OK this one took a good bit longer to work on. But I have good reasons. Half of the reason is well...having to sift through and correct a ton of errors. and the rest is well...I've been rather busy what with the dog and all. BUT I finally got this written up. Heh with the way this is going...the series might go up to chapter 60! enjoy.

Rainbowdragon and Prismdramon belongs to  rainbowdragon

Kiya belongs to  dragonsurfer

Digimon belongs to Bandai of course.

Nikkoumon and all other characters belong to me. Do not use without my permission.

---

Revelation


Up in the sky temple, the wound on Blade's abdomen had healed due to Goldramon's aid, but now the divine dragon looked...worried, he quickly caught his emotions and faced the whole of the group "It looks like the remaining keys are proving to be a lot more troublesome than we expected. I sense a losing battle on two fronts."


RD winced as he, Exemon and the rest of his group were at the temple, wandering around waiting for the news. "What's wrong currently?"


Goldramon sighed "It'd be easier to show you what's happening instead of simply telling you." Goldramon lifted his hands, and formed a sphere of light at the center, before it engulfed the entirety of the group. The first thing they were shown was of the fight between Scav's group against Arukahdimon, who thankfully, were about to avoid most of his attacks, but none of theirs were having any sort of effect.


When Max caught the sight of the Megidramon and his mother he flipped out "WHY IS SHE HERE?!"


Goldramon looked to Max "She came of her own accord. Your father tried to pursuade her to do otherwise. now..." The scene changed, as Fang's group were battling Belphemon, who, unlike against Arukahdimon, the group was left defending and protecting one another from his overwhelming strength, he even looked larger than the demon was supposed to be "Belphemon's power keeps increasing. Why it's happening, I do not know...and I sense Daemon rapidly approaching their location."


RD's eye's narrowed "They won't be able to defeat him on their own with his power growing like that. We need to intervene"


Examon stopped him right there. shaking his head "As easy as it would be to defeat him by joining in I don't think we can without destroying him utterly. There's also the little matter of where you'll fit in here." Examon stared at RD his eyes narrowing "What is your nature besides being reliable, both me and slayerdramon are reliable digimon, we're both dependable as well. Right now you are at a crossroads. I want to test you as soon as possible, but there's bigger problems at hand as well"


Goldramon looked in Examon's direction, giving a short nod "I agree with Examon on this one. It would be simple enough for you to just join in. But I think until you can decide the type of person you want to be, you'd be better staying here..." Goldramon closed his eyes in thought, the images dissapeared as he crossed his arms "Max, Jesse...as much as I'd like you to keep preparing for the end game. I want you two to go out there." Jesse blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change of pace "Before you two pester me about this...Max is the only one who can purify Belphemon...from there it's a matter of Fang using his crest to retrieve the key. And Arukahdimon is a mindless digimon...it doesn't follow the darkness, only destruction. YOur powers of shadow could tame it. If there was ever a time to put your unique abilities to the test this would be it."


RD winced as he heard this "You're telling me I need to sit on the sidelines?!?" RD asked incredulously "Max is my best friend, i'm not just going to let him go out there on his own. I'm coming too!" RD was seething then an idea struck him "Besides....if Daemon is coming, my prism powers can amplify max's powers of light. A prism is more than just something that splits light into it's component parts. If I modify it it can be an amplifier too."


Now it was Exemon's turn to look amazed "You are grasping at straws now, will you really make up any rationalization regardless of how ridiculous it sounds?"


RD locked eyes with Exemon "yes!"


Goldramon shook his head "Yuu worry about your friend, it's a proper reaction given the circumstances. But do you think so little of his abilities? Remember that the light isn't a trait that's passed on through genetics from father to son. He was chosen, and for the right reasons. Have faith that he has what it takes."


