The air grew heavier with each step they took deeper into the cavern. The walls, jagged and damp, pulsed with an unnatural energy, as though the entire cave was alive, breathing in sync with the foul presence that awaited them at the end of the path. Their footsteps echoed off the stone, but no one dared to speak. The silence was suffocating. It felt as if something was watching them, lurking just beyond the veil of darkness.
Romani's holographic screen flickered to life, crackling with interference. His expression was grim as his eyes scanned the data pouring in from Chaldea's failing sensors. "Listen up!" His voice cut through the eerie silence. "The readings I'm receiving are beyond anything we've encountered before. The concentration of magical energy down here is… absurd. The closer you get to the core, the stronger it becomes. There is no doubt about it—the Grail is ahead, and King Arthur is using it to fuel her. Be careful, everyone; this will be your toughest battle yet."
A sense of foreboding settled over the group. The deeper they went, the more it felt like stepping into the domain of something ancient and malevolent, something that did not belong in this era.
At the back of the group, Takato walked in stride with Growlmon. His partner's massive form barely fit within the width of the tunnel, his claws scraping deep grooves into the stone floor. His tail swished restlessly, his breathing deep and slow, but there was a tension in his body—an eagerness, a hunger.
A faint glow illuminated the path ahead. The cavern widened, leading them into a vast chamber, larger than anything they had expected. Massive pillars of stone jutted from the ground, fractured and twisted, as though warped by time and corruption. The air was thick with the scent of something foul, something wrong.
At the center of it all stood a blackened throne, carved from jagged rock, overlooking the battlefield like a judge waiting to pass a sentence. And there, standing atop the highest point, was a figure clad in darkness.
She stood motionless, like a specter of the past, her armor dull and jagged, stained with a deep corruption. Her hair, once golden, had been drained of all color and bleached to an unnatural white. Her skin was pale, almost corpse-like, and her eyes... sickly yellow, hollow, and devoid of humanity.
She clutched a blade darker than the void itself, its surface cracked with veins of glowing crimson. Every pulse of power sent a shiver through the air, warping the space around it. At her feet, the Grail sat in its corrupted state, spilling black mud that twisted and writhed as though alive.
Then, she spoke. "You." Her gaze locked onto Mash first. "You have his shield." said the woman who resembled a corpse more than a living being.
Mash stiffened at the accusation, instinctively gripping her weapon.
The knight tilted her head slightly, something almost… curious flashing through her otherwise dead expression. "I see," she mused. "So he picked you as his successor." She lifted her blade slightly as if considering her next words. But then, she stopped.
Her gaze shifted. And for the first time, her emotionless face twisted into something resembling surprise. Her sickly yellow eyes bore into Takato. Something changed.
The pressure in the room deepened, became sharper, more suffocating. A low growl rumbled through the chamber, vibrating against the stone.
Growlmon's muscles tensed, his pupils contracting into slits. His breathing grew heavier, deeper, like an animal holding itself back from lunging at its prey. His tail lashed, claws curling against the stone, digging trenches into the floor.
Takato felt something primal within him: a desire to lash out and meet a challenge he had never known existed before. It was a recognition.
For the first time, the corrupted king's lips curled into a smirk. "Two dragons," she murmured. Her grip on her sword tightened, the crackling energy along the blade intensifying. "And red ones at that."
She exhaled softly, almost as if amused by the absurdity of the situation. "To think I would meet my kin in this place… in this era. A curious twist of fate." Her voice was cold. Hollow. And yet, there was something beneath it. Something that might have been respect, if not for the madness lurking behind her gaze. "Too bad," she mused, "neither of you will leave this place alive."
Electricity danced along her weapon, black and red lightning arcing violently across its edge. The corrupted energy surged outward, sending cracks splintering through the ground beneath her. the air trembled as she lifted her blade, pointing it toward the group. "My name is Arturia, the Tyrant of Britain."
The pressure in the chamber spiked. It wasn't just killing intent—it was dominion. A power so overwhelming that it didn't merely challenge her enemies; it commanded them to kneel. A knight's aura. A dragon's authority. "Let us cross blades as knights," The room quaked beneath them. The walls groaned. The corrupted mud bubbled violently, pulsing like a living entity, "and see, once and for all, who is worthy of claiming the Holy Grail!"
A surge of energy erupted from her body, sending out a shockwave that shattered the stones at her feet. The moment Arturia's feet left the ground, time seemed to slow.
She moved like a shadow slipping through the void, descending in a blur of black armor and crimson lightning. The sheer pressure from her leap alone sent cracks spider-webbing through the cave's stone walls, dust rising from where her boots had once stood.
Bazzet was already moving. Her runes flared to life, amplifying her speed as she sprinted to intercept. Her body twisted, her fist arcing toward Arturia's skull in a precise strike.
