The forest outside Piximon's domain felt older somehow, as though time itself had slowed. The air was colder, the trees taller, leaning in like ancient sentinels watching the two boys below. Matt and Izzy moved silently through the underbrush, lit only by the soft pulse of their Digivices. Occasionally, Tentomon would buzz forward, eyes glowing faintly, while Gabumon kept close to Matt's heel, ears twitching at the faintest sound.
"Left," Izzy whispered, eyes glued to his laptop. A steady sonar pulse flickered across the screen, marking wild Digimon with tiny red dots—and revealing a narrow corridor of safe passage.
Matt gave a curt nod and turned in that direction. "You're getting better with that."
"I had to optimize the scanning rate," Izzy murmured, adjusting his glasses. "Piximon's terrain scrambles long-range readings, so I—"
"Izzy," Matt interrupted gently, "I meant it as a compliment."
Izzy blinked. "Oh."
They continued on until, through a thicket of tangled vines, they spotted a circular stone rim jutting from the earth—ancient, cracked, and wrapped in ivy.
"A well?" Matt asked.
Izzy's sonar flickered uncertainly. "There's a faint signature down there. I can't get a read. Something's interfering… but it's not hostile."
They both approached slowly. Matt leaned over the mossy edge, peering down into the darkness. At first, there was nothing. Then a gentle glow began to shimmer in the black—like stars at the bottom of the ocean.
"There's something there," Matt said quietly, eyes narrowing.
Izzy crouched beside him. "You think it's your crest?"
Matt nodded. "Maybe… maybe both."
He reached into his pack and pulled out a length of coiled rope. Tying one end around a stone jut, he handed the other to Gabumon. "Hold tight."
Gabumon nodded, paws bracing against the earth. "Be careful, Matt."
Activating the Digivice Barrier, Matt's body shimmered faintly—like a bubble of light had formed around him—and then he began his descent into the well. The rope creaked against the stones. The further down he went, the more distant the surface felt. The world above dimmed, and the glow below intensified, bathing the old stones in a cool, ghostly blue.
When he reached the bottom, his feet splashed softly into a shallow pool, clear and still.
And there—floating just above the surface—were two crests. One shimmered with a brilliant orange hue, and the other, an electric blue that pulsed like a quiet heartbeat.
The blue one pulled at him. Deep inside, he knew. Friendship.
He stepped forward, staring. The symbol on the crest seemed to ripple, not just with light—but with meaning. It flickered with every memory, every doubt.
Friendship.
But what did that mean?
Matt stood still as water trickled from the walls behind him. Thoughts rose, unbidden.
Was friendship what he had with Tai? With Izzy, Joe, Sora, and Mimi? Or had they merely been allies in a crisis, like soldiers sharing a trench?
They'd fought together. Laughed a little. Argued a lot. He remembered yelling at Tai, storming off, shutting himself in silence like a wounded animal. That wasn't friendship. That was fear—of being seen. Of being weak.
He had protected T.K., yes. But that was family. That was his duty. The others… Did he really let them in?
The crest shimmered again, and Matt saw fragments—moments when Tai had pushed him forward, when Mimi had sat beside him after a hard battle, when Joe had offered a shaky hand to help him up after a sparring loss. Not grand gestures. Just real ones.
He hadn't asked for those things.
But they'd been given to him.
"Have I…" he whispered, "even allowed myself to be a friend?"
The glow brightened, as though the crest was answering.
Not perfectly. But trying.
And that was enough.
Tears stung at the edges of his eyes, not falling—just brimming. His hand trembled as he reached out, and the moment his fingers brushed the glowing crest of Friendship, the light pulsed through him like a sudden wave of warmth, rising and falling in his chest like a heartbeat. The cold at the bottom of the well receded, and for the first time in a long time, he felt understood—by something older and deeper than words.
Back at the top, Izzy called down, "Matt? Are you okay?"
Matt looked up, eyes reflecting blue light.
