Digital War: Campaign II

Part III: Chapter XXV

[The Dawn of Hope]

By T. D. Larson

"EmeraldGreymon…"

"EmeraldKnightmon…

One called out after a name after the other.

And in unison, "Digivolve too…"

A brilliant sphere of light that had erupted from the three of them began to expand, surrounding them all. The violence of the eruption toppled the remains of buildings and managed to keep the Enemy from rising. But inside was calm and serene, like a bright, summer's day. A second sphere had enveloped the triad of heroes inside the first. But instead of expanding, it condensed around him into a sort of shell.

Baihumon continued watching, not even bothering to shield his eyes against such a dazzling light. The shell continued to coalesce, becoming a series of luminescent white disks over their now shared body. Armor formed as plated segments, perfectly articulated, stretching over his forearms, legs, tail and chest. Upon his head, a cap of gold rested, revealing a pointed black muzzle and fierce sapphire eyes.

In one hand was a sword with a curved edge like a cutlass. The other hand was obscured by the still condensing light. When finally the onlookers could see, it had transformed into an ovoid shield rimmed in gold. Upon it was emblazoned a series of intertwining lines that formed a triune emblem.

His wings wrapped about him like a cloak, and he stood only a head taller than the Enemy. The gem that had once adorned EmeraldGreymon's chest armor had transformed into a blazing blue sapphire in the center of the new evolution's belt. Then, unfurling his wings, the three unified partners announced a new name:

"Trinitymon!"

Growling, the Enemy rose to his feet. He had expected he might have some difficulty in defeating his offspring. Yet he had never imagined that anyone might match his evolution. This was an unforgiveable insult. That power was supposed to be his alone. And to make matters worse, it had come at his instigation! Millenniumon!—that accursed creature had found a way to transfer his power. If only he had not been so blinded by his outrage, he might have foreseen this!

These thoughts passed quickly, and to anyone else, he no worse for wears. As he stood, the Enemy looked upon Trinitymon, impassive but for a wrathful gleam in his eyes. He dusted himself off and retrieved his sword, keeping his eyes trained on the newly evolved Digimon. He paced a wide arc around his foe, inspecting their form.

"I am impressed," he said, imitating a perfect calm.

Trinitymon watched him warily, widening his stance to a defensive position. While he appeared as impassive as his rival, the collective minds at work inside him had not nearly adjusted to the shock. They thought independently of each other, but still as one, with a unified will and strength that neither individual could fathom. But as one, somehow it seemed to reconcile—Cotramon's experiences melded into Michael's strength, which in turn blended with Isaac's moral fortitude.

"What's the matter, hybrid?" the Enemy queried. "Are you so far beyond me now that you no longer think I'm worthy of your attention?" He laughed, pausing in his walk. "Your power could rule this world, couldn't it? Why bother with those pathetic creatures," he gestured emphatically to the bystanding Sovereignty. "Ha! I should defer to you—"

"Shut up!" came Trinitymon's reply. A spark of electricity danced across his cutlass. "You have no idea what true power is. It comes from unity, from the diverse strengths that make us all unique."

"I have been ruling this world since before you were created!" the Enemy growled fiercely. "True power!" he shouted. He no longer restrained his outrage now, but directed all of his rage at Trinitymon. "The only true power in this world is mine! And all of your fighting—all of your pretty words about hope and friendship and peace—will die here and now! Demon Star!"

He let loose with his attack. His speed seemed to have increased even further, and the attack streamed toward the rival Digimon. Without waiting, the Enemy threw another volley, and then another.

Trinitymon brought up his shield and took a deep breath. Whether it would hold, neither mind could guess. Then, the first shell impacted against it and the combined partners strained against the burning cold and terrible darkness. The second impacted and forced him to take a step back. The third hit with twice the force, and he pushed forward, throwing all of the combined might into pushing through the maelstrom.

With that effort, Trinitymon pushed aside the third attack and it ricocheted into the sky, bursting harmlessly in the air. Not willing to give the Enemy a chance to recover, he brought up his sword, still coursing with barely controlled energy, and lunged at the Black Diamond with a slashing motion.