Arturia's blade flashed, meeting the attack head-on.
A resounding clash of metal and reinforced magic echoed through the chamber, shockwaves rippling outward as their blows met in a collision of pure force.
Sparks burst from the contact, but neither warrior yielded ground.
Bazzet twisted, slipping beneath Arturia's counterstrike, her footwork impeccable. Another punch—faster, sharper.
But Arturia matched her, the flat of her cursed blade redirecting each blow with expert precision.
Each exchange was blindingly fast, too quick for normal eyes to follow.
A chosen warrior of magecraft who carries a legacy versus a corrupted king of legend. Their battle was a deadly dance, neither yielding nor faltering. Then, Takato raised his hand—the signal was given.
A deep rumbling growl echoed through the cavern. A beast's warning.
Growlmon had waited long enough. His massive frame tensed, muscles rippling beneath his crimson scales as he coiled his tail back. Then, with a mighty roar, he swung. "DRAGON SPINE!" His tail lashed out like a whip of pure destruction, the sheer force behind it cracking the ground beneath him as it raced toward Arturia.
Arturia's eyes flickered upward. In a single, fluid motion, she leapt high into the air, effortlessly avoiding the tail strike.
The moment her feet left the ground, Takato smirked. "NOW!" Growlmon's claws ignited, bursting into brilliant flames, the searing heat distorting the air around him.
The moment Arturia reached her peak in the air, Growlmon was already waiting for her. He lunged. His massive, flame-cloaked claws tore through the air toward her, his sheer size and power enough to level buildings. "GROW CLAW!"
Arturia's blade came up, dark lightning crackling across its length.
Then—contact. The explosion of power shook the cavern. Flames and black lightning surged outward, filling the space with blinding light and deafening sound. For a moment, nothing was visible—only the collision of raw force. Then, as the dust cleared—a single stream of red cut through the air.
A deep howl of pain followed. Takato's eyes widened as he grasped his right hand as if he was cut, gritting his teeth, and glared.
Growlmon staggered backward, clutching his wounded claw. Black flames burned at his injury, a deep gash running across his palm, the cursed energy preventing it from closing.
Arturia landed gracefully, her blade still humming with crimson power. "Impressive," she murmured. "A young dragon with such potential. I almost regret having to put you down."
Growlmon let out a snarling, rage-filled roar, his pupils now fully slit. His breath came in deep, furious pants, but there was no retreat. Only burning hatred for the one who wounded him.
Arturia's smirk didn't waver. "But you are not impressive enough." Her blade crackled. "I have slain a dragon greater than you before—the White Dragon, the tyrant Vortigern himself. Do not think you will fare better."
The words stabbed deep. Growlmon's entire body stiffened. Then, he roared in pure rage as he felt looked down upon, his wounded pride vibrating through his veins more than the injury in his arm from a moment before.
The cavern shook beneath the force of it, flames erupting from his maw, illuminating the darkness in a blinding inferno, "Exhaust Flame".
Then Arturia moved. Her foot pivoted and her body turned as the white, hellish flames licked the soles of her armored feet. With a single burst of acceleration, she descended toward the human group like a meteor.
Ritsuka's heart lurched. She was aiming for them. For him. For Takato and Olga. "SHIT—!"
Before she could reach them, thick roots exploded from the ground, surging toward her like living vines. Cu's voice echoed through the chamber, filled with frustration. "Oh no you don't, ya damn tyrant!"
The roots whipped toward her, twisting around her legs, arms, and blade, entangling her in seconds. For a brief moment—it looked like it worked.
Then— Her blade glowed. A single, precise movement. A quick, efficient slice. The roots shredded apart instantly, falling to the ground in smoldering pieces.
Cu let out a string of curses. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Caster's not my style. Whatever."
Before Arturia could close the distance Mash appeared in an instant. Her shield clashed against Arturia's blade, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the room. Arturia stared down at her, amused. "Ah. The successor stands in my way."
Mash held her ground, her legs planted firmly, arms locked in position. Her violet eyes burned with determination. "No one is getting past me. No one will harm my Master."
The words were solid and absolute. Arturia's smirk widened as she felt the dragon core within her body respond to the challenge, causing her to lose herself completely as her draconic instincts dominated her thought process. "Your form is adequate."
Then she pushed harder. Mash let out a strained grunt, holding firm as Arturia struck again. And again. Each blow came faster, sharper, heavier. Mash's shield caught every single one, sparks flying from the brutal exchange. But even as she held her ground, Mash gritted her teeth. Arturia was toying with her.
Then Arturia suddenly leaped back. Instinctively, Mash braced herself only to see a sudden blast of flame streak toward Arturia's position.
