A thin, fine sheet of mist descended over Sanctuary Fortress, rendering the surrounding landscape a haze of blurred, dark shapes and shifting currents, as the mist drifted lazily in accordance with the gentle winds. This in itself was not uncommon in the region; often the mists roiled in from the sea, seeking to drown the city within its ephemeral currents, and always it bowed before the Sun as it crested the horizon, burning it remorselessly away. On this day, however, there would be no Sun in the sky to herald the coming of dawn, as thick, dark clouds blanketed the sky.
On this day, Sanctuary Fortress would not live to see the dawn.
They had been preparing for this for the better part of a week; coming in groups no larger than four or five at a time, never entering within range of the city walls. Thus far, they had managed to maintain secrecy: none of the city’s inhabitants knew of their presence. It had meant allowing several groups of human refugees access to the city untroubled, but it had been worth it, for this moment. Soon, their past disgrace – or rather, Lady Nex’s past disgrace, for she now commanded the Nightmare Soldiers, and so the blame was hers alone – would be redeemed, as they took Sanctuary Fortress, the last stronghold for humans and Digimon alike, for their own. With the city in ruins, none would dare oppose them.
Phelesmon stood quietly, watching the faint glow of the city lights, the mist no barrier to his senses, nor to any of the other Nightmare Soldiers arrayed around him. This was their greatest advantage: not even the Royal Knights could fight what they could not see. They would fall upon the city unseen and, in the chaos that followed, kill all who stood in their way. The modest strike force assembled behind him was comprised of his very best, as well as some select Digimon provided by his mistress, the Lady Nex. He had been wary of accepting them, yet they had, thus far, followed his commands, and it seemed doubtful that they would deviate from his orders now, when the attack was so very close at hand. All they need do was wait for the signal.
A geyser of water shot up, visible even from this distance, heralding the arrival of the one that Phelesmon had been waiting for. As he watched, several serpentine forms erupted from the water, seeming to arc gracefully before falling, bright flashes of light marking their attacks as they assaulted the city. They were followed by the titanic figure of MarineDevimon. He was an ideal distraction and, as he moved toward the city, Phelesmon could see why: not even the attacks of the defenders of the city seemed to bother him, his bulk making his size work to his advantage. To counter MarineDevimon, it would take one of the Royal Knights, and the second one appeared, they would find themselves far too occupied to even consider it. Sirens began to blare, and the city suddenly became much brighter as searchlights were cast out, seeking the Digimon that attacked the city. Phelesmon smiled to himself. That wasn’t going to help them; if anything, it would only cast more shadows for the ones they sought to find to hide in. This mist, not entirely natural, would not be dispelled by light nor heat.
One way or the other, Sanctuary Fortress was going to fall.
Their strategy was flawless, and their forces were rivalled only by those who were even now assaulting File City. They would sweep over this city like a tidal wave, drowning all within. Since Omnimon’s departure, the city’s defences had grown weaker, and their only allies, the remnants of the Celestial Host, were several days away. By the time they heard of the attack, the city would be a smoking pile of rubble. Today, the Nightmare Soldiers earned not one great victory, but two. Phelesmon’s conquest here today would gain him much status in the eyes of the others, and perhaps put him in Lady Nex’s council. From there, the possibilities for advancement would be endless.
He raised his trident aloft. None of the Digimon behind him made a sound in response, despite the bloodlust that must, even now, be boiling away inside them. They were the perfect soldiers, and they knew what was necessary. All they needed was his command.
The trident came down.
“All forces, attack!”
--
NeoDevimon glided lazily through the air, unmindful of the chill and condensation that meant the tips of his wings were beginning to frost over. He remained apart, insofar as that was possible: the sky behind him and the ground beneath him were a black, writhing mass of Digimon, as the Nightmare Soldiers marched upon File City. Whilst the bulk of his own forces remained in his own domain, he was again surprised by the numbers that had been summoned for this assault: he could not equal even half of what had been assembled here and, according to LadyDevimon, this force belonged entirely to Myotismon. Had he gained favour somehow? Or had he been slowly building up his forces for the last three years? It was the first time that NeoDevimon had seen him since he had served under his former master, Beelzemon. But then, Beelzemon had commanded the bulk of the Nightmare Soldiers, so it was unsurprisingly in some respects. The vampire Digimon had spent much of his time locked away in his castle, but evidently he had been doing more than simply preying upon the humans who crossed his path; NeoDevimon would need to be wary of him. Him, and LadyDevimon; her presence here was surprising, as she rarely took part in conflicts.
They, however, were not the focus of his attention.
Standing atop a Kimeramon, at the front of the army, stood a young, elaborately dressed human female. NeoDevimon had heard many things of this mysterious Lady Nex – including that she had defeated three of the Royal Knights, and was responsible for the destruction of many human settlements since her appearance – yet this was only the second time he had seen her in person. As it had been the last time, he was torn between curiosity and resentment. It was insulting, that a human now commanded the legions of the Nightmare Soldiers, once the personal force of the Demon Lords themselves; the strongest army either world had ever known. Yet there was something about this girl that stirred an unfamiliar feeling in NeoDevimon, something that he was not accustomed to: fear. It was not only because of the girl’s protector – although that was certainly a factor; who knew Ophanimon, a celestial Digimon of the highest rank, could fall? – but the girl; she radiated power of her own. There were times, such as now, where it almost seemed that she were a Demon Lord herself, reborn. Yet that, of course, could not be, for the Demon Lords had either fallen at the hands of the Digidestined, or perished during what was now called the Merge.
