Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

Digimon Trinity

Chapter: 160/ Episode 23: War Between the Worlds

With a dull ache rampaging inside his head, Ken pushed himself up from off the ground with a grunt. He spat. Hot coppery blood flew from his mouth and splattered on the rubble-strewn street. Using his tongue, he probed the inside of his mouth and found an oozing laceration on his cheek.

All things considered, he had gotten off lucky. MetalSeadramon's attack, though aimed at MetalGarurumon, had narrowly missed him.

Rising to his feet, he took stock of the situation. A smoldering trench was carved into the street just off to his side where he had been standing. Fires blazed in spots and any vehicles that had been unfortunate enough to be in the way of the blast were wrecks. Ken's eyes fell on one of them and he immediately wished he hadn't. There, slumped to one side with his face rolled to one side, was an unmoving man, a small flame flickering around a gaping hole where the left side of his body should have been. Shaking his head, Ken wrenched his attention away.

"Stingmon…" he groaned harshly, staggering away. His left ankle felt like a heavy weight were attached to it, and a muscle clenched painfully in protest. It supported his weight however.

I'll take what I can get.

"Stingmon!" he called out, his voice a loud croak before he doubled over and began coughing.

Smoke inhalation, he thought as the spasms wracked his body. At least, I hope it's just that.

He pressed his hands against his sides tenderly, testing for anything that might signify internal injuries. He visibly relaxed upon his body's report of nothing more than bruises and scrapes. Nodding to himself in relief, he took another look about.

There were columns of green light descending into the city. One of them contained a writhing MetalSeadramon, screaming in pain and anger.

I don't remember those being there before, he thought, coughing again slightly. I must have been unconscious. Are all the digimon stuck like this?

He did a quick count of the columns and ran them against what combatants he remembered, both from his side and the Devas. It seemed possible.

I've got to find the others, he thought. He took another look around, this time uncertainly. But…where do I even begin? My iC digivice doesn't have a way for tracking anyone.

Narrowing his eyes, he peered closely at the columns of light. His head throbbed.

I…think that's Stingmon.

Satisfied to at least have a direction, Ken started off, his walk slow, pained and laborious.

###

Rika, Takato and Henry watched with growing horror as Taomon's protection spell broke apart with increasing speed, causing her and Rapidmon's forms to warp and distort underneath Juggernaut's program.

"We need a new plan here!" Taomon yelled.

"No! We need a miracle!" Rapidmon shouted.

"Taomon and Rapidmon are in trouble," Henry said, his voice straining. "If we don't do something, they'll be deleted!"

Janyu lowered his head in shame.

"Juggernaut's at full power," he replied. "I'm afraid there is nothing we can do now."

I have done something horrible to your friends, he thought, looking away while he clenched his hands into tight fists. I'm sorry.

Henry looked down helplessly, an angry groan escaping his lips. He couldn't believe it was all ending like this! After all the battles. All the struggle and effort to become strong enough to fight off the Devas and safeguard the world from their invasion, he was going to lose his best friend!

All because of a former Digidestined, he thought blackly.

He hated that dark feeling swelling up inside of him, but there was nothing he could do about it. The two of them had been dragged into this war through no fault of their own and were about to be discarded callously, like pieces on a chessboard. How could he not feel more than a little angry about this?

"What about…Guilmon?" he heard Takato pipe up from in front of him. He looked over at his friend curiously. The goggle-wearing boy was staring intently at his partner, still trapped in Vikaralamon's burning orb. He too was trapped in the same prison of green light as all the other digimon, his body twisting and warping just like theirs were.

What about Guilmon? he wanted to ask. He's in as much danger as Rapidmon and Taomon are. They're all going to be deleted.

Yet, something about the way Takato spoke suggested that he thought there was a way to get out of this. Henry cursed mentally and clutched at his chest.

What is he thinking? There is no way out of this! So why does he sound like Guilmon could change all that?

A second later, his mind seized on a potential answer.

The Hazard sign! Of course! How could I be so thick-headed? Takato… You deserve the Crest of Hope more than I do!

Before he could begin to relay this to the others, Rika suddenly pointed skyward with a gasp.