A second later, a volley of fire-tipped arrows followed suit. The combined attacks exploded against the stone, engulfing Arturia's position in an inferno.
Cu lowered his staff, Bazzet standing beside him, smoke still rising from the fading runes in the air. Their expressions were unreadable.
For a moment, silence. Then From within the flames, a dark figure emerged. Completely unscathed. The fire parted around her, dissipating like dying embers. And there, Arturia stood, blade still crackling with power, her smirk never fading. "Now…" She lifted her sword once more. "Let's see how long you can last."
The cavern trembled as Arturia's power surged to overwhelming heights, consuming the very light around her. The oppressive weight of her presence pressed down on everyone, making it hard to breathe, as if the air itself had turned to stone.
Then Romani's voice burst through the comms, frantic and filled with pure panic. "Everyone, listen to me! My scanners are going haywire! Her energy levels are skyrocketing—this is beyond anything we've recorded before!"
A moment of silence. Then—Cu's voice cut through, sharp as a blade. "GET BEHIND MASH, NOW!"
Before anyone could move, Cu slammed his staff into the ground. Thick roots erupted from the earth, twisting and growing at impossible speeds, weaving into a protective dome around the humans. The wood creaked and groaned, reinforced by Cu's magic, forming an almost impenetrable barrier.
But Growlmon refused to trust Takato's safety to anyone else. With a deep rumbling growl, he positioned himself defensively in front of his Tamer, massive claws digging into the ground. His crimson scales glowed dimly in the darkness, his burning eyes locked onto Arturia.
Takato stood behind him, gripping his Digivice tightly, eyes narrowed in fierce determination.
Across the battlefield, Mash stood firm. Her grip on her shield was unwavering. She refused to back down.
Arturia's aura darkened further, a void of sheer destruction expanding around her. The shadows twisted, swallowed, consumed—and her blade burned with an all-devouring hunger. Her golden irises glowed in the abyss, the only light left in the world.
Then she spoke, "Consider this an honor." The cavern itself shuddered in anticipation. Then, she began the chant.
"Vortigern, Hammer of the Vile King… Reverse the rising sun.
Swallow the light—EXCALIBUR MORGAN!"
With a roar of raw destruction, a pillar of dark energy exploded forth. A tidal wave of death, a blackened beam of annihilation, tearing through the cavern like an unstoppable storm.
Mash did not hesitate. Her voice was clear, unwavering, absolute.
"LORD CHALDEA!"
A massive green barrier manifested, radiating with defensive energy as it clashed head-on with Excalibur Morgan's devastating force.
The cavern screamed under the pressure as the two powers collided, sending shockwaves through the entire underground. The sheer magnitude of the impact shattered the stone beneath them, causing jagged fissures to form along the walls. The energy beam pressed forward—Mash gritted her teeth, her stance shaking from the sheer force, but her shield did not break.
The impact lasted seconds that felt like an eternity. Then, it faded. The battlefield fell into silence.
Mash's legs trembled, her arms shaking as she barely held herself upright. She had done it. She had stopped it. She had endured.
But Arturia did not falter. "You truly were the right choice." A sickening smile curled onto her lips. "And yet, this beautiful sight will be crushed by me."
Then, she raised her blade again. Another blast. Another Excalibur Morgan in the making. The horror set in instantly. She wasn't slowed down at all, using the energy coming from the grail, the fallen king could use her ultimate attack again and again withought stopping.
"MASH, MOVE!" Ritsuka screamed, his voice raw with desperation.
Mash refused to back down. She forced herself upright. She would protect her Master to the very end.
Then, Takato's voice rang out. "WHY?!"
Arturia froze. For the first time, something in her shifted.
Takato's voice was not filled with fear. It was righteous fury. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!" His voice echoed through the battlefield, cutting through the suffocating pressure. "AREN'T YOU THE KING OF KNIGHTS?! A KNIGHT WHO STANDS FOR JUSTICE?! WHO PROTECTS THE WEAK?!"
A moment of pure silence. Then—Arturia's expression twisted. It was the first sign of true emotion she had shown as Takato's form was replaced with another person for a moment, a teen older than him with red hair, but with the same air about him, looking straight into her eyes. Not with amusement. Not with cruelty. But with anger and a sense of pure betrayal.
Her golden eyes burned with pure rage. "Silence, child." Her voice was low, venomous, and dangerous. "None of you have the right to judge me." She took a slow step forward, her killing intent suffocating. "I am the King. My words, my will, my decisions are justice."
Then, Takato stepped forward. Ignoring the cries to stay back, ignoring the terror gripping the cavern. His fists clenched. His body trembling with defiance. Growlmon moved beside them, his burning gaze matching Takato's.