"I found it," he called, voice low but steady. "I found myself."
As he tied the crest around his neck and began to ascend again, he glanced at the second crest—Izzy's, still waiting quietly in the water's light.
Matt's fingers tightened around the glowing blue crest as he took a final glance at the second—Izzy's, still shimmering in the water like a silent promise.
"Grab it," he said quickly, voice urgent but steady. "We don't know if we'll get another chance."
The moment he touched the second crest, the well trembled slightly as if the Digital World itself had acknowledged the moment. The light coiled around his hand, warm and buzzing, as if it recognized its rightful bearer even in someone else's grip.
"Gabumon! Pull me up!" Matt shouted, looping the rope under his arm and tightening the crests to his belt.
Gabumon grunted and braced, muscles straining beneath his fur as he began to pull. The rope creaked, the damp stones whispering their protest as Matt ascended quickly, water trailing from his boots.
Then Izzy's voice rang out, strained and trembling.
"Matt! HURRY!"
Matt's head broke the well's rim just as Izzy backed away, eyes wide and laptop clutched in his hands. The sonar screen flickered madly, two red blips pulsing with speed and menace.
"They're coming," Izzy breathed, "Two of them. Fast. Large signals. We're not alone anymore."
In an instant, Matt was up and rolling, pulling the rope clear while Gabumon bared his teeth. "Digivolve. Now."
"Tentomon—" Izzy began.
"Already on it!" Tentomon interrupted.
Twin beams of digital light exploded into the air, illuminating the clearing in a shimmering blaze. Gabumon's small frame expanded into the imposing figure of Garurumon, blue-and-white fur bristling with tension. Tentomon's wings unfurled with a mechanical screech, becoming the great armored Kabuterimon, his horn sparking with energy.
"Get on!" Matt shouted as he swung himself onto Garurumon's back, sliding the two crests into the satchel across his chest.
Izzy climbed onto Kabuterimon, arms wrapped tightly around the Digimon's neck. "Piximon's domain is west—four kilometers!"
"Let's move!"
They darted into the dark trees like arrows, the wind whipping past their faces. Every branch and leaf seemed to part for them, but it was only a matter of seconds before a thunderous roar echoed behind them.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Trees snapped like twigs. Leaves exploded into the air. Behind them, a DarkTyrannomon charged through the forest like a battering ram with teeth—huge, heavy, black-scaled, and relentless.
And ahead—Matt cursed under his breath as something even more sinister emerged from the shadows.
Devidramon.
It hovered just above the ground, wings beating in slow, ominous strokes. Its eyes were pure red, like burning coal in a black sea, and its long claws clicked against the bark of a dead tree.
Garurumon skidded to a stop. Kabuterimon hovered beside him, snarling.
Trapped.
"One behind, one ahead," Matt muttered, pulling his crests tighter against his chest. "They were waiting for us."
Izzy gritted his teeth. "They're too coordinated. Either someone sent them… or they smelled us coming."
The air was thick with anticipation, like the moment before lightning strikes. Matt looked at Izzy, their partners growling beneath them.
"We can't fight both," Izzy said sharply. "Not in our state. We haven't even fully healed. That training nearly shattered us."
Matt didn't respond right away. His eyes were on Devidramon, the great winged beast that blocked their path—closer now, swaying side to side like a predator before a pounce.
"We don't need to fight both," Matt said slowly. "We take out Devidramon—fast. No games. Then we run for it before DarkTyrannomon catches up."
Izzy hesitated, then nodded.
"Hit first," Matt growled, "and don't stop until he's down."
Garurumon growled in agreement. "Understood."
Kabuterimon's voice rumbled beside him. "Let's make it count."
And then—without another word—Matt and Izzy leaned forward, eyes sharp, crests glowing softly at their sides.
The battle had begun.
---------------------
The wind shifted. The shadows themselves seemed to lean forward as the two Digimon emerged from the dark.