So where did this girl draw her power from? She was not Digidestined, and nor was she Demon Lord, yet there was an element of both, and an element of familiarity to her, that set NeoDevimon on edge. Just who was this Lady Nex, and what were her goals? What did she have to gain by destroying her own kind in this fashion? Even at the height of their brutality, not even the Demon Lords had caused such destruction, and now she sought to lay waste to File City, one of the oldest cities of the former Digital World; its capital, in many respects. Whilst NeoDevimon was indifferent to the fate of the creatures below, it seemed…a shame, to destroy such buildings. Surely it would be better to utilise the resources of the city for their own purposes, rather than simply lay waste to them.
As File City came into view, the army came to a sudden halt, allowing him to examine the city. Since the Merge, three long years ago, a wall had been erected around it – a wall, he noted with some dismay, which was lined with mostly Knightmon and Andromon, interspersed with the larger, mechanical figures of Machinedramon, and that was not even the worst of it. They had strength several times greater than that assembled below, but even with an army of this size, attacking the city was suicide; it was, as all present knew, under the protection of Crusadermon, one of the Royal Knights. It was also extremely foolish for, whilst he was not an ally, Crusadermon was not an enemy of the Nightmare Soldiers either. He had maintained a policy of strict neutrality, and had not been inclined to break that, not even when his comrades were reported as destroyed. No, it would be far better to simply leave him to his own devices, at least until other; more immediate threats had been dealt with. Of far greater concern were the forces of Sanctuary Fortress; if they should start anywhere, it should be there. NeoDevimon smirked. Ah, but the rumours said that the Lady Nex had already tried to destroy that particular city once before, and had been soundly defeated by the Royal Knights stationed there. So, there were limits to her powers, after all. This was good to know.
LadyDevimon floated almost lazily up to where Lady Nex stood, watching the city. Her claws twitched, eliciting a smile from NeoDevimon: to be that close to a human, yet be unable to lay a finger on her, would be driving her mad. She loved tormenting – and sometimes pleasuring – humans, and to have one as…interesting, as Nex within her grasp yet well out of her control, would be torture to her. She contented herself with maintaining a respectful distance, waiting for the order to attack, or for the other to initiate conversation. After several minutes, she made an exasperated sound, her limited patience reaching its end. “How long must we wait? So many, ripe for harvesting, and we sit here waiting! If one is to savour their terror, then it should be done…first hand.”
“Such melodrama.” Myotismon, another of the Seven Generals who had taken control of the Nightmare Soldiers – or would have, had it not been for Nex’s iron grip – appeared beside her in an elaborate flourish of his cloak, giving her a look of disdain. He, too, seemed barely able to restrain himself, however. The Merge had shaped both of them, changed them into something else, something less than what they had been. They seemed to delight in human company now, to the disgust of NeoDevimon. The command of their former masters ill-suited them; they were yet another mark of how far the Nightmare Soldiers had fallen.
“You can see their forces from here. If we give them any more time to prepare, I expect they will launch an attack first.” she said sullenly, glaring at Myotismon, who chuckled in response.
“Against a force such as this? Then I would say that it is worth waiting: no doubt that would be quite a spectacle.”
LadyDevimon snorted. “You underestimate the power of the Royal Knights.”
“The power of one individual means little against numbers such as this.” Myotismon gestured to the army behind and below him in one expressive gesture.
“Tell that to her.” she cast a glance at Ophanimon, who hovered beside her mistress, her attention also on the city below. Myotismon said nothing in response to this; indeed, there was nothing to say. The Fallen Angel Digimon set all present except for Nex herself on edge, for she was…unnatural. In much the same way that Lucemon had, she seemed to be possessed of a dual nature, caught somewhere between purity and darkness, and that made her unpredictable. Of course, she followed Nex’s orders…and, as a human, she was even more of an enigma. A dangerous pair indeed.
“If we are to launch an assault without resistance, it must be now.” NeoDevimon said aloud, more to himself than to those with him. He would bow before this Lady Nex out of necessity, but he would not bicker and grovel as these two did.
She turned her gaze away from the city below, finally, to stare at him then, and her answering smile was without humour…or was it? Human expressions were not the easiest to read, and the half-mask did not help. Why did she wear that mask, anyway? What did she have to hide, and who was she hiding from? The Digidestined had long since ceased to be a threat; oh, they were still active, but their activities were little more than a minor inconvenience, and their army was a fraction of its original size, whilst the Nightmare Soldiers only continued to swell in ranks. She was the most powerful individual in this new world, and she led the most powerful fighting force. Surely she did not wear the mask solely for the dramatic effect it had. Yet another aspect to the mystery that was Lady Nex; a mystery that he, NeoDevimon, promised himself that he would one day solve.
