Chapter 15
#15 of Next Generation- The Digivolution Saga
And I have finally managed to gain some free time to start writing again! Woot! So yeah, sorry for the delay, but at least I am writing again, which is good. Any how, my previous offer of character use is still open, just take a look at the species list to see the basic layout of your description and PM me if you want your idea included.
A meeting with "the Master", and Craig gets even more over-powered!
"We are so gonna die, we are so gonna die!"
"Luna, shut the fuck up will you!" Craig growled at the girl, rubbing his temples as the small segment of wall they were hiding behind was pounded by the relentless attacks of about twelve guards, "We are not going to die! Digi-vice, Gun."
The weapon formed in Caig's hand, the digimon-human hybrid staring at the piece in awe. The gun was completely different, instead of his blocky black glock, it gleamed chrome and bronze, a small tube set into the casing ejector filling with swirling air as Craig stared at it in confusion.
"My gun has been digi-fied, or quipi-fied, or something!" he said, his obvious surprise quickly turning in childish glee, "That's awesome!"
A squawk from his 'vice made Craig grin as he selected one of several ammo clips from those displayed on the holo-screen, snapping it into the weapon easily. The glass tube suddenly began to fill with lightning, which crackled as it swirled around inside the small vessel.
"This ought to be good," he grinned at Luna, before leaping out from behind the wall.
The guards halted their assault in surprise as Craig leapt out cover, pointing the gleaming object at them. They blinked as he pulled the trigger, a ball of energy suddenly erupting out of the muzzle. The blast was deafening as the orb slammed into one of the guards chests, the digimon disappearing instantly as the ball of lightning erupted inside of him, sending bolts of energy to those around him. Those that weren't instantly decimated were flung back by the shockwave, including Craig.
"Holy crap," he gasped as he landed heavily on the ground, his ears ringing as Luna pulled him up from the floor, leading the still dazed and deaf feline past the unconscious, or barely conscious guards, only pausing momentarily to absorb as much of the errant data as possible.
Craig watched as Luna tried to mouth something to him, shaking his head and pointing to his ears, saying "Shockwave screwed my hearing, all I've got is bells!"
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Namico swore as they tore through the seemingly endless corridors, dragging the exhausted Nee behind her, Karen close behind as the guards chased after them. Diving around a corner, Namico burst through a doorway, skidding on the smooth floor of the room as her paw pads met polished stone. The feline struggled for grip as Karen followed her, the fox-like digimon slipping up and slamming straight into her, sending all three skimming across the floor, before finally coming to rest just under a pillar. Namico gasped for breath as she pushed the stunned fox and kitten off of her, trying to stand up and get a bearing on their situation.
The cold edge of a blade pressed up against the back of her neck as she rose, making her swallow nervously as she watched the guards stream into the room, each holding a long spear, and each looking as if they'd attack at the slightest provocation.
"You are required by the Master," the guard with his spear pressed against her neck growled, "Come quietly and you shall live."
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"Gods-dammit!" Craig yelled as he leapt around the corner, narrowly dodging the barrage of attacks that had just been flung at them by the guards, "How many of these bastards are there?!"
"No idea," Luna gasped, pointing down the hallway they were in, "But that looks like a way out. I don't think it's the best choice though."
"Only one we have right now!" Craig grunted, suddenly picking up the exhausted destined as the guards turned the corner, "Shadow Step!"
The guards blinked as the two figures seemed to dissolve in front of them, the after images fading as the door at the far end burst open.
One of the guards turned and shouted orders at the rest, "You two, seal the door! You go alert the other patrols that the targets have been led to their destination! Now!"
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"They are here, my lord," Aerovex said calmly as he watched the two figures burst through the doorway, which slammed such almost immediately behind them, and into the arena, the crowd bursting into screams and cheers, "What shall we do with them?"
'LET ME ADDRESS THEM FIRST,' the cloaked figure growled, 'IT IS NOT EVERY DAY THAT ONE IS ABLE TO RID THE WORLD OF NOT ONE, BUT TWO DESTINED.'
Aerovex nodded and stood back as the other digimon walked to the edge of his private balcony, an unnatural hush quickly falling over the stadium as the other digimon fell silent to listen.