Takato's voice was cold, unwavering. "You? A king?" His words cut through the silence like a knife. "All I see is an empty shell."
Arturia's gaze darkened.
"A murderer who bathed in the blood of the innocent." His red eyes bore into hers, unflinching. "A worm, not fit to wear the title of a knight, but that of a murderer, someone like you is not a knight, and will never be a knight!!!."
The world seemed to hold its breath.
Arturia's hand gripped her sword tighter. Then, she turned fully to face him. She had completely disregarded Mash. Her focus was entirely on Takato now. Her voice was low, almost broken. "Not fit to wear the title of a knight?"
Bazzet stepped in front of Takato, her fists glowing with power. "Master… you truly are the best summoner I could ask for." She smirked. "Let's put this tyrant down." A blue orb of light flickered into existence above her fist.
Arturia's blade burned brighter. "I was and always will be loyal to my ideals. To hoard what is mine, and punish the weak and strong alike!!!" She lifted her sword one last time. "Child, I will give you one last chance. Apologize." Her blade crackled with crimson energy. "Do that, and your death will be quick."
Takato narrowed his eyes. He felt something inside him urging him to stand his ground, not falter in the face of evil. "Not a chance, do your worst king of murderes."
Bazzet smiled. "Then let's end this." She raised her hand, feeling Takato's seemingly endless power surge into her.
Arturia raised Excalibur Morgan.
Bazzet began her incantation.
"What comes last shall cut first!"
Above her fist, the blue sphere shifted—morphed—Into a blade without a hilt.
Arturia unleashed her Noble Phantasm. A wave of destruction surged forward.
Ritsuka tried to run toward his brother. "TAKATO!" Cu grabbed him, pulling him back as he continued to scream. "LET GO OF ME, DAMN YOU! LET GO!!!"
The attack engulfed Takato, Bazzet, and Growlmon. The world turned white. Then—silence.
Ritsuka fell to his knees. "AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!" His anguished scream echoed through the cavern.
Romani's voice trembled. "This… can't be happening."
Mash, eyes filled with unshed tears, stood before Arturia. Arturia hearing the screams of anguish smirked. Then, she prepared to fire again, laughing madly as the blade's black flames once again manifasted.
As her laughing echoed, the dust still hung in the air, thick and suffocating, obscuring everything. The only thing that could be heard was the faint crackling of magic still lingering in the air, the aftermath of destruction settling like a heavy blanket over the battlefield.
Ritsuka was on his knees, unmoving. His fists were clenched, his nails digging into the stone beneath him, his entire body trembling. His mind refused to process it—to accept what had just happened.
Takato was gone.
Mash's voice cut through the haze, desperate, pleading. "Master, get up! Please, you have to move!" Her voice was raw, filled with emotions she could barely keep together.
But he didn't move. Didn't respond. Didn't even hear her. The weight of failure crushed him, heavier than any burden he had ever carried.
Then, from within the thick veil of dust and smoke a voice rang out. A voice that should not have been there. A voice that should not have been possible. "Digi-Modify… Strength!"
The command echoed through the cavern, cutting through the despair, tearing through the silence like a sword through flesh.
And then a roar echoed through the cavren. A powerful, defiant, primal roar that shook the earth. The dust began to clear, And from within the fading smoke, a towering figure emerged.
Growlmon. His massive form stepped forward, his crimson scales gleaming, his eyes burning with unrelenting fury. His elbow blades pulsed with power, glowing an intense white, burning with plasma hotter than any flame. His maw opened—his next words were not just a statement. They were a declaration. "PLASMA BLADE!"
In a single, monstrous leap, Growlmon charged forward. His blade-arm sliced through the air, aiming straight for Arturia. Arturia, still standing firm, lifted Excalibur Morgan, her golden eyes narrowing as she met his charge head-on.
She swung. And the world exploded in a clash of titanic power. The impact sent shockwaves throughout the cavern, cracks forming along the walls as the two forces met in a devastating collision. Sparks erupted from their clashing weapons, embers flying like shooting stars as Growlmon and Arturia fought for dominance.
Arturia gritted her teeth, pushing against the dragon's strength. "To have such power…" she snarled, her muscles tensing as she forced more energy into her blade. "Yet it is not enough. My sword of victory will never falter in the face of another blade—" She cut herself off mid-sentence, as something felt wrong because something was wrong.
A low, ominous hum filled the air, and the Hazard symbol on Growlmon's chest began to glow. It burned a deep, sinister red, pulsating like a beating heart, its presence undeniable to all with the senses to feel its power.
And suddenly, Her blade stopped responding. Arturia's eyes widened in pure shock.
The once-absolute power of Excalibur Morgan's probability-warping effect was gone. The very thing that had made her invincible, the force that had always ensured her victory was being erased.