“We wait.”
“For how long?” NeoDevimon ignored the incredulous, almost outraged stares of his comrades. He would not be quelled into submission by a mere human, regardless of the power she wielded. No matter what the others may think, she was not one of them, and he would not treat her as such. She was a temporary inconvenience; her and that Digimon of hers. Yet not even Lucemon himself could control the Nightmare Soldiers, and she was far less than he had ever been.
“For as long as it takes.” She turned away from him dismissively, returning her attention to the city below. NeoDevimon fought down the urge to rip her apart; such an action would be futile, as he would likely be deleted before he had even closed the gap between them: Ophanimon would see to that. Fighting down the anger he felt at being dismissed, he followed her gaze, although nothing had changed in the city. The enemy forces stood, statuesque, on the walls, clearly waiting for the same thing…whatever that was. The minutes stretched on, and he began to share his companion’s impatience: were they simply going to wait here until Lady Nex was satisfied? The army would not tolerate this for much longer; their hunger for battle would, eventually, overcome their fear of their leaders, especially with prey this close.
Quite suddenly, a pink armoured figure appeared on the walls, clearly visible amongst the armoured titans that lined the walls. Crusadermon. The Royal Knight protector of the city. NeoDevimon became aware of a subtle change in the atmosphere, as the restlessness of both armies turned to battle-ready tension: with all the players assembled, it was only a matter of time before the battle began. He shifted his attention to Lady Nex who, if anything, seemed…pleased.
“It’s about time.” she smiled grimly as, after conferring with his subordinates on the walls, the Royal Knight launched himself into the air to confront them, coming to a halt at an equal height, far enough away to avoid being attacked, yet close enough to be heard.
“What is the meaning of this?” Whilst the Digimon did not have a face, the force of the fury behind that tone was unmistakable. The Indifferent Warrior had been roused from his indolence, it seemed. “Depart now, or you shall be destroyed!”
“You are in the way.” was the curt, almost dismissive reply which, for a moment, made NeoDevimon wonder if the presence of the Royal Knight was indeed what she had been waiting for. But then, it made sense: one needed to draw out the enemy commander to defeat the army. But if she thought that destroying a Royal Knight would be that simple, she would be gravely mistaken…Crusadermon did not have the impulsive temperament of UlforceVeedramon or Duftmon, nor the inexperience of Magnamon.
“Have a care, child. You would do well to show proper respect before one of the Royal Knights. This is my domain, and the Nightmare Soldiers are not welcome. Leave, or you will be made to leave. I will not ask again.” Crusadermon’s voice had gone dangerously quiet; quiet enough that Myotismon and LadyDevimon exchanged nervous glances. Evidently they were not quite as sure of their mistress and their army as they liked to think they were; but then, who could blame them? Even the Demon Lords had been reluctant to face the Royal Knights; to deliberately invite the wrath of one known as the Indifferent Warrior was suicide. But then, this did not seem to bother Lady Nex in the slightest. She was either extremely confident, or extremely stupid.
“You lost the right to call yourself a Royal Knight when you secluded yourself away in your city, cowering whilst the world changed around you.” Was that contempt in her voice? There was definitely something there that had not been there before. Was this, then, why they were attacking the city: out of righteous justice? That certainly did not fit with the ruthless profile of Lady Nex; surely, there was more to it than that. “You, and your followers, will now pay the price for your arrogance.”
Ophanimon moved forward, scythe in hand, and a collective roar went up from the Nightmare Soldiers, as they sensed what was sure to follow. It was a most potent weapon, of that NeoDevimon was sure: almost as tall as its owner, with a blade half against as large, burning with a light crimson fire the likes of which he’d never seen before. Its owner looked all too practiced with its use.
“If that is your wish, then so be it. I shall end the existence of the Nightmare Soldiers here.” Crusadermon shrugged, as if resigned, and then moved forward faster than NeoDevimon’s eyes could follow, shield coming forward to meet the scythe, the resulting collision sending out a shockwave that sent the Royal Knight reeling back, his fist smoking. He recovered quickly, however, launching a second assault in the form of a series of fine threads of light from his fingertips. Any one of them would have been enough to slice through a normal Mega Digimon like paper, yet Ophanimon batted them aside almost contemptuously, unleashing an answering burst of fire that forced NeoDevimon to shield his face from his vantage point – such intense heat! - and forced Crusadermon to climb frantically to avoid it. She moved up to meet him, taking their battle to a higher altitude…which was just as well; between the two of them, they had more than enough power to take out both armies and likely much of the continent. The echoes of their collision were like thunder to the ears, with occasional flashes of incandescent light as one or both sought to overwhelm the other with a projectile assault where a physical assault would not work…however, where Ophanimon could counter Crusadermon’s attacks, the Royal Knight, NeoDevimon noted, was forced to dodge. A bad sign…for him, anyway.
“My lady?” Myotismon asked, torn between watching the spectacle above and the desire to enter battle. LadyDevimon had already turned her attention away from the battle, and was now hungrily eyeing the city; she, evidently, had little thought beyond satisfying her appetites.
