Atop the towering peak of Infinity Mountain, a pitch-black Digimon stood motionless. Before him hovered a mirror-like surface showing the children's journey since arriving in the Digital World—and every Digimon they'd defeated so far.
"It won't be simple, it seems. Especially that boy—he's brimming with troublesome potential. With my current strength, I can't be sure of wiping them out, particularly those two." The image paused on Tai and T.K.
"Looks like I'll need some helpers." Two red points lit up on the dark Digimon's face.
On the desolate slopes of Infinity Mountain, a proud beast-man Digimon walked alone. His golden mane streamed on the wind; scars crossed his bare chest. The sword at his waist made him look even more imposing.
"Again… If this keeps up…" Another flock of Black Gears drifted across the sky overhead. Leomon's brow creased with worry.
Suddenly he sensed something and whipped around.
A green ogre Digimon with long white hair lunged in, bone club raised. Leomon drew his blade and met the swing; steel and bone smashed together—and both weapons flew from their hands.
"This isn't a place for 'noble' Digimon, Leomon. Go home," Ogremon sneered.
"Black Gears have fallen on this mountain. One by one, good Digimon are losing their nature and turning violent. I won't stand by and watch!" Leomon's voice rang with conviction as he faced Ogremon down.
"Then die!" Ogremon bellowed. "Pummel Whack!"
"Fist of the Beast King!" Leomon hurled his own attack. The two techniques collided with a thunderous blast.
After that clash, they squared off again. Born rivals, the two hated each other and had fought countless times—their power too evenly matched for a clear victor. Usually it ended with a few threats and both of them storming off.
But this time was different—because…
"That's enough. The next act will be troublesome without their help." The flat, contemptuous voice showed no interest in either Leomon or Ogremon, yet filled both with instinctive dread.
"That voice—"
"Devimon!"
They turned. Devimon stood before them, arms folded, gaze cold. The two ragged bat wings on his back oozed malice.
"Are you joking? Why should I work with this pompous blowhard?" Ogremon said. Having crossed paths before as fellow villains, he wasn't exactly afraid of Devimon.
"The DigiDestined have arrived," Devimon said evenly, ignoring Ogremon's tone.
"What? Children? Then—" Leomon looked shocked, then as if something occurred to him.
Devimon didn't respond, speaking to himself instead. "I'll need a little time to bring them down."
"Then I'll take you down first, Devimon!" Leomon roared, launching another Fist of the Beast King.
Devimon vanished before the blow could land.
"What?" Leomon's eyes widened.
A mocking voice rose from the ground at his feet. "Naive. Did you think that would work on me?" A sinister claw burst from the earth and raked up toward Leomon's back—Devimon's "Touch of Evil." Leomon cried out in despair.
"Now—taste what it's like to turn wicked." Devimon smiled faintly. The claw withdrew. Leomon's head drooped; when he raised it again, his eyes were a lifeless white. "Defeat the DigiDestined," he said in a hollow voice.
By then, the kids had left the Dino Ruins, pedaling their bikes with their partners riding along—out for a breezy "scenic tour."
After a long ride they broke free of the forest and reached a mountain path. The valley floor was uneven and rocky; riding was impossible.
"Ka—ka—"
An ominous rumble rolled from both slopes. The kids looked up. A boulder was tumbling down.
"Ah—ah—!"
"Tai!"
"Matt!"
At the critical moment, Agumon and Gabumon evolved into Greymon and Garurumon.
"Nova Blast!" "Howling Blaster!"
Their techniques smashed the boulder to pieces. The kids ducked, hands over heads, sheltering under the two Champions' massive bodies.
After a while, they stood up. "I think it's over." "Don't count on it. Stay sharp," Tai said, scanning the cliffs.
"What is it, Tai? You see something?" Matt asked.
A hateful voice answered him. "DigiDestined—die." Ogremon stepped out from behind a rock, bone club on his shoulder.
"Ogremon!" Tentomon blurted, startled.
The kids flinched back on instinct.
"Defeat the DigiDestined," came a cold, bleak voice from behind.
They turned. A sword-wielding Digimon blocked the path back.
"Leomon! But why is Leomon with Ogremon? Aren't they sworn enemies? Why ambush us together?" Tentomon sputtered.
No one answered. Tai, the only one who grasped the truth, stared hard at the surroundings. If Leomon and Ogremon were acting in concert, Devimon had to be close.
He swept the area and saw nothing. "No choice. We'll drop Leomon and Ogremon first," Tai decided.
"Greymon, go—take Leomon!"
"Go, Garurumon," Matt ordered.
"Got it, Tai." "On it, Matt."
Greymon thundered at Leomon. "Nova Blast!"
"Fist of the Beast King!" The two attacks canceled out. With the fireball nullified, Greymon lowered his head and charged. Leomon sprang aside with nimble footwork; unable to stop in time, Greymon slammed into the cliff and shook loose a rain of rocks.
"Greymon!"
Meanwhile, Garurumon and Ogremon were locked in a fierce melee, neither giving ground.
"Let's help them," Tentomon urged.
"Wait," Tai stopped the others from evolving.
"Why, Tai?" Sora asked, baffled.
He didn't answer—eyes fixed on Greymon's fight with Leomon.
Leomon slipped past Greymon's tail, drew his blade, and slashed down across Greymon's head.
Clang!
Greymon roared in pain and swiped with his claws—Leomon couldn't dodge in time and took the hit, crashing to the ground. Greymon seized the opening.
"Nova Blast!" The fire struck Leomon squarely. He screamed—but nothing else happened.
"What? No Black Gear?" Tai's gut tightened. The Black Gear's power was stronger. Sure enough, instead of purging it, the blow only enraged Leomon. Greymon started to lose ground.
Tai clenched his fists and sprinted forward.
"Tai!" The others shouted in shock.
Tai rushed up to Leomon, raised his Digivice, and aimed it at him. Light burst from the device. Bathed in it, Leomon cried out in pain.
A Black Gear tore free of Leomon's body, spun in the air, cracked apart, and vanished without a trace.
Seeing Leomon freed, Ogremon realized he was outmatched. "This isn't over!" he snarled—and bolted.
Leomon opened his eyes to find the kids gathered around him. "What… happened to me?"
"You were being controlled by a Black Gear," T.K. said.
"Black Gear… I remember—on Infinity Mountain, Devimon attacked me." Then Leomon noticed the Digivice on Joe's shoulder strap. "You're the DigiDestined."
"Leomon, do you know anything?" Mimi asked.
"Mm." Leomon nodded. Everyone sat by him to listen. "There's an old prophecy—when the world is shrouded in darkness, children chosen from another world will come to save the Digital World. Right now, File Island has been completely seized by darkness. And now—you've arrived."
"So we really are the legendary DigiDestined," Izzy said.
"But there's no proof," Matt said, skeptical.
"The DigiDestined can make Digimon evolve—just like you've done," Leomon replied.
"If that's true, then once the darkness is purged from this world, it won't need us anymore," Izzy said.
"What are you talking about, Izzy?" Mimi huffed.
"In other words… maybe we can go back to our world," he explained.
"Really?" Mimi brightened.
"You'll have to defeat the heart of the darkness first—Devimon. Do your best, DigiDestined."