Her blade, still fueled by the Grail's endless energy, was no longer overwhelming Growlmon's own power. Instead, she was losing ground.
Growlmon pushed forward, his Plasma Blades shifting from white hot to a burning crimson, their very composition warping as the Digital Hazard overtook them.
With a powerful, furious growl, he forced her back, slamming her against the cavern wall. Arturia coughed, feeling something foreign, something unnatural spreading through the corrupted essence that took over her body, erasing it, as if it never was there to begin with.
Her hair was starting to regain its natural blonde color, and her eyes changed from yellow to green, becoming increasingly blue as the seconds passed. But before she could react—
"WICKERMAN!"
Cu's voice roared across the battlefield. And suddenly—a massive burning effigy of wood and straw crashed down upon her.
The Wickerman's fiery limbs wrapped around Arturia, trapping her, binding her within its searing embrace. The fire crawled up her armor, licking at the cursed metal, black smoke rising as the construct pushed her further against the wall.
And then the final blow was given carried by a voice. A voice, filled with unshakable resolve.
"Retaliator!"
A sudden flash of light. Bazzet moved faster than any human had a right to. Her body blurred, moving as if the very world was shifting around her, her fist glowing with an overwhelming radiance.
And then she struck. Her blow connected directly with Arturia's chest. A deafening impact. A burst of pure, absolute force. Arturia's armor cracked, then shattered. Her body caved inward, her ribs snapping as if they were made of glass. And then a hole. A massive, gaping hole where her chest had once been.
For the first time in her existence, Arturia faltered. She staggered, eyes wide disbelieving. She tried to move, tried to lift her blade—but nothing came.
Her sword slipped from her fingers, clattering uselessly to the ground. Her legs gave out beneath her. And with a final, broken breath she said with tears in her eyes as her body started to fade, "Shirou. I... I'm sorry"
The Tyrant of Britain fell.
The cavern was silent.
Then, Growlmon exhaled heavily, steam rising from his maw as his glowing hazard symbol dimmed once more.
Bazzet let out a breath, rolling her shoulders.
Cu lowered his staff, nodding in satisfaction.
And then Ritsuka collapsed, hands gripping the stone floor. His breath was ragged, unsteady. But not from exhaustion. From relief. Because that was the moment he realized. Takato was alive.
The aftermath of battle settled like a heavy weight over the cavern. The once-towering, oppressive presence of Arturia had faded, leaving only the sound of labored breathing and the occasional crackle of dissipating energy.
Growlmon exhaled deeply, steam rising from his maw as his crimson glow flickered and dimmed. His body trembled, his massive form beginning to shift. Then, with a final, deep rumble he shrank. His form collapsed inward, energy swirling around him, scales dissolving into red light, until finally, Guilmon stood where Growlmon had once been.
The small red dinosaur shook his head, blinking blearily as if waking up from a long dream. Then, his golden eyes scanned the area, his tail swishing slightly. His ears perked up. Something was wrong. Takato wasn't celebrating. Takato wasn't cheering. He wasn't even smiling. Instead, his body was tense with worry, his eyes wide with fear.
Takato ran towards his brother calling his name in worry. His older brother was still on his knees, unmoving, staring at the ground with lifeless, hollow eyes. As if he wasn't even there anymore. "RITSUKA!"
Takato sprinted toward him. His breath came in sharp gasps, his heart hammering in his chest. He skidded to a stop, falling onto his knees in front of his brother, gripping his shoulders tightly. "Ritsuka, say something! Please! It's over! I'm fine! I—"
Nothing. No reaction. It was like he didn't even hear him.
Takato's stomach twisted painfully. He shook Ritsuka gently. "Onii-chan! Please, snap out of it!"
For a moment, no response. Then slowly Ritsuka's head turned toward Takato. His eyes were red and swollen, his expression twisted in pure, overwhelming emotion. Tears streamed down his face.
Before Takato could say another word, Ritsuka lunged forward and pulled him into a crushing hug. A hug so tight, so desperate, that Takato could barely breathe. Ritsuka's voice broke as he sobbed into Takato's shoulder. "I—I thought I lost you!" His body shook violently, his grip never loosening. "I thought—I thought you were gone. I thought I—"
Takato felt something tighten in his chest. He wrapped his arms around his brother, holding him just as tightly. His voice was quiet, filled with guilt. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to make you worry." He buried his face against Ritsuka's shoulder. "I don't know what came over me. I just—I saw her. And I knew I couldn't stand back. Not against someone like her."
His fingers clenched against the fabric of Ritsuka's uniform. "But I'm okay, I promise. I'm okay."