"Look up there!" she shouted. All eyes followed her finger just in time to spot a monkey-like digimon spinning in midair. With a twist, it flung a crystalline orb from its hand. It shot toward the glowing, dimensional hole hovering above Hypnos and upon disappearing into it, lightning sparked and the portal began to shift and change in color. Yellow waves of force burst outward and fell down upon the building. Hypnos shook violently and then, within minutes, something inside exploded, showering smoke and fire and broken glass upon the streets below.

"What's going on?!" Janyu exclaimed, shielding his eyes as the portal in the sky flashed brightly in response to the explosion. As if in answer, a column of silver light shot out and landed on Vikaralamon's prostrate form. The symbol tattooed on his forehead glowed and the beast's eyes flickered back open. A low, guttural snarl emanated from the back of his throat and the boar reared up from the street. A triumphant roar bellowed loudly upon the air.

"No way!" Takato gaped. "He's back!"

"And he doesn't even look like he's hurt anymore," Rika noted, lowering her hands from her ears. "Looks like that monkey boy was his backup in case things went south!"

"We've got to find a safer place," Janyu said, grabbing Rika by the shoulder and pulling her back. "Come on! Let's go!"

Rika resisted against the press of his hand however, her eyes locking on her partner. The column of light that surrounded her and Rapidmon was gone. They were free!

"Taomon…!"

"She'll be all right! Now, come on!" Janyu gave her an even stronger push to get her going. "Henry! You too! And you!"

Rika shot Janyu an angry look, but she reluctantly followed after Takato and Henry as they pulled back. With Vikaralamon now back in full stride, things were about to get serious again.

###

"What's happening to my system?!"

Takeru rocked on the back of his feet as the floors trembled beneath him. Something had gone off in the labs below. The particulars of how and why eluded him, but he doubted he would be in the dark for much longer. Especially as he already knew with whom the responsibility lay.

The Dark Ocean digimon.

If they were truly from the Dark Ocean at all.

Doubts gnawed at him as he clenched his father's lighter tightly in his hand. It didn't make any sense, but at the same time it was the only thing that could fit the facts. The reason why the Tamers' digimon were being affected at all by Juggernaut… It was all because of the data that he analyzed and plugged into Juggernaut's systems. Data that belonged to none of the Dark Ocean digimon. These Devas were their own group with their own agenda and goals.

No… It couldn't be. Why would digimon not of the Dark Area turn on us like this? They know that our worlds are linked to one another! They can't attack us without harming themselves! We fought together against the Darkness as well! We're allies!

The doubts continued to claw away at him and another explosion rocked him from below. Above, Tally screamed. Wires and cables tore loose from Juggernaut's central processing center and fell to the floor, causing a number of technicians to begin running off with cries of fear. The whole thing was coming apart around him. All his work had been for nothing!

One of the technicians, a dark-haired, bespectacled man, approached him. His expression was strained, struggling to keep back the panic that had claimed his colleagues.

"They have control of Juggernaut," he reported. "We have to evacuate."

"What?!" Takeru whirled about on the man. "We're not leaving!"

Tally crashed to the floor with a sharp, terrified cry. Rolling onto her knees, she pressed a hand against her back.

"I've had enough!" she cried. "I knew something like this would happen!"

"Get back to your post!" Takeru snarled. They couldn't abandon Juggernaut. Not now! They had to get it back from the control of these Devas!

"A huge amount of data is flowing back from the physical layer," the technician reported, taking a closer, almost challenging step, towards Takeru. His eyes were angry. "The Juggernaut data stream is imploding! The entire place could go up like a bomb!"

"Wasn't the ice wall supposed to prevent that?" Takeru demanded heatedly. "There's got to be something you can do! Shut it down and start it up again!"

"They're using the system against us. It's too late for that! And too dangerous!" Behind the technician, another woman helped Tally to her feet and proceeded to hurriedly lead her towards the emergency exit in the floor. "The entire program's been corrupted." Another violent explosion from below shook the room and panels fell from off the walls around them with sparks of electricity. The technician's voice softened. "It's over sir. Get out while there's still time."

