"DORUGAMON, DIGIVOLVE!" Faced with the demons before them, Deon saw the resolve on Tavaras's face reflected in the bright glow of his partner. SkullSatamon grinned wickedly as the purple Digimon stepped forward, evolving.

"None of us are alone." Deon said, a face of stone hiding the immense fear held within. In lockstep with his ally, Veedramon shone bright with the light of evolution.

"VEEDRAMON, DIGIVOLVE!" The two Digimon grew, regal wings sprouting from the blue dragon as a cape bellowed from the back of Dorugamon.

The two continued stepping forward, a disc of spinning gold appearing on Bahadramon's back as he took to the skies. Grademon sprung forth with his ally, the golden warrior unsheathing his blades.

The light dissipated as Deon's evolved partner roared and swung his claws at LadyDevimon while Grademon's slash hit SkullSatamon's staff.

Bahadramon [https://ic.pics.livejournal.com/immortalfork/97476102/5617/5617_original.png] Grademon [https://wikimon.net/images/thumb/d/d2/Grademon_crusader2.png/196px-Grademon_crusader2.png]

"Go!!!" Deon and Tavaras yelled in unison. Their focus was squarely on their partner's battles; nothing more existed. Not the heavily wounded Baboongamon and Digmon. Not the unconscious Imogen and Chrysalimon, the latter being tended to by ROOT. Not Edward, cradling his small partner in his arms next to the body of his little sister.

LadyDevimon deftly evaded Bahadramon's claws, striking down with her own crimson hand-turned spear. The majestic dragon dropped, the attack barely grazing overhead as he was suddenly grabbed by two white, clawed tentacles. MarineDevimon smirked below, throwing Bahadramon into the side of the mountain.

Grademon parried SkullSatamon's swinging staff with one sword and struck back with the other. SkullSatamon, not losing his wicked grin, disengaged, side stepping the attack. As the warrior moved to follow up he was hit from behind by the large, spiked fist of Gigasmon. Grademon landed on the ground, clutching his back as Bahadramon was thrown past him.

Deon's optimism quickly vanished as the realization of futility set in; even one on one their opponents were stronger than their partner, but now they also outnumbered them two to one.

"Grademon! Fight back!" Tavaras yelled. The warrior of gold sidestepped LadyDevimon's piercing attack and swung with both blades, only to be pushed back by SkullSatamon nailing him in the chest before his attack to connect.

"Dark Deluge!" A torrent of water as black as ink sped towards Grademon as he braced himself. Before MarineDevimon's attack could land, an orb of black energy crackling like lightning hit the attack and the resulting shockwave sent Tavaras's partner skidding back. Deon looked behind with renewed hope as Bahadramon threw a second Impulse orb towards SkullSatamon, the fallen angel sent reeling backwards after barely blocking with his staff.

Spreading his wings, the dragon flew towards LadyDevimon, his golden claws joining Grademon's twin blades. Attacked from both sides, LadyDevimon braced herself, but before Bahadramon could reach her Gigasmon interrupted him, spinning like a top and forcing him to fly high over the possessed Guardian. Taking the chance, the Lady of Darkness let forth a wave of dark bats at Grademon, the golden warrior desperately on the back foot fighting the swarm back with expert swordplay.

Sparks flew as LadyDevimon's spear collided with Bahadramon's claw, and Deon saw Tavaras's mouth drop from the corner of his eyes as MarineDevimon moved to shoot another wave of black water at the black haired young man's partner.

"Wing Blade!" A crimson bird shaped aura struck the aquatic devil in the side before he could get the attack off. MarineDevimon screamed in pain as he fell to the ground, and Deon looked up to see where the attack came from.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw Garudamon in the skies, holding Senna in her familiar bright green shirt.

Tavaras and Grademon both grinned widely. They had a chance now. Squaring off against Gigasmon, Grademon's blades sang. Swinging down with both of them, the sharp edges dug into the Guardian of Divinity Mountain's shoulder. Red eyes met red eyes as blue data leaked from the cuts, but only for a second. Stuck in place, Grademon wriggled as Gigasmon grabbed him with both arms and squeezed.

"Shit, you need to kill SkullSatamon!" ROOT yelled, still hunched over Chrysalimon's still body. Deon spared a look at the Keeper. "He's likely the only one of them strong enough to corrupt Gigasmon."

"Bahadramon! Help Garudamon!" Deon yelled. As Grademon struggled against Gigasmon's grasp, his own partner grappled with LadyDevimon while Garudamon danced through the air dodging SkullSatamon's attacks, having dropped Senna off a little ways away after taking down MarineDevimon.

