round her neck. Maybe, if we do, it’ll actually make a difference.”

“It’s gonna be easier said than done.”

Callum pointed, and the others looked at the great orb swinging from Sorimon’s goliath’s throat, pulsing weakly now, almost submissive. The goliath spun, digging its claws into Sindrimon’s belly and Siphonamon’s frill while she dodged fire and lightning left and right. Callum swallowed.

“How are we gonna do this? How’ll our partners get close enough?”

Martin clasped his hands together. “They won’t. But we can. They’re giving their all to keep Sorimon occupied. We’re the ones who need to finish the job.” He pushed his glasses up, and looked at everybody in turn. “So who’s going to go in?”

It was a beautiful moment. As he raised his hand, Callum, Eleanor and Ursula did the same. Only Lorelie held back, shaking her head.

“No.”

“Lorelie-“

“No, we’re not doing this one at a time. Not this time. We came here together, and we’re gonna stay together. If we all go in, we have more of a chance of winning.”

Everybody blinked, staring at the girl as she stood tall, a defiant look in her digital eyes. Ursula laughed, and placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“I think it is an awful plan. But it’s as good as any other plan we have.”

Callum stuck his thumb up. “Me too.”

Martin clenched his fist. “Me three.”

Eleanor sighed, and held the back of her head. “Geez...you guys do grow on people...”

Callum smiled. “So are we going in?”

“I guess.”

The five huddled together, hiding behind the rubble as they watched Sorimon’s battle, waiting for the perfect moment. Lorelie stayed just behind, her screen glowing red. In fact all of their D-Psyches were glowing, the adrenaline, stress, fear and duty pumping through their bodies and making their veins glow. Lorelie crouched.

“I know this isn’t the best time for anything, but I’m glad I came here with you guys. I’m happy to put my life on the line with you.”

It was a sappy line. But right at that moment, all five of them couldn’t agree more.

Eleanor stepped forwards, lights dancing over her body.

“Everybody GO!”

It was an unimpressive sight amongst the fire, water and blinding lights, but Sorimon still saw. She watched as the five humans ran forwards, their devices giving off boundless energy and colour, straight towards her with the stance of chivalrous knights and the blind confidence of drunk frat boys.

“How touching. How noble. How...utterly moronic.”

She smirked, and turned towards them, the goliath gurgling as it stared down at the now exposed humans.

“Barbaric Acid!”

“No.”

Sorimon was yanked back as Ammumon and Siphonamon pulled her, taking the blow themselves as their comparatively miniscule tamers ran forwards. It was only a second though, as the two Ultimates gave in to the pain, their bodies severely burnt. The goliath broke free and sent her claw down into the ground below, cracking the rock. Martin fell backwards, but the others split up, rushing around behind her even as their bodies pulled against them. Sorimon tried to turn around, but her body remained still. She whipped her head around, seeing Sindrimon holding her tail in his grasp. The troll pulled backwards, his wheels grinding against the ground as he held the tail downwards.

“I dunno what you guys are doing but it looks very silly!”

Callum stopped as the others carried on, glancing up at the troll. “We need to get to the sphere! It’s the only way!”

Sindrimon nodded, and held the tail down, allowing them to grab hold of it and begin climbing; far faster than they should have been able to. Sorimon growled, and her entire body spasmed.

“Pinpoint Executioner!”

“Mercy Melody!”

Sorimon jerked as her entire left half grinded to a halt, frozen in place. Her eyes flickered at Ophicleimon, who stood in front of her, the black energy still gathering around his mouth.

“Go!”

Sorimon wriggled, trying to break herself free, but the more she did so the harder it got. Martin had grabbed hold of her other leg and was holding on tightly, his D-Psyche emitting purple energy as his iron will forced it to open, sending spikes out into the biomechanical flesh. Sorimon snarled, and raised her leg, lifting him off the ground and smacking his body against the ground. The boy coughed, but he didn’t let go, instead calling out at the top of his lungs.

“Polypmon!”

“MARTIN!”

Sorimon looked up too late as Siphonamon’s vast form collided with hers, wrapping their tentacles round every way they could. Sorimon struggled, and crashed into the ravine wall with her stowaways still latched on.

Sorimon’s tiny true form looked back, grabbing hold of the wires around her as she saw the other four tamers climbing up her tail.

“Tartarean Razor!”

Eleanor looked back, and shoved Callum forwards. “Go! Get to the core!”

