Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Encounter and Aftermath

A teenage boy sits all by his lonesome in a classroom. His gaze is unflinching as he focuses on writing on the book laid on his desk. The orange light of the evening fills the room, indicating the current time. All the classmates of the boy had already gone home but him.

“...It’s done.” The boy spoke with one last scribble to the book. “That’s all the homework done, I should move on to next week’s lesson after this.” He idly spoke as he turned to face the clock on the classroom’s wall to check the time. His impassive face didn’t change even as he realized it was so late in the day. The boy tidied up his belongings to his bag and decided to leave for home.

Before leaving the school’s premises he took the time to go to the restroom to use the sink. The boy looked to the big mirror atop the sink, his reflection greeting him in return.

The boy has fair skin, a youthful handsome features, short purple hair, and yellow colored eyes with bags under it, indicating his fatigue. He’s currently wearing his school uniform which consists of a white collared shirt with elbow-long sleeves, green neck-tie, a black vest with an image of a bird on the right breast side, and dark blue pants.

Unhappy with the bags under his eyes, the boy took a handful of water and splashed his face with it. The cold water helps wake his body a bit more. But, even with a little bit of freshening up the boy’s face is still impassive, if anything it seemed as if he just got more tired. With a sigh, he leaves the restroom and heads on his way.

Idle thoughts cloud his mind as he walks home. School, studies, homeworks, exams, succeeding. Those loops on and on inside his head even after his steps brought him to his home. 

He entered his home while trying to make as little noise as possible and went past the living room, rushing towards his own room. But he was stopped as a voice called out to him, welcoming him home.

“Welcome home Akio.” He stops at the voice of his mom. The boy walks back to the living room and sees her mom on the couch. Her legs are lying on the couch but her body is standing, she must’ve just woken up.

“I’m home. Did you sleep on the couch mom? You look tired.” He asks.

“Yeah, I just got back home a couple hours ago. There was extra work during my shift, it was exhausting.” She explains to her son.

“...Anything I can help with?” Akio offered. But his mom simply gave him an amused shake of her head and smiled.

“It’s fine Akio, don’t worry about it. How was school?” She returns.

“It’s fine, I finished all the homework I got. I think I'm going to review next week’s lesson after this.”

“I see, that’s good… did you make any friends?” She asks with a small frown. When the boy awkwardly turns his gaze away her worry is brought true. “Akio, it’s fine focusing on your studies but are you sure you’re fine with not making friends in your new school?” She spoke with a chiding tone.

“But it’s fine! If I do good then I can help you and dad!” The boy tried to defend but his mom wasn’t convinced.

The woman rests her hand on her forehead and sighs. “I know we’re in a spot of trouble but that’s our responsibility Akio. Just enjoy your school life and make some friends. We just want you to be happy, you know?” The boy frowns but listens to his mom raptly. “Now go back to your room and rest okay? I’ll call you back when dinner is ready.” 

With a nod he turns back and heads towards his room, but not without one last comment from his mom. “Oh and when you do make friends, make sure to befriend some cute girls too!” He almost stumbled on his step as his face became red from his blush.

“Mom! This is why talking to the girls is getting harder! Your matchmaking talk keeps getting into my head!” He replied back heatedly. But he just heard a loud “HAH!” from the living room. With an embarrassed scowl he stomps to his room and slams the door loudly.

The boy threw his bag to the floor gently and threw himself onto his bed. Tiredly Akio sighs and stares at the ceiling listlessly, he lets himself be swept up by the softness of his bed.

“I want to enjoy myself but it’s hard to do that when this is all my fault.”

His family is in a spot of trouble after an accident that happened because of him. Because of that they had to spend quite a large sum of money. Now his mom and dad are working hard to keep them afloat. His parents didn’t even blame him, they just assured him everything will be fine and he should leave everything to them.

That’s why he’s been doing nothing but focus on his studies after entering 7th grade. So focused on this that he even drifted apart from his old friends from elementary school. He wants to repay his parents back for their kindness.

Still… if his mom is starting to get concerned like that then maybe he should slow it down a bit. God knows how his father would react if he knew his son refused to have a social life.

“But… I can do it later right?” The guilt he has is winning over again. He really does want to follow his mom’s advice but he got too much going on in his head. In addition to that, trying to befriend his schoolmates sounds a bit much at the moment. 

Akio pulled his hair back in frustration, confused on what to do. At times like this, there’s only one thing to do to calm him down. He twisted his body to reach for the table next to the bed and grabbed a black and yellow wireless headphones. He placed it snugly on his head and browsed through his phone for his favorite music to play at a time like this. A Wada Koji’s classic, Butter-Fly. With the song playing in his ears, Akio lets himself go and closes his eyes to immerse himself in the music.

…

Yeah… he’ll try to follow the advice tomorrow. He’ll still focus on his studies but he’ll try to befriend his schoolmates. He doesn’t want his parents to worry over him like that again. It’s a start.

-o-

“Dad, Mom I’m heading off now!” Akio called as he left his house, clad in the same uniform and school bag but with the addition of the black and yellow headphones resting nicely on his neck.

“Take care at school son!”

“Be careful out there!” He heard his mom and dad reply.

So he began his trek towards his school with renewed vigor. The plan is laid out, he’ll go to school, talk to his classmates and try to befriend them! He even saved ice breaking lines in his phones!

Hopefully they don’t already have a group…

And don’t mind befriending the loner of the class…

Or one of the girls… He can still hear the whispers of his mom whenever he tries to talk to them.

Oh boy this is going to be a hard one isn’t it?

Akio continues his walk while crossing his arm and tilting his head in contemplation for how he’s going to approach this. This is a tough one, coming from not socializing to trying to socializing again is a big image change. He’s already known as the studious loner so his classmates respected his boundaries and left him alone to his studies… huh. If they’re that kind maybe this wouldn’t be so hard after all.

However his thoughts were brought to a halt when he heard a noise to his side. A simple noise wouldn’t really catch anyone’s attention but it’s because the noise itself was weird that it caught Akio’s attention. To put it simply, it’s like hearing the static of a television, the ringing of bells, and a glitching computer program. 

Even stranger still is the sight that accompanies the source of this noise. It was an alleyway tucked between two buildings but everything inside is coated in green paint- no that’s no paint, it’s like looking at one of those interpretations where digital data became real in anime and other media.

“What the heck…?” The boy muttered in confusion. It seems highly dangerous but he can’t help but approach the distorted alleyway.

With each step towards it, the sounds got louder and louder, it was almost unbearable but he pushed on. Once he’s in front of the distortion, Akio is almost mesmerized by it. It’s as if something is pulling him there.

“Just what is this… huh?” His musing was cut when he realized he could see something within the green distortion. Is that… a lion man fighting a samurai in black armor? What the heck? What he saw only perplexed him. Getting even worse when he began to hear them talking.

“Tactimon! Just what are you pulling!” The lion man let out a punch that was easily blocked by the samurai’s massive unsheathed katana.

“Hoooh… it would seem the boundary between the worlds is weakening.” Tactimon mused as he kept blocking the lion man’s attacks.

Tactimon? Boundary? He doesn’t understand what these things are talking about. The boy winced when he saw the lion man receive a well placed strike from the samurai using the butt of the sheathe.

“Hmm… it would seem I’d have to cut our duel short, Leomon. I’m not too keen to see if this place would turn awry, and I'm surprised your ragtag group is able to hold on for this long. Be grateful, for I shall give you a temporary reprieve.” Tactimon turns his back from Leomon and leaves.

“What? You’re leaving like this? After everything that you’ve done!?” The lion man demanded the samurai to answer. 

Tactimon stops in his tracks and leers at Leomon condescendingly. “Didn’t I tell you? I’m giving you a temporary reprieve, if that’s not enough then let me give you another gift.” 

Something feels wrong, he’s not sure if what he’s watching is real but once the one named Tactimon brandished his unsheathed katana he felt an unpleasant pressure looming over him. One thing is for sure to the boy, the lion man is in danger.

“Oi! Watch out!” Akio tried to warn the one named Leomon but his voice didn’t reach him. The boy can only watch helplessly as the armored samurai moves at inhuman speed in front of Leomon and strikes.

“Kishintotsu.” The unsheathed katana is thrusted into Leomon’s stomach. The attack was so fast the beast man didn’t even comprehend it until the force of the thrust blast through behind him. “Hmph, how weak. Our next bout will be a simple one. My perfect victory.” Tactimon turns back again and leaves for real this time. The beast man finally crumples to the ground unmoving.

Akio can only wince in sympathy over Leomon’s defeat. He doesn’t understand what just happened or why it just happened but… he doesn’t like how Tactimon struck Leomon down without remorse.

Is there some way he could help Leomon? It doesn’t feel right for him to just leave him alone after just watching him being beaten to submission.

Without thinking, Akio took one more step forward and reached for the green distortion. But before the boy could react, bright flashing lights engulfed the alleyway and himself.

“H-huh? WAAAAAAHHHHHH!”

…

Those who came to investigate the bright light would only find an empty alleyway bereft of any signs of life.

-o-

...

“Ughh…” Akio groaned in pain. Confused as to why his body feels like it’s been dropped like a sack of potatoes. His hand grasped the ground and he lifted himself up slowly. Halfway through, he opens his eyes and sees a vast grassy landscape… wait what? The boy blinked and rubbed his eyes repeatedly. When the scenery didn’t change he pinched his cheeks with both hands, it hurts, meaning he’s not dreaming.

…

“...What the heck?” The boy slowly stood up and gazed in awe. The vast grassy landscape filled with greenery and rocky hills look so vibrant, it reminds him of those beautiful images of Switzerland’s wilderness. No, it somehow feels more… alive? He couldn’t put it into words.

The boy looked around the hills out of curiosity and gasped as he noticed someone lying on the ground. “Ah! The lion man!” Akio remembers the monster he saw losing to the samurai, Leomon.

The boy ran next to the downed lion man and stopped when he’s beside him. The lion man is bigger than he thought, easily towering over him. If he’d make a rough guess Leomon is probably taller than 2 meters, maybe around 2.5? He’s humanoid in body shape but his head and limbs show his inhuman nature. A head of a lion with flowing yellow mane, a muscled body surpassing bodybuilders with thick arms and legs, hands with sharp claws, and feet with sharp bestial nails. Akio also notices the lion man is wearing a necklace of red beads on his neck, black pants tightened with a black belt, multiple black sashes covering his left hand, and lastly, an unsheathed sword attached to the back of his black pants.

Akio examined the lion man’s injuries, there were bruises and cuts but externally it doesn’t seem too bad… until he remembers the samurai monster’s last strike. The blow looked downright insane with it piercing through the lion man’s body… this is real, oh god. Can he even do anything? It feels wrong to do nothing after he just watched Leomon being beaten.

Akio shook his head, he could feel guilty later. He needs to somehow help Leomon first, but how? He remembers having some band-aids and minor medicine in his bag in case of emergencies but does it even work on something like Leomon?

The boy began to unpack his bags to try and help Leomon but he stopped when he heard a loud voice behind him.

“Stop right there, you dastardly villain! Don’t you dare touch Leomon with your grubby hands!” A bombastic voice demanded him to stop. When he looked behind him there was a… monkey man? 

Smaller than Leomon but the monkey man is as tall as an adult. The fur on its body is orange in color with the stomach and chest area being colored white. He wore sunglasses on his face, on his hip is a doll of a yellow toy bear and there’s also a tail behind him. Looking at the monkey man closer, his “Fur” and outer looks are looking closer to a monkey suit rather than a natural part of his body. His bestial limbs and monkey face makes quite the comical sight.

“To think Tactimon would send his lackey to finish an injured foe, hah! I knew that guy was a coward deep down!” The monkey man continued. Akio is doing his best to process what is happening and the being in front of him. First a lion man fighting a samurai with a big sword and now a monkey man?

But his thoughts were cut off when all of a sudden a fist was coming at him. The boy yelped in panic and rolled to the side, evading the blow that left a fist sized crater… oh god this is real!

“Wh-wuh-wait! Wait! Wait! I’m not an enemy I swear!” Akio pleaded as the monkey man turned to him menacingly. Oh god, is he going to die to a monkey monster of all things!?

“Nice try, but you’re not fooling the one and only me! Etemonkey!” Etemon points at himself with his thumbs pompously. “If you’re not an enemy, then explain this!” With speed Akio couldn’t match, Etemon snatched his backpack and began to rummage through it.

“Wha- hey! Give it back!” Akio demanded as he tried to take his bag back, but Etemon held him in place using his tail.

“Let’s see here… aha! A book and pen, to take note of our information no doubt.” The book was tossed to the side and the boy leaped to catch it. “Assorted medicines and band-aids, they must be secretly poisons!” The monkey tossed the first-aid pack now and the boy caught it like his book. “Yeesh, lotsa books and boring stuff.” Now he tossed the bag at the boy.

“Hey watch where you throw that!” The boy caught is haphazardly. Etemon quickly takes the chance to snatch his headphones and phone from his pocket. “Oh you jerk!”

“And this! …What even is this?” Etemon dangled the two items in front of him questioningly.

“It’s for listening to music!”

“Music? Hah! The only music the Bagra army listens to would probably rot our ears! So that’s what you’re going to use to end Leomon! Well I won’t let you!” Etemon declared exaggeratedly.

Wait, exaggeratedly?

“...Are you messing with me?” The boy spoke questioningly. There was a second of pause before Etemon burst out laughing in front of the boy.

“Gehahaha! Oh you should’ve seen your face kid!” Etemon slapped his own knees as he laughed.

“Ar… Are you serious!?” Akio explodes on Etemon. “Leomon is hurt and you’re making fun of me?” The boy yelled at the monkey man who’s unperturbed by his outburst.

“Leomon? Oh nah, dummy’s stupid sturdy. He looks hurt but he’ll recover fast.” Etemon waves it off dismissively.

“I saw what happened to him! No way in hell he’d-”

“Hngg…” And Etemon’s words turns out to be true as he heard groaning from Leomon. Turning back, he saw the lion man slowly getting back up, some stiffness in his motion but he’s getting up nonetheless. “Hmm? Ah! Etemon, you’re here!” Leomon spoke to Etemon with a friendly tone.

“And you are up, big L.” Etemon replied with two finger guns. “Took quite a beating from Tactimon there bud.”

“Yeah, he packs quite the punch. Hmm? Who’s that next to you?” Leomon notices the boy who looks at him with a tilted head, confusion splayed on his face.

“This boy? Dunno, just met him. Said he wanted to help you when I found him.” The monkey man jerked his thumb at the boy.

“Help?” The lion man examines the boy. He then crouched down on Akio’s eye level and gave the boy a grateful smile. “Thank you for your consideration, kid. But as you can see,” The lion man flexed his arm. “I’m fine and dandy!” The lion man spoke confidently.

“Seriously? I saw what that samurai guy did to you! It was all zwoosh and then the blow even pierced through you! It was insane!” Akio motions his arms to the scene recollection.

“Hrmm… not my proudest moment.” A sweat rolls down Leomon’s face. “I do have to admit Tactimon’s hard to fight against.” He looks down in shame.