'GREETINGS FELLOWS OF THIS LAYER OF DARKNESS AND DEATH, I, THE MASTER, WELCOME YOU ALL TO ANOTHER FINE DAY OF COMBAT IN THIS, MY GLORIOUS ARENA,' the crowd exploded into fan-fare once again, falling silent almost as quickly when the figure held up his arms, 'WHAT I PRESENT TO YOU NOW ARE TWO OF THE VILE DESTINED, BENT ON ENSLAVING OUR KIND AND DRIVING US ALL TO DEATH. BUT ON THIS DAY, WE SHALL HAVE OUR REVENGE! WE SHALL SEE THE FALL OF THESE TWO, AND SO, OUR LIBERATION!'
The crowd exploded again as the Master leant over the balcony to address the Destined directly, his wide grin just visible under his hood.
'HAVE YOU ANYTHING TO SAY?'
"The Reaper of Winds stands to your challenge!" the male called confidently, the crowd's cheering suddenly dying out, replaced by soft muttering as the figure gripped the edge of the balcony tightly, his claws digging into the stone.
'WHAT DID YOU CALL YOURSELF?' it hissed, blood red orbs beginning to glow beneath the hood.
"I announced who I am, and I will not take it back," the youth shouted, "All I wish is for my partner's to be returned, and to leave this place. If I have to fight to do so, then so be it."
'INSOLENT FOOL,' the Master laughed forcefully, 'YOU AND YOUR TRAITOROUS COMPANIONS SHALL PERISH ON THIS DAY!'
The Master touched the clasp of his cloak, before roaring into the sky, 'ARISE MY UNDEAD MINIONS! DESTROY THEM!'
The clasp flashed suddenly, the ground beneath Craig's feet suddenly breaking apart as a skeletal hand erupted from the earth, crushing the after image moments later. Craig swore as he hoisted Luna back into his arms, desperately dodging the multitudes of skeletal digimon emerging from beneath his feet. A hand suddenly wrapped around his ankle, throwing him across the stadium as the various undead creatures followed, all leaping towards the stunned feline and his charge.
'IT IS DONE,' the figure laughed, watching the mass of skeletal digimon ripple as they attacked their prey, 'THE BLASPHEMOUS CRETIN IS NO MORE!'
"Master, I fear he is not yet dead, something is wron-," Aerovex was cut off as the figure slammed the back of his hand into the demon digimon's face, throwing him across the balcony.
'SILENCE, YOU FOOL, NONE CAN WITHSTAND MY GREAT POWER! NO-'
It was the figure's turn to be cut off as the mass of bone's on the other side of the arena erupted, fragments flying out of the battle field and into the audience, shortly followed by great screams of pain as bone pierced digital flesh. Turning slowly, the cloaked Master stared in shock at the new digimon hovering across from him, it's huge black wings seeming to suck what little light was on the layer into them, the long black shaft of his scythe pulsating with glowing grey lines in time with the blade, which shimmered unnaturally.
"I am the Reaper of Winds," the digimon spoke clearly over the shouts and screams of the audience, "And I will not be defeated by those over whom I rule."
'SILENCE!' the Master roared, leaping onto the edge of the balcony, drawing a book and a scythe from beneath his robes, 'I AM THE TRUE REAPER! I AM THE RULER OF THIS LAYER! I AM THE GOD OF DEATH, AND I SHALL DESTROY YOU! PREPARE TO FACE THE BOOK OF JUDGEMENT!'
"You are wrong," Craig said calmly as the figure seemed to pulsate beneath his cloak, "You are no reaper, you are no ruler, and you are definitely no god. You are simple a delusional being who has given himself these titles in the hope of feeling important."
'BOOK OF JUDGEMENT,' the Master growled, 'BIND HIM!'
The thick book in his hand snapped open, several dozen pages suddenly streaming out as the cloaked digimon cackled madly. Craig watched as they began to swarm around him, the ball of paper suddenly slamming shut on him, before exploding outwards again, the digimon missing. Craig swore as he slammed into the wall of the arena, several pieces of the paper pinning his left arm to his body, several more attached to his wings and as he managed to regain his balance. The stream of paper slammed through his chest as the after image disintegrated, the real Craig coughing as more pices of paper now bound to his chest.