Devidramon stood before them—towering, twisted, and cruel. Its wings stretched wide like a death shroud. The scarlet glare from its four demonic eyes bathed the clearing in a sickly, crimson hue. Its tail, ending in a claw that slowly opened and closed like a hungry maw, twitched with terrible anticipation.
Behind them, DarkTyrannomon crashed through the trees, every step leaving a crater. Flames sparked in its throat, the promise of destruction glowing with each breath.
"Izzy…" Matt's voice was a low murmur, barely above the rush of wind. "They're not wild. They were sent."
Izzy's lips tightened. "Etemon."
Devidramon's eyes ignited. Four orbs of deep, burning red locked onto them, and at once—everything stopped.
Matt froze.
His breath caught in his throat. His muscles wouldn't respond. A suffocating weight pressed against his chest, like his body was being pulled into the earth. It wasn't fear—it was like will itself had been wrenched from him. His mind still screamed, but his body refused to obey.
Beside him, Izzy gritted his teeth, trembling in place. "It's… those eyes. He's… locking us down."
The fire behind roared to life. A guttural howl erupted from DarkTyrannomon as it loosed a blazing inferno, flames streaking toward them in a sweeping arc of orange and black.
"GABUMON!" Matt croaked.
"GARURUMON, NOW!"
With a growl that split the paralysis like shattered glass, Garurumon leapt forward, shaking off the oppressive gaze with sheer will. His claws dug into the earth as he turned, shielding Matt with his massive body. The fire slammed into him—his fur singed, his muscles straining—but he held.
Izzy's eyes narrowed. "Kabuterimon, mental override. You're faster than this."
The insectoid Digimon screeched in response, focusing his energy inward. His horn crackled with power as electricity spiraled across it. His thoughts surged faster, faster—no longer reacting by instinct, but by cold calculation.
Matt knew what they had to do.
"Boost your mind, Izzy. I'll boost our power."
He clutched his digivice, the Crest of Friendship pulsing against his chest with heat. Not just warmth—but the weight of conviction. It wasn't just about being strong. Friendship wasn't measured in words or smiles. It was this—standing with someone, even when your body fails you, even when everything tells you to run.
Garurumon howled—a howl born from the storm, shaking the trees and parting the air like a cannon blast. The sound carried Matt's resolve with it, echoing into the forest like a challenge.
Kabuterimon shot upward, antennae glowing, horn charged like a lightning rod. With a flicker of blue and white, he loosed a bolt of lightning straight for Devidramon.
"ELECTRO SHOCKER!"
But Devidramon was already moving. In a flash, it twisted through the air with unnatural grace, wings snapping down and propelling it sideways like a phantom. The lightning bolt crashed into a rock, exploding it in a burst of stone and static.
And then—the counter came.
"Demonic Gale!" it hissed.
Devidramon spread its wings and flung them forward. A black wind surged from its body—tainted, reeking of rot and malice. The gale carved through the clearing like a blade, knocking back the champions and sending leaves spiraling into oblivion.
The Demonic Gale howled past them like a living shadow, sweeping up earth and shattered leaves in its wake. The force of it was monstrous—Matt and Izzy had to cling to their Digimon partners for dear life as the pressure threatened to toss them backwards, straight into the jaws of DarkTyrannomon behind them.
Garurumon's paws skidded against the ground, claws carving deep grooves into the soil. His muscles strained as he leaned into the wind, icy breath steaming from his maw.
"Now!" Matt shouted, clinging tightly to his partner's fur. "Garurumon, freeze him!"
The great wolf raised his head and unleashed a blizzard-blue breath, shimmering with crystal shards—Fox Fire!
The blast streaked through the air like a comet and smashed into the trees where Devidramon had been—but the demon had already moved. Its twisted form blurred through the frozen branches, wings slicing the cold air with whiplike precision. The beam of ice struck the ground behind it, and in an instant, the forest floor was encased in shimmering frost—trees glistening, the ground brittle and deadly cold.
