[On-screen]
The scene shifted.
MetalSeadramon's data remains had not yet sunk into the black sea.
MetalGarurumon's frigid breath had only just frozen Puppetmon's last mad cackle.
And then—a moving fortress forged of steel and malice crushed the city's ruins and loomed before the DigiDestined.
Machinedramon.
Its Infinity Cannon didn't even allow a heartbeat to react—the annihilating beams detonated!
The earth screamed and split. Tai, Sora, Izzy and two more, along with their partner Digimon, were hammered by the shockwave and hurled into a deep, lightless rift.
Rrrrrumble—
Tons of dust and rubble slammed down and sealed the entrance.
An instant ago they fought shoulder to shoulder; now the endless dark cut the team apart.
They lost all contact.
[01 World]
"T.K.! Kari!" Tai shot to his feet, eyes locked on the blacked-out screen, knuckles bone-white. "Damn it! That bastard!"
Agumon paced in tight circles at his feet. "Tai, calm down! They'll be okay!"
"Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down? They fell! Matt, your little brother—"
Matt's face was pale, but he forced himself steady, gripping Tai's shoulders. "Tai, panic won't help. Trust Sora—she'll protect them."
Gabumon murmured, "T.K. has Patamon, and Kari has Gatomon."
Gennai stroked his beard, gaze grave. "The gears of fate have turned to their most crucial mesh…"
…
[On-screen]
The underground passage was so damp you could wring water from the air.
Cold drops slid down rock, drip, drip, tapping on every heart.
Sora gripped T.K. with one hand and Kari with the other, stumbling step by step.
Her palms were slick with cold sweat, but she kept her voice level. "Don't be scared. Hold on to me."
T.K. nodded, little face taut.
Kari followed in silence, squeezing Sora's hand even tighter.
In the dark, Biyomon, Patamon and Gatomon's eyes were the only light—three glowing pairs, barely illuminating a scrap of tunnel.
"We've got to find a way to reach Tai and the others," Sora panted, leaning against the wet rock.
Biyomon settled on her shoulder and nuzzled her cheek. "Don't worry, Sora—we'll find a way out."
A wail drifted up from deeper in the tunnel.
It was soaked in pain and despair; goosebumps raced over the kids' skin.
"What was that?" T.K. whispered, tense.
Gatomon's ears twitched; her eyes sharpened. "Digimon distress calls—and… a lot of them."
They traded a look. Sora bit down and decided. "We're going."
They rounded a bend—
And heat flared in Sora's chest.
Dozens of slimy Numemon were being kicked and stomped by a hulking teddy-bear Digimon.
WaruMonzaemon—a bully in plush.
Every time the giant paw came down, a Numemon's body squashed out of shape and whimpered in pain.
The weak little Digimon could only curl up and shake—no power to resist.
The brute cackled, booted a Numemon into a wall, and watched it slither down. "Hahahaha! Scream! The louder you squeal, the more fun I have!"
"Stop!"
Sora lunged, fury breaking loose.
"Biyomon, digivolve!"
"Biyomon digivolve to— Birdramon!"
With a rush of fire, a great crimson bird took wing and blasted a wave of heat.
"Meteor Wing!"
Birdramon didn't hesitate—the burning pinions split into a storm of fireballs and hammered down.
But the bully just raised an arm. The firebursts exploded across plush hide—little real damage.
"Oh? A challenger?" The bear's grin turned cruel. "Thick skin and tough stuffing—perfect playmates."
Its paw snapped out—blindingly fast.
WHUD!
Birdramon's huge body was swatted from the air like a rag doll, smashed against the rock. She cried out—her form almost collapsing.
"Birdramon!" Sora gasped.
"That all you've got?" The brute snorted and advanced. "Useless trash—big and small—you're all my new toys."
"I won't let you!" T.K. drew breath. "Patamon—get ready to digivolve!"
But just then—silent Kari began to glow with a gentle white light.
It wasn't blinding—yet it held a warmth and sanctity that allowed no doubt.
Light spilled through the abyss like sunrise.
Some washed over the struggling Birdramon—her wounds vanished, strength flooding back.
The rest fell like a fine rain on those Numemon huddled in the corners.
A miracle.
Terror drained from their eyes. In its place—tiny flames, each called Courage, took spark.
They glanced at each other—no more whimpering, no more shake.
One Numemon squeaked and hurled itself at the bear's ankle!
Then a second. A third—
"Squeee! Squeee!"
Dozens of Numemon went wild, swarming from all sides. They wrapped the bear's legs, waist, even plastered over its eyes with their slick, rubbery bodies.
"Get off me, you disgusting slugs!"
The bully thrashed—but the "trash" it usually stomped stuck like glue and wouldn't be shaken free.
They poured every ounce of will into their bodies—to buy Birdramon a perfect opening.
"Now!" Sora shouted.
"Meteor Wing!"
Birdramon's eyes blazed. Wings beat—and this time the fire was tenfold, a massive flaming meteor that slammed into the pinned chest!
"Cat Punch!"
Gatomon flashed in like lightning—claws raking the spine-point from behind!
"No—!"
Pinned, blasted, and swarmed by Numemon, the bully let out one last, unwilling roar. The body blew apart—into data shards that faded to nothing.
Silence.
The Numemon wriggled upright and gathered before Kari.
Clumsy, but utterly sincere, they bowed deep.
In their eyes—gratitude for surviving, and pure reverence.
[Tamers World]
"Whoa! Awesome!" Takato's eyes sparkled. "Kari's light can make other Digimon brave!"
Guilmon tilted his head. "Takato, what is it? Is it tasty?"
"It's not food!"