“That bad? Damn, so the Bagra army’s tactician really is no joke. I heard stories from passing digimon but never expected to encounter him for real in this zone.” Etemon comments seriously, his pompous demeanor lessens for a moment.

“Yeah, the worst part is I don’t think he was seriously fighting me at all.” Leomon begrudgingly admits.

As the two beastmen ponder seriously. The human boy raises his arm slowly. “Ah… excuse me. I just realized this but, what’s going on here anyway?” He asks with an awkward tone.

“...Oh yeah. What’s a human boy doing over here anyway?” Etemon pounds a fist to an open palm.

“Yeah… and where is… here? This isn’t Switzerland is it? I don’t remember that country having lion men or… monkey men.”

“Huh, looks like the boy got a concussion or something.” Etemon chuckles in amusement. “This ain’t Switzerland or whatever kid, this is the digital world!” The monkey man spread his arms wide exuberantly.

“Digital what now?”

“Di-Gi-Tal World.” Etemon emphasizes each syllable. “More specifically, you’re in the Green Zone.” The monkey man supplies unhelpfully to the boy because it’s just confusing him even more.

“Wait wait wait, you mean we’re not in Japan right now? Are we even on earth?!” The boy panicked restlessly. “Oh no, how do I even get back home?!”

“Hmm… so you didn’t go here on your own?” Leomon asks.

“No! I was walking by and saw an alleyway being covered in these green things! Next thing I know I was watching him,” Akio points to Leomon. “Fighting a samurai and losing and then I touched the green things and woke up here!” The boy finished his impromptu retelling.

“Green things…? Hmm, not sure I’m familiar with what you mean… but I do remember Tactimon mentioned something about the boundary between the world being weakened. Maybe that’s what pulled you in, kid?” Leomon speculates.

“Ugh… can I even go back to my home? I was about to go to school…” Akio lamented. “Ah! Give me back my phone!” The boy snatched back his stuff from the monkey man. “Maybe I can call someone-... no signal…” The boy sighs in defeat.

“Wahaha! Don’t fret kid, sorry that you’re stuck here for a while but I’ll be sure to help you get back home!” Leomon declares loudly.

The purple haired boy looked up to the lion man and gave a weak smile. At least someone is willing to help him… the monkey man however.

“Bahahaha! Oh that’s gold! You just wandered around and now you’re stuck! Bahahaha!” The monkey man is laughing at his predicament.

After a moment the laughter died down and Etemon turned to the other two seriously. “As much as I’d like to keep laughing, we should probably get somewhere safe. Don’t know when the Bagra army would strike again and I’d rather not be attacked unprepared.”

Leomon returned his gaze seriously and nodded. The boy doesn’t know what’s going on but hearing the word “Attacked” probably means they could be in danger. So the best choice at the moment is to follow the two… creatures? Beings? For safety.

-o-

The armor clad form of Tactimon gazes on a screen floating in front of him. The screen displays the Green Zone, with this one showing Leomon, Etemon, and their new human companion.

“Hmm, a human…” His eyes focused on the distressed purple-haired boy. “It would seem my perfect victory will be easier than I thought.”

-o-

The trio found themselves in a settlement filled with other creatures Akio had never seen before. If he’d recall correctly, on the way the duo of beastmen explained to him that they’re beings called a Digital Monster, or Digimon for short. That didn’t explain much though, and he didn’t press on that longer because the next information they gave was-

“You’re being invaded!?” The boy exclaimed in shock.

“Yeah by the Bagra army.” Leomon confirmed.

“Okay, first you guys explain that you’re all digimon and the next you’re telling me this place is being invaded by some kind of evil army?!” Akio chopped the air left to right to emphasize.

“Yep.” Etemon nonchalantly said as they walked. “Honestly you couldn’t pick a worse time to come here.” The monkey man chuckled.

“Don’t just “Yep” me! I’m in danger here!”

“We, we’re in danger here boy.” Etemon corrected. “And relax, it’s not like you’d be the one fighting here. What can you even do with that noodle of an arm of yours?”

“Etemon does speak the truth.” Leomon flexed his arm muscles. “You need to be powerful like us to be able to fight!”

Reluctantly the boy conceded, it’s not like they’re wrong. Still though, listening about a world he’s never seen before and seeing it up close is just… crazy. He went to make friends at school and got transported here instead, not how he expected his Tuesday would go.

The boy saw the community inside the settlement, most of the digimon he saw seemed harmless… he thinks. A walking talking purple mushroom, A big kiwi bird with a gray mask and tufts of leaf on its head instead of hair or feather, short yellow creatures making burgers, green… snails with big eye stalks? 

Honestly he’d react more but this whole encounter has been a bit too much for him. Not to mention his head is busy filling itself with wild thoughts.

“Is… Is it okay for you guys to bring me here? I-I don’t even know what I can do here and you’re willing to protect me.” The boy asks unsurely. With how an invasion is going on and this settlement seems to be a refuge for digimon he feels like he’s just going to be a burden.

Leomon saw the distress in the boy’s eyes and tones. With a gentle pat on the shoulder Leomon gave him an affirming smile. “Why do you look hard on yourself kid? Look at everyone around you,“ Leomon motions towards the other digimon. “They’re all lost just like you and all of them are victims of the Bagra army. When I saw them I swore to protect them all with all my power!” Leomon pounds his chest proudly.

“That’s… that’s super bold and reckless you know that?” The boy can’t help but be flabbergasted by the lion man’s declaration.

“Yeah Leo’s kinda like that, as much as I protest to it.” Etemon shrugs nonchalantly. Akio was about to ask what Etemon meant by protest but the monkey man was already moving on. “Alright let’s get you comfortable somewhere alright? The faster we let you go the faster Leo can prepare defense.” 

The monkey man turns to the boy and… has not said anything yet, snapping his fingers and head scrunched up as if trying to remember something. Is he trying to call him- oh wait, he never introduced himself has he?

“The name’s Akio by the way. Akio Hirose.” Akio introduced himself.

“Akio! Now get your butt to safety while the big boys play eh?” Etemon snapped his fingers again bombastically.

The rest was a bit of a blur to the boy, there was hustling and bustling, chatting and discussing before he finally found himself in a tent near the edge of the settlement. One of the yellow humanoids, who are apparently called Burgermon, even gave him some burgers to eat. Burgermons making burgers… he didn’t know what he expected.

Akio listlessly eats his meals as he watches the digimon running about. He supposed being here with all the others is better than wandering listlessly in… what was it they called this world again? The Digital World, that’s what it is.

Hmm… he’s probably already late for school, wonder how long he’s going to be stuck here? Hopefully not for long, he still needs to get back home or else his parents would get worried.

How is he going to get back anyway? He suppose he can find another one of those green distortion things, maybe they’d return him to the human world. But where is he going to find another one of those?

“Hey excuse me!” Akio called out to one of the green slug creatures… Numemon if he remembers correctly.

The digimon notices his call and goes to him. “Yes?”

“I’m a bit new to the… whole world here, came here by accident really.” The boy bashfully explains. “Do you know where I can find… I guess a green colored distortion? That’s how I came here.”

“Green distortion?” Numemon tilts his eye stalks as he thinks. “Don’t know. Maybe Sukamon knows.” He shrugs before turning around. “Hey Sukamon! Know any green distortion?” He yelled at a big yellow-colored… comically shaped poop with eyes and arms… what the hell.

“Hngg, green torso? Isn’t that you?” Sukamon yelled back.

“Distortion, not torso!”

“Green portion? Did you mean salads? Yeah, the Burgermons can make those! Just ask them!” Again, he got it wrong.

“No no! It’s-”

“Alright alright, stop! If you two don’t know it’s fine!” The teenager had to put an end to this before it just loops eternally. Numemon shrugs and returns to his business while Akio sits back down and sighs.

Should he ask more digimon about the green distortion that transported him? There are a lot of them so he’s bound to find someone that knows something right? Hmm, that would take a bit too long though, it’s a whole settlement after all.

“Hmm… maybe I can look for it myself?” Akio wanders and looks around outside of the settlement. His eyes fell upon a pretty tall hill that he could climb. “That’s pretty tall, I can probably see a lot from there.” The boy looked back to the settlement before speaking apologetically as he left for the hilltop. “Excuse me…”

A short but tiring climb later he managed to reach the hilltop that oversees the Green Zone. The boy gazed at the world discerningly, trying to find the green distortion that brought him here. Which is proving to be quite the challenge since this place is the GREEN zone and everywhere he sees are green grassy plains and forestry. Oh boy he did not think this through did he?

The teenager shook his head in defeat. Looks like there isn’t much option for him except to wait for Leomon and Etemon’s aid.

As the boy was about to leave, a familiar ringing sound came from behind him. His heart soars as when he turned around, he saw the same green distortion covering the place- hmm? No… it’s more like a portal now. Eh, whatever form it takes doesn’t matter. For sure this looks like the same thing that brought him here.

“YES!” Akio cheered as he walked closer to the portal. The boy turned behind and yelled towards the settlement. “Sorry for leaving early but thanks for helping me guys!” Not sure if Leomon and Etemon would hear it but at least he said his goodbyes.

He slowly turns to face the portal-

A pair of black armored hands emerges. “No. Thank you.” An eerie voice spoke before the boy’s vision went black.

-o-

“Come on, you lot! Mushroomon saw Tactimon and his underlings marching near the settlement, we need to hurry!” Leomon spoke as he led a group of digimon to protect the village. They expected Tactimon to return but he didn’t expect it would be this soon.

Etemon quickly leads the evacuation of the digimon refugees while Leomon handles all the able-bodied digimon willing to stave off Tactimon’s platoon. The beast man observes the digimon gathered, their numbers are smaller as the rest have not recuperated from their previous encounter with the Bagra army yet. Leomon can’t help but frown in concern, he’s confident in his strength but not everyone can hold on long enough. The best course of action would be to stall for time and retreat once Etemon signals the end of the evacuation.

“Hmm? They’re here.” Leomon’s ears picked up the sound of marching digimon coming towards them, no doubt it’s the Bagra army. Not long after he can see many digimon coming their way, Troopmons, Chikurimons, Pteramons, some others and the star of the show himself, Tactimon.

The armored digimon raised his right hand and flicked it forward. As soon as he did, his army hastened their march and began attacking.

Leomon swipes an attack shot by Pteramon and rallies his allies. “Let’s go everyone! Protect our home! Protect our friends! Don’t let the Bagra army win!” He roared as he charged forward.

Soon the two forces met and clashed. With Leomon as the vanguard he swats down incoming attacks and lets his allies take on the weaker foes while he takes on the stronger ones. A tough strategy to follow as there are many powerful digimon among the enemy ranks, such as Minotarumons and Mammothmons. 

Lemon scoffs, if he loses to them first before taking out Tactimon he’s not worthy to be the protector of his allies!

The lion man roared as he clashed with the Minotarumons. The bovine digimon have mechanical arms that could cause earthquakes, a danger for him and his allies and his first priority to take out. With his sword he sliced down their mechanical arm, not even allowing them to touch the ground and activate it. The disarmed Minotarumons rushed together to stop him, trying to pin him down but the lion man jumps in the air and clenched his fist.

“Fist of the Beast King!” Leomon punched below, unleashing a lion shaped energy that consumed the bovine digimon in its light and deleted them.

The lion man landed with a crash and paused for a short moment. Enemies they may be but they are fellow digimon nonetheless, the least he can give them is a moment of mourning. The loud trumpet of Mammothmons snapped Leomon out. Herd of the huge digimon rushed to trample him flat. 

Taking advantage of their large sizes Leomon jumps on top of one of them lithely. Feeling its enemy on its back the Mammothmon trashes around to try and get rid of him, the beast man held on to its fur. He waits until the other Mammothmons realize his presence and roars to taunt them. The wild digimon crashes into the Mammothmon he’s riding in blind anger, toppling it down and leaving it lying motionless on the ground. The mammoth digimon expected their enemy to be downed on the ground as well but found nothing near their former comrade’s body.

The herd looks around in confusion. The mammoth digimon were about to search until all of a sudden one of them fell. The enemy is on the ground! They deduced, even though there are still zero visuals on Leomon. The beast digimon trashed around the place, stomping everywhere they could to smoke out the lion digimon. But their effort was in vain as even after all of that, they fell one by one until the last one fell as well.

Leomon reappears from the side, all along the lion digimon was hiding nowhere near the mammoth digimon. The wild digimon fell courtesy of his sword and power, a technique he’s been training. Sending off an almost invisible energy slash using his sword imbued by his power. To a tempered foe it would’ve been a simple move but the wild digimon couldn’t comprehend that in their blind rage.

With those threats down Leomon heads off again. With them out of the way his allies should be able to handle the Bagra Army better. It’s time for his revenge match with Tactimon. If he could somehow beat him then they could repel the Bagra army out of the Green Zone. The lion man speeds through the battlefield to his target who is calmly watching the battle, even as Leomon approaches.

“We meet again, Leomon.” Tactimon spoke, his stance unchanging but Leomon can tell the armored digimon is leaving no openings.

The lion digimon didn’t speak, he brandished his sword in his left hand and clenched his right hand.

“Yes, there’s no need for banter anymore.” The unsheathed katana is pointed at Leomon. “It’s time for me to claim my perfect victory.” He calmly stated.

The two digimon stood still unmoving, both of them watching one another analytically. Leomon couldn’t charge recklessly, he knows what Tactimon is capable of, one wrong move and he’ll end up like last time, only this time it would be a permanent slumber.

The armored digimon broke the tense silence first. “Feeling nervous are we? Let me help you with that.” The ground Tactimon stood on breaks as the armored digimon charged first. 

Leomon was ready, blocking the unsheathed katana with his sword. The impact however was stronger than he thought, the lion digimon was pushed back. His hand feels numb but at least the blow wasn’t a direct one. Again the armored digimon strikes with his unsheathed katana and the lion digimon blocks it. On and on the clashing of swords repeated but it’s clear from an outsider’s perspective it’s Leomon that’s on the losing side. The lion digimon is swept up by Tactimon’s flow and could not find any chance to go on the offensive.

Tch, if I can’t find an opportunity then I’ll just make one! Leomon’s right fist glows with power. “Fist of the Beast King!” The lion-shaped energy was shot towards Tactimon.

Tactimon quickly pulls back before it could hit him but Leomon quickly pursues, sword sheathed and both arms ready. “Hundred Beast Fist!” The lion man punches the air repeatedly, shooting out a barrage of lion shaped energies at Tactimon. The barrage forced the armored digimon to cross his arms to defend as he was compromised. Leomon watches as the armored digimon is swarmed by his energy and explodes, covering the place in a cloud of dust.

The lion man watches closely, he knows that attack is not enough to defeat Tactimon and he needs to be ready for when the samurai counteratta-

“Hmm, you’re better than before.” Leomon punches behind him, but his fist is blocked by the sheath of Tactimon’s sword. Aside from a few scuff and dusty parts, the armored digimon looks unscathed. “Let’s see how you handle this. Ichi-no-Tachi, Earth Shaker.” The unsheathed sword was slammed down to the ground. 