"Oh no you don't!" Deon grimaced as LadyDevimon deftly evaded Bahadramon's claws and grabbed his tail as he passed. Swinging the dark blue dragon around, she let go and Bahadramon crashed into the ground in front of the terrified Ankylomon lying there. Garudamon looked over as she grabbed SkullSatamon's staff, only to be kicked back, the skeletal devil showing strength belying his wiry body.

"Die!" He shrieked, the evil piercing Deon's ears. A beam of light shot from his staff hitting Garudamon square in the chest. The large bird screamed in pain as she fell to the ground, and SkullSatamon turned towards Grademon. Gigasmon, knowing his master's will, threw Grademon at him, and SkullSatamon swung down with his staff, crushing the golden warrior's armour and sending him reeling next to Bahadramon, lying there with light gathering in the spinning gold disc on his back.

"No!" Tavaras yelled. The determination that once shone bright in his eyes faded, and Deon felt his own heart falter at this impossible situation. From the clifftop, he saw Senna creep up, carrying an unconscious Biyomon, and he saw MarineDevimon get back up, vengeance deep in his three red eyes.

"T-this is impossible." The young boy moaned, hands clutching his messy brown hair. Behind him Edward looked down emotionlessly holding his sister's and partner's bodies while the ever belligerent Keeper of the Chronicles kept herself busy administering first aid to Chrysalimon.

Bahadramon roared, getting on all fours. Energy gathered in his mouth and a large beam of white, hot energy shot towards SkullSatamon. A last ditch effort to salvage whatever they could from the situation.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Yet to no avail. SkullSatamon and MarineDevimon's own attacks collided with the Mega Flare, the explosion of energy rippling through the battlefield like the bright flash of a sunburst. LadyDevimon smirked wickedly, and with a chilling laugh her blood red spear struck the dragon through the back. Light faded as Bahadramon turned back into Veemon, the blue imp lying there unconscious.

"How cute." LadyDevimon mocked. "Such a tiny creature just sleeping there. I could just..." She stabbed down and Deon screamed. His heart raced as the spear embedded into the ground right next to his little partner. "Oh but where's the fun in that." She laughed.

"Grademon! Get up!" Tavaras yelled. Despite everything, the young man broke away from the group and ran to his partner, the swordsman struggling to his feet.

"Sorry Tav... I don't think we're walking away from this one." The gold Digimon clutched his head, a large dent in the armour where SkullSatamon struck him. The rest of his body was no better off with cracks appearing all over. Deon watched speechless as all three Nightmare Soldiers converged on the two of them, Gigasmon standing between Deon's group and Tavaras. Deon fell to his knees and started shaking. Was this it? Was he going to die? Senna still lay there over the cliff, her dark eyes meeting his brown.

"FUCK. THIS!" Tavaras yelled, jolting Deon's face towards him. "I WILL NOT DIE HERE. NOT WITHOUT TAKING YOU SHITSTAINS WITH ME."

—

Tavaras looked around him. The only thing keeping tears from forming was the sheer anger he felt. Anger towards these evil Digimon. Anger towards this world for taking him away from everything he held so dear. Anger towards himself, for being so weak as to be in this spot in the first place.

He looked around, the Nightmare Soldiers, all three full of malice converging on him and Grademon. Senna lay up there; she had come to their aid even when she was safe and sound in the village. A strong woman who had faced death more times than any of them; would she die so soon after finally finding a place to live and call home?

Deon sat there on his knees, the brother he never had. A nice, brilliant kid who had no experience of the world. Would he die before having his first real kiss or even figuring out what he wanted out of life? He had so much potential, not only as a scholar but as a human.

ROOT still worked to save Chrysalimon, not letting the impending doom get to her. She pissed him off to no end, but he had gained a respect for her tenacity and her drive to save her world. She would never give up, and he would be damned if he didn't match her there.

Edward himself had grown so much from the coward he met not three weeks ago. He fought so hard to save his sister from her fate. That entire family was nothing but tragic, and Tavaras kicked himself for not being able to break the spiral of pain.

And Iggy. Like an older and younger sister. A woman who had no time to be a girl. A woman whose kind heart kept her moving forward despite wanting to just stay and leave it all behind. A woman who had come out of her shell and let him know the real her. A woman who was destined to die.

"FUCK!" Tavaras screamed. He and Grademon were the only ones left, and if they did nothing they would die either way. He yanked the Soul Link from his neck, and Grademon nodded.

"You and I, Tav. Together we can do anything."