"Hold it!" Takeru snapped as the man turned away from him. "Are you abandoning your duty?!"

"No, sir," the man replied tersely. "I've decided that my life is more valuable than your cause! Goodbye, sir!"

With that, the man hurried off after Tally and disappeared down the emergency exit. Takeru watched him go helplessly before turning to find Yolei standing at the exit's edge, her eyes focused on him flatly. In that moment, he was back in the hospital following the day of Kari's kidnapping by the Dark Ocean. There was sympathy there just as before, but of a different kind now. All the years since then had given her a certain steel that didn't back down. In that steel, polished brightly to reflect his image, he saw how she must have viewed him since he began building Hypnos. His desperation and anger; all the rage at his own helplessness that followed in the wake of his footsteps ever since Patamon's death and his father's death. His wounded pride. All the things that drove him on at the expense of his friendships and relations.

All contemptable, even to him, but at the same time she understood them and sympathized. That sympathy, along with their past association, was why she remained here when all others had fled, abandoning him.

I've become like Ken, he thought in quiet realization. I allowed my own inner darkness to control me.

No. Not like Ken. Ken had a Dark Spore in him that fed upon and encouraged his darkness. He, Takeru Takaishi, didn't have that excuse. All his actions were his own.

"Yolei," he began, amazed at how calm he sounded to his ears, "Ken and Davis' digivices are in my office safety box. Take them and get out of here."

Yolei blinked, but Takeru ignored her surprise and gave her the combination code to unlock the safe. Yolei nodded her head in thanks.

"Good luck," she said, darting down the stairs. Takeru stood there, staring at the exit while more screens fell about him. A strange emptiness filled him now that he was alone in the ruin of Hypnos' control room.

There's nothing left for me. Here or anywhere.

It would be so easy to just stay here and let it all end. Not just Juggernaut, but him as well. The failure who couldn't save the world. Who couldn't keep Kari safe.

"TK!"

Takeru staggered as the voice shouted loudly and urgently inside his mind, jarring him to attention. His eyes went wide beneath his sunglasses.

Patamon?

The voice didn't reply. Instead, the shaking of the building and the fall of another screen answered him. His eyes searched the room, a desperate light burning in them.

That was enough to get Takeru moving again.

###

He's got to be lying…

"The Sovereign doesn't lie," the voice from the digital field said. "Gods have no need to lie."

Impmon clenched his fist tightly as the digital field folded about him. The light within it pulsed in a welcoming manner.

"I don't need any god," he whispered harshly.

"Don't you?" the light asked. "Even the Demon Lords needed a god of their own."

"Yeah, and that's why they fell," Impmon snorted. "That's why they lost. Too busy listening to someone else instead of themselves."

The light throbbed, amused.

"Indeed? Well, I suppose you would know better."

"Hah?" Impmon raised an eyebrow at that. "What're you talking about?"

"Your destiny. Your power. Your past. The reason why Apocalymon chose you."

A light began to gleam upon Impmon's scarf and the diminutive digimon gaped at it in surprise. There, emblazoned on its scarlet surface, was an orange circle surrounding a rectangular-like device whose lines bent at its bottom and inward before rising into four, central points. Surrounding it were the words, Code Gluttony, Level 666, System Beelzebub.

"It can all be yours again," the voice continued. "With the Sovereign's blessing."

Impmon gazed at the symbol on his chest as it began to fade. Understanding rose in his mind. This…This was what Apocalymon had known about him. Why he recruited him.

I'm…I'm a Demon Lord! One of the Seven! But…

He ran a tongue along his lips. Something about this didn't feel quite right. At the same time though, he felt the dark, horrible truth in the light's words. He was the Demon Lord of Gluttony.

He lowered his hands and closed his eyes in surrender. The light grew brighter about him and with a flash, Impmon was gone.

###

"Spiking Strike!" Stingmon shouted, skewering a Meramon in the chest. The digimon screamed before evaporating into shards of data. No sooner did he retract his arm did a Snimon burst through the sparkling cloud, slashing at him with its arm-scythes. Stingmon bashed the blade to the side and fell back, only for Snimon to press the attack. Stingmon kicked off into the sky, trying to get as much speed as possible so he could buy himself a couple of breaths. The light that had held them all prisoner had left him badly drained and he hadn't had enough time to recover from it. The enemy digimon weren't doing so well either, but they had numbers on their side and were focusing their advantage on them.