Blade looked among the group, as did Hilt, who responded to RD's outburst. "Listen RD...I was selected by Azulongmon to be his guardian before Blade. While I had the power physically to protect him, emotionally I was weak. I still don't know the type of digimon I want to be. I thought I wanted to be a digimon that protected everyone in the east...but I murdered an entire village...Take the time to look into your own core, don't rush into things like I did."


RD blinked. "I'm not rushing into things! I know Max can handle Belphemon, the problem isn't him but Daemon! Daemon is coming and you don't know who he's going to attack first do you Goldramon?" RD wasn't glaring he looking almost lost in thought "If I were Daemon trying to take a strategic advantage I'd go after whoever has the edge in fighting. Which in this case" RD pointed at the sphere were arukhadimon was shown "Would be the one with the most people fighting and who's technically the strongest. In which case it would be here. The fight might become even... but if Daemon joins in they'd be destroyed!"


Goldramon nodded "Which is why Blade will be accompanying Max." Goldramon looked to the Victorygreymon "Blade's spent a decade honing his mind and body. He's disciplined from Azulongmon's tutelage. You however have yet to train under a master."


Blade looked lost in thought for a moment, then nodded "If it's just to hold off Daemon, I can handle that. Besides my Uncle wants to tear his hide for screwing with Hilt's mind and body."


Exemon nodded, appearing satisfied for the moment. "As for YOU!" Exemon violently grabbed RD "You will be training with us, if worst comes to worst you WILL be ready and you WILL know what you stand for, I've dealt with members of my army far more stubborn than you!"


Goldramon nodded in agreement, with Alphamon letting out a soft chuckle "He will in time. You and I have had lifetimes to contemplate this, he's still young. I'll go with Jesse to aid in taming Arukahdimon. He needs somebody to fly him in that direction as well, humans...or even Loweemon don't do well hundreds of miles in the sky."


RD cringed as he was grabbed "Alright alright" He suddenly realized that examon was in full dragon emperor mode and that defying him in this state was bad.


ALphamon walked over to Jesse, who climbed onto his arm. Max didn't need to do so with Blade, he just rode on Grani as they flew out. With a gentle smile, Goldramon looked over to Hilt, RD and Examon "I have a place we can have him properly trained here in the temple. If you'll follow me." He gave a small bow of his head.


Hilt looked a bit confused, then nodded as Goldramon began taking them through the temple. "Sure. I actually have a question regarding the Megidramon we saw in the vision anyway."


RD blinked as examon smirked "I think I know where you mean" Exemon stated as they followed him


Goldramon nodded "You should." He said with a soft chuckle, and started leading them through the temple "And the question would be?" Hilt nodded "Well...Megidramon is supposedly one of the four dragon kings of the digital world...like you, he's on par with the four lords so...why is he..."


Goldramon laughed "With a human? Like royal knights, we train our successors if they are available to us. Due to the war, I had none so I kept my post for thousands of years. I'm assuming since he failed to join the royal knights...Max's father was accepted as Megidramon's pupil."


RD's eyes widened "Wait, isn't megidramon that one digimon that nearly caused the digiworld to collapse when it appeared? From digivolution I mean"


Goldramon nodded a few times "That would be the one. If the digimon that becomes Megidramon rushes into digivolution, it loses itself in the process. Don't be mistaken though, Megidramon is a sign of destruction, and it's powers wielded incorrectly can spell the end of the digital world."


RD cringed at the information. "That's disturbing"


Examon smirked "Ah and now I see some of your view of the world! You don't know how to use a digimon who's power is only for destruction in a way that can be used to cause peace. We might need to train you in diplomacy before anything else"


"You effortlessly gave an answer to a question imposed upon you when asked how to take care of an unstoppable force, now you look at a digimon that could destroy the world yet it doesn't yet. Can you understand why?"


Examon smirked as RD thought on the topic. "Because circumstances are different?"


Examon laughed "Circumstances, attitudes, times, situations, all these and more factor in before anything else."