Rika folded her arms, a hint of a smile at her mouth. "Hmph. Luck. But using the weak to pin the strong—clever tactic."
Renamon side-eyed her. "You just think that girl is cool."
Rika blushed. "Nonsense. I'm analyzing."
Henry pushed his glasses, thoughtful. "Miss Kari's power is… special. Not direct offense—more like amplification and guidance. Very rare in the Digital World."
Terriermon flapped an ear. "No problem~"
Ryo's gaze sharpened. "Not ordinary at all. It's the fledgling form of holy power."
[Xros Wars World]
"Oh oh oh! That was great!" Taiki pumped a fist. "That's the power of friends— even the weakest can topple the mighty when united! I'm fired up!"
Shoutmon roared on his shoulder. "Exactly! That burning soul—we live for it!"
Akari exhaled. "Thank goodness—those kids are safe."
Zenjirou wiped his brow. "That bear had me sweating. But those slimy guys… pretty gutsy!"
Meanwhile, in another tangled tunnel—
Tai and Izzy slumped against a wall, catching their breath.
Agumon and Tentomon took point and rear, wary.
The passage stank of scorched metal and oil.
Izzy flipped open his pineapple-brand laptop. A giant red dot hammered on the display. "Tai, the mechanical signals here are very, very strong! We must be in Machinedramon's core territory!"
He'd barely finished—
Heavy, dragging footfalls scraped from the darkness ahead.
A tall metal form staggered into view.
Andromon.
He was torn to shreds—armor cracked, vicious wounds everywhere, sparks skittering inside.
"R… run!" Andromon saw them and forced a last roar. "Machinedramon… is close! You can't fight it!"
Too late.
A cold, emotionless machine-voice sliced the air like a blade.
"Found you, little DigiDestined."
BOOM!
A shape so vast it froze the breath filled the tunnel's end—and sealed their retreat.
Machinedramon.
Its body of countless metal scales gleamed with hopeless chill in Tentomon's weak light.
The twin cannons on its back adjusted—locking precisely onto Tai.
"Infinity Cannon."
No warning. No wasted words.
Energy shells formed—and fired.
Too fast for thought.
Tai's pupils pinpricked—certain he was dead—when Andromon roared and threw his ravaged body in front—
KRA-THOOOOOM!!!
The shell hammered Andromon's chest.
His alloy plate vaporized; a gaping hole blew through him. He hit the ground without even a scream—systems failing at once.
"Andromon!" Tai's howl tore out.
"You—!" Agumon's rage erupted. "Agumon digivolve to— MetalGreymon!"
Giga Destroyer!
Revenge missiles shrieked at Machinedramon—who lazily swatted them apart with a steel claw.
"Pointless attack."
The tail of forged iron cracked like a whip and smashed MetalGreymon side-on!
CRASH!
He never got a counter. He rag-dolled into the rock, a pained dragon's cry echoing as his metal dimmed—on the verge of de-digivolving.
[02 World]
"Andromon!" Davis slammed the desk. "That jerk! He—"
Veemon bared his teeth. "Unforgivable!"
Ken's face was ashen. He glared at Machinedramon as if seeing the sins of his past. "So strong… a different dimension of power. It swatted aside Giga Destroyer."
Wormmon fretted. "Ken…"
BlackWarGreymon spoke, rare and low. "That is not mere strength. It is a pure 'program' of destruction—no feelings. Only the execution of orders."
Azulongmon's voice rolled, austere. "The Dark Masters embody the Digital World's purest distortion and malice. They must be corrected."
[Savers World]
"Heh! Interesting!" Marcus cracked his knuckles. "Looks tough! If Boss and Agumon jumped in we'd brawl it out!"
Agumon S. pumped a fist. "You know it, Boss!"
Gallantmon Crimson Mode's eyes stayed on Machinedramon. "Its body is built from the data of countless powerful Digimon. A stitched-together monster—a walking graveyard."
Alphamon: "Its very existence breaks this world's balance."
Craniummon snorted. "Such filth is unworthy of my spear."
At the cliff's edge of despair—
"Tai!"
Sora's voice rang from a side tunnel.
She'd arrived with T.K., Kari—and a whole crowd of Numemon.
"Get out!" Tai yelled, more frantic than relieved at the sight.
Too late.
Machinedramon's scarlet eyes slid to the new "toys."
"Don't hurt them!" T.K. stepped up, the Crest of Hope blazing on his chest.
"Patamon digivolve to— Angemon!"
A holy angel spread six wings—solemn and pure.
"Heaven's Knuckle!"
A golden fist of purifying power stabbed straight at Machinedramon—
It raised one claw.
Ting!
Like a knuckle on untouchable steel, the blow pinged off and burst a small crater in the wall.
Even Angemon's full strike didn't make it take a single step back.
"H…how?" Angemon stared, stunned.
Machinedramon's gaze fell to the Numemon who dared rush it again.
Impatience flickered in those eyes.
It didn't even bother with the cannons.
It merely swung a metal claw, almost lazily.
SPLAT. SPLAT.
Like flies.
Several Numemon in front didn't even have time to scream. They were swatted flat into smears of data—and erased.
Lives that had only just found courage… snuffed out as nothing.
"No!!!"
Kari saw it all.
Those little lives who'd just bowed to her—brave and weak—were crushed before her eyes like refuse.
Grief and rage erupted like a volcano, bursting every dam in her heart.
Tears flooded out.
And in that instant—her body unleashed a blinding surge of golden power!
Not the soft, healing white from before—
But a storm of judgment, blazing with wrath—
A Golden Storm (!).
(End of Chapter)
If I see that this fanfic has support, I will upload 20+ chapters to Patreon!!
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]