His compound eyes shot over at Zudomon, who was desperately trying to hold off an Okuwamon and faltering. The insect digimon held considerable power as well as the advantage in that it hadn't been at ground zero of a SkullGreymon Dark Shot. Zudomon's injuries were still apparent and slowing him down.

Making a decision, he zipped away and shot toward Okuwamon. Snimon chased after him and Stingmon put all his strength into his wings to stay ahead, hoping beyond hope to stay ahead long enough to help take some pressure off his friend.

Unfortunately, Okuwamon saw him coming, and moved one of his lower arms to intercept him.

"Double Scissor Claw!" the Ultimate shouted, swatting Stingmon aside as though he were a Flymon, sending him crashing into a building. Stars exploded across his compound vision as he plowed through concrete and smashed into a row of tables. He rolled with the impact, his carapace soaking up some of it and he was on his feet in just in time for Snimon to start squeezing in through the hole he had made.

Perfect, he thought through the battered fog of his thoughts.

His shoulder guards rose and a pink spike emerged from his forearm. His wings spread to give him the speed he needed to lunge and end his adversary, but a twinge from one of them ended his attack then and there, causing him to collapse to the floor with a cry.

The Snimon tore through the wall and dashed toward him, scythe-arms cleaving through the air and sending violet, sickle shaped blasts at him. Stingmon rolled aside again, retracting his wings into his back. The energy scythes tore up the floor where he had just been, sending a spray of splintered wood flying through the air. Stingmon surged to his feet just as Snimon slammed into him. They both went down into the broken floor in a mess of twisting limbs and blades, causing it to break away beneath them. They slammed to the floor below, the weight of their impact causing that one to cave in and then the next one, followed by the next again until they reached the bottom. Stingmon felt the breath leave his digital lungs at the last one, but he retained enough of himself to kick Snimon away and out of the building.

Rolling to the side, he fought to catch his breath again.

He didn't get a chance.

"Primal Orb!"

The sphere shot through a window and struck the side of his head, causing his vision to go white as stars exploded all across it at once. He didn't feel himself fly backwards, but he felt the strength go out of his body. Within short order, he found himself lying on the other side of the room, sliding down from a crater on a concrete pillar, his body shrinking back down to Wormmon.

"Well, I think that's enough of that," Makuramon said, tossing the unconscious form of Gomamon into the building after him. Turning toward Okuwamon and Snimon, he pointed down the street. "Go. We still have one final maneuver before our mission can be completed."

"What about those two digimon?" Snimon asked. Makuramon smirked.

"Okuwamon?"

With a gleeful snarl, the insect digimon drove its claws into the building and caused it to cave in on itself. Wormmon's eyes going wide with shock and horror, dove toward the unmoving Gomamon before all darkness covered his vision.

###

Taomon's head snapped up at the pillar of light vanished about her and Rapidmon. Looking down, she saw Vikaralamon begin to march forward once again. She felt better than she had earlier. Not refreshed, but her strength was no longer being sapped as it had been before.

"I don't know what happened," she said, "but I'm ready to fight again. And so is the pig!"

"What a surprise," Rapidmon snorted, hefting his rocket launchers. "Aaand it looks like that MetalSeadramon fella is up for it again too, but I'm not seeing MetalGarurumon hanging around anywhere."

Taomon frowned. Sure enough, MetalSeadramon was currently reorienting himself and it wouldn't take him long to recover.

"Someone will need to pin him until help arrives," she said.

"You want me to handle that?" Rapidmon asked. "I've got the speed."

"Actually…" Closing her eyes, Taomon reached out for the connection she shared with her partner. The world about her darkened and at once Rika's image materialized before her.

"Taomon?"

"Rika. That card… It would appear that we'll need to make use of it now."

Rika's eyes glinted with worry, but also with resignation. They had both been expecting this the moment they saw MetalSeadramon in the dimensional warp between the two worlds.