“Eleanor-“

The girl turned backwards, and grabbed the tendrils as they shot towards her. She pulled with all her might, but she was lifted from the ground, the cables wrapping around her. The others glanced back, but she shook her head.

“I’m...fucking...fine!”

With a battlecry she thrust her body forwards, wrapping the wires around her arms and legs and holding them all together with all her strength, even as the metal dug into her limbs.

“Go! Now!”

“Pinpoint Executioner!”

An explosion rocked above all of them, sending Ursula crashing down into the golem’s back. Immediately more wires sprung out around her, and she grabbed the goliath’s flesh, her own D-Psyche sending spikes out all around. As the golem writhed in pain, Ursula held out a clenched fist towards Callum.

“The reboot program thing!”

“No!”

Sorimon’s tiny form wriggled, but a shadow passed over her. Minogamemon landed roughly in front of her, grabbing the goliath by the shoulders and pressing it up against the wall. All around her, Sindrimon, Ammumon, Ophicleimon and Siphonamon held on as tightly as they could, trying to keep her from moving as the final two tamers rushed forwards, stumbling amidst the rolling body.

Sorimon screamed, and pulled herself free from the wires, running back along her own goliath on all fours and leaping at Callum.

“I won’t let you ruin this!”

She struck him dead in the face, sending him rolling backwards. He landed on his back, and raised his D-Psyche, which was breaking apart. But Sorimon remained as strong as ever, the Funnyman’s essence coursing through her body. With one arm she grabbed the metal tendrils and wrenched them back, venting steam and blue sparks. With her other she held the boy’s other hand – his flesh hand – and squeezed, staring down wildly.

“Let me take that from you.”

Callum cried out as his hand cracked, and his fingers unfurled. Sorimon’s hand slammed down, grabbing what was in his palm...

Nothing.

Callum forced a grin through the pain.

“Guess your partner’s far stronger than you think she is.”

Sorimon’s head whirled round, just in time to see Lorelie leap down to the dangling core at the goliath’s throat. The shrew could see the flashing light in her hand, and the red glow from her D-Psyche as she scrabbled on the struggling orb.

“LORELIE!”

The shrew whirled around, all composure gone as her body split apart into masses of limbs and wires and eyes. The goliath spasmed, sending spikes out all around as the tamers and Digimon clung on for dear life.

Lorelie slipped from the sudden movement, but held on tightly to the wire. She ran her hand over the smooth metal as she desperately tried to find the entry for the antidote. However she wasn’t even there for a second before Sorimon landed in front of her, the shrew’s face contorting with fury.

“WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?”

Lorelie felt herself slipping again, but she held on tightly to the wires, feeling them burning her skin but not caring as she railed into her former partner.

“I’M HERE TO SAVE THE WORLD!”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-“

Sorimon’s screech blasted through the ravine; a horrific, constant noise that burst flesh and shattered rock. Lorelie caught the full brunt of it, gripping onto the wires so hard that her fingers bled. She couldn’t hear. Couldn’t feel. She could barely see, and as she watched the cracks snake along her screen and distort the already horrific visage of the shrew, she knew she didn’t have much longer.

The glass cracked, and she saw a red light, just beneath her knee. Ignoring the pain and the numb and every part of her body screaming at her as loudly as the shrew was, Lorelie reached down, the antidote trembling in her fingers.

“This...is what I’m...here for...”

The core flashed, and the flash drive vanished from her grasp.

Her screen cracked, shattered, and gave way to complete blackness.

· start;

· mainframe:Initialise

o entity:Yggdrasil;

· dateTime:Initialise

o dtCode: 0x452;

o dtReference(post:Reset(code:Nexus));

· memory:ReadWrite

o newMemory(datetimeAddress:0x452);

· diagnostics:Run

o worldHealth: Error;

o worldPosition:Error;

o worldProtocol:Error;

o darkArea:Error;

· systemReset:Activate()

o dateTime: T – 9:

o systemPurge:Error

o systemReset:COMPLETE

o request:RunMalwareScan

· emergency

· humanWorldProtocol:Activate()

o Warning: Protocol was interrupted during previous attempt

o Query: Would you like to attempt to restore the previous attempt?

o Query: Y

o members:5;

o scanningPartnerMembers:5of5;

o mappingNeuralLinks;

o mappingDigivice;

o analysingSoul;

· tamers: Accepted

· humanWorldProtocol: Complete

· Request: Take That Fucker Down

In its hiding place above and outside the digital world, the digital core flickered, just for a second. A thousand chambers flashed out of existence, then flashed back in again. All corruption was gone. Every trace of the virus was purged, as was the evidence of any battle, of any destruction, and of the death that took place within its walls. Everything was pristine once again. The longitude room. The mirror maze. Every chamber, living or dead, was utterly perfect, save for one or two little black dots bobbing around. But then again they always did their own thing.

