[] Change your strike: Attempt to knock Parrotmon out with a hopefully non-lethal punch. Once it's unconscious you'll be able to ask your superiors about this subject.
===
What?-surrender?!
You can perfectly envision what's about to occur. Parrotmon's frantic block failing, silver claws punching through metal and bone, his life ending. In that nanosecond between life and death, deletion and mercy, you choose the latter.
A furious roar, thunders through the ongoing storm slapping drops of water aside in it's wake. Your limb, a veritable pillar of muscle, and fur
twists forcing the deadly implements away even as you body bends in strain. The killing swipe morphs into a desperate haymaker mere inches before the final impact. Golden spikes scrape right through the head plate, tearing furrows away the skull, and providing space for the hardened alloy of your war-gauntlet to hit him.
Bone cracks, metal crumples, and the enormous avian's head snaps back. Pain flares up from your gut and is followed by a thin trickle of rising data as your defeated foe's limb is pulled free. The Ultimates stiff body timbers back, finally crashing into the rocky slope.
It drew my attention upwards and used my blindspot to land a counter. Then. Ergh... was the surrender a mere distraction? Focus. You need the opinion of your officers Verge.
Cradling the enormous hole punched in your body with a paw, you take a ponderous step back and start a familiar recital. The major wound dealt, while a handicap in fighting would do nothing to prevent your incantation.
That feeling I had before. When I knew that Sparks's technique was coming. How? There was... something there I felt it. And the colour. It wasn't normal.
Your companion and the subject of your confusion comes sprinting down the decline a few moments later, only pausing to catch his breath before leveling his staff at the unconscious Ultimate.
"You-hah, haaah. Okay. Verge?"
"-zero, one, one." You nod in reply, not wanting to waste the progress already made. The crippled Wizardmon slumps in relief, before raising an eyebrow.
"Mine eyes notice that yonder pest's life hast not been ended. I trust there is a reason for thine action?"
Another nod, as you begin to reach the healing spells final passages.
"Tch. Very well... heh." your tiny comrade lowers the focus and pivots to give you his full attention.
"During that bout. I felt as if..." he trails off as healing energy ripples over your gut, sealing the leaking injury.
"A connection. Our paths crossed in an unexpected manner."
"Yeah. Didn't even have to use boost to hurt that bastard. Mine power-no. 'Twas more than just mine alone."
"It was
ours." you state, plonking over towards the lightly snoring mound of feathers. With careful positioning, you lift half of the surprisingly light digimon's body up and press your shoulder underneath.
"Aye. I think that is the case. But how, this occurrence cannot be common perhaps... it may be wise to keep this quiet. At least until I've managed to uncover more information."
Keeping it secret... I trust Sparks. And the Host is...
You find yourself suppressing a shiver as the memory of MagnaAngemon's gate bubbles to the surface.
"Alright. Now..." With a grunt, you heft Parrotmon's entire body up and slowly turn back towards the ride. "Let us head back."
"Verily... art thou sure that we need to keep that thing alive? Seem folly to me."
"He attempted surrender. I could have deleted him, but didn't. For now... let's see what MagnaAngemon has to say."
"Blegh, fine... heh. And if not him, then Drunky should know what actions need taken."
...
Drunky?
You throw a sideways glance of confusion at the Wizardmon, who pulls down his collar to flash a mischievous smile then leaps up to take a spot on your pauldron. It only takes a couple seconds of whispering to get his message across.
Ah... Zehahahah!
===
After lumbering up the last half dozen meters of slippery stone, you take a second to sweep an eye over the Vortex Isle's former nest. From what you're able to tell, a good third of the strikeforce has been deleted and what's left are resting their wounds. The existence of damage can only mean that your allies have wholly exhausted their energy, or else they'd surely have healed the injuries. Three Ultimates are keeping the vanguard group company, most noticeably HippoGriffomon whom even when well wounded is providing shelter from the downpour with his sheer bulk.
Both of the Angewomon are leaned up against his side, one seemingly unconscious given the way her... chest moves. While the other far more wounded individual is clutching at her left hand... or rather where her hand used to be. You sneak another glance at Sparks, but he's busy scanning the area for your commanding Darcmon. Who you help him identify as the one searching through the nest's few remaining supplies. All by pointing out the big blade she's lugging around.
With him moving down the slick decline, you switch your attention elsewhere. Up above, two of the Pegasusmon are missing from the bowl, likely either deleted or chasing after potential escapees. However the target of your search is still here, hovering over the center and glaring off into the distance. Your leader's helmet is gone, replaced by a series of thick leaking gashes and spots where the flesh looks to have simply been ripped free.
His opponent. Karatenmon. Must not have fallen easily.
Wincing in sympathy, you prepare to call out to the Angel. But he somehow notices your presence first and swoops down to meet you without words being exchanged.
"Sir. I have... taken this Parrotmon prisoner."
"Indeed... And who Bellator, gave you the authority needed for that decision?"
I need authority for that? Does that mean only officers can take prisoners? How does-Focus. Answer his question Verge.
"No one. He surrendered and I defeated him without permanently ending his path... Sir." The squinting angel, shrugs at your words, then ignites his energy blade with a hiss. You tense up reflexively, but the extra weight and slick ground slows your movement.
The smell of burning flesh assaults your nostrils.
Parrotmon's head falls free.
"Good job on bringing that damned bird here. You saved me the trouble of chasing another heathen down
and gifted me with a way to recover." The Imperius flashes you a vicious smile as his eyes vanish behind a rapidly reforming helmet.
I ...he just. What?!
You rear up over the Ultimate with a rumbling snarl, but the armored Ultimate just tilts his head in
confusion.
"He was defenseless! Unable to so much as fight back! Spirits above he
surrendered! Deleting him was-"
Murder
"-Murder!"
"Hmph." MagnaAngemon grunts derisively, raising one hand to forestall further words. "This is war Gryzmon. Our mission is to defend that base and so long as it was alive that creature was a risk to our holy cause. It carrying any useful information is doubtful." The holy digimon pauses for a second as the last of his injuries are mended. "We also lack the ability to properly restrain an Ultimate of that power, it would simply have woken up, playing along until it saw a vulnerability, then struck. By The Lord I will not let that happen on my watch." You continue glaring in silence, wrath un-subsided. Finally he makes a sound of disgust and points towards the group of wounded digimon. "Enough. Go make yourself useful." With that he lifts off, leaving you all alone.
He... The Imperious has his reasons..
===
[] But his actions were still unacceptable. Massacring a defeated opponent, a surrendered one no less and
showing such dishonor is disgusting. *Reasonable* from his point of view or not,
you won't agree with the action.
[]
Which are logical enough. Parrotmon was a strong Ultimate, enough to perhaps defeat you alone. Without a proper way to deal with him non-lethally this was the best choice. He's right, even if you're not happy about that fact.
===
2 Strength (14)
3 Fortitude (18.75)
1 Endurance (5.5)
3 Agility (14.25)
1 Special (6.25)
1 Spirit (4.00)
Balanced stat increase. Plus Agility, Supplements and Bonus Points
- Strength: 2916.00->2930
- Fortitude: 2548.25->2567.00
- Endurance: 1959.50->1961.00
- Agility: 1891.75->1906.00
- Special: 2320.00->2326.25
- Spirit: 1902.75->1906.75
- General Fighting: 87.75/180->89.00/180
- Martial Arts, Maul (Gryzmon) Style: 30.75/60->32/60
- Grappling: 18/20->19.25/20
===
Authors Note: And it's here that we saw one of the more brutal aspects of the Host and how some of their commanders deal with opponents.