"You're sure about this," she said, a hint of doubt lingering in her voice. Taomon could sympathize. The power of a Mega wasn't something to be handled lightly. But what choice did they have?

"I am," she nodded.

"All right," Rika nodded in return, and she faded from view, taking the darkness with her. Taomon lifted her head and gazed back up at MetalSeadramon. He was circling about, searching for targets.

"I'll handle him," she said, extending her arms. From down below, she heard Rika announce the card choice that would set the tone for the battle.

"Digi-modify! BlackWarGreymon's Dramon Destroyers activate!"

Taomon let out a loud, animalistic yell as data rushed into her, forming into tri-clawed gauntlets over her arms. Power filled her and she felt her senses heighten in response.

It's like running into a wall, she gasped mentally, struggling to retain her concentration. Her whole body trembled with all the power coursing through it, leaving her feeling that she was about to explode. She forced herself to manage it though. She would master it, even if only for the few minutes she needed to defeat her opponent. Bending her knees, she calculated her course and with a powerful push, she shot toward MetalSeadramon just as Rika slashed a speed upgrade card to help her close the distance. The timing was off, owing in no small part to her taking flight when she did, preventing her from properly controlling her flight. But the speed itself hit her at the right opportune moment, for MetalSeadramon saw her coming and attempted to twist out of the way. The Dramon Destroyer, rather than missing entirely, raked the Chrome Digizoid of his armor, scouring it with a shower of sparks and leaving deep furrows etched in its surface.

MetalSeadramon's eyes widened in surprise and fell back, nose-cannon powering up again.

"River of Power!" the Mega shouted, and the beam lanced out at Taomon. She gasped. Even with her enhanced speed, there was simply no time to evade.

Rapidmon, however, had more than enough time. He materialized into place in front of her, the golden Brave Shield courtesy of Henry's modify card by the same name, held in front of him. MetalSeadramon's beam struck it with a loud clang, causing the android Ultimate to fly back, nearly impacting Taomon in the process. Taomon dove out of the way however and seeing her opportunity, slammed her gauntlets over her head tightly. She clenched her jaw. The tension of the power still coursing through her was enormous!

Rika… I don't know how much longer I can hold on!

Shifting herself so she was pointed at MetalSeadramon, she took a deep breath. She would have to last long enough.

"Black Tornado!" she roared, diving toward her opponent, her body moving into a rapid drill spin as she did so.

MetalSeadramon's beam cut out and he turned toward her. With a laugh, he began to power back up. He wasn't the least bit concerned by her approach now.

"River of Power!"

"Digi-modify! Hyper Chip, activate!"

Taomon howled as more speed was poured into her from her partner. On instinct, she shifted upward, narrowly avoiding being lanced by MetalSeadramon's attack as it tore loose from his nose. She barreled onward, skipping across the edge of his armored face and then turned up to bore into his eye. MetalSeadramon jerked back in a sudden flash of pain as claws found purchase and then a long, loud scream of pain rent the air. MetalSeadramon thrashed violently about about as agony tore a river of lightning down the length of his body and toward his core, where it stopped abruptly. He still screamed however, and so didn't hear the words that pronounced his sentence of death.

"Terra Destroyer."

His body bulged and MetalSeadramon's cries were abruptly choked off. His remaining eye shot open wide as he felt fire erupting from within. His death came in a shriek of metal and digital flesh exploding outward in a flash of crimson. A second later, nothing could be seen of him save for a shower of shining particles rising into the air. The battered body of Taomon floated in his place, breathing heavily. The black-coated Dramon Destroyers on her arms faded from view. Slowly, she floated back down to the ground, where she landed upon one knee.

Rapidmon materialized next to her.

"Remind me to never make you mad," he said. "Going for the eye like that? Yeesh."

Taomon swallowed air, attempting to reply, only to falter. She couldn't remember ever feeling this tired before. It was taking everything she had now to keep from reverting back to her Rookie form. The muscles in her arms groaned exhaustedly, demanding rest from their exertions. She refused. Until this battle was ended, they would maintain the form they were in.

"Come on," she said breathlessly, pushing herself back to her feet. "We still have a pig to fight."

