[] That hidden team Schwartz mentioned, mostly because you're annoyed they're hiding from your senses.
[] Fling him away.
=
Even through the slight haze of numbness, the idea of a team simply being able to hide from your senses is still ever so slightly annoying. Which when combined with your curiosity makes it a more worthy choice then the others. Wordlessly you change directions, flipping over the unconscious MetalTyrannomon's form and bounding off towards Caputal Tyrano's center.
The once proud city-state has devolved into little more than a half-destroyed wreck as hundreds of different teams vie for supremacy. Powerful Ultimates are thrown through rows of buildings, explode entire blocks with their attacks, and makes the ground itself constantly atremble from the sheer force being thrown around.
You charge and weave through the despicable chaos, fighting as little as possible in order to conserve strength. However… enemy teams attempt to hinder your efforts at every turn, even going so far as to pause their own individual quarrels in an attempt to focus on you. Carrying Schwarts makes it even more difficult, since you're forced to
also keep him safe from harm.
It is most fortunate that your speed means most attacks miss, and those strikes that do land can only deal surface-level injuries.
"Gatling Missile!"
"Top Gun!"
"Bwack! Crimson Claw!"
As the most recent grouping of techniques sound off, you take in the situation and
act. The Andromon's attacks are too speedy and well aimed to simply dodge. Normally you'd properly deflect them, however with Schwartz in your right hand…
With gritted teeth you spin around, and let the attack smash against your back armor head-on. Schwartz is fine, your bulk shielding him from the explosion, but your already scratched armor gets a new pair of small pockmarks.
You erupt from the new found smoke, and turn around just in time to backhand the ball of red energy away. To your exact predictions, it hits the chasing Garudamon's head helmet, knocking it from the air.
The Silphymon raises its hands up in the air for another attack, only to be pre-empted when you punch a
Jūoudaken at its raised arms. The roaring ball of wrath-energy consumes both outstretched limbs in an instant, leaving said Ultimate to
scream in pain and fall back towards the ground.
Maiming other digimon like that… hurts, however that was the only non-lethal option at your disposal. Razor Wind would have surely corroded the mon into dust. At least with that one dealt with, you're free to speed back up and finish sprinting to the city's central plateau. The Andromon attempts to line up another shot, but by the time it's ready to fire you've already escaped its targeting range.
Something strange happens as you cross the mesa's boundary, a sudden
need to be anywhere else. The Champion held your arm struggles for a moment, then hesitantly speaks up.
"Uh GrappLeomon? Maybe we should try somewhere else?"
"No, the feeling is trickery, an artificial compulsion." You growl, pushing through the uneasy sensation. Thanks to Ardat you've dealt with this kind of thing before, and find pushing through it to only be a matter of focusing. "Is the hidden team close Schwartz?"
This section feels devoid of mon entirely … did the other teams simply let the feeling push them away?
"Hmm, hmmm, mmm. They're right over…" The Duskmon raise his arm up to the air above the plateau's center and extends his blade.
"There'ish. *ahem* Reveal thyselves!... I don't think like, there's a point in still hiding."
"He found us? IMPOSSSIBLE!!!" A voice booms, echoing around the sky. "My cloaking spell is flawless!"
"Apparently not." A second, much less dramatic voice replies.
"I don't understand! How is this POSSIBLE?!
"Uh… I dunno, maybe it was too good? Cause I can't sense your energies but I can still sense the absence of thine energies."
… he's right.
There's large gaps where their energy signatures
should be. However… amidst the many roiling and conflicting auras outside it should've been impossible to sense that kind of phenomenon from a distance. You certainly hadn't.
Spirits above… How well-tuned is his aura sense?
"To the dark-zone with your camouflage!" A third, much gruffer sounding voice bellows. "End the spell professor!" The first mon sighs, which still echoes for some reason, and a moment later...
There are
four Wisemon floating on books in a diamond formation right where Schwartz's sword is pointed. All of a sudden their various auras assault your senses and… they're all actually weaker than Sparks, albeit by different degrees. Three are roughly equal at half of your friend's power, while the last… is only a small step below your closest friend in observable power.
… they're shorter too, each by nearly an entire foot.
"Headmaster I must protest!" The *stealthy* the sorcerer's voice rises up as the mon turns to their group's closest member. "My research is important for our scouting parties, it can't just be postponed like this!"
Research? Scouting parties… are they from another server?... no. Leopardmon would have known wouldn't he?
"Hush professor, there are strangers amongst us." The vaguely bored-sounding wizard replies. You note his position as on the rightmost *corner*, just in case this devolves into battle…
They aren't attacking us. Why?
"Wait guys! That's Verge!" The very last Wisemon springs up suddenly, eagerly pointing a finger at you.
"Aye? I am."
"The rumours are true! You've mutated to some sort of MadGrappLeomon hybrid! And such a large frame! How did you get so big? What was your diet as a rookie? Would you submit to a controlled vivisection of your-" and on he continues.