Goldramon nodded, chuckling softly "As Examon says. A power that's meant for destruction doesn't have to be bad. For example...who'se to say that destruction can't be directed at something small...or something that threatens others." Goldramon stopped floating infront of them, standing infront of a large stone wall, the carvings on the wall depicted the war of the digital world. One interesting detail was Victorygreymon and ZeedGarurumon standing forward, shaking paws with one another, Goldramon sitting between the two of them "This monument...changes depending on the outcome within it. The last two to come inside of this place were the two digimon generals, they came here to finally make peace before leaving this world for a newer brighter one. This place...is seperate from the temple so your training can go unhindered. and Examon won't have to remain in his shrunken state." Goldramon set a hand over the stone, and the wall began to slide into the floor below, leaving a dark cavern set before them.


"This will be a question and answer session to start. We will be looking at EVERYTHING that has been going on. It's obvious you value your friends to the point where you'll sacrifice yourself for them. That much is a defining trait of Slayerdramon. But you must also think strategically when given the chance. That is my trait. Now we will go inside. When we come out, we will see who you lean towards....if slayerdramon was here he'd be doing the honors personally" Exemon carried RD inside.


Goldramon nodded "Take Hilt with you. I have a feeling he might grow as a person under your care."


Hilt's eyes went wide "But...what if you're attacked?"


Goldramon shook his head "My duty has always been to see the darkness defeated. I was charged with this Temple and I won't leave it for even a second."


Exemon smirked "That will help, right now we're testing RD, and from what i've heard you've seen some things from him, we'll use that to determine what his nature is"


Goldramon nodded "Yggdrasil is shut down right now...his network is in this temple right now and runs through me. You and he will be reliving those things inside of the training grounds. I hope to see improvement when you guys return."


Hilt looked hesitant to go with him, but the digimon sealed inside of Goldramon's bracers took form and pushed him into the entrance, the wall starting to reseal itself "Ack! He shoved me in!"


"Actually those were the digidragons sealed in his gauntlets. One of regeneration and one of destruction" Examon corrected him while setting RD down "Now it's time to bear your soul before the dragon emporer!" Examon's voice became commanding and stern. It demanded obedience


Hilt blinked, trying to think about his studies about the four dragons, then scratched his head "Strange..." He then blinked as he heard the change of tone in Examon's voice, and looked towards RD himself, the Wargreymon sitting down to the side.


RD bowed down before he even realized it, Examon looked at him, RD felt like he was being interrogated but then Examon smiled. An emperor is used to this, I try not to take my title seriously when I'm a royal knight. But in this case when an emperor has to give up his crown he has to make sure his successor can LEAD." Examon pulled up what looked like a board game, if RD had to fling a guess at the game he'd say it was risk "You have one nation. You want to make peace with another nation but that will bring you into war with a third. Do you remain neutral, make peace anyways, or try to conquer both nations?"


RD gaped at examon as he said this. But given enough time he thought out his answer. "Well trying to conquer both nations is ridiculous as you want to make peace with one which means that trying to conquer both would go against what you originally planned, plus trying to fight both nations with just one means you will be outnumbered right from the start since you're trying to fight war on two fronts."


Exemon nodded "As was told to me by any digimon whenever I bring up this option, any digimon who actually suggest this are deemed insane by their peers but that brings up whether to follow through with the peace accord or remain neutral"


Listening to the two, Hilt thought on the question himself silently, eyes closed in thought as he contemplated it himself, but he refrained from answering out loud.


RD's eye's narrowed "That's a trick question, why does the third nation want war on this one nation in the first place, we first need to find that out before we follow through with the peace accord in the first place. Even if we have a peace accord and it's two on one so we can win comfortably we might be deemed as villains by any other nation that views us."