The earth rumbled and the violent shifting shattered the surface of the ground in a directed eruption towards Leomon. With how close Leomon was he could not dodge this. His body took it on harshly, being flung into the air before crashing into the ground. The attack continues with clouds of dust pluming out from the path of the earthquake’s destruction. Anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in the aftermath would not survive that.

“My my, was that all it took to defeat you?” Tactimon idly spoke as he watched Leomon lying on the ground unmoving. 

As if to respond to Tactimon’s taunt, Leomon twitched. His eyes open and he slowly rises. His breath is heavy and his body hurts, but Leomon stands defiantly. “That’s… that’s not enough to defeat me, Tactimon!” He roared before brandishing his sword.

Tactimon could see Leomon’s sword being covered in by some sort of aura. When the sword was swung, Tactimon couldn’t help but instinctively dodge from danger. His eyes found themselves in the aftermath of Leomon’s little attempt. The ground was sliced clean off and he can even see trees behind him falling with a clean slice on its body.

“Hoooh, impressive.” Tactimon mused as he dodged another slash Leomon sent. The beast man’s arm turns into a blur as he slashes the air, sending many of those deadly slashes towards the armored digimon. Tactimon calmly enters a stance, holding the sword with both hands in front of him. Tactimon brought his sword up and swung down, Leomon’s myriad of slashes were stopped all at once with one swing.

But the lion digimon didn’t stop there. “Crushing Kick!” Leomon quickly jumps in front of Tactimon and gives him a roundhouse kick that lands cleanly at the armored digimon’s head. For the first time, the attack was proven successful as Leomon heard a grunt from Tactimon and the armored digimon was brought to lean slightly down.

“Such tenacity and strength.” The armored digimon grabbed Leomon’s leg before he could pull out and threw him away. The lion digimon flips through the air and manages to land safely. “Your power is wasted being used like this Leomon. Why would someone like you prefer to fight against us? Would it not be better if you were to join our side?” Tactimon extends his free hand out towards his foe.

“Bah! I'd sooner be a cowardly lion than join your master!” Leomon scoffs at Tactimon’s offer. “You conquer zone after zone leaving death and destruction behind. I, Leomon, will protect the victims of your oppression!”

The armored digimon shakes his head and sighs. “Such a shame.” Tactimon snaps his finger, a Pteramon comes from the air to his side carrying something covered in black cloth. The tactician of the Bagra army took it and picked it with his hand. When Tactimon uncovers the black cloth his eyes widen. “What about now?” Tactimon asks.

“H-he-help!” On Tactimon’s clutches is the human boy Leomon met earlier. His limbs are bound and his eyes are fearful with tears running down. How did Tactimon kidnap the boy!?

“Quite a coincidence huh? There he was wandering around trying to find a way home desperately.” The tactician bows his head slightly, his eyes glowing with a sinister gleam. “So I generously gave him a gift, one that led him to me.” Tactimon finished retelling, all the way through his tone was condescending.

“Tactimon you bastard! He’s just a human boy, let him go!” Leomon threatened without effect to the tactician.

“What was it that you proclaim last time… Protector of the weak you say? Would you leave the boy to an untimely demise, or would you surrender? It’s entirely your choice.” The armored digimon gave his ultimatum.

Leomon stood still and gritted his teeth. How cowardly, he should have expected this from the general of Bagra army. He shouldn’t do this, if he were to surrender then he’d waste the sacrifice his companions had made to battle with him. But he just can’t ignore the life of the human boy! Damn it!

Begrudgingly, Leomon kneeled down and placed his sword on the ground. The armored digimon smirked as he saw and the boy widened his eyes.

“Le-leomon!?”

“I’ll stand down… just let go of the boy please.” Leomon said with a hateful glare towards Tactimon.

“Heh, I knew you’d cave soon enough.” Tactimon laughed, this is his victory.

Meanwhile the boy was scared and horrified. Scared that he was being held hostage by the armored digimon but horrified by Leomon’s action. The lion digimon is willing to surrender just to save him? Dammit, this is all his fault. He shouldn’t have tried to wander around! Now the one who helped him is in trouble.

With quivering lips, the boy resolutes himself. “Do-don’t do it, Leomon!”

“Boy, why?”

“I-it’d be bad if Tactimon wins r-right? Then don’t give up! Just forget about me!”

“Bo- Akio! Are you serious? You’re the one in danger here!” Leomon argued back. “And I can see you shaking. You’re scared, you don’t need to put on a brave face! Didn’t I tell you that I’d help you before kid?” The lion man spoke with an understanding gaze.

Dammit why is he so kind! Why would he do this for someone he just met? 

Leomon’s words struck the boy’s heart, tears welling up in his eyes. He really does want Leomon to not help him because of his guilt, but he’s just as scared of his life.

“Hmm… touching, but it’s a waste of time.” Tactimon cut in. “If you wish to not be saved I’ll oblige.”

“Tactimon you cur! I knew I couldn’t trust you!” Leomon lashed out with wide-eyes. The boy had the same level of surprise, but with the way Tactimon acts they should’ve expected this.

Before Leomon could retake his sword and strike, Tactimon had already done so. Kicking him to the ground while still holding the boy.

“No!” Akio yelled. “That’s not what you-”

“Ah ah ah, you said for Leomon to forget about you. I’m simply honoring your wishes.” The armored digimon wagged his finger tauntingly. The tactician gazes at his downed enemy and listens to the sound of battle, he can hear his forces going forward despite the initial resistance. “Ku ku ku, a perfect victory inde-”

“ETEMONKIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!”

The armored digimon quickly blocks towards the voice with his sword but the lithe figure of Etemon instead lands and pulls his hand back. “I’m still counting this as part of my KIIIIICK!” The monkey digimon lands an uppercut straight at the tactician’s jaw. Forcing him to step backwards and snatching the boy from his grasp.

“E-Etemon!”

“In the flesh kid!” The monkey gave the boy a megawatt smile, his teeth somehow giving a sparkle. “Yo Leomon, is it really time to taste the dirt?” He snarked at his ally who grumbled as he rose up.

“Etemon… glad to see you’re here- ugh.” Leomon grunted as he gladly welcomed his friend. “Is everyone-”

“Yeah most of them already moved out to safety.” The monkey interjects as he watches Tactimon recovering from his attack. He let go of Akio on the ground and the boy took a deep sigh of relief.

“That’s good. Now we got the head honcho to deal with.” Leomon took a stance, as did Etemon but he seemed hesitant Akio noticed. The boy simply backed off and sneaked behind the two beast digimon.

“Hrngh… one or two of you doesn’t matter. There goes the fastest way to my perfect victory.” Tactimon sighs as he rubs his chin. “Looks like it’s time to execute plan B.” The armored digimon snapped his finger.

The earth trembled and shook. The boy could hear loud noises coming out from within the ground. It was the sounds of loudly spinning drills. Is there a drill digimon in the enemy’s army?

The boy’s internal question was answered when several spots on the ground ruptured and a human sized moles with purple fur and drill on their nose rose from it. On their back were a platoon of eerie black colored digimon with white mask carrying a gun.

“Tch, Troopmon and Drimogemons. This could be bad.” Etemon’s smile wavered as he saw the new entry. Now they’re outnumbered three to many. 

“If I can’t make you surrender then overwhelming force is a valid option as well.” Tactimon rests his sword on the ground. The armored digimon is content to see the struggles of his enemies without laying a finger.

“Leomon! We can't fight like this! It’s time to bail!” Etemon took charge, motioning them to escape from the back.

”Ah ah ah,” The armored digimon wagged his finger. “There won’t be any escape.” The ground behind them erupted as well, when the dust settled the trio was now completely surrounded by Drimogemons and the Troopmon platoons.

“Oh no! They blocked our escape!” Akio cried out, stepping closer to Etemon for safety.

“This… is not good at all.” Leomon lamented.

The trio watches as the Bagra looms over them. The Troopmons point their gun and charge it while the Drimogemons watch their movement. It really does look like it’s the end for them.  Etemon’s smile falters into a worried frown and Akio clings to the two digimon in hope for safety. To them all hope was lost… except for one.

“Fist of the Beast King!” A line of Troopmons and Drimogemons were blasted into nothingness. Leomon stands defiantly against despair.

“Leomon?” The boy muttered, gazing at the back of the beast digimon.

“You two escape, I’ll buy you some time.” Leomon declared as he brandished his sword.

“W-what!? You’re going to fight against them?” Akio exclaimed.

“Leo, are you insane? You can’t take them on, it’s suicide! Escape with us!” Etemon heatedly spoke.

“No… if we escape together then Tactimon and his minions would just follow us to the others. One of us would have to stop him here and that’s me.” Leomon didn’t budge, his eyes were burning with resolution.

The monkey digimon grit his teeth and punch Leomon in frustration. “Dammit Leo! This is why I never liked the idea of resisting the Bagra army. We can’t keep fighting… one of these days we’d get offed eventually and now the day actually comes!” Etemon vented with gritted teeth.

“I knew what I signed up for. And didn’t I tell you guys before? I’ll protect you all with all my power!” The lion digimon’s gaze turns to the human boy. He can see the nervousness and conflict within the boy’s mind as plain as day. “Akio… kid. Don’t blame yourself for what happened ya hear? It’s all just misfortune, you did nothing wrong.” He assured the boy with a grin.

“Wha- but!”

“You accidentally came to this world and while you were trying to find a way back that jerk over there captured you. It’s all out of your hand right? Lighten up a bit kid, someone young like you doesn’t need to worry so much like that.”

The boy froze. The way Leomon is talking to him reminded him too much of what his parents like to say.

“Hey Etemon, take care of this one yea? I still promised I’d help him find a way home.” Leomon requested before walking off towards the enemies.

“W-wait!” Akio didn’t get a chance to finish. Etemon wasted no time and picked him up again, using all his might to escape to the opposite direction.

Tactimon who is silently watching the exchange simply shrugs his shoulders. “Touching. Is that all?”

The lion digimon didn’t fall for the provocation. Instead he took a stance and brandished his sword in a reverse grip. “I’ll make you eat those words soon Tactimon. I am the king of beasts, Leomon! Protector of the Green Zone! And I will be your end!” Leomon shouted just as he shot towards Tactimon.

-o-

The pair was silent all the way in their escape. What can they say in this situation? Etemon lost a friend and Akio lost someone who was willing to genuinely help him. Their silence was broken once they reached back to the settlement, or at least what it used to be. The only thing in front of them now are just ruined structures and burning tents.

“This… this is horrible.” The boy frees himself from Etemon’s grasp and watches in horror as the once lively settlement he saw is reduced to rubbles.

“Haaah… I knew they’d attack this place, Good thing I evacuated most of them out of here. Hopefully they can find someplace else safe.”

“Most? Wa-wait does that mean that-”

“Yeah, some of them refused to budge even though they knew what the Bagra army was capable of.” The monkey digimon sat tiredly on a broken chair. “They’re tired, kid. Tired of constantly running and escaping from the Bagra army,” Etemon explained before Akio could ask.

“That’s…” A rustling from a ruined tent caught his attention. The boy rushed to it and saw the same green slug and yellow poop shaped digimon. “Numemon, Sukamon! You guys are alive!”

“WAGH! Don’t attack us!” They raised their arms in surrender while closing their eyes.

“Hey hey calm down. It’s me, the one that asked you questions about distortion.” The boy reassures them. Once the pair opened their eyes they sighed in relief. “Uh, are you guys the only survivors here?” Akio asks worriedly.

With sad eyes Numemon shakes his head, that answer was enough.

Trying to make himself useful, Akio scoured around and found surviving food and supplies and gathered it to where Etemon is. The four huddled together in the middle of the ruined settlement, they’re all they have now.

“Haaah… I should’ve just asked everyone to escape.” Etemon laments as he watches the other three munching on their small meals.

“Escape? You were going to let the Bagra army roam around and do all they want?” Akio asks, his gaze tinged with suspicion at the monkey digimon’s statement.

“Well no duh kid, just look at all around you.” The monkey waved his hand around. “At least if we escape we’d get away with our lives. That dummy was too noble to choose that route. But I suppose I get what he’s preaching, can’t really dash over someone’s way of life you know?” 

“Hmm… wonder if escaping would even be safer. Wouldn’t you guys still be chased by the Bagra army? Wouldn’t it be less tiring if you guys submit?”

“Hah! Kid kid kid, we’d rather take the fugitive life than live under the Bagra army.” The three digimon shook their heads disapprovingly. “You saw the other digimon in the battlefield that we passed? A lot of them are conscripts from the places they’ve conquered.” Etemon explains. “So submitting is almost the same as agreeing yourself to be canon fodder for their frontline.”

“Oh that sucks.” The boy winced, they can’t even catch a break if they submit. “It just sucks all around for everyone huh?”

“Pretty much.” Sukamon and Numemon spoke together in agreement.

“Yep. Not to mention those that fight just left behind those who can’t fight. Once they’re gone there’s nothing left to protect them. The only thing you have left are… well the losers.” The monkey man points at everyone including himself.

“The losers huh… kinda fitting.” The boy couldn’t help but chuckle. It’s demeaning but the word describes them perfectly right now. “There must be so many losers like us in this war huh?”

“A lot, kid. A lot of losers.” The monkey man stood up and walked away.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Akio calls out.

“Escaping this dump. There’s nothing here that would make me stay anymore so why bother.” 

“How are you going to escape here?”

“Something I originally planned before Leomon got all heroic.” Etemon walks near a rubble and digs out a… white colored phone… thing? Curiously, the trio got closer and saw Etemon fiddle with the device. There was something akin to an SD card that was inserted to the side. A green colored portal formed right in front of them shortly after, surprising the clueless trio.

“Holy smokes!” Numemon and Sukamon cowered behind the boy.

Akio instantly recognized what the portal was. “That looks like what brought me here! And… the one that Tactimon used to bait me…” He sulked at the last part. “Where does this even lead?”

Etemon simply shrugs nonchalantly. “Who knows, but anywhere is probably better than here. You guys wanna come too? Leomon did ask me to take care of you.” He offers.

“Running away like the losers we are huh…?” The boy muttered sullenly as he looked at the ruins around them.

“Do you see another option?” Some of Etemon’s cheeky attitude surfaced as he gave the boy a light grin.

Akio looked back on the events that befell him today. The encounters, the meetings, the settlement, the kidnapping, Leomon’s sacrifice, and now this. His eyes fell upon the cowering digimon behind him and then to Etemon.

“Hey Etemon?” He started.

“Yeah?”

“Can we… still help other digimon?”

“Whaaa? Are you serious? Didn’t we establish-”

“I mean like digimon that got in this situation like us. The losers.” The boy chuckled sadly. “I wouldn’t feel right to just abandon everything after I saw Leomon’s sacrifice. At least this way I could honor him a little bit?” He scratched his cheek unsurely.

The monkey digimon examined him for a moment before sighing again. “Yeah… wouldn’t feel right after that dummy did all that for us. I’ll agree to this, but we just help who we can alright? We’re losers but not idiots, we need to survive too.” Etemon wags his finger.

“...Thanks Etemon.” Akio smiled gratefully.