“You may commence your attack. Leave none alive.” she replied, tone even. She was not watching the battle either; evidently, she saw it as a foregone conclusion. Which, NeoDevimon conceded, perhaps it was. Few could withstand the direct assault of a Royal Knight and come out unscathed, and fewer still could force one back.
The sky seemed to explode as, within seconds of one another, the airborne forces launched their attacks; fireballs of various shapes, sizes and colours, rays of blinding light and pure darkness that made the very air around them crackle, and one or two Digimon themselves – although some, NeoDevimon noted with dismay, were falling having been caught up in friendly fire from their comrades – fell upon the defenders of File City, who launched their own attacks seconds afterwards. The ground forces surged forward, shrieks and roars of battle filling the air as they charged to meet the Knightmon that poured from the gates to meet them, ready to lay down their lives to defend their city. Blasts of molten energy tore their ranks apart as the defending Machinedramon unleashed a second barrage, sending bodies flying through the air where they did not erase them from existence entirely. Those who could fly erupted from the smouldering city, surging forward in a counterattack. Already, several of the buildings of the city had been destroyed, and several gaps had been made in the wall, although many Nightmare Soldiers were dead, and their ranks began to break apart in the name of self-preservation: after all, a cluster of Digimon made for an easier target, and none were close enough to reach the Machinedramon yet. Many flew forward to meet the oncoming defenders, weaving between the projectile attacks launched through the air with middling-to-average success – although some, like the Megidramon, didn’t need to bother dodging, as attacks did little but irritate them - and soon the air was thick with entangled bodies, the shrieks of bloodlust and pain.
“Well, it looks like negotiations have ceased. Now it’s time to have some fun!” LadyDevimon smiled wickedly and vanished from sight; gone to stalk amongst the ground troops, no doubt. She would be one of the first into the city, either hoping to spirit away a captive or two – she simply could not resist taking more humans for her perverse, pointless experiments – or take her fill of the chaos ensuing below. Myotismon, he noted with some disgust, was escorting Lady Nex, who was guiding her Kimeramon into the thick of the battle, clearly intending to enter the city herself, unmindful of the fact that a single stray blast would likely obliterate her along with her Digimon mount. Foolish child.
NeoDevimon considered following them, and then decided against it. If she wanted to get herself killed, that was her own business. He would not participate in this battle. One must know one’s opponent’s strengths before one can effectively plan a strategy against them. That had been one of his former master’s, Barbamon’s, favourite sayings…or, at least, it had been one that he had used frequently. Barbamon had delighted in repeating himself, no doubt because he wished others to underestimate him…or because he really was the fool that many believed him to be. After all, his schemes had not helped him avoid Lucemon’s wrath. NeoDevimon did not intend to make his former master’s mistakes: he would watch, and witness, as File City fell to the power of Lady Nex and her Nightmare Soldiers.
It was going to be an interesting morning.
--
The cold metallic walls of the laboratory seemed to contain their own inner chill, despite providing adequate insulation against the almost nuclear winter outside. Powered by an internal generator that was a fusion of human and Digimon technology, it provided more than adequate heat – indeed, the temperature was quite comfortable - and it was one of the most advanced buildings in the united world. So why, then, did this chill persist? A design flaw, perhaps. For the man that stalked its corridors, a white-armoured figure at his side, the chill was but a minor inconvenience.
The Nightmare Soldiers had made their move.
“So, what are you going to do?” the armoured figure asked, stooping slightly as its head brushed the ceiling. They were going to need to expand these corridors to fit larger Digimon. “You cannot be in two places at once.”
The man snorted softly. Their intelligence network had reported the activity of the Nightmare Soldiers almost a week ago; they were not half as subtle as they seemed to think they were. But then, considering the reputation of their leader, it was likely that they cared one way or the other if they were observed. That arrogance would be their downfall one day. “The attack on Sanctuary Fortress is a feint, no doubt designed to draw attention away from the assault on File City. It has little chance of success.”
“Perhaps we should assist File City, then? It will surely fall if left unaided.”
The man seemed to consider this, as he lapsed into silence, the only sound to be heard their footsteps. Few made their way to upper levels of the facility anymore unless they had business on the surface, and thus these corridors were often unoccupied. “No, I think not. Crusadermon chose to isolate himself from the world; he brought this upon himself. He must learn the hard way that one cannot be indifferent in a world such as this.”
“Sound reasoning.” His companion nodded in approval. “But a regrettable loss; perhaps one we cannot afford.”
“Do not worry, my friend. We possess the power to unleash potential within Digimon and humans the likes of which has never been seen before in either of our respective worlds. Crusadermon is but another casualty of war; a bump on the road to progress.” the man replied, perhaps more confident than he felt. It had taken over a year to develop a working prototype, and even now the results were not absolutely successful: his own partner was proof enough of that. The project was still in its infancy, despite the recent ground-breaking successes they had celebrated. Much needed to be done, and what was to follow was but the first stage of their own plan.
“We travel to Sanctuary Fortress.” It was not a question.