Examon smiled "Exactly!" Exemon laughed "Most digimon wouldn't be able to see past the immediate. They look at the three nations and see only the three nations but there's more than just that. With a flick of his hand, the board became a globe, spinning infront of them. "There's an entire world, we need to worry more about single nations and making peace or conquering nation after nation, we need to worry about how every action has a ripple effect on others"


Examon smiled, taking a deep breath. "But this proves that you are meant to be my successor, maybe not a perfect one but you have the basics, now that leads to the second part" Examon stood up and the scene became a battlefield "We need you to fight, in your ultimate form if you please."


Hilt's eyes went wide, and he started clearing the way as he didn't know what to expect here, giving the two of them some room.


RD gaped at exemon as he went to wingdramon "NOW?!?"


Examon nodded "We will be pushing your light abilities now more than ever though, by the time we're done you will not only be able to materialize objects but also use light as an invincible battering ram against enemies"


RD went at Exemon, but given that this was an ultimate taking on a mega the results were....unimpressive, any light shots that RD gave simply bounced off the massive exemon, and the more worked up RD got the more predictable he became allowing exemon to, despite his massive size, simply lift up a wing tip or claw just enough to block the attack before RD pulled it off "Ugh....this isn't working"


Examon chuckled "It's not supposed to at first, you're not putting enough energy into the attack and you're becoming predictable...AGAIN"


Hilt watched carefully, keeping out of Exemon's reach and rubbed his chin "So this is the power of the Emperor...he's just as fearsome if not more so than Lord Azulongmon..." He muttered quietly.


The training was working up RD so much that he simply began throwing whatever he could at exemon, this actually started forcing the dragon emperor to move more, Then suddenly, materialized a kitchen sink of all things, and it actually struck home.


"I...wait....I materialized an object" RD said, completely baffled.


Examon smiled at this "Yes, and that means your gaining more mastery over your light powers...but we're not done! Here I come!" Exemon materialized his lance and shot several blasts, each alternating between ice, fire, and lightning.


RD suddenly began materializing his own blasts in opposite to block exemon's attacks then rushing in to strike exemon, this actually caused RD to master materializing objects and then to use the light to create light clones and teleport. RD then thought and smiled "Um Examon, Max showed me he could....merge in a way with another digimon"


Exemon chuckled "only when you are truly my successor will I teach you that. I've done it only with a select few of my own dragon army"


Hilt blinked, his ears catching on to my last statement "Wait...that Guilmon could Soul cross!?!" He asked, looking absolutely stunned. "I couldn't even master the soul charge ability...then again...I didn't even have the capacity for the shine mode."


"Not only can you do it...I think you have more power than you know. And I know that RD can as well. " Exemon then smirked. "You want to help your friend fight, we want to protect you, there is a way to do both of those things" Exemon rounded on Hilt "You can soul cross with him, he's already seen the results and you know of it, Goldramon is sending you out to face arkhadimon, even you might not be enough to face him and daemon at the same time.....we will spend the rest of the time teaching you two this, why? Mainly because I KNOW my dragon army members, he'll just try to sneak off anyways with goldramon and myself in persuit and with the way his light powers are developing we wouldn't be able to reach him in time if that was the case." Exemon sighed "It makes me sick to my stomach but this is a compromise and that's one thing as dragon emperor that I have learned"


Hilt shivered a bit "My brother's out there againse Daemon and Belphemon and I'm being sent to the other guy?" He took a deep breath reminding himself who he was addressing and bowed. "I...am kind of honored that you think I can soul cross with him.."


Exemon smirked "Actually it's the other way around, you're not being sent to him, he has a mega but it's nowhere near your power, HE'S being sent to YOU"


RD gaped at him "What?!?"


Exemon held up his claw "That's final, your light powers have finally progressed where they were supposed to be but your power and endurance regardless of form is nowhere close to Hilt's."


Hilt's eyes went wide at that "It's true that I've been doing this a lot longer...That's the case for everyone in Blue chrome...But how would I do it? Is he supposed to go inside of me or something? And if so, how?"