Ritsuka took in a shaky breath, trying to steady himself. His heart was still pounding painfully. Slowly, he leaned back, his eyes still glossy with tears, looking at Takato as if memorizing every detail of his face. Then, he let out a weak, half-broken chuckle. "Never do that again."
Takato managed a small smile in return. "I'll try."
As Ritsuka finally calmed down, his face twisted into one of confusion. His hands gripped Takato's shoulders, his voice wavering. "But… how?" He swallowed thickly. For a moment, he looked like he was going to puke. "I—" He hesitated, before forcing the words out. "I don't want to ask this, but I have to—how are you still alive?"
Before Takato could respond, Bazzet's voice cut through the quiet. "I can explain." The woman stepped forward, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
Her presence alone was steady, grounding. "My Noble Phantasm—Fragarach—isn't just an attack." Her eyes flickered toward Takato. "It absorbs the energy of the strongest attack my opponent can unleash. It nullifies all damage and turns that energy against them."
She tapped her fist lightly against her palm. "That's why the fallen king of knights had lost. Her own power was used against her."
Ritsuka blinked slowly, processing her words. "So that's how…"
Mash, who had been silent until now, suddenly bowed deeply. Tears pooled in her eyes, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm sorry."
Takato and Ritsuka both looked at her, startled. "I wasn't strong enough to protect everyone." Her hands trembled slightly. "I should have been able to stop it before it came to that. I should have—"
Before she could finish, Ritsuka wrapped his arms around her. A simple, firm hug. "Thank you, Mash."
Mash froze. Then, her breath hitched.
Ritsuka's voice was soft but filled with warmth. "You protected everyone. You kept us safe. You gave everything you had." He pulled back slightly, his eyes gentle. "That's what matters. Thank you"
Mash's face flushed pink, and she quickly wiped at her eyes. "I— I'll become stronger," she promised, her voice stronger this time. "So I can protect everyone even better next time."
Ritsuka nodded firmly. "I know you will."
Then Cu let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Well." He rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck. "Looks like we actually won this damn thing." A half-smirk tugged at his lips. "Not bad. Not bad at all."
Olga, who had been quiet for most of this, suddenly clapped her hands together. "Mash, retrieve the Grail, it's time to fix this error in time, and end this Singularity once and for all."
Mash nodded. She turned toward the now-golden chalice, which radiated a soft, warm glow. Lifting her shield, she pressed it gently against the cup. The Grail shimmered and disappeared into the protective energy of her shield.
A small beep came from her communication device as she confirmed the retrieval. "Grail retrieval successful."
Romani's screen flickered to life, relief flooding his expression. "Everyone…" His voice cracked slightly. Then, with a bright, proud smile he said, "Good job."
------------------------
The air was still, unnaturally so, as the group stood outside the cavern. The battle had ended, the Holy Grail retrieved, and now they waited for the Singularity to correct itself.
Takato exhaled, placing a hand on Guilmon's head, scratching at his partner's ear absentmindedly. Guilmon purred softly in response, his tail swishing side to side.
Ritsuka stood beside Mash, relief slowly settling into his shoulders. The chaos was finally over, soon they would all return to their time, and he and Takato will finally be able to return to their normal lives, no more near-death experiences, no more would his little brother need to risk himself for others, no more.
Then a slow, mocking clap. A sound so out of place, so cold, that it made every hair on Takato's body stand on end. A familiar voice echoed through the ruined temple grounds. "So, you all survived the 'invincible' King of Knights, I see."
There was no warmth in the voice. Only amusement. "How… unexpected."
The group whirled toward the source of the voice. And there standing casually upon the crumbling steps of the temple ruins was Lev Lainur Flauros. His closed-mouth smile, his calm demeanor, his eyes shut as if he were merely enjoying the moment yet his very presence reeked of danger.
Behind him stood a hooded figure, draped in deep black robes, their face obscured by shadows. In their hand, they held something unmistakably a massive egg, the size of an ostrich's, completely metallic gray in color.
A terrible pressure radiated from it.
Takato felt his gut twist. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong.
Before he could react, Olga stepped forward. Her face lit up with relief, joy even. "Lev!" she gasped, running toward him. "You're alive! You have no idea how happy I am to see you! Everything has been horrible until now, but now that you're here—"
"OLGA, STOP!" Cu's voice cut through the air like a whip.
Bazzet moved instantly, stepping forward with a battle stance, her fists glowing faintly with energy.
"Olga, get back!" Takato yelled, his instincts screaming at him as he lunged forward, grabbing her arm tightly. He could feel her pulse frantic, desperate, hopeful.
She wrenched her arm free violently. "Let go of me, Takato!" she snapped, shaking him off.
Takato stumbled back, staring at her in shock. "Olga, please, listen to me! Something isn't right!"