"Uh…are you sure?" Rapidmon asked. "You don't look so good."

Taomon brushed off his concern and summoned her brush. Its power, she hoped, would be sufficient.

###

Helicopters swarmed in as Vikaralamon stomped forward, the street cracking beneath his enormous weight. He cackled at the sight of them.

"I'm back, human filth!" he roared challengingly. "Still want to play?"

The helicopters responded with a slew of laser fire and EMP blasts. Explosions rocked the pig Deva's body, but he continued to march on, taking no visible injury from the attack. Rearing up, an ember glow emerged from the back of his throat and he fired another Fusion Ball at his adversaries. A helicopter flew to the side, narrowly avoiding being struck by the orb. The Fusion Ball slammed into a building behind it, causing debris to rain down on the streets below.

Down the street, Janyu and the Tamers fled down a flight of stairs from off a bridge overlooking the sight of battle.

"Keep running!" Janyu shouted, looking over his shoulder. The massive digimon pressed onward, barely slowed down by the military's relentless assault.

Where are the others? he wondered, remembering the other digimon that had appeared on screen to combat the invading digimon. Are we all that's left? Did Juggernaut destroy everyone else?

He shuddered at the thought and tried not to think about it. He didn't want it to be possible, but where Juggernaut was concerned, anything could have happened.

"Takato!" came a loud cry from the other side of the street. The goggle-wearing boy ground to a halt and the others followed suit. Coming to a stop as well, Janyu turned to find a brown-haired girl and two boys behind her. The girl was carrying a small, white-colored digimon with a red triangle on his forehead.

"Guys! Stay away from here!" Henry shouted, coming abreast Takato.

"Sorry!" Jeri called back. "But that creepy digimon that's been following us… He's really one of the Deva digimon!"

"Yeah," Kenta chimed in. "And he said some pretty weird stuff!"

"What kind of weird stuff?" Takato asked, his eyes falling on Calumon.

Before Jeri could answer, another round of deafening explosions rocked the air. Casting a quick glance down the street, he then climbed over the guard rail.

"We're all in danger if we stay here," he said to the three children. "Come with me! We have to hide!"

"No."

###

Takato felt all eyes turn on him just then. Rika's and Jeri's most intently, but he shrugged them off. His mind had been swimming with thoughts ever since WarGrowlmon had been pinned and taken out of action. Everything about the seriousness of the battle; the devastation and who knew how many people injured or killed. The fear of losing his best friend in the world as he evolved to deal with such dangers hovered in the back of his mind most of all. Somewhere, in that last attempt to help his partner break free from his prison, he sensed something lurking inside; a shadow of his fears or perhaps something else. Something darker than he dared guess and indeed hid from. Janyu's words, his call to hide, had shone a light on his fear and how he ran from it for fear of Guilmon turning into something horrible in response to the carnage about them.

It reminded him of their first battle with the Devas. With Mihiramon and how his fears ended up hurting Guilmon badly.

WarGrowlmon was stuck because he was hiding again. Because he wasn't living up to his duties as his Tamer.

"No," he said firmly, his fingers curling into a fist.

"What?" Henry asked, taken aback by Takato's firm tone. Rika looked at him somewhat surprised as well, but less so than he. She felt rather a surprised excitement of the kind when she was backed into a corner during a card match, only to draw the right card that she needed to turn things around. She felt her heart pick up its pace as she searched his eyes.

Could this be it?

"I'm done hiding," Takato said, turning to look at the two of them. His eyes met hers and she found herself amazed at the sudden confidence blazing within them.

"You were right," he said. "No matter how powerful our digimon become, they're still our friends. And right now, our friends need us more than ever!"

"Uh-huh," she said, stepping closer to him in support. The excitement in her flared. This was it. She could feel as though something were about to tip and if they played their cards right, it would be in their favor. She shot a look over at Henry, who nodded in agreement, seeing what Takato was getting at.

WarGrowlmon may be down, but that didn't mean he was out.

"Okay," Henry said. "Then it's time we came together and used our combined strength!" Reaching out, he placed a hand on Takato's shoulder. "After all, that's why we're here. To help them."