Exemon chuckled "That's the difficult part, the training to do soul cross is to understand each other on the fundemental level. Needless to say some of RD's training has helped you understand him, but does he understand you? Make no mistake this will be insanely intense, but we need to do it quickly"


Hilt blinked when he thought on that last part "If I recall...Azulongmon said that the Soul cross ability is like you said...and understanding of two people. It also takes a lot of energy to keep up the transformation, I'm assuming that my bodies endurance will help sustain that. I think the best way for him to understand me in so short a time would be for the two of us to duke it out." He said with a short nod. "As is the custome with the village...one understands each other best when they're locked in combat. And if the two locked in battle are great warriors, than their fists and blades will lead them to understand one another greater than any words could achieve."


RD blinked then smiled "I actually have a mega form that has a sword" RD went into his Prismdramon form "Let's go."


: Hilt nodded as he pulled out his saw toothed sword "This will make things easier then." Hilt went into a focused battle mode that sent him flying at RD with unrelenting speed, blade first.


RD blinked "Completely focused, ok." RD went off to the side before coming at Hilt then kept coming and going, he wasn't even remotely as focused, instead his attention seemed to be separated in several directions at once and this manifested as being actually unpredictable at times, only when he panicked did he become more focused and predictable.


Hilt leapt out of the way, his flying looking much more controlled as he avoided RD's attacks, like his younger brother Blade, Hilt seemed in perfect control of his bodies movements. Moving with speed and power, yet at the same time with a calming deamenor. Unlike Blade's pair of digimon infused swords though, Hilt's blade was more long range. Each time the sword slashed through an object coming right at him, it left holes in the objects akin to bite marks before cutting it wide open.


RD noticed all of this, as this kept going he suddenly froze in place, that's when a light beam that strobed like a lighthouse went in all directions, only to reveal he had materialized a lightbulb "Oh for!" RD then smashed the thing causing a blinding flash, this was another aspect of RD and it was hard for anyone to mesh with. His quirkiness and randomosity at times.


Hilt blinked, staring at the lightbulb incredulously before cringing as the light blinded him, he was forced to close his eyes as he sniffed about "OK...that was unexpected..." He set his sword away and decided to finish up with his dramon claws, despite his blindness, his discipline made him very effective, able to pick up on the subtle scent of RD's body.


RD wasn't done though, he suddenly pulled out a bag containing various things....which included a lamp, a bowling ball, and finally, something tiny but when he threw it away it created a green cloud. Essentially a stink bomb, given prismdramon's normally serious nature this was really weird.


Hilt blinked, stopping in place and groaning as he started covering up his nose "Arrgh! What the heck!! that reeks!"


RD blinked, cringing as he willed it all to dissapear. "Sorry! I've never materialized objects up to this point but it seems to be materializing them up at random!" RD looked bashful and embarrassed "I'm not one to act goofy in a serious situation but sometimes I do. It's an odd quirk I have....I even cracked a joke at a funeral....only once though"


Hilt blinked, looking a bit horrified at first, then suddenly burst into laughter "You sound like Blade...before we were split apart to be trained away from our family. He doesn't remember, but when he was still a baby level digimon, he'd try to be as serious as his form allowed..but more often than not he was pretty clumsy."


"yeah I think that's what's happening, we're trying to do a serious spar but my mind is still caught up in all these new light based powers that it's trying to use them every chance it gets....like getting a new toy you want to play with" RD nodded.


Hilt nodded, crossing his arms "Now I see why it has to be me...You and Max have the power, you have all the makings of great warriors. But you haven't been tempered." He tried to word it a little better "What I mean is you've never had to discipline yourself to keep track of the task at hand. Your mind always wanders, which isn't anything to be ashamed of. It's how we're naturally driven to be. That will change with time."


RD nodded "I wonder if I can make a bomb" KABOOM! A massive cartoon like bomb materializes and goes off covering everything in soot, leaving him blushing even more.