“Yeah yeah, now let’s get out of here.” The four walk towards the portal together. They don’t know what will come their way but at least they got each other.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: A Technical Encounter

“Check over there! He can’t be too far from here!” A group of digimon searches through a thicket thoroughly. Looking around and checking every corner to look for their target.

When nothing was found, a noise from afar takes their attention “He’s running over there, after him!” The group rushed over and gave chase towards the direction of the sound.

Once the coast is clear, their target in question finally reveals himself. An unassuming dead tree shuffles in place, opening a cavity that lets out a human boy with purple hair.

“Finally!” Akio sighed in relief as he stretched his aching body. “Thank you Woodmon, I wouldn’t know what would have happened if you didn’t offer to help.” He turned to the “dead” tree and thanked it.

Above the orifice of the dead tree opens a set of eyes. The dead tree is not a dead tree at all as it moves and stretches just like the teenager. 

“You do not need to thank me. Those scoundrels have been bothering the forest too much lately. Any victim or enemy of theirs I would gladly help.” The tree digimon spoke his animosity openly. “I suggest you go far away from here boy.”

The boy looked away and scratched his head. “Yeah… about that. I’m not exactly sure where I am or where a safe place is.”

“Oh dear. Then I would suggest heading east. There’s a small village that’s still untouched by those rowdy followers of Bagramon.“ Woodmon points to the direction. “Stay safe young human.” The wooden digimon departed after giving his last regard.

Akio turned to the direction Woodmon pointed and started walking. An annoyed frown showed on his face as he walked with the white device in his hand. The boy brought the device close and stared at the screen.

“Out of the frying pan and into the flames huh?” The purple-haired boy spoke with a tired tone.

“Well… this is certainly not what I expected at all.” The screen of the device lit up and showed the apologetic face of Etemon. 

It all starts right after Akio, Etemon, Numemon, and Sukamon enter the portal. All of a sudden the digimon beside him got sucked into the white device, leaving him all alone in the portal before he found himself here. He picked up the device and tried to make Etemon and the others exit it but to no avail. At the very least they found out that communication with each other is still possible.

Now it wasn’t that bad until he tried to ask for directions from a group of digimon nearby. That one’s on him but he didn’t expect the first digimon he met in this place to try and capture him. All of them raved about him being a human and how he would be a great offering for Bagramon. He didn’t even bother listening to them more as his legs quickly carried him away from that mess. Then comes the inevitable losing chase as the digimon are physically superior to him and caught up to him quickly. It was a stroke of luck that he found Woodmon willing to hide him.

“So you still can’t release us?” Etemon asks with Sukamon and Numemon peering over his shoulders.

“It’s just… not working. I tried pressing the button and turning the dial but nothing happened.”

“Have you tried smashing it?” Sukamon suggests carelessly.

“We just found out this thing can suck you inside, what if you guys are just stuck forever if this is destroyed?” Akio quickly turned down the suggestion. 

In the short time the device has been in his hands, it remained a mystery to him. It’s similar to a phone and mp3 player but considering what it just did he had to guess its functions are wildly different.

“Hmm… it’s hopeless for us then.” Etemon shrugs with a yawn. “Why don’t you rush over to the village and find someone that could help us?”

“You think someone can help with this mystery device?” The teenager raised an eyebrow skeptically.

“Well there are some really smart digimon that live in the digital world. Usually they tend to help out or stay as a recluse so there’s a high chance of meeting one in the village.” The monkey digimon explains with a raised finger.

“That’s not a guarantee but it’s better than nothing I guess.” Akio shrugs acceptingly.

The boy and his confined friends continue on their journey to the supposedly safe village. Luckily for him he didn’t encounter any more bad digimon on the road. With no immediate danger it lets Akio to go at his own pace and take in the sights of this new zone.

Past the thicket he hid in, the whole area seems to be a mountainous region. Massive mountains surround the whole place with the forest offsetting the sight below. The path he’s taking has him hiking up a faint trail that presumably leads to the village. 

Along the way he saw some digimon minding their own business. A drill nosed digimon- Drimogemon was its name if he remembers correctly- popping in and out of the rocky area. A fight between a centaur-like digimon with a group of living rock digimon, the latter piqued the boy’s interest on how their biology works. He also saw some lizard-shaped digimon with a body made out of flames. In a better situation he would probably glee over everything but after the previous encounter he’s a bit high-strung with dangerous looking digimon.

It took Akio quite a bit of time until he finally reached the village. Quite an interesting sight to boot. A village made inside an opening from the mountain. He assumes the space was made with Drimogemon or other digimon that could bore holes to the mountain. It reminds him of that mountain carved temple he saw during history class.

Just as the boy takes a step into the village, a group of digimon quickly gathers in front of him.

“Stoooop!” A small iron ball with comical looking eyes, small mouth, beefy arms, short red legs, and hands covered in punching gloves moves forward. “You! Stranger! What are you doing here?” The iron ball digimon points at him suspiciously.

The boy raised his hands disarmingly to the group. “I’m just here to hide from Bagramon’s followers!” Akio clearly answered to not give any misunderstanding.

The digimon cupped his round face with squinted eyes for a moment. The digimon hummed for a moment until its eyes opened widely and its face turned neutral. “Okay then, you’re welcome here!”

Akio almost stumbled over nothing at the sudden change. “For real?” The boy leaned down and spoke unsurely.

“Yeah yeah, those guys are jerks. A lot of us here are hiding from them as well.” The digimon waves his hands dismissively. “Just don’t cause any trouble and you’ll be a-okay!” The digimon gave him a welcoming thumbs up as the crowd dispersed from their approval. 

“Oh… well thank you uh…”

“Name’s Mamemon. Nice to meet you newbie.” Mamemon took the boy’s hand and shook it vigorously. The purple-haired boy felt himself almost being lifted as the small digimon is surprisingly strong even with that small frame. The hand Mamemon shook feels numb even after he lets it go. 

“Wait before you go. Do you know any digimon that’s good with tech around here?” Akio asks before Mamemon turns around.

Mamemon tilted his round body and crossed his arms. “Tech? Looking for someone smart?” Akio nodded twice. “Hmm… I want to say you’re just in luck but…” Mamemon gave an uneasy frown.

“But? What’s wrong with the digimon?”

“Well… Datamon is not exactly in a good condition.”

“...What’s wrong with them?” Akio raised an eyebrow.

The metal ball digimon spoke with a concerned frown. “Encountered those Bagramon followers a while back and didn’t escape unscathed. You can see it for yourself. His house is at the far end of the village, the one with scrap metals strewn around.” Mamemon points at the deeper part of the village. “See ya around.” The metal digimon left Akio to his own devices.

The boy took out the white device from his pocket. “Hear that?”

“A Datamon huh… I didn’t know one of them would be here.” Etemon mused.

“You know the guy?”

“I know their kind.” The monkey man corrected. “Unfortunate circumstances but he’s the only lead we have.”

“Yeah… do you think he’ll be willing to help even in a bad condition?”

“Maybe or maybe not, we won’t know until we get there.”

Sure enough, at the deepest part of the village there’s a small house with metals and machinery strewn all over. When examining them, the boy is not even sure what they’re for. Now he’s curious what kind of inventions are made in the digital world.

Right as Akio was about to knock, he noticed the door was slightly ajar. Not wanting to be rude he knocked a couple of times, loud enough to be heard, before opening the door.

“Pardon the intru…sion? Uh… is anyone inside?” His eyes scanned the single room house with the occupant missing. Metals and machinery strewn all over just as it is outside. Idly the boy enters the house, looking left and right to try and find Datamon.

“Huh, guess he’s out of the house.” The boy murmured disappointedly. “Hey Etemon, what does Datamon look like anyway?” He asks while raising the device.

“Datamon? Well to start with he’s short like that Mamemon from before.” Etemon started. “Also it’s hard to miss him, he’s basically a small robot with long elongated limbs, hands made out of wiring, small legs, and his head is a cylinder with machinery in a jar.” The abridged summary lets him visualize a bit but not by much.

Machineries in a jar though…, that should be recognizable. Akio looks around the room wondering if Datamon left a trail he could follooo… oh.

“Uh… Etemon.”

“Yeah?”

“C-can we get in t-trouble for finding a c-c-corpse?” The monkey raised a brow at the boy’s shaky tone. Akio points the device forward to let Etemon see.

“Ah.” It was Datamon…’s head. Both its eyes are dull and the body missing its limbs. “Sorry Aki-boy, looks like we’re heading to prison.” It never occurs to the boy that his companion is joking so he rightfully panics.

“Oh god! I just got out of a warzone and now I’m going to be pinned for murder?!” Akio held his head and scratched it erratically.

“Hehehey, c’mon kid I was just-”

“Wait no, there’s still time. No one knows this yet, we can hide the body!”

“What. Wait kid that’s not-”

“Yeah… this place is a man made cave isn’t it? I’m sure if I hide it somewhere in the cave’s crevices they’ll chalk it up as an accident!” There was a dangerous glint in the boy’s panicked eyes that made his companion sweat.

“Wait hold on-” Etemon’s attempt to calm the boy was ignored as Akio is already trying to move the disembodied head.

For its small size it’s surprisingly heavy. Akio managed to lift it but struggled to carry it. Grunting with each step he takes. Something feels odd though, for a corpse he can feel whirring and shaking from inside the head.

“Hey, what are you doing?” The boy stopped in his tracks as the head spoke. “Where are you taking me-” Akio throws the head on the wall and jumps back in fright.

“The corpse is alive!”

“Corpse? What are you talking about? I have been alive from the start.” Datamon replies in a confused tone, unperturbed by how roughly its head was handled.

“Listen kid!” Finally Etemon’s voice reached the boy. “I was kidding!” 

“You are? Oh my god…” Akio slumps down as he feels relief taking over him.

“Yes. Geez kid if Datamon didn’t talk what else were you going to do?”

“...No comment.” The teenager looks away innocently before yelling at Etemon. “And this is your fault! I thought I was going to be in trouble!”

“It was funny! Still is too, I didn’t expect you to go that rou-”

“If you are done bickering, would you explain why you are barging into my home?” Datamon cuts their chatter short with an unamused tone.

“Oh right, Datamon.” Akio and Etemon said in unison.

“Uh, yes excuse me mister Datamon. My friends and I need some help concerning a… an unknown tech… I think.” The boy shows the limbless machine digimon the white device, screen showing Etemon at the front.

“Hmm…” The digimon’s lone exposed eye narrows as he examines the device. Etemon waving and thumping at nothing on the screen. “Interesting… This device reminds me of… what was it? Ah yes, a Digivice.”

“A digivice?” At the digimon’s answer the purple-haired boy tilted his head.

“An old legend really, I have only read scraps of information on it. Supposedly it’s a device used by a human with their partner digimon. Allowing them to achieve… something, the record was too broken to know what that something was.”

“That… doesn’t explain much at all.” The boy slumps a bit at the explanation. “Let me be more specific. My friends got stuck in this digivice… thing? And now they can’t get out at all.”

“Ah, I see. Have you tried pressing the buttons-”

“Of course we tried pressing the buttons!” Akio and Etemon exclaimed at the same time with an exasperated expression.

“Oh, then there is nothing I can do then.” Akio imagined the limbless digimon would shrug if he had all his limbs right now.

“Really? Is there no way for my friends to get out?”

“I have never encountered the device before. I do not know how it works and as you can see my state, I am not quite in the right condition to help. I would not be able to tweak or examine how the device functions like this.” Datamon’s head jiggles in place to reinforce his point.

“Oh yeah… Mamemon said you’re not in a good condition. Being limbless is… spot on for not good.” Akio said with a wince.

“It is because of those Bargamon followers that I am left like this. They demanded me to work for them to appease Bagramon so that they could join his army. When I refused they all attacked me, took my belongings and left me like this. It was only because of Mamemon and the others that I managed to survive.” The mechanical digimon regale clinically.

“Eesh, that sounds horrible.” Akio sympathized with an apologetic look. “Sorry to bother you then. We’ll try another way to-”

“Halt,” The boy stopped right as he was about to turn. “There is… a way I could be of help.” 

“Really?”

“Yes. Due to my mechanical nature, I am able to survive with just my head. This would not have been a problem usually, with enough data I am able to generate limbs for me to use. However,“ Datamon paused mid-explanation, wires and cable tried to protrude out but paused just as it reached a small length. “A digimon named Clockmon stops me from doing so to further punish me, so he said.” He ended with an annoyed tone, the first time Akio heard the machine digimon being so emotive.

“And what can I do to help?”

“Don’t you mean we?”

“I’m the one with moving arms and legs here, Etemon.” The teenager retorted dryly. Even without seeing the screen he can imagine Etemon raising and lowering his finger.

“I need you to bring me to their hideout and bring me to Clockmon.” At the boy’s hesitant look the limbless digimon elaborate. “I am not asking you to brave their hideout and fight, I am simply asking you to carry me and bring me to the digimon that caused my problem. Limbless I may be, I am still a perfect level digimon. I have my ways to fight.”

“...I’ll pretend I understand what you mean by perfect level. That means you’re strong right?” The teenager scratched his head with a confused smile.

“If I remember right… Clockmon is a Champion level digimon.” Etemon chimed in. “That’s one below Perfect.” He added at Akio’s silence, making the boy nod in understanding.

“If you help me, I will be able to help you with that device. What do you think?” Datamon offers.

“It’s not like we got other choices.” Akio said while looking at the screen of the device. “So where is their hideout, and how do I carry you there?” The boy accepts the request with a wary but determined look.

“Wonderful, I shall be your guide child.” 

“Oh yeah, I never introduced myself properly did I? My name is Akio Hirose.”

“Is that so? Then it is nice to have you aid me, Akio.”

-o-

Akio left the village with Datamon in tow using a small wagon gifted by Mamemon. The village guard happily gave it to him when he said he’s going to help Datamon. After seeing how friendly everyone is at the village, the human boy feels a bit mad and confused at the Bagramon followers. He supposed not everyone would be helpful and friendly like them but why would you trade that to join Bagramon? From what he saw so far from Bagramon’s army, they’re not exactly trying to paint themselves as the good guys with all their conquest and deceit.

The journey was a bit of a struggle. Wagon in a mountainous region, go figure. But it wasn’t all bad, he had Etemon and the others to talk with and Datamon helpfully fills him in on knowledge he didn’t know about digimon. Like their now unchanging evolutionary stages.

It’s bizarre to hear that digimon used to be able to digivolve, as they say, into different and stronger forms. Even if the ability to digivolve has been lost, it’s an interesting thing to hear about. It also helps the boy figure out what power levels he should be wary of. Datamon added that just because a digimon is at a higher evolution level it doesn’t mean that they would just stomp digimons at a lower level. Their powers aren’t absolute, and there are cases where higher level digimon are not as powerful as their peers.

It took the boy and his companions a while to reach the follower’s hideout. After braving rocky grounds, Drimogemon tunnels, and evading hostile digimon, he finally reached the hideout Datamon mentioned. It was… rather big, a quarry filled with tunnels and structures filled with digimon here and there. Some look normal while others look menacing, like the one made out of pure fire. How does that even work!?

“Uh… Datamon, how am I supposed to sneak here? I don’t even know where to look for Clockmon.” Head popping out of their hiding place not far from the hideout, Akio whispers to the mechanical head that he propped up to see the hideout together.