"Fuck, those things are fast," he coughed, watching as the snake like stream of paper turned to follow him yet again.
A sudden flash of lightning caught everyone off-guard as the head of the stream exploded into flame, Craig looking down at Luna, her arm out-stretched as she shouted up at him, "They're only pieces of paper!"
Craig grinned as the stream of paper suddenly diverted, leaving the burnt and burning pieces to fall to the ground. The stream slammed into him, wrapping around his chest, pinning his wings to his back as he was bound completely. The crowd fell silent as they stared at the hovering wad of paper, a soft whisper filtering through the audience as nothing seemed to happen. A small spout of smoke suddenly began leaking from the sealed mass, quickly followed by more and more, the smoke pouring out from beneath the pieces of paper.
"Wall of Flame!" the attack exploded from within the paper cocoon, engulfing the seal and incinerating it instantly. As the smoke cleared the audience stared in awe at the figure hovering amongst the smoke, the feathers of his blood red wings shimmering in the twilight, making then seem to burn with inner fire. He twisted the staff in his hands, spinning it around and pointing it at the Master, the scythe blade gone, replaced with the scimitar like head of an oriental spear, his black armour now glinting red.
"Shadow Flame Barrage!" the attack slammed into the startled digimon, the balcony on which he stood exploding, quickly being engulfed in black flames.
'SHADOW STEP,' the voice curled around Craig's ears as he felt the digimon's presence appear behind him, spinning just in time to block the blow from the scythe, 'YOU SEEM TO BE FAR MORE CAPABLE THAN I FIRST THOUGHT. I MAY BE ABLE TO USE YOU AS AN UNDERLING.'
"I'd rather die," Craig spat, cringing as the scythe blade dug into his face, gouging a hole into his right cheek.
'I SUSPECTED AS MUCH,' the digimon laughed, 'AEROVEX, BRING THEM!'
Craig leapt back as the floating Master released his attack, fear flooding his face as the three females were thrown onto the blasted balcony's surface. Namico looked up at him in relief, Karen sobbing beside her as Nee tried to comfort the fox. Each had their arms bound behind their backs, and had been stripped bare. The one called Aerovex stood emotionlessly beside them, not looking down at the three as Craig felt rage begin to boil up inside of him.
'I BELIEVE THESE THREE ARE THE ONES YOU WISHED TO BE FREED, ARE THEY NOT' the Master cackled, slipping the book back into his robes, 'THEN LET US STRIKE A DEAL. DEFEAT ME IN YOUR REAPER FORM, AND I SHALL FREE YOU ALL.'
"Revert," Craig growled, the soft grey light washing over his form, returning him to normal, the scythe blade bursting from the staff. The two digimon remained silent for several seconds as they stared at each other.
"Reaper's Slash!" Craig roared the attack, sending the arc of energy at his opponent from point blank range. The Master's scythe swung up at the same time, catching Craig's and stopping it dead.
'SHADOW NEEDLES,' the digimon said as hundreds of slivers of solidified darkness appeared around Craig, slamming into him as he screamed, his scythe falling from his hands.
"Wind Blade!" the sudden attack caught the Master off guard as Craig sank his hand into the digimon's chest, the attack erupting out of the cloaked figure's back.
'THAT HURT, TOO BAD IT DID NOTHING,' the Master laughed, placing his hand on the immobilised Craig's chest, 'DARK PULSE!'
The blast ripped Craig's arm from his opponent, the gaping hole in his chest spouting blood as he watched his own heart beating furiously. He could only stare at the other digimon as he got further and further away, the hard ground suddenly slamming into Craig's back, a sickening crunch, followed by more pain, filling his ears.
He turned his head slightly, trying to see where Namico and the others were, the darkness closing in on him quickly as he felt the pain fade from his body, all except for in his right hand, where a biting cold seemed to emanate from the object held there. Lifting his arm, he stared at the clasp, amazed at how similar the plate of metal and glass looked to the face of his digivice. Lifting his left arm, he placed the clasp over the watch, watching as it clicked into place, the holo-screen popping out, words scrolling across it too fast for him to read.