Hilt remained unblinking, wiping his helmet clean and smirked "I didn't have to look like a Blackwargreymon." Hilt crossed his arms "So how do you feel. Feel like you know me any better?" Hilt cleaned his dramon claws, but his body language showed that despite his eyes away from RD, he was still ready for anything if RD took the initiative to attack right there. "Fifteen years...It took me about that long to be able to focus on everything around me, and yet at the same time keep my attention on the task at hand."


RD looked down, let down by that revelation. "I still can't focus when I get hyper, it happens so often I just gave up and let the energy take me anywhere I want to go."


Examon laughed, apparently finding RD's difficulty concentrating to be amusing. "If shoutmon was here he'd wonder why you two aren't twins, the way he acts"


Hilt smirked when he heard that "It takes dedicated training. Training that I'm sure...once the darkness has been vanquished that Examon will have all the time in the world to teach you. To prepare you for your station as his successor. You have the power, I have the stamina and the discipline, right now that's what matters and it's how we'll help take out Arukahdimon, Belphemon...whoever it is, and vanquish the darkness." He took out his sword again, handing it to RD "Just hold it...You can tell alot of a person by the style of their weapon."


RD nodded as he handed his over and took Hilt's "Hrmm, the teeth of this makes it not the kind of weapon that can be taken out easily. If you use this the wound will linger."


Hilt nodded "It's not a clean cutting blade. Most would find it a crude instrument...but it offers two advantages...the extra teeth on the sword mean that your adversary doesn't only have to worry about stab or cutting wounds...the teeth will bite into and grip whatever it comes into contact with. In other words...instead of simply cutting, it shreds."


RD blinked "Like a saw!" RD nodded, then held his own sword angle to Hilt. "what about my sword though?"


Hilt looked over at RD's sword "It looks like a sword made out of light mostly...It's a material that will cut through most objects. It could probably go through chrome digizoid if used properly, but at the same time, the fact that it can cut through materials so easily, means that it requires more precision to control. The fact you haven't chopped off your arm tells me you at least have sufficient muscle control."


At Hilt's observation, RD could not help but blush. "Given how clumsy I was as a human this is surprising" Exemon was busy getting the soot off of him.



Hilt nodded, blinking as his body started glowing softly around his chest "Hmmm...now this...is certainly different. I feel strange."


Exemon finished dusting himself off "I believe you're both ready" He called out matter of factly.


Hilt took a deep breath "I think we understand a little more about each other. enough that it should at least work. I've never had anybody to Soul cross with so I don't know if it'll work, but I do know the fundamentals...Soul cross is the merging of two digimon who understand one another. If we understand each other enough, then theoretically from Azulongmon's teaching, I should be able to absorb you and take you into my body. It won't be perminant merging like Blade and Victorygreymon though. We return to being two individuals after we've expended a set amount of energy."


RD nodded then his eyes widened as he turned back to exemon "What do you mean both?"

Exemon chuckled "Meaning just that, if you want to do the merging as well you can" Points out RD was indeed glowing too


Hilt nodded, chuckling "I...didn't think I could actually do it." Hilt looked at RD "Alright. So then...are you ready?" Hilt asked RD as he set his sword on his back.


RD sheathed his own sword "Yeah, I'm all set for it"


*Hilt nodded a few times as he started fumbling with his armor, opening the chest plate to reveal his bare scaled abdomen. "Put your hand on my chest, I should be able to absorb you through direct contact. Remember though that once we do this, the merge won't split us up until we've exausted our resources. I estimate that I can hold you inside of me...for at least a couple hours."


RD smirked "I think it could be longer than that" RD said as he put his hand on Hilt's chest.


Hilt smirked right back "Well we'll find out in a moment." Hilt took a deep breath as the two of them started glowing, RD's Prismdramon body being pulled into Hilt's own effortlessly


Exemon nodded as this was going on "When he's ready my protege will be doing the same thing to you, but as it stands he needs to be tested by goldramon directly to determine his worthiness"


Hilt took a deep breath as he rubbed where RD had been pulled into, when his armor started changing to match what RD's armor had been like. "I hadn't expected anything less. He'll be tested by Megidramon too if I'm not mistaken. It feels so strange...but somehow I can feel the light more easily. His light at least."