“It would seem their numbers have grown since my last encounter with them.” Datamon voiced his surprise in monotone. “But this is no cause of distress.”

The teenager raised an eyebrow at the statement. “You sure? I don’t think I can even find a good place to walk and hide there with that many digimon standing by.” The boy looks left and right, seeing digimon stationed in almost every corner of the place, either working or slacking. With the numbers they have it won’t be long til one of them sees a random human boy sneaking suspiciously in their hideout.

“Worry not, for this is the job for one of my inventions.” The mechanical digimon opens his mouth, wirings and cables come out together with a device resting atop of it. The boy frowns in slight disgust after imagining what it would look like should Datamon not be a robot. “This is something I had made before my current state, a device that cloaks the user’s presence.” Even though his mouth was occupied, the mechanical digimon’s voice still came through.

“A cloaking device?!” Akio gasped in surprise and some small excitement. “You can make something like that?”

“Yes. With how rowdy this zone had become I made this in order to hide myself. Unfortunately, these scoundrels caught wind of this and sought me after which then led to my current predicament.”

The boy takes the device, his fingers fidgeting around the device in his grasp. “So how do I use this and where should we go from here?”

“Simply press the button on its side and the device should cloak its user in a small radius. This would allow myself to be hidden as well.” Akio made a small noise, grimacing at the idea that he had to carry Datamon while he sneaked around this place. “Do not worry, this small wagon should be covered as well, but do be careful when one of them is close.” The purple-haired boy gave a sigh of relief after hearing that.

Device in hand and the wagon being brought closer to his body, Akio and Datamon sneaks into the quarry. Once he’s in, the purple-haired boy makes sure to move in slowly and carefully while looking for their target. There was an occasion when he froze on the spot as a dinosaur looking red digimon stared right at him, but the device proves its worth as the digimon went past him without trouble.

He’s not sure what to expect from a base of the “Follower’s of Bagramon” but the rabble and chit-chat he heard gave him some insight.

“Man this is boring, I haven’t seen any action since-”

“They’re starting to hide more often, you think we’re too aggressive?”

“Bah! They wouldn’t join us, they deserve to be crushed!”

“Ugh… is joining this place really a good decision?”

“You said this place would be safe right?”

It would seem that not all of them are excited to attack and bully other digimon. These followers… rather than an organized group it’s more of a rabble filled with digimon from all sorts of places. He heard a few of them mention only joining because the leader promised that they would be safe, or that they just don’t want to be bothered anymore. 

What’s the point of making this group and harassing other digimon then? His attempted kidnapper mentioned pleasing Bagramon but only few mentioned the digimon’s name again.

A shouting match between two digimon caught his attention, especially when one of the names being thrown around was Clockmon.

“Are you serious? That’s another digimon that you left injured! We’re trying to make digimon join, not cripple everyone that refused!” A digimon with a twin horned bone white mask shouted, eyes full of disbelief towards the digimon in front of him.

The one being yelled at simply crossed their arms annoyedly, all four of them as the digimon seems to be a combination between a humanoid torso and a robotic clock. Its bottom half is a robotic clock with red eyes peeking on its left side, it has a gun with red scope for its right hand even though its left is a simple robotic pincher. Its humanoid upper half is that of a man wearing black skin tight suit with red gloves, red hood covering his head and face, and a mouth that’s stitched like a doll. A metal mallet rests atop the robotic lower half.

“Clockmon.” Datamon muttered, confirming the group’s target.

“So what, Yaksamon? I came to them multiple times and they still refused. I just gave them an extra incentive to join us ya see?” The hooded digimon said unapologetically.

“Threatening them won’t make them join us, doubly so when you injure or cripple them!” The masked digimon swipes his hand to the side disapprovingly. “You can’t keep doing this! Now more and more of the recruits are following your examples!”

“And? I’d say let them! It’s better like- URGH!” The clock digimon froze in place with a painful grimace. The eyes of the masked digimon glows menacingly. Akio assumed it was the masked digimon’s power.

“Do you not remember the reason why we made this farce in the first place?” Yaksamon spoke sternly. “I am tolerating your actions because you were there with me when we decided to make this followers of Bagramon nonsense. You know the reason why we made this, where is your compassion towards the digimon of this zone!”

For a moment Yaksamon lets go of his hold on Clockmon. “You think Bagramon and his army would just let us go scot free just because we’re obedient to them?” Clockmon asks challengingly. “I know what I’ve heard and what I saw. They want ruthless mons in their army, not some rabble that’s only joining to seek refuge. It’s better if we forget the others and just make a powerful army! Only then they’ll see us as an asset and let us be!”

The masked digimon paused for a moment, he knew that what Clockmon said held some truth within. However, “I can’t just do that Clockmon. No matter what you said or heard, this is my choice.” Yaksamon stays firm.

The clock digimon scoffed and stormed away from Yaksamon.

“That sounds like… a lot to take in.” Akio mutters quietly after eavesdropping on the conversation.

“Hmm… Indeed.” Datamon agrees. “But that can wait, Clockmon is going away, Akio.” The boy hurries to follow behind the clock digimon, giving the masked Yaksamon one last look before leaving.

“So I just bring you closer to him and you do the rest?”

“Yes, but not right now. Wait until Clockmon is somewhere quiet, away from prying eyes as well.” The boy doesn’t disagree with that, the place is chock full with digimon that would probably be miffed when they decide to attack a part of their group.

The purple-haired boy tails the clock digimon carefully until finally the digimon reaches a short tunnel that he guessed as the digimon’s abode.

He pursues the clock digimon into the tunnel. It was dark and hard to see inside, but the boy follows the sound of the clock digimon’s robotic footsteps as a guide. 

The footsteps suddenly stop. 

This is it. The boy thought. He just has to get Datamon’s head closer and- 

“Do you think I’m an idiot?” Clockmon’s voice came next to him and then he felt something big and cold gripping his body hard and lifting him up. 

“HRGK.” Akio yelped as Clockmon’s mechanical arm squeezed him.

“You’re smart for using a cloaking device, I’ll give you that.” The clock digimon grinned while looking at his invincible captive. “But entering here was a big mistake.“

“H-h-how’d y-you know?” The boy stuttered amidst being squeezed painfully.

“This cave here is pretty quiet, I don’t need to be a detective to deduce the low footsteps and rolling noise behind me.” The digimon scoffed as if he was answering a stupid question. “Now who do you work for?”

“UGH! So-sorry for sneaking up o-on you, but I go-got here because of an acquaintance of yours.” Akio struggles to speak. Another squeeze from Clockmon’s mechanical hand cracks the device in the boy’s possession. The device stopped working and revealed his form to Clockmon.

“Huh, a human boy? Don’t remember having an acquaintance that knows a hum-”

“He means me.” Clockmon looked down, a wagon was next to where he picked up the boy carrying a familiar mechanical head.

“You’re- Datamon?” Clockmon looks in disbelief before cracking a smile and laughing loudly. “HAHAHAH! Is this your big plan to get at me? I told you before, the only way you can get your whole body back is to join-”

Before the clock digimon could finish gloating, Datamon opened his mouth and shot wires that instantly connected to Clockmon’s lower body. The clock digimon scowled at the action, dropping the boy to attack the limbless head with his metal mallet. But his hands froze.

“Wha? What did you-” No, it’s not just his hands, his whole body can’t move.

“We are both Machine types and you know what my work is. It’s easy for me to manipulate your data with our nature.” Datamon explains while hacking the clock digimon. “I just need to… ah, there we go.” Wires shoot out from the sides and below the mechanical head, forming a pair of arms and legs.

The wires connected to Clockmon were detached, but the clock digimon is still frozen in place. With his limbs recovered, Datamon aids the human boy up. “Are you okay Akio?”

“Ugh… I’ve been better. Good god,that’s how it feels being crushed by a machine? Hrgh…” He gladly took Datamon’s help and shivered uncomfortably. His eyes then stared at the frozen clock digimon. “Uh… so did you kill him or?”

“No, I simply stopped his motor functions. It will last for a while so do not worry about any sudden attacks from him.” The purple-haired teenager poked Clockmon curiously as Datamon explains.

“Huh… neat.” He mutters before turning to Datamon. “Well now that you’ve got your limbs back, can you help Etemon and the others out of this digivice?”

“Certainly, but I would suggest that we do not do it here.” The machine digimon points out.

“Yeah, true enough. But the cloaking device is kinda broken.” The boy stares at the cracked device. Pressing the power button only yields small sparks of electricity now. “Can you fix it or do we have to sneak around without it?”

“Not to worry, I am fully functional. I will have the device fixed in no time-”

“Clockmon, are you here? Apologies for my harsh reaction earlier but I-” Yaksamon walks in and stops at the sight before him. “Clockmon?! Who are you two? Intruders?” The masked digimon brandished two wooden swords and pointed it at the duo.

“Whoa whoa whoa, this isn’t what it looks like!” Akio held his hand up disarmingly.

“It looks like you attacked one of my allies.”

“...Crap that is what it looks like.” The boy looked to the side in a conceding tone.

“I suppose it is imperative that we-'' Before Datamon could finish, the purple-haired boy grabbed Datamon’s arm.

“Way ahead of you!” The purple-haired boy ran away from the masked digimon with Datamon in tow.

“Hey! Intruders! Everyone on high alert, we have intruders!”

-o-

“Goburi Bomb!”

“Crusher Bone!”

“Fake Bone!”

“Hah! Hiiii! Whoa!” Right jump to dodge the fireball, roll to the left to evade the first bone, duck and let the second bone crash to the wall. 

Now run again-

“Watch out!” Datamon stretched his hand, grabbed his shoulder and pulled him to the side, just barely avoiding an iron club that aimed for the purple-haired boy’s head.

“Holy crap!” The boy exclaimed, seeing the club embedded itself deep inside the rocky walls. “Datamon, don’t suppose you can find a safer way to escape?” Akio asks frantically as they run into another direction.

“We could return to where we entered this place, but I doubt it would be left unguarded with everyone being on high alert. Another way is to break through their defenses but we do not have the manpower necessary.”

Seeing a group of digimon running towards them, Datamon stretched both his hands, one to grab onto higher ground and another to grab the teenager, pulling both of them up.

“I know I’m asking a bit much right now but maybe you can try letting out Etemon and the others then?”

“I suppose I can try, more hands are definitely appreciated. But we need to hide somewhere. A moment of respite is all I need to examine this device.”

“Do you have any attacks?” Looking back, another group of digimon caught on to them again. “Something that can cover our tracks! Anything at all?”

“I do have a range attack that shoots mini bombs from my fingertips.”

“That’ll work!” The purple-haired teenager looks around as they run. The digimon chasing them comes only from behind so far, there are also some cave openings to the side. “Shoot behind us and between those openings on the side!”

Datamon complies swiftly. He points his hands back and to the sides. “Plug Bomb!” Each fingertips opened and shot out a small bomb that exploded bigger than the boy ever expected to with their sizes. Clouds of dust cover their vision from the aftermath of the bombs and the runaway duo heads into one of the cave openings to hide.

A moment passes with the duo staying as quiet as possible. They saw the digimon group running past their hiding place and sigh in relief as silence replaced the rumbling footsteps of their pursuers.

Hastily, the boy passes the digivice to Datamon. In the digimon’s grasp, he held a palm in front of it, wires and cables untangled themselves from his hand and connected to the digivice. The screen lit up, showing Etemon and the others inside, perplexed and looking around as Datamon tries to access the device.

“Aki-boy and Datamon! Have you two found a way to let us out?” Etemon asks jovially at the sight of them.

“Datamon’s working on it.” Akio answered while cautiously looking outside. “How is it?”

“Quite complex. Would this- no, perhaps this one… no as well.” Datamon mutters, sounds of whirring and electrical sparks coming off of his connected wires. 

The mechanical digimon’s eyes then widened shortly, making Akio gasp in excitement. Did Datamon figured something out?

“GR-UGH-GUAGH!” A loud burst of electricity suddenly shocks Datamon and blasts him into the rocky wall loudly, dropping the device and causing Akio to jump back in fear and worry. The mechanical digimon slowly peels himself off the wall, leaving a Datamon shaped crater.

“A-Are you okay?” Stupid question, but the boy is not over the shock of the sudden blast.

Instead of answering with his mouth, there were loud whirring sounds coming from inside the mechanical digimon. Akio could’ve sworn his eyes even turned blue like an error screen. “KRZT- ZZT- ZZZTTT- ah! Oh my, that was highly volatile.” Datamon comments as he comes to, staring at the digivice on the ground.

“Is-is there something wrong with it?” The purple-haired boy picked up the digivice cautiously. “Etemon? Numemon? Sukamon? You guys okay in there?”

“Holy smokes! What the heck happened there?!” Etemon shouted, the monkey digimon had some bruises on his face while the other two were sprawled on his side.

“It appears th-th-th-that there are sa- ZZT- safety measures implemented.” Electricity crackles from Datamon before dying down. “Preventing anyone from forcibly accessing the digivice.” Akio couldn’t help but frown after hearing that.

“Over there! They made that noise!” A shout came from outside. It was the group of digimon from before. The boy and the digimon were about to turn and head deeper but, “Drimogemon!” Two mole digimon burst out of the walls with their companions in tow.

Without giving them time to react, the digimon unleashed their attacks. With quick thinking, Datamon made a makeshift wall to cover them with the wires within him. The blast caused by their barrage is blocked but the force flung the two far outside the cave.

It was painful. Akio could bear the initial blast that was blocked, but crashing on the hard ground from the force really hurt. He slowly tries to rise but only manages to stand on his knees. Datamon stood before him protectively while he saw the approaching group of digimon closing in on them.

The mechanical digimon began attacking their pursuer the best he could to let Akio recover. But one digimon is not enough to cover all sides. One digimon who looked like a goblin slipped through Datamon’s attacks and went after Akio. The scary look on the digimon’s face made him freeze in place.

But at the last moment, just as the goblin digimon’s hand was about to reach him, the digivice shines bright, blinding everyone.

[...]

[Imminent threat detected]

[Initializing emergency protocol]

[Scanning user…]

[Scan complete]

[Xros Loader temporarily registered to user: Akio Hirose]

[Accessing Xros Loader… Error]

[Xros Loader features inaccessible]

[Insufficient user data…]

[Reload feature available]

[Initializing Reload]

Akio had shut his eyes, bracing for the digimon to grab and capture him, not realizing the spectacle that just happened before him.

“Kept you waiting huh?” The familiar voice made the purple-haired boy open his eyes right away. A large orange monkey stood in front of him, his hands catching the goblin’s arm in place before he threw them away. 

“Etemon!”

“The digivice was functional?” Datamon murmured as he saw the monkey digimon materializing.

“That’s right everyone,” With a wide smile that shows his pearly white teeth, Etemon brandished his mic and posed. “It’s the return of E-T-E-M-O-N! ETEMONKEY!” He loudly shouts, blasting the digimon surrounding them away with dark energy. An attack disguised by his proclamation.

“Akio, Datamon, congrats on making it this far without me.” The monkey digimon pats the boy and machine digimon on their shoulders unevenly because of the height difference.