"Diamond Blade!" The blade lit up with a blue hue, leaving a luminous arc where it had tracked through the air. The Enemy parried the incoming blow, resulting in a release of energy that blew the two apart. Trinitymon landed on gracefully on his feet, his wings slowing his decent.

The Black Diamond, just as skillfully, landed in a crouching position, eyes still on his adversary. Leaping into action, he sprinted toward his opponent, his own blade at the ready, the edge alight with crackling violet sparks. "Soul Cleaver!" The Enemy slashed at Trinitymon, trying to rip him open.

With a massive push from his wings, Trinitymon rose into the air. He soared fifty feet above the ground before turning just in time to see another salvo of black orbs flying toward him. With his shield he sent the first flying into the abandoned city, and with his sword he sliced through the second. Then he angled downward, diving toward the Black Diamond like a streak of silver lightning.

From the ground, the Enemy crossed his arms and called out, "Demon Pulse," before his barrier went up and exploded outward.

The combined heroes managed to pull out of the dive just in time, and from the air, his defensive technique rang out over the battlefield. "Absolution Barrier!" A bubble of shimmering white light appeared around the super ultimate. The Enemy's shield collided with his with a spark and then a tremendous boom as the energies dissipated each other.

Both opponents were thrown back; the Enemy slid back, digging his sword into the ground for purchase. Trinitymon was thrown tumbling upward before he recovered. He spun round, spreading his wings to stabilize himself and made another dive at the Black Diamond. This time he threw himself under the incoming volleys, flying low across the ground at a breathtaking pace.

"Diamond Blade!" he roared, swiping as he passed at the Enemy's feet. Then he flipped around, angling his shield to bludgeon the Black Diamond. The Enemy managed to grab the shimmering disk, seizing Trinitymon's arm along with it. Then he swung with his sword.

"Soul Cleaver…" the sound was almost a whisper before it struck, ripping a gash through Trinitymon's silver armor and into the flesh beyond. He roared in pain, stumbling back as crimson stained his gleaming shell. Then the Enemy laughed: "You fools! Even at your most powerful you're no match for me!"

The wound gushed, and the human portion of their shared minds reeled with pain, almost too much to bear. Isaac had never experienced the demands of battle like this, and only the reassurance of his partners' shared consciousness was able to push him beyond. You fight the battles that need fighting… the phrase echoed through their thoughts. If they failed here, there would be no second chances.

Trinitymon clutched his sword tighter and threw a defiant stare at the Enemy. "You're the fool. We haven't yet begun to fight!" With that he made a dash for the Black Diamond, catching him mid laugh and striking hard with the flat of his sword. The blow knocked the wind out of the Enemy, doubling him over, and Trinitymon brought the hilt of his sword down squarely upon the Black Diamond's head.

The force of it cracked the headpiece in two before the tip crashed into Enemy's skull, bringing him to his knees. Still wheezing, he was unable to counter, and Trinitymon delivered a solid kick to his foe's abdomen, throwing him several yards away.

For a moment, everything was still, save for the Enemy and the roaring of flames. Trinitymon stood motionless as a statue, waiting for the Enemy to regain his composure. For his part, the Black Diamond coughed and spat blood. With his helmet gone and blood trickling down his face, he seemed even more fearsome.

Very few Digimon had ever managed to wound him. And even fewer had drawn blood from him. He wiped away the bitter stream and stared at it momentarily. It had taken the combined efforts of seven fully realized mega Digimon to subdue him at the end of the rebellion. It had been only after years of siege warfare, and they fought him to a stalemate. Now, the risk of defeat became horrifyingly real to the Black Diamond for the first time.

"You're afraid," Trinitymon stated calmly. The soul-sapping aura of the Enemy had weakened, and he sensed the resolve wavering within his foe. "You're afraid!" he bellowed louder, as if all the world was watching. "You never imagined it would happen, did you?"

Finally standing to his full height again, the Enemy growled softly, seething at them. "Thought what?" he barked. "That a mongrel and his misfit companions would defeat me? That I could be subdued by the pathetic likes of you?" His growls became snarls, and his black eyes sparked. "I still don't imagine it!"