RD meanwhile felt well this might've been what biomerge digivolution felt like, he saw everything hilt saw, he felt everything hilt did, it was...strange to say the least


Hilt took a deep breath, conciously aware of RD's presence inside of him and gave Examon a small bow "I think we're ready. The sooner we get down there to put down Arukahdimon the sooner we can all get to aiding Max and the others with Belphemon."


Examon nodded "Then go, but be careful too, even though he's mindless arukahdimon is strong"


Hilt nodded, smiling "I'll be cautious." He took a deep breath, walking over to the stone entrance as it opened, giving his chest a firm pat "Well...let's go do this. Then we can go help your friend Max and my brother."


RD nodded at this, it was surprising that examon had flipped the script on them but then again this was a deeper way to understand someone as well.


Hilt took a deep breath then took off flying out of the building, reappearing inside the temple but he didn't take any time to explain to Goldramon, he simply sped off to the world below. The two dragon digimon sealed to Goldramon's arm braces each waved at Hilt at his departure. "You two really need to get a grip." Goldramon said with a chuckle as they went back to playing what was apparently...a pokemon card game on the floor.

---

In the world below, Bang was shooting away some of the chains that came after both him, and Flare yet for some reason he could only knock them back and not destroy them. "Gah...this guy's in a whole other league than the rest of them. It's like being a Mega isn't enough!"


Fang was leaping several feet at a time to avoid being smacked by the fierce glowing chains. Opening his mouth every now and then to release a wave of explosive energy at Belphemon's chest, making the demon flinch, but otherwise remain stationary. "It's this structure I think...We have to destroy it if we're going to have a chance."


Grunting, Bang changed into his Blast mode, two pairs of wings growing out of his back and his shotguns replaced with a Blaster gun. "Fine...I have just the thing to destroy this place. Make sure you clear out!"


"Wait!" Fang growled out, his stance changing as he stared up at the ceiling above Belphemon. "Looks like you won't NEED to."


The Beelzemon wanted to question what he'd meant then watched as the ceiling started glowing, heating up greatly before the roof melted away, revealing Max in his Nikkoumon form, palms glowing where the roof had previously been. And Blade charged in not a moment later, Dramon breaker slashing into Belphemon's chest without a second thought, leaving a rather nasty gash running along his abdomen.


When Belphemon finally shifted from that last attack, Bang couldn't help but smirk at the two new players. "And here I thought that Belphemon was immovable. Whoever you are you have my thanks."


Without saying anything, Max leapt into the battle. He kept his hands at the hip before creating a pair of light chains that started wrapping around Belphemon's arms and torso. One even wrapped itself around his neck as Max growled. "Aaaalright Belphemon. Just calm down! I'll pull you out of the Darkness..."


With a low grumble, Belphemon struggled in the chains, slowly, breaking free of his bindings as he let out a low rumbling laughter. "So the boy comes. The world rests in the hands of two children...one of light, and one of shadow. But have you ever stopped to wonder who the real enemy is?"


"I know exactly who it is." Max started adding a bit more light energy to the chains, trying to keep Belphemon in place for as long as he could. "It's not you Belphemon. It's the one giving you your power. Allow me to purify you. As a demon lord...I know that you can never be trusted as a complete ally, but there's a fine balance between good and evil that should never be crossed. There must always be a balance between the two."


Baring his teeth, Belphemon simply stared down at Max, as if he were considering it. "YOu could very well purify my heart. Knowing of your deeds, you'd definitely succeed should I allow you to. But you see...my mind isn't clouded. I've always been in tune with the darkness. It favors me because I cannot be controlled. Instead I have made the puppeteer my puppet."


