"You… you actually killed your own comrades!?"
Flaremon stared as the dust settled, but there was no sign of Crusadermon or Dynasmon. He realized they had been killed by Lucemon.
He couldn't comprehend it—Crusadermon and Dynasmon were Lucemon's subordinates, giving everything to assist him, and this was their reward?
It was just too cruel!
Even though they had been enemies, Flaremon was furious.
Lucemon smiled as he looked at Flaremon and the others, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone: "Useless trash should naturally be disposed of."
Lucemon's voice in his Falldown Mode wasn't as clear and androgynous as before; it had become sharp and hoarse, carrying the oppressive weight of a tyrant.
"The Ten Legendary Warriors, huh… How nostalgic."
Lucemon narrowed his eyes, and his aura instantly exploded.
An overwhelming force of malice and hatred surged over the Dark Area like an invisible ocean falling from the sky.
The weaker Digimon were immediately knocked unconscious, and even the strong ones were too scared to move, struggling to breathe.
Even among the Ten Warriors, some trembled, some froze, some panicked, and some blanked out completely.
All except for one—Flaremon.
He was trembling, but not from fear. It was anger.
He was furious at what happened to Crusadermon and Dynasmon. That rage allowed him to ignore Lucemon's oppressive aura.
Flaremon roared, "Don't be afraid, everyone! As long as we Ten Warriors fight together, we can defeat Lucemon!"
"Flaremon…" The others were shaken out of their fear like waking from a bad dream.
Mercurymon was stunned and sighed deeply: "I can't believe you managed to say that out loud."
Just a moment ago, he had been cold with despair, his limbs like ice, stripped of the will to resist. But now—he felt a fire rekindled in his heart.
He… actually had the courage to face Lucemon!
Even he found it unbelievable.
That must be the role of the Fire Warrior among the Ten—when things are toughest, only this fiery courage can take the first step!
Lucemon smirked and gestured toward Flaremon: "Admirable courage. Then come and try me."
"Everyone, with me!" Flaremon gritted his teeth and led the charge.
Nine-Way Fusion Attack!
Fire, Light, Wind, Ice, Thunder, Darkness, Steel, Water, Wood—nine attributes combined in perfect harmony into an unstoppable fusion strike.
A brilliant rainbow-colored beam tore through the air—unstoppable, peerless!
Even Dynasmon's Dragon Roar had been obliterated in an instant by this attack, injuring him heavily in the process.
Such overwhelming power!
Who in this world, or any other, could stand against this!?
BOOM!
Lucemon's eyes narrowed.
CRACK!
The Nine-Way Fusion shattered like bubbles, its very existence erased.
Silence fell.
"...?!"
The Ten Warriors stared in stunned disbelief.
Their ultimate attack—was completely nullified?
"..."
Onismon was frozen, too scared to speak. The remaining conscious Digimon on Wandering Isle were utterly terrified.
How could a Digimon be this powerful!?
He wasn't a beast—he was a god!
Black clouds covered the skies above the Dark Area, casting it in eternal twilight. But the darkness now clouding everyone's hearts was even heavier.
This was the fog of despair.
Lucemon, in stark contrast, was calm and gleeful, smiling as he mocked: "Compared to those ancient warriors, you all still have a long way to go."
The Ten Warriors scowled.
Flaremon gritted his teeth and muttered, "Mercurymon, are you sure you can use the Earth Spirit?"
"You…"
Mercurymon was stunned. "You still have the will to fight?"
Flaremon answered, "Once we unite the Ten Spirits, we can unleash an even stronger attack!"
Mercurymon frowned. "Easier said than done. That would take time—and Lucemon—"
Lucemon heard them, but instead of attacking, he smiled and waved casually. "Go ahead."
"!?"
The Ten Warriors were shocked. To let enemies gather power freely… such arrogance.
Or was it simply absolute confidence?
Flaremon took a deep breath, exchanged a glance with Beetlemon, and they both raised their D-Tectors, releasing the Earth Spirits within—both Human and Beast types.
Mercurymon received them and said, "Fusion Evolution—Svarogmon!"
Ten green spheres aligned in the pattern of the Tree of Life—Mercurymon had taken on the Beast Form of the Steel Spirit, now wielding both Steel and Earth.
"Everyone, switch to Beast Forms!" Flaremon called out.
One by one, the others evolved into their Beast Spirit forms: BurningGreymon, KendoGarurumon, Zephyrmon, Korikakumon, Beetlemon, Ranamon, Arbormon…
Only Duskmon remained still, lacking his Beast Spirit of Darkness.
But just then, an object fell from the sky—a lion-shaped statue, the Beast Spirit of Darkness.
It had been held by Holy Angewomon, but seeing the Ten Warriors prepare a final blow, she used her holy power to purify its curse, revealing its true form.
Duskmon absorbed it without hesitation:
"Duskmon Fusion Evolve—KaiserLeomon!"
From a dark humanoid warrior, he became a beast cloaked in black obsidian armor. In that instant, the soul within him remembered everything—including who he was.
His name was Koichi Kimura, twin brother of Koji Minamoto.
"..."
KaiserLeomon glanced at KendoGarurumon, his gaze complex.
"What is it?" KendoGarurumon noticed his look.
KaiserLeomon didn't answer.
Some truths… are best saved for after survival.
KendoGarurumon didn't press. For now, they had to defeat Lucemon.