“Bah, just another one to get! One more digimon won’t help them!” A digimon shouts to rally his allies.

“Non non non, it would seem you don’t know what I’m capable of now that I’m here~” Etemon wags his finger, his confidence and wide smile unbroken. The surprise sound attack from earlier made the surrounding digimon wary.

The pursuer watches the monkey cautiously for any sudden attack he might pull.

“With me here,” Etemon grabs Datamon. “I can simply…” Then he grabs Akio and hefts the two like cargo under his arms. “...RUN AWAY!”

In an instant, the monkey jumps high and disappears from their sights. They were so dumbfounded by the monkey’s action that it took them a moment to process that their intruders were escaping.

“Wait wha… THEY’RE GETTING AWAY!” Finally someone snapped them out of their daze and let everyone rush again. Unfortunately for them, the monkey digimon’s natural physique and litheness had allowed it to jump around the base and exit with no difficulty. By the time they realized they’re gone, it was already too late.

…

“An Etemon showed up and escaped with them?” Yaksamon crossed his arms while hearing the report from one of the digimon that chased the intruder. The masked digimon sighed and let the reporter go on his way.

The familiar form of Clockmon enters his vision, his face disgruntled and flush with anger.

“Feeling better?” Yaksamon asks even though he already knows his ally’s mood.

“Damn it, that sneaky little-! GAAAAAAH! I swear I’ll get Datamon back for this humiliation!” His fury filled screams echo through the sky.

“Just give it up. Be grateful Datamon simply locked your mobility instead of doing something worse like you did.” The annoyed glare Clockmon gave him didn’t cow him. “Told you they’d react badly because of your little gift. Just ignore them for now and focus on gathering more digimon.” The clock digimon grumbled but accepted Yaksamon’s order. 

“Alright, fine. But I will fight him again if I-”

The space before them suddenly cracks and bursts out. Activities in the base halts right then and there as everyone gawks at the display. The rift stabilizes into a portal after a short moment and everyone watches in trepidation. There is only one explanation for this.

Loud mechanical whirring came from the portal and out comes an imposing draconic digimon that seemed to have fused with a tank. The weaponry it carries are menacing as well, this digimon is a weapon in the truest sense. From behind it follows a large group of Troopmon as well. Those who were skeptical got their suspicion confirmed, the Bagra Army has appeared in the Mountain Zone.

The tank dragon chimera examines the base, its eyes scanning every digimon that’s staring at it.

“Opposition?” One word accompanied by the pointing of its weapon made Yaksamon and Clockmon rush to kneel. Everyone who heard it quickly joined as well.

“N-no no no! We are not here to oppose you!” Yaksamon mentions quickly, the panic in his voice is apparent. “We are followers of Bagramon! Everyone gathered here to join your cause!”

“...Willing conscript. Acceptable.” The tank digimon lowers his weapon. “Tankdramon, a General of lord Bagramon. The D-brigade joins their hand in his cause.” Tankdramon introduced dully. “Mission to obtain the Code Crown. Where is its location?”

The sudden question from the tank digimon was met with a pause. They’re after the Code Crown? Yaksamon stumbles in his mind, no one really knows where the Code Crown is, he simply thought Bagramon was collecting digimon for his army.

“Apologies, we don’t know where the Code Crown is.” He answered with gritted teeth.

“Unfortunate. New objective, everyone here is to locate the Code Crown.” Tankdramon directed to everyone. “Comb every corner, raze everything to the ground if you must.” The declaration was met with shocked gasps.

“W-w-wait wait wait! No one is going to oppose you with your army! We can’t just raze our home!” A blue furred grizzly bear-like digimon protests loudly.

“Blast Gatling.” A barrage of fire from Tankdramon’s machine gun shreds the digimon into data. “Inability to comply with orders will be met with annihilation.” His words are reinforced by the Troopmon pointing their weapons at all the kneeling digimon. 

They all didn’t dare raise their voice. Even the rowdy Clockmon is shutting his mouth tightly. 

“A-... Apologies. It won’t happen again.” The masked digimon answered with defeat in his tone.

“Acceptable. Commencing search.” Tankdramon left with his Troopmon in tow. 

Reluctantly, the other digimon spread out to follow the order filled with fear. Yaksamon watches the leaving form of Tankdramon and glances at Clockmon with a concerned look. 

Just what did they get themselves into?

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Fighting Back

“Monkick! Monkey Knuckle!”

Etemon fought a group of Digimon to a standstill. The strength of his blows is just enough to incapacitate his enemies. All this to stall for another group behind him, running away from combat with varied panicked and tired expressions.

“Now stay back and get lost ya hear? Dark Spirits!” 

Two orbs of darkness formed atop the monkey’s palms. He jumped back with all his might and threw the orbs right before the group of enemies. On contact with the ground, they greow and consumed everything in its path. 

The enemies stopped at the sight of the empty crater made by Etemon. His power was enough to dissuade them from pursuing any longer as they turned tail and left the premises.

“Phew, that was a close one.” Etemon wiped away the sweat on his head as he sighed. “Oiiii! The coast is clear!”

When the fleeing Digimon heard his boisterous voice, they sighed in relief and fell to their knees, exhaustion washing over them.

“Th-thank you…” An armadillo-like digimon said gratefully to their approaching savior.

“No biggie pals, just happened to be nearby.” Etemon dismissed casually with a lazy wave of his hand. “Anywho, you guys got harassed by Bagramon’s followers too?”

“Harrassed is an understatement. They just walked to our home and forced us to leave or else.” A red bird digimon replied with a concerned frown. “We declined of course but then they just attacked us without hesitation!”

The monkey man hissed worriedly as he listened. “Over here too huh… man they’re vicious. If you guys need a safe place to stay then we’re going to Mamemon’s village. It’s pretty far but at least the mons there are letting people in and banding together.” He offered.

The majority agreed without hesitation. Losing their homes and being chased around took a toll on their well-being.

“Oh! Be-before we go!” The armadillo digimon calls out. “Uh… if we meet a group of masked digimon please don’t fight them.”

“Masked digimon?”

“Y-yeah. Bagramon’s followers harassed us but compared to them, these masked digimon are more dangerous. We bumped into them and they actually killed some of us…”

“Oh… oh no. By any chance, are they completely black and act like mindless zombies most of the time?” Etemon questioned with a concerned look.

“They are!”

“...Welp.” Etemon clapped his hands together and rested them in front of his mouth as he sighed loudly. “This is just… bad.”

-o-

“Reload!”

“Yahoo!” Sukamon materialized jovially.

“Reload!”

“Numeee!” Numemon materialized with a jump and crashed into Sukamon

“Reload!”

“Hmm, no matter how many times I have seen it, it is so intriguing.” Datamon materialized while cupping his mechanical body and humming.

“So is that all the test for today?” The purple-haired boy looked down on the short mechanical digimon.

“Yes, thank you. Seeing your digivice’s function is quite intriguing, even if it is just the one feature. How unfortunate that we are unable to see the rest of what it could do.” The robot crossed his arms.

“Well, I don’t know about those but at least my friends aren’t stuck in it like last time.” Akio scratched the back of his head, recalling the close calls they had.

“It is simply my natural instinct. As if seeing a complex puzzle, I am intrigued to know how to solve it.”

“Haha… I think I got that feeling when I was a toddler.” The boy chuckled good-naturedly. “Ah speaking of friends, I wonder if Etemon’s back yet.”

“It might not be for a while. It would seem like the followers of Bagramon have struck yet again.”

“Again?! It’s just been three days, why are they so vicious now?” Akio shouted in shock. 

“Etemon is helping with what he can. Last time that loud monkey said he managed to resolve the situation with his extraordinary singing. I do not know if that meant he fought or actually used that song-like attack of his.” Datamon replied evenly.

“Hrmm… I know I said I wanted us to help when we can but… Etemon just goes off alone and gives me some assurance before leaving. I don’t know if he’s safe or not.” The purple-haired boy crossed his arms and frowned.

“The digimon he helped gave stellar opinions of him. I suppose you need not worry as he is doing well enough.”

After their close encounter with the followers of Bagramon, Etemon carried them to the safety of Mamemon’s village. They were hailed and celebrated for helping Datamon, though mostly by Mamemon and his kind.

Some of the villagers argued that their action would bring the fight to their untouched village. An understandable sentiment, but Mamemon defended Akio and his friends. The metal ball praised their willingness to help Datamon. Even though they helped because they needed Datamon’s tech expertise at first, Mameon propped them up as if it were done with noble intentions.

But still, Mamemon’s words did inspire him after that.

“If they didn’t help, then who would? We’re all so busy trying to survive ourselves that we forget that we can’t go far with our fellow friends and allies. Someone that tried to help is better than someone that didn’t try at all!”

The passion of the metal ball digimon warmth their soul, for lack of better words. It felt like it lit something in the boy’s heart. When things settled, Akio even made an offer to help the village to Mamemon. He, Numemon, and Sukamon would help with minor things they could handle while Etemon took over all the heavy lifting.

At the very least, before Etemon could use the SD card that transported them here, he wanted to help out a little.

But a couple of days later, news of Bagramon’s followers came. Digimon are actually attacked, some almost near death. Their own homes and the environment torn asunder. The group became very aggressive in such a short amount of time.

It fell to Etemon to help around digimon looking for refuge and occasionally fending off attacks here and there. Each time he goes, he gives them all that wide smile with his sparkly white teeth and heads off nonchalantly.

“Those Bagramon followers though, I know they’re kind of a thug but some of them weren’t so…” The boy let out a small gasp and began sweating profusely as he recalled their last encounter. “Uh… It… It can’t be because of us, right? We just… uh… sneak into their base, paralyzed one of their founders, and… ran away scot-free…” The boy’s mouth thinned into lines.

“Well you guys did that, me and Sukamon were still inside your thingamajig.” Numemon chimed in oh so helpfully to the boy sweating bullets.

“Waaaah! We really did, didn't we?!” The purple-haired boy clutched his head with an extremely worried face.

“Oi Aki-boy, your panic’s too dangerous. Calm down will ya?” A hand smacked the back of the boy’s head softly. “Yo, the mon-King is back!” Etemon chortled while giving everyone a two-finger salute.

“Ah Etemon! You’re alright!” Akio cheerily replied.

“Boss!” Numemon and Sukamon cried together.

“Boss?”

“Well, he’s the one that’s been carrying us.” Sukamon explained.

“Oh hoo? Boss, I like the sound of that.” Etemon stroked his chin with his index and thumb while smiling.

“Oh really? I thought you were going to make us call you Monking.” Akio replied with a flat stare.

“That ain’t bad either!” The monkey digimon points at the boy energetically. “You all can call me Monking or Boss from now on! HAHA!”

“Monking!”

“Boss!”

“No, that's too much.” The only human politely declined. “By the way, how was it outside? Did it get worse or what?”

The jovial monkey’s expression shifted into a more serious one. He glanced back momentarily before shoving everyone together in a huddle.

“Don’t want to be the bearer of bad news but… I saw a squad of Troopmon outside.”

“Troopmo- wait what?! They’re here?!” The trio from outside the zone gasped with widened eyes while Datamon cupped his mechanical face.

“That name… are they not a part of the Bagra army?” Datamon inquired.

“Yep, their signature infantrymen and canon fodder.” The monkey nodded in confirmation.

“Oh dear, this sounds… troubling. That would mean that the Bagra Army has arrived in this zone.”

“W-w-we’re not going to m-meet Tactimon again are w-we?” The human boy glanced left and right while sweating bullets.

“Don’t know, only saw Troopmon squads while I was helping a group of mons. Hopefully, it’s not that bas- pompous ass again.” The monkey corrected his language before continuing.

“You all know of their infamous tactician?” Datamon turned to the four and saw Akio and the others cringing and giving away a rather sad look.

“Well… let’s just say we met him and his reputation is terrifyingly accurate.” Etemon answered for the group, his uneasiness obvious from his tone and expression. “But… I think it shouldn’t be him again. The Bagra Army’s three head officers don't come often. They usually send a general or two to a zone they want to conquer. The Green Zone invasion was probably because Leomon and I pushed their army back quite a bit.”

“The Green Zone you say? You all came from another zone, but how? None of you seem to have the ability for dimensional travel.” The mechanical digimon inquired curiously. 

And he’s right, a human boy, a monkey man, a walking comically-shaped poop and a green slug digimon cannot do that.

“Etemon actually brought us here with the digivice.” Akio looked down and his yellow eyes reflected the device in his hand. 

Recalling what the monkey did, he remembered the side port where Etemon inserted the SD card. It was still there, embedded deep inside the slot.

“Oh, still here. This is what he used last time.” 

When the boy pulls the SD card out. However, something about it feels different. It’s as if the color of the small device has been completely drained. 

“Huh, weird. ” The boy commented before showing it to Datamon.

“That is- could it be!?” Datamon gasped with wide eyes. “A Code Crown!”

“Code… crown?” Akio mouthed slowly, the words certainly didn’t mean anything to him. “I’m assuming that’s important?” He leaned over to Etemon who didn't seem as shocked as the metal digimon.

“I think I heard that the Bagra army is looking for that.” The monkey man cupped his cheek in thought. “Honestly I just found the thing with the device, tried it out and it spawned portals. Barely know more than that.” He shrugged dismissively.

“Which zone?”

“Pardon?”

“Which zone does this code crown belong to?” Datamon questioned with a sharp gaze.

“I… don’t know the answer to that. Aki-boy?” 

At the monkey man’s call, the purple-haired boy examined the SD card. Its sheen was dull and it had no discernible features. The center piece is oddly blank as if there was supposed to be something there. Inserting the card back into the slot did nothing as well, no messages on the screen or portal appeared.

“There’s nothing on it, and I think it’s broken?” Akio gave the supposed Code Crown to Datamon who examined it briefly and sighed disappointedly.

“How unfortunate. With a working Code Crown, we could have evacuated everyone to a zone that the Bagra army could not breach.” The mechanical digimon spoke in a regretful tone.

“Uhm…” The boy started unsurely. “What’s a Code Crown? It sounds kinda important…”

“Ah, apologies. I had forgotten its existence is not common knowledge anymore.” Datamon scratched the side of his head. “Perhaps you all should sit a bit, it’s quite the lengthy tale.”

“Lengthy? How long is that? Can’t you give us a short version instead?” Etemon crossed his arms with a whine.

“No.” Datamon denied flatly. “It all started when the digital world became divided…”

-o-

“Report.” Tankdramon ordered the group before him.

“We had Troopmon scour the north while our squad went east!” A Commandramon recount with gusto. “We encountered resistance but we took care of them!” Some digimon frowned uncomfortably at the last sentence.

“And our objective?”

“Unfortunately, we did not find the code crown! That’s all from us commander Tankdramon!” The army digimon finished.

“Volunteers, report.” The tank dragon digimon turns towards Yaksamon.

“Our group went south and west. We finished our search south and found nothing.”

“And the west?”

“We haven’t fully searched it yet. There are… difficulties.” Yaksamon slowly told.