That's when Max's look changed, he stared into Belphemon's eyes as if to find the truth and smirked. "I see...So the darkness isn't making you do anything. Or rather...it's allowing you to keep your sanity. YOu're more useful to it as you are now. At least until it's set out to do what it's programmed to do."


"Ah..now I see how your train of thought operates. You assume that the Darkness is simply allowing me to remain as I am." Belphemon grinned, a dark aura starting to pour out of his body, corroding the chains Max set on him, it even destroyed the very chains that had been supressing his powers. With an earth shaking roar, Daemon looked over his adversaries with amusement, a twinkle in his eyes. "I have mastered the so called untamable enemy. It resides in me. At least, the parts that haven't been sealed at this worlds core belongs to me. You could say, I am the chosen heir to the darkness. Once it's gathered all of the power it requires..." He lifted a great paw, clenching it in a fist as he sported a sinester grin. "We will set forth to destroy all worlds. Then from the ashes we will rebuild."


Max had to seperate himself from the chains so that he didn't dissapear along with them. Looking a bit unnerved. "So then the darkness that's been attacking the human world, and infecting the digimon and knights of this one..."


"ME!" Belphemon chuckled, staring down at his adversaries as he now towered at the same height as Examon. "All of it was my doing and an extension of my will. Dynasmon was under the impression he was working solely for the Darkness but it had been me. Kentaurosmon believed it was the seals that would keep the Darkness from breaking forth. But I've been loosening the chains from the beginning. allowing the knights to think that as long as they remained here, the Darkness could never lash out at the worlds."


Leopardmon looked down, having been silent this whole time until hearing that revelation. "So then our allies, Crusadermon, Gankoomon...they didn't have to die!? You've been purposely toying with them! Making them think that if they died, then this world would be saved!"


"On the contrary." Belphemon grinned, lifting a claw and pointing it at the Knight. "Had they died too soon, then there was a chance...a small one that you would all find a way to somehow purge the darkness. So I had to make them believe that survival was their best option. Gankoomon was too observant for his own good. He gave you the idea that this world needed to be destroyed, so now my plans have been excellerated."


"Pooor Belphemon." called Bang, lifting his Blaster over his shoulder and growling with frustration. "But now that we know who the source of all our misfortune is, I think rather than heal you we should destroy you."


Max lifted his hand and placed it infront of Bang, keeping him from charging at Belphemon. "Don't charge at him blindly. That aura is terrifying. If you jump in gung ho he'll delete you. Besides I want to purify him not destroy him. The mission remains the same." Max's palms began to glow, as he got into a fighting stands, hands outstretched at Belphemon as he looked into his eyes. "This time...leave him to me. I'm the only one who is naturally gifted with the power of light. And I'm the least likely to succumb to his influence. I want the rest of you to figure out a way to neutralize his darkness."


Bang looked like he wanted to object, as did Flare who started flailing around, but Fang roared to cut off their objections. "Trust in Max's judgement! Right now, this fight has gone way past our own capabilities. Leave it to Max. And Blade..."


Max was about to shake his head, disagreeing with that last part until Fang continued. "Victorygreymon believed in the power of light. Though he may not actively use the power of light like you do. He is the most pure, he will be able to fend off the madness of Belphemon's influence."


Blade patted Max on the shoulder, and grinned under his helmet. "Even if I wasn't...this fight is too dangerous to leave to you alone. I won't let you undergo this challenge by yourself."


"Are you all finished?" Belphemon called out, tapping his great foot. "Farewells are nice and all but you're taking it too far."


Blade and Max both turned their attention to Belphemon, the latter taking his time to speak. "We're ready when you are Belphemon. We may not know the extent of your power but we won't let you have your way!"


With that, both Victorygreymon and Nikkoumon charged headlong towards the great demon lord. Blade with his Dramon breaker in hand, and Max materializing a light sword in his claws.


(To be continued)