Moments later, Svarogmon said, "I'm ready."
"Okay—everyone, attack!" roared BurningGreymon.
Ten-Way Fusion Attack!
Now with all ten attributes—Fire, Light, Wind, Ice, Thunder, Darkness, Steel, Water, Wood, Earth—they unleashed the ultimate combination.
"Let it work this time!" everyone hoped—the Ten Warriors, Onismon, Kari Kamiya, Holy Angewomon, Bokomon, Neemon…
But the result wasn't victory—it was a horrifying scene.
The Ten-Way Fusion stopped just one meter in front of Lucemon, as if blocked by an invisible wall.
It scattered to the sides, drilling holes in the ground—but none touched Lucemon.
"No way…"
"Even Ten-Way Fusion failed?!"
The Ten Warriors stood in stunned silence. Onismon said nothing. Holy Angewomon froze. Everyone was in disbelief.
This attack was several times stronger than the last—yet it hadn't even touched him!?
Was the gap really this wide!?
Lucemon sneered.
He looked at the Ten Warriors like bugs—doing their best, only to stir a breeze that didn't even ruffle his hair.
He stepped forward, spreading his arms to the sides like a god on display.
"I, Lucemon, am the Emperor of the Digital World. I once gave this world rebirth, and now—I shall do it again!"
His voice thundered with regal arrogance:
"Under my rule, chaos will return to the void. A new world will be born—one where no one defies me!"
The Ten Warriors snapped back to attention.
"That's just a tyrant!"
"I won't allow that kind of world!"
BurningGreymon and KendoGarurumon were both furious.
Lucemon just smiled. "No matter. You won't live to see it."
He raised both hands. In one palm, a white orb—light energy, capable of creating a life-binding barrier. In the other, a black orb—dark energy, capable of disintegrating anything.
"This is Light and Darkness fused—my ultimate attack, Cross of Life and Death. Only I in all of existence can master this! To die by it should be your honor."
He hurled the white orb—light as a feather, but fast as lightning. It grew massively as it flew:
Five meters… ten… twenty… thirty—
It was about to consume the Ten Warriors—
When a white figure appeared in its path and kicked it away.
WHAM!
The orb was launched 500 meters away, transforming into a light barrier on the distant ground.
"...Oh?"
Lucemon, preparing to throw the black orb, was stunned.
Someone had kicked his light orb?
And that someone was… a tall-legged figure—a Gatomon.
Her height suggested she was a bit undernourished.
"A Gatomon?!"
Even the Ten Warriors and Onismon were stunned.
Holy Angewomon glanced toward where Gatomon—Moss—had been standing. It was now empty.
"She… she blocked Lucemon's attack?"
As a Perfect-level Digimon, Gatomon wasn't known for high combat power. Moss had shown impressive healing and purification skills, making Holy Angewomon assume she was support-type.
She'd never expected Moss to have this kind of power.
Dragonmon and Grizzlymon chimed in:
"Gatomon-sama is really strong! She once blocked Mammon's attack and reflected his Hellfire!"
Mammon?!
Holy Angewomon was shocked. Moss had that kind of power!?
Who exactly was this Gatomon?
Still, facing Lucemon was another level entirely.
Could she really win?
Kari Kamiya clenched her fists.
"Gatomon is invincible!"
"..."
Holy Angewomon was stunned.
Even after seeing Lucemon's power, this child still had such faith?
Could she really win?
If so… it would be a miracle.
…
Lucemon chuckled.
"Gatomon, for a Perfect like you to do that—truly impressive."
"Perfect, huh?" Moss thought. "Aren't you a Perfect too?"
She got to the point: "Can you wait one hour? Let me gather some power."
Lucemon smiled. "You truly are a special Gatomon. Do you really think an hour will let you match me?"
"Of course." Moss grinned. "Do you dare?"
The Arrogant Demon Lord.
Arrogant indeed.
"Fine. I'll give you one hour."
He summoned a sand hourglass into existence.
Having absorbed half the Digital World's data, he could create anything within it.
"When the sand runs out—your time is up."
Moss turned to the Ten Warriors and Onismon.
"Head back to the Wandering Isle."
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" BurningGreymon asked.
"What do you think?" she replied with a smile.
He sighed—she always answered questions with questions.
"Let's go," Onismon said. "I believe in her."
Even if she fell… it would not be in vain.
The Ten Warriors left.
Lucemon watched and mocked,
"Trying to let them escape? Such noble sacrifice."
"You misunderstood," Moss replied.
"I'm just sending them to the spectator seats."
"...Spectator seats?"
Lucemon smirked.
"This Gatomon is more interesting than I thought."
As the hourglass emptied and time ran out, he smiled and said:
"Time's up. Now show me your real power."
Moss raised her arms.
"Full-body integration—Spirit of Mastemon!"
A magic circle formed above her and descended.
Her body transformed—white and black armor, golden ponytail, six pairs of wings—half dark, half light.
"..."
Lucemon's pupils contracted, then narrowed into a sneer.
"Are you mocking me?"
Though he smiled, his presence screamed danger.
"A misunderstanding again," Moss said sweetly.
"My previous form could also fight, but for you, this form is more appropriate."
She played with a strand of gold hair and smiled.
"Light and Darkness vs. Light and Darkness.
Don't you think it's more… fun?"
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Each 25 Powerstones? (1 Bonus Chapters)
10 Advance Chapters: patreon.com/milezen