“Indeed. Let us take this opportunity to ingratiate ourselves in the eyes of the people; like Crusadermon, we have been isolated from this world for far too long. We embark upon the path of redemption, and revolution.” The man smiled. “No doubt they shall be pleased to see you, Omnimon.”
On this day, Sanctuary Fortress would not live to see the dawn.
They had been preparing for this for the better part of a week; coming in groups no larger than four or five at a time, never entering within range of the city walls. Thus far, they had managed to maintain secrecy: none of the city’s inhabitants knew of their presence. It had meant allowing several groups of human refugees access to the city untroubled, but it had been worth it, for this moment. Soon, their past disgrace – or rather, Lady Nex’s past disgrace, for she now commanded the Nightmare Soldiers, and so the blame was hers alone – would be redeemed, as they took Sanctuary Fortress, the last stronghold for humans and Digimon alike, for their own. With the city in ruins, none would dare oppose them.
Phelesmon stood quietly, watching the faint glow of the city lights, the mist no barrier to his senses, nor to any of the other Nightmare Soldiers arrayed around him. This was their greatest advantage: not even the Royal Knights could fight what they could not see. They would fall upon the city unseen and, in the chaos that followed, kill all who stood in their way. The modest strike force assembled behind him was comprised of his very best, as well as some select Digimon provided by his mistress, the Lady Nex. He had been wary of accepting them, yet they had, thus far, followed his commands, and it seemed doubtful that they would deviate from his orders now, when the attack was so very close at hand. All they need do was wait for the signal.
A geyser of water shot up, visible even from this distance, heralding the arrival of the one that Phelesmon had been waiting for. As he watched, several serpentine forms erupted from the water, seeming to arc gracefully before falling, bright flashes of light marking their attacks as they assaulted the city. They were followed by the titanic figure of MarineDevimon. He was an ideal distraction and, as he moved toward the city, Phelesmon could see why: not even the attacks of the defenders of the city seemed to bother him, his bulk making his size work to his advantage. To counter MarineDevimon, it would take one of the Royal Knights, and the second one appeared, they would find themselves far too occupied to even consider it. Sirens began to blare, and the city suddenly became much brighter as searchlights were cast out, seeking the Digimon that attacked the city. Phelesmon smiled to himself. That wasn’t going to help them; if anything, it would only cast more shadows for the ones they sought to find to hide in. This mist, not entirely natural, would not be dispelled by light nor heat.
One way or the other, Sanctuary Fortress was going to fall.
Their strategy was flawless, and their forces were rivalled only by those who were even now assaulting File City. They would sweep over this city like a tidal wave, drowning all within. Since Omnimon’s departure, the city’s defences had grown weaker, and their only allies, the remnants of the Celestial Host, were several days away. By the time they heard of the attack, the city would be a smoking pile of rubble. Today, the Nightmare Soldiers earned not one great victory, but two. Phelesmon’s conquest here today would gain him much status in the eyes of the others, and perhaps put him in Lady Nex’s council. From there, the possibilities for advancement would be endless.
He raised his trident aloft. None of the Digimon behind him made a sound in response, despite the bloodlust that must, even now, be boiling away inside them. They were the perfect soldiers, and they knew what was necessary. All they needed was his command.
The trident came down.
“All forces, attack!”
--
NeoDevimon glided lazily through the air, unmindful of the chill and condensation that meant the tips of his wings were beginning to frost over. He remained apart, insofar as that was possible: the sky behind him and the ground beneath him were a black, writhing mass of Digimon, as the Nightmare Soldiers marched upon File City. Whilst the bulk of his own forces remained in his own domain, he was again surprised by the numbers that had been summoned for this assault: he could not equal even half of what had been assembled here and, according to LadyDevimon, this force belonged entirely to Myotismon. Had he gained favour somehow? Or had he been slowly building up his forces for the last three years? It was the first time that NeoDevimon had seen him since he had served under his former master, Beelzemon. But then, Beelzemon had commanded the bulk of the Nightmare Soldiers, so it was unsurprisingly in some respects. The vampire Digimon had spent much of his time locked away in his castle, but evidently he had been doing more than simply preying upon the humans who crossed his path; NeoDevimon would need to be wary of him. Him, and LadyDevimon; her presence here was surprising, as she rarely took part in conflicts.
They, however, were not the focus of his attention.
Standing atop a Kimeramon, at the front of the army, stood a young, elaborately dressed human female. NeoDevimon had heard many things of this mysterious Lady Nex – including that she had defeated three of the Royal Knights, and was responsible for the destruction of many human settlements since her appearance – yet this was only the second time he had seen her in person. As it had been the last time, he was torn between curiosity and resentment. It was insulting, that a human now commanded the legions of the Nightmare Soldiers, once the personal force of the Demon Lords themselves; the strongest army either world had ever known. Yet there was something about this girl that stirred an unfamiliar feeling in NeoDevimon, something that he was not accustomed to: fear. It was not only because of the girl’s protector – although that was certainly a factor; who knew Ophanimon, a celestial Digimon of the highest rank, could fall? – but the girl; she radiated power of her own. There were times, such as now, where it almost seemed that she were a Demon Lord herself, reborn. Yet that, of course, could not be, for the Demon Lords had either fallen at the hands of the Digidestined, or perished during what was now called the Merge.