"Why do you wish to live?" the voice was soft and caring, like that of a mother's, bringing peace to Craig's failing heart, but at the same time, he could hear anger in it, as if his rage was talking as well, "To win? To defeat your foes? To destroy your enemies?"
"No..." Craig whispered, his lungs collapsing, "Only to...to protect them...the ones I love..."
"Then live," the voice urged, the warm energy flowing through Craig from the watch on his wrist, "Live and fight for those you love, for they are your power."
Craig blinked as the darkness suddenly retreated, his eyes locking with Namico' as she fought against the strange demon digimon to get to the edge of the balcony. Above him, he could hear the Master laughing, proclaiming his victory to the roaring audience. Closing his eyes, Craig gathered his thoughts, feeling his new power building inside him, forming into two distinct balls, one raging and churning, the other rippling and pulsating. As he watched, the rippling ball slowly engulfed the twisting ball of rage and hatred, engulfing it completely, sending a rush of calm over Craig's mind and body. He felt himself begin to glow, the slight prickling sensation flooding over his body as he felt his energy grow to bursting point. And then released.
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The Master laughed manically as he continued riling up the crowd, even those whom had been injured earlier were now cheering. He turned to face his enemy one more time, his laughter faltering as he watched the boy begin to glow, a pillar of grey light suddenly erupting from where he had been lying. The wind suddenly began to pick up, swirling around as the shards of bone rattled along the ground, the smaller pieces flying up and into the pillar of light. Fighting against the raging gale, the Master reached up to his throat to call upon his minions again, the pale hand gripping the empty piece of robe where Craig's earlier attack had pierced through him. Cursing, the digimon could only watch as the rest of the bones where drawn up and into the pillar, before it began to thin, slowly dissipating as the figure within appeared.
"He who calls himself "the Master"," a voice spoke clearly, echoing throughout the arena, "I am The Reaper, and I have come for your soul."
The last word was punctuated with the last of the light exploding outwards, filling the air with thousands of tiny shimmering particles, the six black wings drawing them in, making them look like stars in the night sky. The figure's cloak rustled around him as the wind continued to roar through the arena, the scythe in his hand formed of pure black metal, the edges of the blade shimmering with energy.
'I AM STILL THE MASTER OF THIS LAYER!' the digimon roared, reaching into his robe and pulling the book back out, 'BOOK OF JUDGEMENT, DESTROY HIM!'
The pages poured out of the book once again, streaming towards Craig as destructive energy danced across the sheets. Craig held out a hand, catching one of the pages as it raced towards him, the others suddenly halting in midair. The Master stared in horror as the page slipped up the sleeve of Craig's cloak, the rest following suit almost immediately. The sudden blow shocked even the Master, who found himself beneath the foot of the towering six-winged creature, the back of the scythe pressed against his neck as his own cloak began to fall away, seeming to be absorbed by Craig's, revealing the thin creature beneath it. Craig leant over and easily pulled the book from the creature's grasp, slipping it into his own cloak, much as the Master had done many time before.
"I have won, yet I do not wish to end your life if possible," Craig said calmly, his voice echoing powerfully from beneath the hood of his cloak, "Pledge your allegiance, and I shall spare you."
'NEV-!' the Master coughed, cut off as Craig instantly severed his head, the frail body disintegrating in an instant as Craig turned to Face Aerovex.
"And you?" he asked plainly, suddenly seeming far less intimidating than before.
"I do," the demonic digimon replied, kneeling before Craig respectfully.
"Then return to your partner, she will need you now more than ever," Craig said, turning to look at the raging audience, several digimon having already been thrown into the arena, those with wings having followed them to gain some easy pickings. The cloaked figure of Luna let loose a burst of lightning as one of the creatures lunged at her, luckily felling it in one hit.
Turning to go, Aerovex snapped out his wings before glancing over his shoulder at Craig, "I do not understand you, Reaper."
"You shall with time, my friend," Craig replied, throwing his cloak out to the side, the fabric suddenly wrapping around the four digimon before vanishing into thin air.
"I pray I do, my lord," The demon said as he leapt from the balcony's edge, "I pray I do."