Fine. If the world demanded his life either way, he would make sure to go out with a scream, not a whimper. "Thanks for everything, Grademon." The Soul Link hovered in between Tavaras and his partner, shining a bright silver.

"No!" SkullSatamon shouted, him and LadyDevimon racing to finish the two off. Tavaras and Grademon took one last look at each other as they disintegrated into white particles, swirling around the two moons in an eclipse. The last thing Tavaras saw with his own eyes were his hands evaporating.

Sorry, mom. Sorry, Pravo.

Alphamon [https://wikimon.net/images/thumb/2/29/Alphamon.jpg/320px-Alphamon.jpg]

Through the fog in his head, Tavaras felt the ringing of two attacks impact either side as if hitting armour. He tried to move his head, finding it difficult as if he fought against himself for every inch. Looking through eyes like frosted glass, the young man saw what were his own arms - black metal with gold trimming.

He felt a heaviness in his legs as he lifted them to step forward, like a toddler learning how to walk. He felt the earth shake as he set it down aggressively, still fighting with himself.

There was a sting in his back, and Tavaras turned his head to find LadyDevimon's darkness wave strike him, thousands of bats like little mosquito bites. Right, he was in the middle of a battle. Anger and fear flashed through his mind as the fog started to get thicker.

He was disappearing. But he would at least feel the lives of the Nightmare Soldiers end by his own hands. Those bastards who drove him to such length. With a scream, Tavaras threw a punch towards the Lady of Darkness. It was slow, heavy. His body was taking too long to catch up to his mind and LadyDevimon easily evaded.

Three more stinging sensations as SkullSatamon, MarineDevimon, and Gigasmon all hit him.

Oi, Grademon, you there?

For now, Tav.

Why can't we fight? As thought that, he stumbled towards Gigasmon and threw another punch. The Guardian of the Mountain sidestepped easily and swung his giant arms into Tavaras's side.

You need to let go, Tav. Through the frosted glass he saw his friends looking up at him, awe and fear on their faces. Let Alphamon fight. This is who we were always meant to be. There is untold power here, but we are holding him back.

Alphamon? Badass name. Tavaras managed to chuckle. I'm scared, Grademon. I don't want to lose it. The Nightmare Soldiers kept desperately hammering away at him as he struggled with what needed to be done.

I know, Tav. Sorry. There is a cost to all this power. He knew that of course, witnessing what happened with Elizabeth and Susanoomon. He just wished there was more time. Relax and let your new body do all the work. It'll all be over soon, but there should be enough time that you can witness their demise.

Tavaras felt himself start to whimper. Was that really how he was going to go out? Crying about his impending death? Fine. I'll step back for now. With heaviness in his heart, Tavaras surrendered to himself.

Alphamon's eyes flashed. No more fighting with himself, now just the pure power of the Black Knight, a power that hadn't been seen in this world since the age of Susanoomon itself. A power that was only possible through the union of Man and Digimon. He grabbed Gigasmon's arms and threw the possessed Digimon into the side of the very mountain he was charged with guarding. He would not kill him. But the others?

Fear grew in the eyes of LadyDevimon; she was next. Gold wings sprouted from his back as the Nightmare Soldier turned to flee. Too slow; in a flash Alphamon caught up to her and grabbed the evil creature in both hands. A shrill scream pierced the air as he squeezed, and as quickly as she was grabbed the Lady of Darkness exploded in a shower of blue data.

"W-what the hell?" SkullSatamon looked at the group of terrified humans and lunged towards them, a desperate attempt to get hostages. Alphamon held out his palm and a green circle appeared in front of it. Before the evil Digimon could reach the circle, a beam of light pierced his chest, deleting him instantly.

MarineDevimon just stood there, dumbstruck and seemingly accepting his fate. Alphamon swooped down on the last remaining Nightmare soldier and grabbed both tentacles in his hands. MarineDevimon screamed as they were torn completely off, data spurting out of his back like a water fountain. Now grabbing the screaming enemy under his shoulders, Alphamon pulled to the side and their final enemy was deleted as he was torn in half.

The ultimate level Digimon looked to the sky and saw the streams of data from Demon's lieutenant's scatter into the wind.

The earth shook as he suddenly fell to his knees, clutching his black helmeted head. With the threat gone, Tavaras struggled to reach through the thick fog, desperately trying to cling to his own sentience.

"LET ME THROUGH!" Alphamon screamed to the heavens with Tavaras's voice. "GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!"

Two voices echoed in agony through the mountain as the new and the old wrestled for control.

Spreading his golden wings, Alphamon shot into the sky high above the clouds.