So where did this girl draw her power from? She was not Digidestined, and nor was she Demon Lord, yet there was an element of both, and an element of familiarity to her, that set NeoDevimon on edge. Just who was this Lady Nex, and what were her goals? What did she have to gain by destroying her own kind in this fashion? Even at the height of their brutality, not even the Demon Lords had caused such destruction, and now she sought to lay waste to File City, one of the oldest cities of the former Digital World; its capital, in many respects. Whilst NeoDevimon was indifferent to the fate of the creatures below, it seemed…a shame, to destroy such buildings. Surely it would be better to utilise the resources of the city for their own purposes, rather than simply lay waste to them.
As File City came into view, the army came to a sudden halt, allowing him to examine the city. Since the Merge, three long years ago, a wall had been erected around it – a wall, he noted with some dismay, which was lined with mostly Knightmon and Andromon, interspersed with the larger, mechanical figures of Machinedramon, and that was not even the worst of it. They had strength several times greater than that assembled below, but even with an army of this size, attacking the city was suicide; it was, as all present knew, under the protection of Crusadermon, one of the Royal Knights. It was also extremely foolish for, whilst he was not an ally, Crusadermon was not an enemy of the Nightmare Soldiers either. He had maintained a policy of strict neutrality, and had not been inclined to break that, not even when his comrades were reported as destroyed. No, it would be far better to simply leave him to his own devices, at least until other; more immediate threats had been dealt with. Of far greater concern were the forces of Sanctuary Fortress; if they should start anywhere, it should be there. NeoDevimon smirked. Ah, but the rumours said that the Lady Nex had already tried to destroy that particular city once before, and had been soundly defeated by the Royal Knights stationed there. So, there were limits to her powers, after all. This was good to know.
LadyDevimon floated almost lazily up to where Lady Nex stood, watching the city. Her claws twitched, eliciting a smile from NeoDevimon: to be that close to a human, yet be unable to lay a finger on her, would be driving her mad. She loved tormenting – and sometimes pleasuring – humans, and to have one as…interesting, as Nex within her grasp yet well out of her control, would be torture to her. She contented herself with maintaining a respectful distance, waiting for the order to attack, or for the other to initiate conversation. After several minutes, she made an exasperated sound, her limited patience reaching its end. “How long must we wait? So many, ripe for harvesting, and we sit here waiting! If one is to savour their terror, then it should be done…first hand.”
“Such melodrama.” Myotismon, another of the Seven Generals who had taken control of the Nightmare Soldiers – or would have, had it not been for Nex’s iron grip – appeared beside her in an elaborate flourish of his cloak, giving her a look of disdain. He, too, seemed barely able to restrain himself, however. The Merge had shaped both of them, changed them into something else, something less than what they had been. They seemed to delight in human company now, to the disgust of NeoDevimon. The command of their former masters ill-suited them; they were yet another mark of how far the Nightmare Soldiers had fallen.
“You can see their forces from here. If we give them any more time to prepare, I expect they will launch an attack first.” she said sullenly, glaring at Myotismon, who chuckled in response.
“Against a force such as this? Then I would say that it is worth waiting: no doubt that would be quite a spectacle.”
LadyDevimon snorted. “You underestimate the power of the Royal Knights.”
“The power of one individual means little against numbers such as this.” Myotismon gestured to the army behind and below him in one expressive gesture.
“Tell that to her.” she cast a glance at Ophanimon, who hovered beside her mistress, her attention also on the city below. Myotismon said nothing in response to this; indeed, there was nothing to say. The Fallen Angel Digimon set all present except for Nex herself on edge, for she was…unnatural. In much the same way that Lucemon had, she seemed to be possessed of a dual nature, caught somewhere between purity and darkness, and that made her unpredictable. Of course, she followed Nex’s orders…and, as a human, she was even more of an enigma. A dangerous pair indeed.
“If we are to launch an assault without resistance, it must be now.” NeoDevimon said aloud, more to himself than to those with him. He would bow before this Lady Nex out of necessity, but he would not bicker and grovel as these two did.
She turned her gaze away from the city below, finally, to stare at him then, and her answering smile was without humour…or was it? Human expressions were not the easiest to read, and the half-mask did not help. Why did she wear that mask, anyway? What did she have to hide, and who was she hiding from? The Digidestined had long since ceased to be a threat; oh, they were still active, but their activities were little more than a minor inconvenience, and their army was a fraction of its original size, whilst the Nightmare Soldiers only continued to swell in ranks. She was the most powerful individual in this new world, and she led the most powerful fighting force. Surely she did not wear the mask solely for the dramatic effect it had. Yet another aspect to the mystery that was Lady Nex; a mystery that he, NeoDevimon, promised himself that he would one day solve.
“We wait.”