Henry and Rika exchanged looks and then drew back as the boy broke away from them, starting toward his partner, his eyes wholly focused on him. An explosion sounded again, causing a sharp gust of wind to blow through his hair. Takato fought back the urge to glance at Vikaralamon's approach. He feared doing so might make him lose whatever courage he had. That was the last thing WarGrowlmon needed.

Coming to a halt in front of his partner, he took a deep breath and felt for the link that the two of them shared. WarGrowlmon's consciousness felt distant now. Almost asleep. Takato felt a twinge of regret at that.

Is this what my fear did to you? Oh, Guilmon…

He slapped himself mentally. Now was not the time for self-recrimination. Now was the time to act and to make up for his mistakes.

So, he let out a loud yell.

He yelled as long as he had breath, and then he took another breath and started over again. Loud. Long. Putting as much of his anger and fear and strength into it as he could. Anything to amp himself up and get the energy flowing from him and into his partner. As he hoped, WarGrowlmon's eyes snapped open, gasping in startlement. Takato didn't stop though and he resumed yelling as soon as he had breath again for it, clenching his fists together tightly. The link between them felt clearer now. WarGrowlmon no longer felt sleepy or distant. He was at full attention now.

The link however was a double-edged sword, and the heat the Ultimate felt from the ball that trapped him slipped through. Takato's next scream tore loose from his lips, this time tinged with genuine pain. He bent over; fists raised over his head as he trembled from the exertion of bearing the searing heat burning his arms. He felt the skin on his arms tighten as the heat intensified. He envisioned his arms reddening and then blistering. A part of him rose up, calling for him to retreat. That the pain was simply too much for his fragile, human body to take. WarGrowlmon would understand.

That only made him angrier. Arching his back, he let out an animalistic scream of anguish that echoed in the streets and refused to be drowned out by the rain of hellfire being dumped on Vikaralamon.

Rika watched him, hearing the rush of intense emotion pouring out of him. She remembered him doing this before, back during the battle with Indramon. Whether he was psyching himself up to help WarGrowlmon or sharing his pain, she wasn't sure. But she sensed that it was likely both.

Her fists tightened, remembering how much his link with WarGrowlmon always seemed to hurt him. What was going on with him this time? What were he and his partner experiencing with all that fiery heat surrounding WarGrowlmon?

Could he do it alone?

"Takato…" she whispered in a hushed voice.

The burning ball shifted as Takato continued to scream, and it seemed to her that the boy's voice changed. Becoming deeper and more ferocious. Then, in the blink of an eye, twin scythe blades erupted from the orb and clove it in two, leaving WarGrowlmon revealed, standing triumphantly for all to see.

Takato wasn't done yet though. Moving closer to his partner, he continued to yell. WarGrowlmon did likewise, taking a thunderous step toward Vikaralamon, viciously snarling as he did so. The jets on his back fired and lifted him off the ground. Vikaralamon turned toward him, eyes narrowing.

"Fusion Ball!" the pig Deva shouted as WarGrowlmon surged towards him. Another orb shot forth from his mouth, but this time both WarGrowlmon and Takato were ready for him. Crossing his arms, Takato synced with his partner, and WarGrowlmon mimicked him. As one, they slashed their arms outward and clove the oncoming orb in two, shearing through it as though it were nothing but paper. WarGrowlmon crashed into Vikaralamon's face and grabbed hold of him by the tusks. Snarling, Vikaralamon pushed against him, but WarGrowlmon pushed back with even greater strength. He could feel Takato's power flowing through him, strengthening him. The unyielding desire to not give up. To never quit until they defeated the Deva.

Takato's voice… Takato's feelings…

New screams joined Takato's now. Rika and Henry. He felt something in the strength from Takato change and it seemed to jump. It was similar to the Trinity Burst he performed with the others. He pushed harder against Vikaralamon, and the pig Deva began to rise into the air.

I hear you, Takatomon. I feel your strength and the strength of all of our friends! Together we can send this porker back where he belongs!

Vikaralamon let out a startled shout as he staggered backward. This couldn't be! He was a Deva! One of the Sovereign's servants! He couldn't lose to this filth!