But she ignored him. She kept running toward Lev, her entire being focused on him. "Now that you're here, everything will be okay!"
And then Lev opened his eyes. A cruel, predatory grin spread across his face. "Oh, Olga… how peculiar." His voice dropped, filled with something sickeningly sweet—mocking. "And here I thought I made sure to place the bomb under your coffin."
The words hit like a sledgehammer. The air turned frigid. Olga froze mid-step. Her breath caught in her throat. The words—they didn't make sense. They couldn't make sense. She shook her head. "W-what… what are you saying? Stop joking around, Lev."
Lev tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Did you survive? Or am I speaking to a fading ghost?"
The blood drained from Olga's face. A horrible chill crept up her spine.
Takato felt his hands clench into fists.
Guilmon's ears flattened, his lips curling into a snarl.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ritsuka demanded, stepping forward.
Lev sighed, shaking his head in mock pity. "Oh, sweet, dumb Olga…"
The false kindness in his voice made Takato's stomach churn.
Lev placed a hand over his heart, as if genuinely moved. "You always searched for someone to acknowledge your existence."
His grin sharpened. "How easy it was to stroke the ego of a failure like you."
The words struck like daggers. Olga took a slow step back, trembling.
Lev chuckled darkly. "To think, the very plan to 'save' your pathetic species was what ended up dooming them instead." His laughter filled the air, cold, merciless, and cruel. "Hahahaha! What a joke!"
"YOU BASTARD!" Cu launched forward, his staff glowing, but Lev merely lifted a hand. A pulse of invisible force erupted from his fingers, sending Cu skidding back.
Lev sighed dramatically. "Olga, Olga, Olga..." His voice was mockingly gentle, and he tilted his head slightly. "Even in death, you're still here to annoy me." He offered a pitying smile. "But fear not—I am not heartless." His expression then turned cold. "I will allow you to become one with your precious Chaldea."
Olga's lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something—anything— But no words came. She couldn't breathe. Her knees trembled.
Lev, unfazed, merely gestured to the hooded figure beside him. "But first…" He snapped his fingers. A shimmering golden window opened in the air beside him.
And what it showed was It wasn't Earth. Not the Earth they knew. The globe, which should have been a brilliant blue, was instead Crimson red. A deep, eerie, unnatural red. A dying planet. A world that no longer existed.
Lev simply smiled.
Olga fell to her knees. Her fingers dug into the dirt. Her entire world had just collapsed. Her voice—barely above a whisper. "No…"
Lev laughed. "Behold, everyone." His arms spread wide, as if presenting a masterpiece. "The true state of your world. A world that no longer exists."
The air crackled with tension, thick and suffocating, as the reality of what Lev had shown them settled in. The world was gone. Earth—a crimson husk of fire and death.
Takato's heart pounded in his chest. This wasn't just another battle. This wasn't another Digimon threat that could be solved with strategy and teamwork. This was total annihilation.
A slow, mocking clap broke the silence once more. "Oh?" Lev hummed, amusement dripping from every syllable. "I must say, I was expecting a bit more… despair. You lot truly are something else."
Before anyone could respond, Takato acted first. "Bazzet!" His voice rang out, firm and commanding, shoving aside his initial shock. "Get Olga back to safety, now!"
Bazzet nodded immediately, her muscles tensing as she prepared to move only for a shadow to blur forward faster than the eye could follow.
CRACK.
Bazzet's body rocketed back like a cannonball, slamming into the ground near Takato, leaving a deep crater in the earth.
A sickening silence followed.
Everyone turned toward the attacker. The hooded figure standing behind Lev lowered their fist, as if bored, and gave the egg to Lev to hold.
As Bazzet slowly rose to her feet, she wiped the blood from her lips, her eyes filled with burning determination. "I apologize for this shameful performance, Master," she murmured, flexing her fingers, her knuckles glowing faintly. She exhaled sharply. "Give me a second."
Takato barely nodded before Bazzet exploded into motion.
Her speed tripled, enhanced by reinforcement runes and battle instincts honed from years of combat.
The hooded figure didn't flinch. Not once. Instead, they danced. Weaving. Sidestepping effortly.
Bazzet's fists struck nothing but air.
Takato had never seen someone move like this.
Not even in Digimon battles.
Then, the hooded figure moved their arm. And for the first time, part of their body was revealed. A bony, unnatural white limb, like it had been carved from wood and reinforced with something alien.
A shiver crawled up Takato's spine.
Then, the figure suddenly threw out their palm. "Super-Dimensional Storm!" The moment the words left their lips, reality itself split apart.
Bazzet had no time to react. An invisible force slammed into her, cracking the air around her like glass, shattering space itself and sending her crashing down to the earth in a heap. She coughed, her body convulsing, blood spilling from her lips.