With a terrific burst of speed, he made for Trinitymon, a sphere of black welling up within the crook of his blade. He reached his opponent in a matter of seconds, letting loose with the attack at point blank range. But rather than leap back, he pushed forward even after the attack, pinning Trinitymon with his arms and tail. "Demon Pulse!"

The barrier went, surrounding both of them. But instead of enlarging, it remained tight against them as the energy blast detonated, entrapping them both within the intensifying backlash of the explosion. Trinitymon struggled within the vice-like grip of the Enemy. Then another sphere formed before him, redoubling the eruption. His armor burned with cold, biting his flesh and sapping his body of vitality.

Finally the barrier dropped and what was left of the explosion dispersed. This time Trinitymon dropped to his knees, letting his sword fall beside him. The Enemy stumbled back, breathing hard, the blood frozen to his face. But he grinned maliciously. All he need do was deliver the finishing blow.

Trinitymon's breath came in shallow gasps. Everything hurt, felt hot and cold at the same time. His limbs refused to respond except to scream in protest. We have to get up… There had to be more power there. Get up! His tail twitched and he clenched his fists. We won't let him die in vain! He grabbed the sword.

The quietest of footfalls approached the super ultimate. The Enemy barely made any noise, except for the baleful whisper of his curved sword, rising into the air. "Soul—"

"Diamond Blade!" With one fluid motion, Trinitymon twisted round, falling on his back and slashing at the Enemy's exposed side. His flesh shattered like glass, frozen from his own Demon Star attack, and he screeched in agony.

He still stood, though, his sword raised for a killing blow. He might have managed to do it, but for the resolve of the triad mega in front of him. Trinitymon rose to his feet and raised his own blade toward the heavens. He paused only briefly, watching as the Enemy realized what was about to happen.

"Trinity Spire!" A peel of thunder resounded from all around them, as if responding to a call to arms. Lighting struck the blade, and with an ear splitting crack, Trinitymon brought the edge down upon the Enemy. There was no final scream, no ominous foreshadowing, nor any pleads for mercy. The blade cut clean through the Enemy, shattering at last the Black Diamond, leaving only an empty battlefield.

It was a warm day, with a pleasantly cool breeze playing across the water. It rippled and small waves lapped against the shore. Only this was no pond, or even a small lake. This was a massive body of water, a veritable sea, surrounding an equally enormous plot of land. Upon this stood a city, brand new, and swarming with creatures of all shapes and sizes—and species.

Cotramon approached the moat and the bridge spanning it, awestruck at the grandeur. This was to be the largest city in existence, and the beginning of the great experiment. Humans and Digimon, cohabiting a new plane of the Digital World, the new capital of the Digimon Empire. The climate was temperate—warm in the summer, cool in the winter, and so terrestrial according to the human residence that it now bore the word's origin as its name: Terra.

This was the first time he had seen the city. It came up quickly, and the Emperor was just as quick to establish it as his center of government. The embassies from the human nations had moved in shortly after. Then came residents of both species; they were displaced refugees from Anshar mostly, but a thriving population of adventurous humans had also immigrated.

They were the ones who had begun to bond with Digimon during the invasion of Earth. Tamers, as some Digimon referred to them, who could generate spontaneous digivolution in their partners. And as such, there were mixed feelings about them.

No, he was not a resident of Terra, nor of the Digital World even. Michael had persuaded him to come back to Earth, to live there and try to repair some of the damage that the invading army had done. He came to Terra only on holiday.

The journey into the city was as spectacular as the city itself. He had never seen so many new buildings. In fact, his mind wandered so far as he walked, that he only just noticed as he walked by his destination. Making a hasty about-face, he walked back down the street to the building in question.

By human standards, it was enormous, and he had grown accustomed to those standards in the past year. It stood several stories, windows with balconies overhanging on every side. On the roof, he made out the garden. It was in full bloom, and sweet scents wafted down from it and the surrounding rooftops.

Anyone unfamiliar with the Digital World might have thought it was some odd hotel. But, in fact, this was a residence. And in particular, it was Cotramon's family home—the new one at least. He opened an appropriately sized door with a click and stepped inside. "Hello," he called, to which he received a surprised, but happy exclamation.

The End.