“For how long?” NeoDevimon ignored the incredulous, almost outraged stares of his comrades. He would not be quelled into submission by a mere human, regardless of the power she wielded. No matter what the others may think, she was not one of them, and he would not treat her as such. She was a temporary inconvenience; her and that Digimon of hers. Yet not even Lucemon himself could control the Nightmare Soldiers, and she was far less than he had ever been.
“For as long as it takes.” She turned away from him dismissively, returning her attention to the city below. NeoDevimon fought down the urge to rip her apart; such an action would be futile, as he would likely be deleted before he had even closed the gap between them: Ophanimon would see to that. Fighting down the anger he felt at being dismissed, he followed her gaze, although nothing had changed in the city. The enemy forces stood, statuesque, on the walls, clearly waiting for the same thing…whatever that was. The minutes stretched on, and he began to share his companion’s impatience: were they simply going to wait here until Lady Nex was satisfied? The army would not tolerate this for much longer; their hunger for battle would, eventually, overcome their fear of their leaders, especially with prey this close.
Quite suddenly, a pink armoured figure appeared on the walls, clearly visible amongst the armoured titans that lined the walls. Crusadermon. The Royal Knight protector of the city. NeoDevimon became aware of a subtle change in the atmosphere, as the restlessness of both armies turned to battle-ready tension: with all the players assembled, it was only a matter of time before the battle began. He shifted his attention to Lady Nex who, if anything, seemed…pleased.
“It’s about time.” she smiled grimly as, after conferring with his subordinates on the walls, the Royal Knight launched himself into the air to confront them, coming to a halt at an equal height, far enough away to avoid being attacked, yet close enough to be heard.
“What is the meaning of this?” Whilst the Digimon did not have a face, the force of the fury behind that tone was unmistakable. The Indifferent Warrior had been roused from his indolence, it seemed. “Depart now, or you shall be destroyed!”
“You are in the way.” was the curt, almost dismissive reply which, for a moment, made NeoDevimon wonder if the presence of the Royal Knight was indeed what she had been waiting for. But then, it made sense: one needed to draw out the enemy commander to defeat the army. But if she thought that destroying a Royal Knight would be that simple, she would be gravely mistaken…Crusadermon did not have the impulsive temperament of UlforceVeedramon or Duftmon, nor the inexperience of Magnamon.
“Have a care, child. You would do well to show proper respect before one of the Royal Knights. This is my domain, and the Nightmare Soldiers are not welcome. Leave, or you will be made to leave. I will not ask again.” Crusadermon’s voice had gone dangerously quiet; quiet enough that Myotismon and LadyDevimon exchanged nervous glances. Evidently they were not quite as sure of their mistress and their army as they liked to think they were; but then, who could blame them? Even the Demon Lords had been reluctant to face the Royal Knights; to deliberately invite the wrath of one known as the Indifferent Warrior was suicide. But then, this did not seem to bother Lady Nex in the slightest. She was either extremely confident, or extremely stupid.
“You lost the right to call yourself a Royal Knight when you secluded yourself away in your city, cowering whilst the world changed around you.” Was that contempt in her voice? There was definitely something there that had not been there before. Was this, then, why they were attacking the city: out of righteous justice? That certainly did not fit with the ruthless profile of Lady Nex; surely, there was more to it than that. “You, and your followers, will now pay the price for your arrogance.”
Ophanimon moved forward, scythe in hand, and a collective roar went up from the Nightmare Soldiers, as they sensed what was sure to follow. It was a most potent weapon, of that NeoDevimon was sure: almost as tall as its owner, with a blade half against as large, burning with a light crimson fire the likes of which he’d never seen before. Its owner looked all too practiced with its use.
“If that is your wish, then so be it. I shall end the existence of the Nightmare Soldiers here.” Crusadermon shrugged, as if resigned, and then moved forward faster than NeoDevimon’s eyes could follow, shield coming forward to meet the scythe, the resulting collision sending out a shockwave that sent the Royal Knight reeling back, his fist smoking. He recovered quickly, however, launching a second assault in the form of a series of fine threads of light from his fingertips. Any one of them would have been enough to slice through a normal Mega Digimon like paper, yet Ophanimon batted them aside almost contemptuously, unleashing an answering burst of fire that forced NeoDevimon to shield his face from his vantage point – such intense heat! - and forced Crusadermon to climb frantically to avoid it. She moved up to meet him, taking their battle to a higher altitude…which was just as well; between the two of them, they had more than enough power to take out both armies and likely much of the continent. The echoes of their collision were like thunder to the ears, with occasional flashes of incandescent light as one or both sought to overwhelm the other with a projectile assault where a physical assault would not work…however, where Ophanimon could counter Crusadermon’s attacks, the Royal Knight, NeoDevimon noted, was forced to dodge. A bad sign…for him, anyway.
“My lady?” Myotismon asked, torn between watching the spectacle above and the desire to enter battle. LadyDevimon had already turned her attention away from the battle, and was now hungrily eyeing the city; she, evidently, had little thought beyond satisfying her appetites.
“You may commence your attack. Leave none alive.” she replied, tone even. She was not watching the battle either; evidently, she saw it as a foregone conclusion. Which, NeoDevimon conceded, perhaps it was. Few could withstand the direct assault of a Royal Knight and come out unscathed, and fewer still could force one back.