A… MadLeomon and GrappLeomon hybrid? Is that correct? My colouring was similar to that one… focus Verge.
"Whoah, I didn't realize you were a hybrid of two different species GrappLeomon."
"Please, hold. Before we continue this..." You interrupt the questions with a raised palm. "Is your intention to eliminate us?"
"Pure poppycock. Of course we're not here to brawl like a group of rookies." The *Headmaster* spits as if the very concept offends him. "We entered purely for research purpose… Hmph, though I must admit we've had less time to observe than intended."
"We were sidetracked transporting those seeking refuge before setting up the…" The *bored* Wisemon trails off into a yawn "Rejection barrier."
"So that's what happened to those guys… huh I thought they got deleted too." Schwartz responds, slightly more cheery from the news.
"Hardly. We're researchers, not wanton murderers."
Then… they're good digimon? Spirits below. I led the Host's leader to the one peaceful team here!
"My apologies, we must leave." You half-growl stepping away from the group. "I came with the intention of luring the Host team's leader here as a distraction, but I would not see you harmed."
"Yeah, I like this guys. Let's not… oh. Evacuation's almost done."
It is? Then there remains little time.
"Nonsense… Verge was it?" The *Headmaster* waves a hand as if dismissing your confession. "In merit to your politeness, and concern I think it's only right we return the favour." The Ultimate teleports book and all past you to the plateau's edge.
"And you didn't try to delete us.... Huah. *Sniff."
"Yes… and on a more opportunistic front, Flat Campus has a *debt* that it needs to repay." The oldest Wisemon continues gruffly. "Their destruction of the lesser temple of metal, and theft of its spirit have yet to be punished.
He wishes vengeance for that?… it would be wise if I kept my part in that secret. Yes Verge, and that Sparks has the spirit right now.
"So.. about my questions…"
"No professor, you can't vivisect his core."
"He didn't answer me yet!"
"Apologies, but I will not allow that."
"Damnit! Then how about-" His voice loses all meaning as Sinduramon's aura
flares up.
"Dudes, Sinduramon's coming."
"Link up professors!" The *Headmaster* snaps. A moment later, the other three Wisemon teleport behind him, linking their books together edge to edge in order to form a single large square.
In contrast to your own flight across Caputal Tyranno, Sinduramon pays no mind to energy conservation or his opponents' lives. The armored rooster charges straight towards your position amidst a thick golden aura, tearing through anything and anymon in his way.
You let go of Schwartz and take up a combat stance.
That spear is the largest threat, I cannot let myself or Schwartz be impaled...
"Disappointing! I had no idea that Asuramon's friend would be such a coward!" Sinduramon crows, stopping in the sky above you.
Coward?!
Your claws pop out of their sheathes unbidden, and it's only two steps into the rush that you realize what's going on. He's
baiting out your charge.
It's with much gnashing of teeth that you slam a hand against the air and stop.
That won't… win this. Don't let yourself lose control Verge.
"Oh yeah! Well… thine armor and weapon are dumb!" Schwartz shouts… only to be utterly ignored by the Host team's leader.
"I think I'll eliminate the Leomon first… then the five demons." Sinduramon muses, hefting its spear in one talon. You frown up at him. Pit, Beat and Vajramon are… battling another team elsewhere in the city. Which means...
He left them to try and eliminate me and Ser Schwartz.
"Five demons? That's just insulting." Wisemon *Number 3* grumbles.
"Is that a Deva! Ooh, I haven't researched one of those in a while."
"Hush. We're about to fight." The *Headmaster* Wisemon lectures to his fellows. "However, the properties of a Sinduramon's spear would be most interesting to test."
"Enough of this prattle!" The bird-digimon squawks tossing up his spear. The Ultimate spins in place, adding momentum for the moment he catches, then throws his weapon… only that never comes.
The squad of Wisemon thrust out their left hands as one, and each mutter a single word.
Sinduramon's weapon vanishes before his talon can close upon it. His spin sputters to a confused stop as the bird blinks at his empty appendage.
Spirits above!... hold. That's like Sparks' trick… they're Wisemon Verge.
"What?!"
"Whoah… that's real cool."
"You… you fiends! Give it back before my patience reaches its end!" Sinduramon screeches, angrily flapping its wings.
"Perhaps once we're done studying it." The *Headmaster* answers smugly. You leap in front of the wizards, reach to engage the enemy team leader in close combat when he inevitably charges.
"There's no need for that young mon." The Wisemon's leader voice calls as his *square* teleports in front of you again. "I have my pride as a Council member to think of."
You:
=== Choose One:
[] Insist on assisting them. Sinduramon isn't a threat they can defeat even with all their magic, the gap in power is too vast.
[] Thanks them and observe. Mayhaps you'll be able to learn something in watching this battle play out.
[] Go reunite with Thresh, with your team split like this, you're all vulnerable... and he seems to be having a tough time going by his aura.
===
AN: Aaaaand, her we go. I figure some levity was needed, here's a smi-quirky Wisemon squad. 