But it wasn't over.
The cracks in reality didn't fade.
Instead one of the jagged edges detached itself. A literal shard of the universe was flung at Bazzet like an arrow.
Takato's eyes widened in horror.
"BAZZET!"
But before the shard could consume her, she activated Fragarach. Her Noble Phantasm flared to life, absorbing the lethal energy, preparing to reverse the attack—
Then, she vanished. Not disappeared dragged away.
She reappeared miles from the battlefield, held firmly in the grip of the figure's impossibly long, stretched-out arm. Their hand was wrapped around her throat. Bazzet's eyes widened in realization. "Your special ability is dangerous," the figure murmured, their voice a deep, inhuman growl. Then, their grip tightened. "But tell me this" They reared back their free fist. "What happens if you're already storing an attack when another hits you?"
The punch landed. A devastating, crushing blow to her stomach.
Bazzet felt something inside her break. And then she was thrown into the rippling wound in space. A hole leading into the abyss. Her body spun, about to be swallowed completely.
Takato reacted on pure instinct. one of his command seals blazed. "BAZZET, RETURN TO ME!"
The air rippled violently. The force of his will, his command spell dragged her back.
She reappeared before she could be consumed, landing harshly beside Takato, gasping for breath.
The rift behind her twisted violently before the stars within it went supernova, triggering a literal cosmic storm inside the void.
Bazzet coughed, clutching her ribs, her body shaking from the overwhelming force of the figure's attack.
"BAZZET!!!" Takato screamed running towards his servant seeing her starting to fade just like Arturia, thinking quickly, once again one of his remaining two command seals blazed red, "By my command seal, I order you to heal!!!" as Takato finished giving his command Bazzet's body glowed leaving her unconscious to the world.
The hooded figure simply lowered its arm, stepping back. "Next time," their deep voice rumbled, "I will not be as gentle."
A chill ran through Ritsuka's spine. "Why…?" he muttered, barely audible. "Why would you do all this, and why is the globe red?"
Lev laughed. "Oh, child." His eyes gleamed with pure, cruel amusement. "Haven't you figured it out yet?" Lev turned toward the projection of Earth. "The reason Chaldea's globe is red is quite simple." His smile widened. "Because the entire world is engulfed in eternal flames."
The words hit like a tidal wave.
Takato's breath caught in his throat.
Ritsuka's body locked up.
"Every living thing on Earth," Lev continued, dragging out each word with sick enjoyment, "has been completely and utterly wiped out."
Takato felt his legs shake.
Ritsuka let out a choked sound. A weak whimper. His voice broke. "Mom… Dad… no…"
Takato clenched his fists. His entire body trembled with rage. The command seal on his arm began to glow. The Hazard symbol pulsing an ominous red.
"How—" Cupidmon whimpered, tears spilling down his cheeks. "How can someone be so evil?" His small body shook violently. "This is scary… I want Ophanimon…!"
Lev simply smiled. "And now," he gestured toward Olga, who was still on her knees, shaking, "as I said—I am not heartless. I shall grant you one final mercy." He raised a hand. "Olga Marie Animusphere—"
Olga's breath hitched. Her eyes widened in raw horror. "No."
"You shall become one with your family's life work."
"NO!"
The air distorted— Olga's body was lifted from the ground. Her screams turned to begging.
"If I touch Chaldea I'll be erased! I'll be stretched through time and space forever! Please! Someone, ANYONE! SAVE ME!!!"
Takato snapped back into reality. "GUILMON!" He raised his D-Arc, ready to Biomerge
Then agony. His body felt like it erupted in fire. Takato screamed, collapsing to his knees, his mind spiraling. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. His emotions whirled violently, teetering on the edge of insanity.
Guilmon rushed forward. "TAKATOMON!"
Before he could reach him, Ritsuka shoved him aside, and hugged Takato, shielding him. "Get away from him!" Ritsuka barked, trying to hold his brother together.
But it was too late as in the background Olga let out one final scream, and Olga disappeared. Consumed by the void.
"It seems the old Tree has left one final gift for the tamer of the Hazard. It's better to take care of him now before he evolves into a problem," the hooded figure began readying another attack as his white bony hand started to glow once again, but Lev interrupted him with a wave of his hand.
"Now, now, it's already finished. There's no way for them to turn this around. Hahahah! You truly are too paranoid. Our king and your lord have already planned for everything. So let's show the losing side one last mercy; let them squabble and waste the limited time they have left. We have already won." As Levi finished speaking, the hooded figure nodded and brought his white arm back into his hood, leaving only his exposed arm visible.
As everyone started to glow and fade from the world now that the singularity was dealt with, Ritsuka could only hug Takato to his chest as the Hazard symbol on his arm flashed red.