"Stop now while you still have a choice!" he shouted.

"No way!" WarGrowlmon snarled angrily. "As long as Takato's with me, I'll never give up!" With another push, he hoisted Vikaralmon up and then flung him down. "Raise your snout and roll over!"

The ground shook as Vikaralamon slammed upon the pavement. Taomon and Rapidmon now moved to WarGrowlmon's flanks. Takato shot a look over his shoulder at the others.

"Are you guys ready?" he shouted.

"Rapidmon!" Henry shouted.

"Taomon!" called Rika. "You're up!"

Light blazed from their digivices and all three digimon knelt slightly, their bodies blazing and changing color; becoming crystalline in appearance. The light surrounding them intensified and they shot forward, taking on a phoenix shape. They drove into Vikaralamon's body, slicing through it and emerging on the other side, separating back into their separate forms. Vikaralamon didn't even have time to scream as the power of their Trinity Burst tore through him and shattered the bonds that held his body together. Within seconds, nothing was left of him save for floating particles of data rising into the air.

Silence fell over the scene of battle as the three digimon watched the data float away. WarGrowlmon let out a sigh of relief.

That was one mean, sausage machine, he thought, looking skyward at the portal. The lightning surrounding the dimensional rift was subsiding now and the skies began to calm. He wondered if that meant that the battle was over and they could all go home now.

Janyu looked at the broken, battered crater in the street, the only sign remaining that Vikaralamon had existed. A deep, sickening feeling weighted heavily on his heart. The battle may have been won, but this was far from over.

"Oh boy. Looks like this has now become a war between the worlds," he said softly to himself.

Leaning forward, Takato panted heavily as Rika and Henry approached. Hearing them, he rose and looked over his shoulder, smiling happily in victory.

"Well…" he said breathily. "That was a scream."

"You're such a dork," Rika smirked, coming to a stop by his side. Her smile slipped and she looked him over carefully. "How are you feeling?"

"Ah…" Takato fidgeted slightly under her gaze, and he became at once aware of the tight, burning feeling on his arms. He glanced down at them and saw that they were red, as though they had been out in the sun for too long. "Well, now I know how our bread must feel in an oven."

Rika gave him a hard look and took hold of one of his arms. She ran a hand along the reddened skin and Takato winced in response.

"Takato…" she began softly.

"Takato!"

She dropped his arm suddenly at Jeri's call and took a step back, as if the other girl's voice had been a jolt of electricity. Turning, they saw Jeri, Kazu and Kenta running toward them, smiling at their victory. Calumon lay safe and snug in Jeri's arms.

A shadow leapt in front of her and in the next moment, Jeri was looking down at her suddenly empty arms, startled.

"Huh?" Kenta blinked in stunned surprise.

"Calumon!" Kazu's head swung up and quickly found where the In-training digimon now lay. Tucked securely underneath Makuramon's arms, a wide smirk playing across his face.

"Heeelp!" Calumon squealed.

"Well you wouldn't give me what I came for so I had to take it," Makuramon explained. "This object doesn't belong here and it's my duty to escort it home where it belongs. We need it to digivolve to higher levels."

"What are you talking about?!" Rika demanded, falling into a guard position. "Give him back, monkey-boy!"

"Calumon isn't an object!" Takato objected. "Give him back! Give our friend back!"

Takato dove toward Makuramon, but the Deva deftly evaded him with a casual leap into the air.

"Buh-bye!" Makuramon waved as a shadow fell over them. "Now everyone! If you please!"

The earth shook as Takato rolled over, the sound stealing his cry for their kidnapped friend. He tried to track where Calumon's kidnapper was heading, but the sight of him was blotted out by the towering form of Okuwamon. From the sides, more digimon approached. A Mammothmon and a Snimon. They charged in, aiming their attacks at Taomon, Rapidmon and WarGrowlmon.

As for Okuwamon, the insect digimon turned toward Takato and lifted a massive claw over his head.

"Double Scissor Claw!" it shouted, driving its arm down at Takato's vulnerable body.

"Bye-bye, annoying human," Makuramon giggled, leaping away.

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