The sky seemed to explode as, within seconds of one another, the airborne forces launched their attacks; fireballs of various shapes, sizes and colours, rays of blinding light and pure darkness that made the very air around them crackle, and one or two Digimon themselves – although some, NeoDevimon noted with dismay, were falling having been caught up in friendly fire from their comrades – fell upon the defenders of File City, who launched their own attacks seconds afterwards. The ground forces surged forward, shrieks and roars of battle filling the air as they charged to meet the Knightmon that poured from the gates to meet them, ready to lay down their lives to defend their city. Blasts of molten energy tore their ranks apart as the defending Machinedramon unleashed a second barrage, sending bodies flying through the air where they did not erase them from existence entirely. Those who could fly erupted from the smouldering city, surging forward in a counterattack. Already, several of the buildings of the city had been destroyed, and several gaps had been made in the wall, although many Nightmare Soldiers were dead, and their ranks began to break apart in the name of self-preservation: after all, a cluster of Digimon made for an easier target, and none were close enough to reach the Machinedramon yet. Many flew forward to meet the oncoming defenders, weaving between the projectile attacks launched through the air with middling-to-average success – although some, like the Megidramon, didn’t need to bother dodging, as attacks did little but irritate them - and soon the air was thick with entangled bodies, the shrieks of bloodlust and pain.
“Well, it looks like negotiations have ceased. Now it’s time to have some fun!” LadyDevimon smiled wickedly and vanished from sight; gone to stalk amongst the ground troops, no doubt. She would be one of the first into the city, either hoping to spirit away a captive or two – she simply could not resist taking more humans for her perverse, pointless experiments – or take her fill of the chaos ensuing below. Myotismon, he noted with some disgust, was escorting Lady Nex, who was guiding her Kimeramon into the thick of the battle, clearly intending to enter the city herself, unmindful of the fact that a single stray blast would likely obliterate her along with her Digimon mount. Foolish child.
NeoDevimon considered following them, and then decided against it. If she wanted to get herself killed, that was her own business. He would not participate in this battle. One must know one’s opponent’s strengths before one can effectively plan a strategy against them. That had been one of his former master’s, Barbamon’s, favourite sayings…or, at least, it had been one that he had used frequently. Barbamon had delighted in repeating himself, no doubt because he wished others to underestimate him…or because he really was the fool that many believed him to be. After all, his schemes had not helped him avoid Lucemon’s wrath. NeoDevimon did not intend to make his former master’s mistakes: he would watch, and witness, as File City fell to the power of Lady Nex and her Nightmare Soldiers.
It was going to be an interesting morning.
--
The cold metallic walls of the laboratory seemed to contain their own inner chill, despite providing adequate insulation against the almost nuclear winter outside. Powered by an internal generator that was a fusion of human and Digimon technology, it provided more than adequate heat – indeed, the temperature was quite comfortable - and it was one of the most advanced buildings in the united world. So why, then, did this chill persist? A design flaw, perhaps. For the man that stalked its corridors, a white-armoured figure at his side, the chill was but a minor inconvenience.
The Nightmare Soldiers had made their move.
“So, what are you going to do?” the armoured figure asked, stooping slightly as its head brushed the ceiling. They were going to need to expand these corridors to fit larger Digimon. “You cannot be in two places at once.”
The man snorted softly. Their intelligence network had reported the activity of the Nightmare Soldiers almost a week ago; they were not half as subtle as they seemed to think they were. But then, considering the reputation of their leader, it was likely that they cared one way or the other if they were observed. That arrogance would be their downfall one day. “The attack on Sanctuary Fortress is a feint, no doubt designed to draw attention away from the assault on File City. It has little chance of success.”
“Perhaps we should assist File City, then? It will surely fall if left unaided.”
The man seemed to consider this, as he lapsed into silence, the only sound to be heard their footsteps. Few made their way to upper levels of the facility anymore unless they had business on the surface, and thus these corridors were often unoccupied. “No, I think not. Crusadermon chose to isolate himself from the world; he brought this upon himself. He must learn the hard way that one cannot be indifferent in a world such as this.”
“Sound reasoning.” His companion nodded in approval. “But a regrettable loss; perhaps one we cannot afford.”
“Do not worry, my friend. We possess the power to unleash potential within Digimon and humans the likes of which has never been seen before in either of our respective worlds. Crusadermon is but another casualty of war; a bump on the road to progress.” the man replied, perhaps more confident than he felt. It had taken over a year to develop a working prototype, and even now the results were not absolutely successful: his own partner was proof enough of that. The project was still in its infancy, despite the recent ground-breaking successes they had celebrated. Much needed to be done, and what was to follow was but the first stage of their own plan.
“We travel to Sanctuary Fortress.” It was not a question.
“Indeed. Let us take this opportunity to ingratiate ourselves in the eyes of the people; like Crusadermon, we have been isolated from this world for far too long. We embark upon the path of redemption, and revolution.” The man smiled. “No doubt they shall be pleased to see you, Omnimon.”
]