“Resistance is it not? I had one of my troops scout the area while your groups were searching. I received reports of digimon fleeing to the west and your subordinates backing off after a small scuffle. I thought I told you to raze everything if you must.” Even though his statements were given with the usual emotionless tone, Yaksamon can feel the threat behind them.

Even as Tankdramon turned his back on him, the tension was still heavy. Yaksamon and his group are rooted, unable to move in fear of what happened previously.

“No matter. You all still have one more chance to prove your worth for lord Bagramon.” Tankdramon cast a browsing glance towards everyone present. “There is only one place left to search. We’ll march to the west and bring back the code crown for our lord.”

“Yes sir!” The Commandramon and Troopmon cheered while the volunteers hesitantly followed suit.

“Yaksamon.”

“Y-yes?”

“Cast away your attachment to this zone. You are the leader of this group are you not? Do not fail our lord.” Tankdramon then left the masked digimon to his own device.

Yaksamon clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. But then he let go and sighed resignedly, glancing towards his comrades who followed him into this mess. Doubt filled their expression but they couldn’t voice their woes.

“Hrngh… you heard him. Let’s go, everyone.” Yaksamon ordered with a frown under his mask.

…

“Yaksamon…” A digimon muttered from afar as they watched the masked digimon march slowly. Their gaze turns to Tankdramon and his army before scowling fiercely. “This isn’t over yet!”

-o-

“...Wow. That’s… a lot to take in.”

“I’m surprised you know this stuff. I didn’t know you were that old.”

“Zzz…”

“Zzzzz…”

“It is not that I am old, I simply acquired this information when I met a well-informed digimon.”

Huddled together on the floor, Akio and Etemon held an intrigued and curious expression while Numemon and Sukamon had fallen to slumber not long after Datamon began his tale.

Tales that, quite frankly, the boy barely understands. It’s one thing to learn of a digital world but then said world has a deep history behind it as well.

Originally one big world, the digital world was split into many areas called zones. As the world was scattered, so did the Code Crown. Originally the proof of rulership of the digital world, it splits apart and resides within each zone. Those who held it have the right to rule the zone it represents.

It’s bewildering and fascinating at the same time hearing it from Datamon.

“So if owning this means you own the place… w-w-wouldn’t that mean they’re going to hunt us if they know I have this?” Akio began to sweat profusely while clutching the SD card.

“They would, but the Bagra army does not know of your ownership of it. What is most likely is that they are searching for this zone’s code crown.” The human boy let out a sigh of relief before giving the mechanical digimon a curious hum.

“If that’s what they are doing, where are they going to find the code crown anyway? Based on what you told me, doesn’t sound like it’s the kind of thing that’s just… lying around in the open.”

“You are right, it is not. Unless you already know where it is, its location is unknown even to the denizens of the zone.” There was a brief pause between the group before Etemon gave an expression of unease.

“When I helped the escaping digimon outside… I heard Platoons of Troopmon and the followers of Bagramon drove them out. Some said they came from the east side of the zone, the south, and even north.” Realization sets in as everyone realizes what that implies.

“This village… which part of the zone is it…?” The purple-haired boy asked slowly, sharing the same expression as Etemon.

“West. This village is located in the zone’s west mountain range.” The mechanical digimon answered. “By process of elimination, I would say they will all come towards here next.”

…

…

…

“...Well crap.” Etemon broke the silence with a sentiment everyone shared. “Datamon, if you’d please?”

“I will contact Mamemon and announce the potential threat to the residents.” As Datamon left, Akio digitized the sleeping digimon and shared a concerned expression with Etemon.

The next few hours came by like a blur. It was almost hectic after Datamon and Mamemon broke the news to the villagers. The digimon didn’t take it calmly of course, their reactions mixed as they gave differing suggestions on what to do.

Escape was the common suggestion, the village was made as a means to hide from the harassing digimon after all. However, it was argued that they’d have no room to escape anymore if the Bagra army came and took over the west. Fighting back was an option, but many weren’t willing to sacrifice their livelihood or lives to repel a big army. The arguments grew and grew as everyone tried to find a solution that could benefit them.

Being the outsider that he is, Akio decides to slip out of the village. He’s not experienced in any of this so he let Etemon work it out with the others. Of course, remembering what happened when he last wandered by himself, he had Numemon out to accompany him.

“Haaah… it’s just one thing after another huh?” The boy anxiously sighed, sweat dripping on his temple as he scratched his cheek. The green slug, currently busy with a snack called “Diginoir”, simply nodded to agree.

The few days of calm will be missed. When talks of escape were brought up, he tried using the code crown again to no result. Datamon couldn’t get it to work either, explaining to them that somehow the SD card was burnt out.

“Oh man…” Akio pulled out the digivice and fiddled with the buttons. “You can make portals, do you have anything that can help us out?” No answer came from the inanimate object–

“Well look at you, pretty brazen to just hang around alone like this.” But something else did.

Both human and digimon turned in alarm, their eyes widened at the figure approaching them. That red-hooded figure atop a clock-like robot and patchwork mouth is too recognizable.

“Clockmon!?” The human boy squawked while the slug spurted his snack all over.

“Yo, looks like you’re–” A wet splat to the face interrupted the mechanical digimon. 

“Numemon, what was that attack?!”

“Poop throw! It’s my signature move!”

“You two…!” The clock digimon’s voice shakes with anger as he wipes his face.

“Ahhh! You just made him mad!” The purple-haired boy clutched his hair in panic. “Let’s get the others, keep throwing while we run!”

“Yes sir! Poop throw!”

Another three splats to the face and the clock digimon brandished his mallet with righteous fury. “Chrono Breaker!” Both Akio and Numemon froze as the mallet smashed into the ground, an unseen force had stopped their body from moving.

“What the… u-ugh… I can’t move!” Try as they might, the boy and slug can’t seem to struggle out of their immobilization. Clockmon approached with slow steps while wiping his dirtied face again.

“Now that you stop flinging filth at me, I– NGGH?!” Once more Clockmon was interrupted, this time quite painfully. The neck of his upper body is held tight by a chokehold from behind.

“Phew, you’re really a magnet for ambushes aren’t you Aki-boy?”

“Etemon!” The slug and human cheered happily.

“Hohoho! Got quite the brass to come here Clockmon. Here for payback? Well, you won’t get any here!” Etemon flexed his muscles, tightening his hold even more. 

“C-Can you ju–” Clockmon spat out a choked gasp and struggled from the hold. However, one thing Etemon had not noticed was that his mechanical lower body still had its hands free. 

“Guh!” Clockmon’s hook-like robotic hand punched the monkey man’s side with gusto. The surprise counter was strong enough to make Etemon loosen his hold and let Clockmon smash the back of his head to the monkey’s face. 

Etemon staggered and Clockmon took this chance to grab his hand and throw the monkey. However, Etemon recovered quickly and landed gracefully before he could crash into Akio and Numemon.

“Oooh ouch, I actually felt that.” The monkey man grinned widely and wiped his injured nose. After exhaling a quick breath, his stance is set and ready to charge again. “Now onto round–”

“GAAAAH!” Clockmon suddenly roared angrily. ”Can any of you. Give me. A chance to speak!” The clock digimon’s expression contorts with fury and frustration.

“...Hah?” The outsider trio watched dumbfoundedly as the clock digimon began lashing out.

“Why should we? Aren’t you here to attack us?”

“Payback’s one thing but let’s not forget his group is in line with Bagramon for real now. He’s probably here to scout the place.” The more experienced member of the group guessed.

“That little slug threw his filth at my face before I could speak! None of you even know what I was about to do.” 

“Well… based on our last meeting you don’t seem like the chatting type. Can you blame us?” No rebuttal came from Clockmon, the purple-haired boy guessed right.

“And besides, what are you even going to say to Aki-boy here? An ultimatum for our surrender? Threats to hand over Datamon?”

“Fah, who cares about that blockhead! I’m here for something more infuriating!” Clockmon released Akio and Numemon from his power and swung his arms furiously in the air. 

“More infuriating than Datamon?” The boy let Numemon scurry into his digivice as he asked warily.

“It’s the lunkhead taking over our group. One of Bagramon’s generals, Tankdramon! I’m not here to help that mechanical pain in the ass, I’m here to help you screw him over!”

…

“EHHHHH!?” Akio and Etemon exclaimed loudly in surprise at Clockmon’s declaration.

“B-But why? Aren’t you the type to kick people when they’re down?”

“And who said that?”

“Your victim and Yaksamon.” Akio replied quickly after Clockmon’s glare..

“Yaksa… so you were already in our base while we had our fight huh? Well you’re right.” The clock digimon agreed with a sagely nod, not really painting himself in any other light.

“Then this help of yours just sounds a hell of a lot sketchier doesn't it?” Etemon skeptically retorted with crossed arms.

“Bah, this and that is different! I’d rather fight against Tankdramon and die there than ever helping that lunkhead!” Clockmon clenched his fist and shook them angrily.

“And what brought on this change?”

Clockmon was silent for a good while, seemingly deliberating whether or not he should tell the group before him. There was a brief moment where his face contorted into multiple expressions of hesitation and worry.

“...Fine.” He sighed, accepting that there was no other way to spin this. “If it’ll get you to listen to me then I’ll tell you all. We don’t have all day so I’ll give you the gist of it.”

“Don’t have all day? Oh crap, is there going to be an attack so soon?!”

“Your guess about scouting wasn’t too far-fetched, ape. Tankdramon is about to lead everyone west, the last place they have not cleared and the area with the most resistance.”

“Tch, it was inevitable but I didn’t think it would come so soon.” Etemon bit his thumb in frustration.

“Since you lot sneaked in then I bet you heard whatever chit-chats in our base. A lot of them are unsure and uncertain, I’m sure you’ve noticed.”  Akio nodded after recalling what he heard in the quarry. “Our group wasn’t made for the stupid objective of joining Bagramon. It’s to mitigate the damage when Bagramon’s army actually comes.”

“The harassment, the assault, and press gangs? How does that help out?”

“Oh, that was just me and some that followed my examples.” Clockmon admitted without batting an eye. “Yaksamon actually went through the diplomatic route. I was a total bully before and still am, so I chose the most effective route for me.”

“And you wonder why your leader scolded you…” The purple-haired boy retorted in an exasperated tone, staring at the guiltless digimon that sounded proud of his actions.

“Yaksamon wanted to unite the Mountain Zone so that there would be a smooth takeover when everyone is ready to serve Bagramon. My forceful takeover is to fill our group with tough and battle-ready digimon for the army to take in, I was thinking they’d spare the rest if they can see that the zone has a nice and powerful crop.” 

They didn’t need to agree with their methods but Akio and Etemon can see the purpose of their approach. 

“Buuut since you’re here then I’m guessing things didn’t go as planned?” The clock digimon scoffed at Etemon’s jab.

“It worked… partially. Tankdramon accepted our offerings but we ended up having to raze the zone anyway. Anyone who didn’t agree went back to the village of beginnings. So that ended up great for us.” His eyes rolled alongside a gruff grunt.

“The village of what?”

“It means they died, Aki-boy.” Etemon supplied somberly.

“Oh… Oh, that’s terrible!” The human boy widened his eyes after it finally sank in.

“All the nicer mons despised attacking their old friends and allies. We’d resist but our ‘ol leader got his hands tied unless he wanted everyone in the group facing Tankdramon’s firing squad. Yaksamon… he and I don’t see eye to eye but he really was thinking the best for this zone.” Clockmon’s gaze turned wistful before it exploded back with fury. “I’m pissed seeing that jerk under the thumb of an even bigger jerk like Tankdramon!” 

In anger, Clockmon smashed his mallet to the side, cracking the side of the mountain with his strength.

“So will you punks help me or not? You won’t get a chance like this again.”

The boy and monkey man exchanged a look. Both are wary but having an inside help would be immense for them and the villagers.

“Just to be sure… Can we trust you? You won’t go back on your words?” Akio asked worriedly. 

“Bah! One thing a bully like me hates is an even bigger bully. Didn’t I tell you I'd rather die than help him? If it gets you to help me then fine, I’m not going to stab you in the back!”

“Welp that’s better than nothing I suppose.” A bead of sweat dropped from Etemon’s temple. Certainly crass but this is quite the positive outcome for them. “Welcome to our side pal!”

“Yeah yeah, whatever.” Clockmon certainly didn’t bother to match the monkey man’s energy. “We already talked too much so I’ll be quick. You two better listen up or else this plan would blow.”

Taking his words seriously, Akio and Etemon listened to their new ally and began concocting a plan that they can execute with what limited resources they have. Even with Clockmon asking to hasten their discussion, they kept going back and forth in order to cover their bases. 

Akio isn’t as experienced in combat as Etemon but even he understood that this plan of theirs would be a tough one. His role would be limited as once again Etemon would be on the frontline. It makes complete sense but it made him anxious knowing that Etemon would highly likely clash with the powerful general.

He did the only thing he could do and hoped that things wouldn't go awry.

-o-

Right before the western mountain range, Tankdramon’s army and Yaksamon’s group are all lined up and ready to conduct an assault anytime the machine dragon wants.

The latter’s group were hesitant and worried about multiple things in this assault. One, they’re attacking the last area where most of their kin had refuge. Two, nearly all of them are still not sure whether or not they can find the Data Crown Tankdramon is ordering them to find. Whether they fail or succeed, what would happen to them? None of them are sure, especially their masked leader.

On the opposite side is Tankdramon and his obedient D-Brigade army.

The cyborg dragon led the army as part of the vanguard. His robotic mind is carefully planning an optimal plan of attack as his eyes examine the mountain range before them. 

Not too long ago Yaksamon received a report from his ally who scouted the mountain range. The refugees in the west mountain range were split as they learned that the Bagra army would attack them soon, leaving a small group to try and defend the area.

Based on that information, Tankdramon expected that there would be a small but futile resistance. Although, however massive their chance of winning is, he prefers that their victory would be an overwhelming one as expected of a D-Brigade elite unit.

“Our troops are well accounted for and are ready to depart sir!” A Commandramon reported with a salute.

“My allies are… prepared to fight for your cause.” Tankdramon didn’t care that Yaksamon gave his report hesitantly.

“Excellent. For the sake of lord Bagramon, we shall succeed or else. Now commence operation.” 

At the machine dragon’s call, the army marches forward. Their march was steady and loud, attributed to the many varieties of digimon on his side. 

Though large in numbers, Tankdramon opt for a more careful approach. His draconic eyes browsed the area briefly, visions are somewhat obscured due to the terrain and there has been no sign of resistance yet.

“Aerial Units, scout the area.” 

Digimon with flight shoots forward, scouring the mountainous region below. Their eyes carefully scanned for any sign of life. Oddly, they found nothing below, only pristine mountainous terrain. 

Those belonging to this zone thought this was weird. How can this area be pristine when usually there are Drimogemon and other digimon affecting the place?

A lone group of Pteramon finally noticed something out of the ordinary in their vision. There was a hole right on the side of the–

“Now!”

“Heat Wave!” “Goburi Bomb!” “Smiley Bomb!”

A barrage of projectiles shot out from the hole without warning. None of the Pteramon was fortunate, all the projectiles shot them down, surprising the other flying digimon.

