*Fonte, let us commence our afore-scheduled duel*. That's what you
planned to say. Unfortunately, much like the rest of your life, things rarely turn out that simple.
"Fonte, let us-"
Before you can finish a
Howling roar tears through the air, smashing into your side as a wave of physical force. Sparks tumbles down from your pauldron with a panicked yelp, whilst the trio of lesser Ultimates drop to their knees.
Thresh? Did he go berserk again?
Only Fonte and yourself manage to stay upright as the bellow draws to a close, and as one you turn to the source. Thresh blasts out from the main keep with a second shout, both verniers flaring wildly as he continues to pick up speed. Your fists rise up into a guard as Fonte draws her blade and pivots into a side-stance, ready to intercept the charging Demon-Dragon. With gritted teeth you step in front of the knight and narrow an eye towards your
adopted brother.
His pupils… they are not narrowed. His movements are not erratic. That means-spirits below!
You're mere moments from leaping forward to punch his lights out when a flash of black stabs down from the heavens.
Thresh's body is driven to the ground in an instant, flinging up a wave of shrapnel and dust as his massive bulk is brought to a sudden halt. You freeze in utter shock as Thresh's furious aura is overwhelmed by a flash of tightly controlled onyx.
Who-
"So, these are Leopardmon's new recruits." A rough voice booms from within the cloud of dust. "I can't see why he was excited." You take a step forward at his insult, only to find your path blocked by a sword.
"Stand fast Verge." Fonte mutters seriously, stepping out beside you.
"We know not if yonder mon is an enemy." It's hard not to glare at the
impudent Knightmon, but… she's right. So much as you want to punch Thresh's attacker for his words that probably isn't a good idea. Instead you settle for growling and glaring. As the stone powder recedes you begin to make out more details. The dark figure easily stands atop Thresh's shoulders, both arms crossed in dismissal of any threat. Twin ends of a scarf flow behind him, fluttering despite the absence of any wind. For a moment you're reminded of Beat, but this mon is twice Fonte's height… and you're pretty sure the JewelBeemon doesn't have a horn coming out of his forehead.
Then who is this?... why would a Mega show up now?...
Without warning the silethoute steps off your sibling and thrusts his left arm up, pointing up a finger towards the sky.
"Wielding the flames of victory." Twin explosions rock free from his shoulders, blowing the dust away in a shower of heat and force. "PileVolcamon crashes onto the scene!"
…
Aaaand-just like that, the immense sense of being threatened evaporates, replaced by even more exasperation.
Spirits below, no. This is Ardat all over again, isn't it?
Thresh rises up behind the belt-clad mega, both arms raised as he pounces forward-
-only to be immediately slammed back into the stone yard. You see another flash of black, then blink as a horrible screeching sound cuts through the air. When your eye opens back up it's to the sight of PileVolcamon dropping both of your brother's pendulum blades to the ground i
n front of Fonte.
The Knightmon emits what you can only describe as a squeak of surprise, and thrusts up at the large mon's mon's chest. However the cyborg(?) simply reaches one metal hand out and snatches it from her grip like one might a toy from some unruly rookie.
That speed… it's incredible but… not like Leopardmon. I can still see his movement. Is he weaker than them? Or just not trying...
Those thoughts are interrupted as a sharp whistle reaches your ears. PileVolcamon sidesteps to stand in front of you, the black lenses of his face scanning you in an appraising manner.
"You have to be the largest GrappLeomon I've ever seen, and I've been to both of the Lightning temples. What
has Leopardmon been feeding you?"
Why do mon keep asking that question? Peace Verge, answer him.
"I believe… the processed data of a Mihiramon, a great deal of Travel Bread, lots of honey, and many other meats and supplements of which I do not know the origin of." You pause, unsure if listing off your now obsolete food orders from the Host as well, but the Mega shrugs before you can continue.
"That was a rhetorical question, but thanks for telling me." He nods, before sidestepping Fonte's desperate grab.
"Hah! Nice work with the arms." Sparks says climbing back to his feet.
"I'm guessin' you're this expedition's leader then?"
Yes, that… is a conclusion I was going to arrive at. If not for… all this.
"Mhm, a correct assumption there Wisemon. Thanks for the compliment, and I wish I had more time to tussle, but Leopardmon has us on a tight schedule so up and atum!" PileVolcamon claps, prompting Thresh to dig himself free from the courtyard. Your brother glares down at him, but doesn't attack a third time. Only nodding in understanding before stomping over towards his discarded limbs.
"Thresh I can assist you-"
"Rgh, buzz off. I don't need your help with reattacking these."
… reattaching.