And in a small cluster of chambers in one corner, including a newly refurbished one with designation HMN_GO , something burst into life. A new light. Five new lights, passing through from chamber to chamber. Five other lights joined them. Some were hesitant at first. Others fell dim, almost to the point of being extinguished.

Then they glowed brighter than they ever had before.

Down in the ravine, Sorimon scrambled back up towards her nest of wires, pulling left and right as the goliath trembled again. She freed one arm, and held it up towards the beast’s throat, but there was nothing. Just a mass of dripping pipes and metal rods. The core had returned to whence it had come.

Eyes bulging in fury, Sorimon screeched and wrenched the wires back, calling upon the full power of the Funnyman as the goliath’s throat glowed.

“Ballistic Executioner!”

She didn’t even bother to aim; just firing off wildly at everyone and everything around her. The blasts ricocheted and caught her as well, and the goliath was thrown backwards, freed from its captors. For a moment it twitched, then the Funnyman caught hold of it again, knitting the flesh together as it pulled itself up.

The Digimon hadn’t been so lucky, all sprawled out across the wall and struggling to right themselves. But Sorimon wasn’t looking at them. She was staring down at the humans on the ground below, all out cold.

“You...you idiots...you haven’t done a thing-“

She shut her mouth, watching as the tamers were surrounded by a white light, which then split into five separate colours. They twitched, and shifted, and then one by one their bruised and battered bodies pushed themselves up. As they moved, their D-Psyches glowed; not as sharp and intense as before, but no less powerful. With every movement, the metal cracked. Panels split. Glass shattered.

Then, in a beautiful display, they all stood at once, their D-Psyches disintegrating away. Though not completely. Each tamer still had a device, clinging to their flesh at the centre of where the metal cages had been before. Callum’s around his left wrist. Eleanor’s her right foot. Martin’s in the centre of his chest, and Ursula’s around her waist, gripping at the small of her back. And, in front of them all, Lorelie stood up, her eyes blinking against the light as a small, red device clutched tightly to her forehead. She opened her mouth, and a nervous laugh escaped her lips.

“...I’m free...we’re all free...”

“Aaargh!”

All five turned to Sorimon, who trembled atop her goliath. “No! The battle is over! I’ve won! You can’t do this! I won’t allow it!”

Lorelie sighed, and for a moment her eyes showed pity. She turned back, looking up at Ursula. “I guess we still have a job to finish.”

Ursula nodded, standing up taller than ever before. Eleanor smiled at Callum, and he grinned back, clenching his fist. Martin’s hand went to his chest, feeling the warm tingle of his new D-Psyche. All around, their partners stood up again, ignoring their wounds as they gathered behind their partners.

Sorimon pushed herself up as tall as she could, the goliath pulling itself back together with a crack and a snap, leering down at them all.

“Carry on if you want to! It’ll just be the same!”

Lorelie didn’t answer. She just raised her hand. The other four tamers did the same behind her, and as they did so, their D-Psyches glowed an intense white. The energy passed over their bodies and beneath their tattered clothes, trailing across the red markings that the incomplete units had left in their skin. A few drops of blood fell, but the tamers didn’t move or yield in the slightest, so intense was the energy travelling through them. And the energy expanded, and reached out, wrapping around each of their partners in turn. Siphonamon took to the skies, higher than ever before. Sindrimon stretched. Ammumon and Ophicleimon stood tall, their forms glowing white. Minogamemon stepped back, curling up. The energy pulsed again, holding Sorimon back even as she tried to approach.

Lorelie smiled, holding her arm as tears brimmed in her eyes.

“Thank you...all...”

It felt completely different. Every single one of them had felt the shackles come off. The prison unlocked. And their power – the power they had forced and struggled to bring to the surface all this time – finally erupted outwards. Their bonds were stronger than ever, between their partners, and between themselves. Allowing them to become the tamers that they were always meant to be.

They threw their arms out as one, bright white data glittering at their fingertips.

And as one, they called out into the abyss.

“Psyche Symbiosis!”

TO BE CONCLUDED...