“Wha?! An ambush!” It was a warning call to the others and a message to Tankdramon below. 

A squad of digimon quickly rushed towards where the projectiles were shot out of but the hole inside contained nothing. Soft rumbles caught their attention, and all of a sudden multiple holes appeared all over the terrain near them. Much like before, multiple projectiles shot out toward the flying digimon. They scrambled to evade the attacks but some were too late, shot down like the previous group and thinning their number even further.

“S-screw this, I'm not dying for the Bagra army!” Some of the stragglers belonging to Yaksamon’s group escaped in fear while the rest tactically retreated.

“The resistance is here.” The general muttered after observing the debacle from afar. “Report, what happened?”

“Th-they set up an ambush! They shot everyone from a hole in the wall!”

“Hole in the wall… volunteer, your thoughts?” The tank digimon asked the more knowledgeable local.

“Erhm…” The masked digimon briefly hesitated but still, he reluctantly answered. “Drimogemon are aplenty in the Mountain Zone. They must have some within their group, allowing them to drill tunnels and caverns to hide in the mountains.”

“In the mountains… I see.” 

Yaksamon couldn’t help but be perturbed by the eerie silence the dragon was giving. He can see the dragon’s eyes flitting around the terrain constantly before the general made his move. 

“Only a single solution is required.” The cannons on Tankdramon’s back whirred to life as they pointed themselves forward. “Striver Cannon!” With an ear-piercing boom, the general shot the mountains.

The missiles split apart into many pieces mid-air and blew everything that got in its way. Destruction reigned as the mountainous landscape was blasted apart. Amidst the explosive destruction, they could hear faint cries of digimon that fell victim to Tankdramon’s attack. In just one moment, the thick and tall mountains were left with fiery holes and cracks.

Yaksamon stared aghast at the sight, the destruction Tankdramon wreaked hurts his heart. Even worse still is that he could see survivors slowly rising up from the destroyed landscapes, glaring with eyes full of anger. 

“...Ugh… y-you crazy m-monster! We won’t bow down to the Bagra army!”

“Eliminate the stragglers.”

The battle continued with the survivor’s rallying cry and Tankdramon’s cold order.

It was hard to call it a fair battle when Tankdramon’s side were able to swat the opposition faster than they could injure his soldiers. 

Yaksamon felt shame and pride as he fought against his fellows. Even against the overwhelming numbers of Tankdramon’s army they did not hesitate to fight back while here he was fighting on the wrong side. He regretted his choices that led to this point, but he can’t do anything about it right now.

However, moving the spirits of his fellow digimon are, however, something does feel odd to the masked digimon. There is bravery to fighting against the Bagra army, but no way would they all throw their lives away on an uphill battle without something benefiting them. Are they stalling to let the inhabitants escape or are they–

A faint rumbling was felt by the masked digimon. His eyes turned to see the surroundings and the digimon noticed cracks began to form from the terrain right behind their lines.

Heh, clever. There was a faint smile hidden behind Yaksamon’s mask as he realized the survivor’s plan. I’ll pretend I didn’t see that. It’s only fair to rebel like them the only way he can.

The ground and mountainous walls burst open in an instant and digimon flooded behind Tankdramon’s army.

“Go go go! Take them down and kick ‘em out of here!” Mamemon rallied loudly as the metal ball smashed away any digimon he came across.

“An ambush?” The draconic general turned behind and saw his soldiers being overrun, unable to react appropriately from the element of surprise. “The rabble are decoys.”

Intending to eliminate the decoys first, Tankdramon sets up for another Striver Cannon. It menacingly points towards the survivors but before the cannons could shoot, two powerful forces smashed them together, breaking the cannons as they bent sharply.

“Nuh uh, no way you’re shooting that again!”

“How do you like that you lunkhead!”

A dazzling white smile and a stitched scowl greets the draconic general as he turns his head. 

Tankdramon responded immediately, the gatling gun on his side whirred menacingly. “Blast–!”

“Chrono Breaker!” The revolving guns stopped as his body was stripped of movements.

“And have a Monkey Knuckle!” And Etemon landed an uppercut right onto the general’s jaw.

His head snapped back painfully, but due to the tank-like nature of his body, the dragon was only pushed back for a short distance. Still, the monkey man’s punch proved to be quite effective as Tankdramon groaned in pain.

“Clockmon?!” Yaksamon exclaimed in surprise after watching the scene before him unfold.

“Yo, nice to see your ugly mug again! We surrounded your group so either you join this lunkhead’s sorry fate or back off!”

Yaksamon processed the sudden ultimatum briefly. He glanced towards the growing chaos that slowly grows to the resistance’s favor. Tankdramon’s troops fought back with fervor for their general, the opposite of his group’s growing panic and reluctance to stay. The masked leader quickly understood what he should do.

“Tch, we’ve been betrayed! This ambush is too much for my group, I have to command a retreat, lord Tankdramon!” Yaksamon’s voice soon echoes through the battlefield, rallying his group to run away. 

“Tch, insubordination.” Tankdramon growled as he was fending off Etemon’s barrage of attacks, watching as the digimon under Yaksamon slowly broke off from the skirmish.

The general continued to trade blows as he clashed with the monkey and robot duo. The duo proved themselves to be quite effective together as the pair can contest against Tankdramon’s intense firepower. Bullets whizzed past Etemon as he avoided them with incredible litheness and again the general received damage each time Clockmon seized movements from his body.

For the first time since the machine dragon arrived here, he felt himself growing agitated. His troop’s perfect sweep is interrupted by rabbles that are proving to be more annoying than they should be.

The dragon’s eyes leers towards the ambushing party pushing back his troop. This won’t do at all.

With a powerful whirr, Tankdramon skids away from the enemy pair. A flash of blue briefly flashed through his eyes and in the next moment, the broken cannons slowly repaired itself in a flash of data.

“Did you think simply breaking my cannons was enough to cripple me?” Tankdramon sneered at the pair. Their eyes quickly catch onto where the dragon is pointing his cannons. “This is the end of your rebellion! Striver Cannon!”

Missiles went past the duo and straight towards the mountain zone’s ambush party. Through non-verbal commands transmitted by the machine dragon, his troops suddenly pulled away to let their leader’s attack cause havoc. Once again explosions tore the mountainous landscape into pieces.

The clouds settled, and only rubble were left in place of the mountain zone’s citizens. 

The empty sight brought a sense of relief through the mechanical general. Now there’s only the foolish pair to take care of. After this, he can restart his perfect sweep and finally gift his lord with the code crown.

Tankdramon expected a look of despair from Etemon and Clockmon. He saw Etemon’s foot coming closer to his face.

“Monkiiiick!” The metal covering the dragon’s head cracked and splintered as Tankdramon’s head snapped back from the dropkick.

“Grrgh!” Tankdramon growled while clutching his wounded head. That monkey is starting to grate his mechanical nerves. “It’s pointless to fight back. Your allies are gone, accept your fate.” 

The threat was clear, but the general was taken aback when he saw the nonplussed expression of Etemon and Clockmon. 

‘Odd, their resistance had failed. A desperate attempt to fight back until they die? No… it’s something else.’ Etemon’s jovial smile grew longer as he noticed the general’s ruminations.

“Hoho… caught onto something Tanky-boy? You afraid of a little ol me and clockbot over there?” Tankdramon ignored his taunting words. 

Even if they have something up their sleeves, his troops are still here. He broadcasted a silent order to converge and his soldiers followed.

The pair seemed unperturbed, they kept fighting Tankdramon even as they were slowly being surrounded. Supporting fire aided the general and the pair were pushed back for once. From offense to defense, Etemon and Clockmon shift their focus to surviving the onslaught in an instant.

Tankdramon watched impassively, letting his soldiers attack as he recovered. It should be the end for them, yet they still persist. Do they actually have a plan or is this just foolish bravado that many displayed before the might of Bagramon army’s might?

“This is getting a bit much now! Love Serenaaaaaade~!” Etemon grabbed his mic and began singing loudly, sending a wave of sound that echoed everywhere.

The onslaught stopped as the Bagra army had to endure the monkey’s vocal prowess. They can feel their strength being sapped with each second they’re listening to Etemon’s singing.

“Disabling hearing function. Enough of your drivel, Blast Gatling!”

“Eesh, tough crowds. Dark Spirits!” Dark balls of energy clashed against the general’s bullets while Etemon kept singing. “Clocky-boy, if you’d please?”

“Call me that again and I swear I'll freeze you for a week.” Clockmon retorted with a scowl before throwing his mallet at the Bagra general. 

It’s an action Tankdramon can see clearly. If Clockmon’s Chrono Breaker can still work even as a thrown weapon then it simply won’t do. The general switched targets and shot the mallet into pieces.

It’s exactly what Etemon wanted.

In that short moment of switching targets, the monkey digimon shot another round of Dark Spirits, all of them targeting his firearms. The orbs of darkness did its job, breaking Tankdramon’s cannons and gatling guns in an explosive blow.

“A futile attempt! I can simply recover them again!”

“Hey Tanky-boy, you know what’s better than an ambush?” Etemon called out with a wide grin. 

…

Clockmon turned to Etemon with a disbelieving expression. “Did you not hear that lunkhead saying he disabled his own hearing?”

The machine general didn’t respond, his firearms slowly recovering while his eyes focused on Etemon warily.

The monkey digimon pounded his fist to an open palm. “Oh yeah…”  In lieu of his voice, Etemon began looking and pointing up erratically to get Tankdramon’s attention. “UP! UP! UP! LOOK UP!”

His erratic behavior did what it intended to do. Seeing the monkey mouthing off something while pointing did make the general look up.

“Now’s your cue Aki-boy!”

Up in the air, there was a brief shimmer distorting the environment and the figure of a human boy in a school uniform came to be. A round blue digimon is behind him, hoisting the boy in the sky by tugging the back of his uniform. The purple-haired boy’s expression was tense and nervous, his right hand pointing forward his white digivice with a slight shake.

“Reload!” 

As soon as those words left his mouth, the digivice screen shone and the sky was filled with digimon previously thought to be eliminated by Tankdramon’s missiles. The resistance landed on Tankdramon and his soldiers, pressing them down before they could fight back.

Multiple digimon piled onto the general with Datamon landing last. While the cyborg is struggling from his restraint, Datamon plugged his wires into the Bagra general. 

“You are a machine as well, aren’t you? Then I can simply use this program to…” 

Even as the struggle grew more intense, Datamon proceeded with calmness and precision. The machine general soon felt his motor function being disabled and then he stopped moving altogether.

“Disable you. My job is done.” The machine digimon hopped off and signed for the other digimon to let go.

Seeing Tankdramon stop moving, the mountain zone native cheered loudly as they won.

“Yahoooo! Mission complete am I right?” Etemon approached giddily. Sucked that he couldn’t reveal the surprise ambush for extra style but he won’t complain. “Nice job there Aki-boy, your timing is perfect! Any longer and I would’ve run out of juice for my Love Serenade!” He gave a thumbs up to the slowly descending boy.

“Oh god that was so– thank you Boltmon– that was so nerve-wracking!” The boy ran a hand through his hair and exhaled all the air he didn’t know he held back. Akio rubbed his arms softly, the phantom heat of Tankdramon’s explosions creeping back.

Their plan boiled down to a triple ambush. The pivotal thing they had to keep in mind was when to sprIng the third one. A brilliant idea came from Etemon to fool the general into thinking that he had eliminated most of their forces, not knowing that Akio was hidden with Datamon’s stealth tech and taking everyone inside the digivice.

As he was floating by Boltmon’s help, multiple times Akio wanted to yelp in fear and run. But the boy pressed on, it doesn’t feel right if he didn’t do his part when Etemon and the others are working hard.

The boy glanced towards the group apprehending Tankdramon and his cronies. Seeing them be alive and well with the help of his digivice was certainly… nice.

“So what are we going to do with Tankdramon?” Turning to Etemon, Akio asked curiously.

“Well… under normal circumstances we’d probably have to boot him out or send him to the village of beginnings.” The monkey crossed his arms with a serious expression.

“Village of– ah. Dispatching him you mean.” Etemon nodded to confirm the boy’s uneasy words.

“Buuut~ Datamon disabled him so we can probably ditch him somewhere far away! Bahahaha!” His sudden change in tone and laugh made the boy fumble in reaction, and so did Clockmon.

“What?! I wanted to off that guy!”

“Are you really going to kill someone that can’t move anymore? Shouldn’t we see how your dear old pal is doing first?” His words were met with an annoyed grumbling and clenching fists from Clockmon.

“Grhh… fine! But I'll deck his face the first chance I get!”

The monkey laughed again as the clock digimon pointed angrily at him. His laughter was somewhat infectious as Akio snorted and joined him, even Clockmon couldn't help but crack a small grin because of him.

But the jovial atmosphere came to a halt when they heard screams coming from where the immobilized Bagra army was.

They turn only to be met with bodies of digimon thrown at them. Etemon and Clockmon managed to catch the unfortunate digimon but the human boy didn’t hold the same prowess. A mechanical body smashed itself onto Akio and the boy went down on the ground painfully.

“Aki-boy!”

The concerned cry of the monkey digimon went unheard as the boy was reeling in pain. His hands fumbled on the body that crashed into him and felt a familiar sensation before realizing who it was from its groaning voice.

“Ow ow ow… Datamon?”

“Apologies, I did not expect him to move again.”

The downed pair helped each other up, looking past the wary Etemon and Clockmon to see Tankdramon up and running again. The general growling as his body can move again one by one.

“What the hell? What kind of shoddy restraining program did you use on him!” Clockmon growled at Datamon before readying his mallet.

“My work is not shoddy and I confirmed his immobilization was a success. He should not be able to move without my own unlocking program.” Datamon retorted sharply while examining his programming. The machine digimon was left confused as there were no flaws in them. 

“Maybe that big lug has protection running in his noggin’.” Etemon guessed.

“If he did then my program would not have worked from the beginning.”

“Krhh… To think I have to resort to this.” Tankdramon spoke with calm anger.

The mountain zone fighters were ready to act at any moment, waiting warily for Tankdramon to act. Etemon pulled Akio near him, ready to carry him out of the battlefield for his safety.

“My lord’s power… an overkill to use but you forced my hands.” 

Something dark is enveloping Tankdramon like an aura, something powerful. The human boy glanced at the general’s underlings to see if they knew anything, but none of them reacted to their leader’s change.

“Executing, Fusion.” The dark aura engulfed Tankdramon and his minions, exuding powerful winds that pushed back any nearby digimon. 

It was hard to make it out, but Akio could hear faint sounds of… something coming from within the aura. It’s like the sound of glass breaking and reforming. It reminded the boy of the sound effect of a game he played in his youth.

A dark shadow looms over them once everything subsides. Gone were Tankdramon’s armies, only the general remains. 

Five times larger than his previous size, Tankdramon looked down on them with renewed vigor. The mechanical dragon’s body had grown monstrous as well as all sorts of things protruded from it. Weaponries, claws, scales, armor, all characteristics of the general’s minions now attached to his body.

“What… what the hell is that?!”

The giant general leaned down, baring his fangs menacingly.

“You’re all due for termination!”