Not wanting to make the situation worse, you stay silent; only watching in concern as the Demon-Dragon bends down and clamps the weapons in his metal teeth.
"Ser PileVolcamon…" Fonte mumbles, looking at PileVolcamon pleadingly. "Can you… return Rose's Fencer back to me?" She asks fidgeting in place.
"Please?"
"Oh?" The Mega pauses in confusion, then looks down towards the sword still held in his left hand. "Sure, here." With that he flicks his wrist, flinging the berserk sword back in a furious spin… and yet the mass of metal somehow ends up landing handle-first into her outstretched hand.
Impressive.
As the next few seconds pass by, you find yourself more than a little disappointed that there isn't going to be a real fight. You'd gotten prepared for a tussle and… PileVolcamon's arrival ended that. Now you'll have to wait even longer before dueling Fonte, or Thresh.
Peace Verge. Just request to know when we're departing.
"When are we leaving? Soon. Let's see, we have…" PileVolcamon lifts hand, a chrome finger wagging as begins counting. "One-two-three…" Your shoulders tense as he runs through the numbers, Sparks' face twitches into a sneer and even Thresh stiffens. PileVolcamon either doesn't notice or care as he finishes counting and nods to himself. "The mooks are all here-"
"Oi! What's that supposed to mean?!"
"-which just means we're waiting for the support staff. Which should be here presently." He continues, ignoring Sparks' indignant outcry. "Chevalier Verge, would you mind trying to feel for them? It should be a group of three champions, with one stronger than the others"
"I do not."
"Hey! Are ya just gonna ignore what he called us Verge? I ain't a friggen' mook!"
Yes.
Picking out those three particular individual champions amongst Bulwark's many surrounding soldiers is not easy, especially with so many different spirit signatures moving around. Meaning that it takes you roughly eight seconds of intense searching before finding the trio he described.
What's surprising is that you
recognize their auras. Indeed, you've met them before.
Galgomon,
Weddingmon, and
Mikemon enter the damaged yard seventy-three seconds later, and make for PileVolcamon.
"Are they… safe to bring along?" You question, looking between them and the expeditions other members. They're the only champions present and given the zone's reputation…
Can they even survive the terrain?
"Hunter Galgomon has traveled Flux Mountain's outskirts before." PileVolcamon explains as Sparks swaggers over to the arriving *support staff*. "And Leopardmon has made it clear that the other two will spend their time inside the Wisemon's book."
"I see… but, why bring them at all?"
"Are you kidding?" PileVolcamon snorts, as if you'd just asked something incredibly dumb. "We're
Bulwark chevalier, of course we're bringing chefs."
They're here to cook… aye, that makes sense.
Your head turns sharply towards the sudden sound… and finds Sparks recoiling from Weddingmon's raised hand.
Come again?
"Eh?" The sorcerer freezes, his mechanical hand rising up to caress the struck cheek.
"What was that for-"
*Slap*
"Comment osez-vous montrer votre visage, salaud infidèle!" A number of very angry sounding words erupt from the womon's mouth, all in that strange language she and Leopardmon make use of. The phrase "*infidèle* however seems to come up the most. Between that and Mikemon's hisses, you're guessing that Sparks must have done something to anger them.
But what? He has not been in their presence since the month of lightning.
After a final round of shouting, the two champions storm off towards PileVolcamon, while Galgomon makes a quick apology.
"Hiya Sparks, sorry about that." Your friend doesn't answer, he just stands there, brow scrunched up in confusion. Thresh looks between them, then shrugs his head and goes back to trying to slot his arms back in.
"Chayvayleer, what did your friend do to earn such scorn?"
"I do not know Dame. This is… a surprise to us both. Mayhaps-"
"*Ahem*" The expeditions sole Mega coughs, drawing attention back his way. "Prepare yourselves! The time has come for Bulwark's one hundred and eighty-seventh expedition to start!" He declares before pivoting around and thrusting out a hand towards the distant peaks past Bulwark's defences. "Ooh-Rah!"
"Ooh-Rah!" The BlueMeramon, Panjyamon and Pandamon second loudly.
Ew… raw? By The Great Tree, why can I not meet normal digimon?
=== Social Action: Choose One:
[] PileVolcamon. A Mega, but considerably weaker than the others you've met, ask him about it.
[] Weddingmon, Galgomon, Mikemon. You're confused on what's going on with them.
[] Fonte, can see about dueling her on the move. Brilliant!
[] Sparks. Ask him about what happened.
===
AN: Lots of stuff happening here. Mega arrives and one of Sparks' chickens is coming home to roost. Sorry for this taking so long to get out. My attempts at writing earlier today did not go well. And this took more time than I thought it would.