Devidramon spun in midair, wings curling inward as dark energy formed between its claws.
"Darkness Wave!"
It slashed through the air—and a wave of night itself burst forth, a swirling torrent of pure shadow. The attack roared toward them like a living serpent, black tendrils hissing with malevolent intent.
"Jump!" Matt barked.
Garurumon didn't hesitate. He lunged to the side with a powerful leap, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the attack. The edge of the darkness grazed his fur, leaving blackened streaks in its wake.
Meanwhile, in the sky—
Kabuterimon had risen above the canopy like a knight of the storm. His giant wings buzzed with lightning now, and his compound eyes locked onto the massive frame of DarkTyrannomon, who was stomping forward through the trees with each footfall causing the earth to groan.
"Get its attention, Kabuterimon!" Izzy called, already typing data into his device with one hand while gripping tightly with the other.
The beetle-like Champion obeyed without a word, diving straight down in a crackle of energy. DarkTyrannomon roared and lashed out with its enormous claws—but Kabuterimon was faster.
He rolled midair and twisted out of reach, electricity sparking across his carapace as he brought down his glowing horn like a lance of judgment.
ZAAAAAP!
The tackle hit hard. CRACK!
DarkTyrannomon reeled back, sparks leaping across its snout. The ground shook beneath its feet as it let out a thunderous roar of rage.
Kabuterimon pulled away just in time to avoid a retaliatory snap of massive jaws.
"He's durable," Izzy muttered, eyes darting between the two enemies. "But his reflexes lag. Matt—we need to isolate Devidramon first."
Matt, crouched low on Garurumon's back, nodded grimly. "Yeah. He's faster. And that tail of his... it's not just for balance."
As if to prove his point, Devidramon's tail lashed out—and the tip unfolded like a blooming flower of claws, razor-sharp and hungry. It struck the frozen ground Garurumon had created, shattering it like glass, the explosion throwing icy shrapnel into the air.
Matt shielded his face. "We end this quick."
He looked at his partner, who growled low and steady, steam rising from his jaws.
"I'm ready," Garurumon said, voice rumbling like thunder.
---------------
For a moment, the forest echoed with the roar of fire and the hiss of ice, a chaotic orchestra of elemental fury as the battle raged.
Devidramon hovered in the air like a vulture of nightmares, his leathery wings slicing through the canopy, claws dripping with shadow. Every movement of his grotesquely long limbs was fast, fluid—too fast.
"Keep him busy!" Matt shouted, already forming the plan in his head. "We'll shift targets!"
Garurumon snarled, baring glistening fangs. "Let's dance, demon."
The wolf lunged forward, jaws flashing like ivory lightning. Devidramon intercepted him mid-leap with a screech of fury, claws colliding with claws. The force of the clash sent a shockwave through the clearing, leaves flying like startled birds.
Above, Kabuterimon struck from the side, his great horn crackling with electricity. The beetle-beast loosed bolt after bolt of pure voltage—arcs of blue light that forced Devidramon to twist and pivot, every movement precise but strained.
"He thinks we're focusing on him!" Izzy called, the corners of his mouth twitching into a rare, calculating smile. "Let's use that!"
In the background, the monstrous form of DarkTyrannomon was lumbering forward, flames swirling in his maw. His massive legs tore through the forest like an angry god, each step shaking the very roots of the trees. With a guttural roar, he unleashed a fireball the size of a small boulder, which exploded nearby in a fury of heat and flame.
"Watch it!" Matt growled as the heat scorched the edges of his cloak.
Devidramon darted left—dodging another bolt from Kabuterimon—and prepared to counterattack.
But Matt had already seen it. A gap in his movement, just enough.
"Garurumon—turn! Hit DarkTyrannomon, now! Ice Cannon!"
The blue-furred Digimon leapt sideways mid-sprint, digging his claws into the frozen earth. A brilliant azure light pulsed from his jaws, and with a thunderous roar, he released a beam of supercooled energy.
SHRAAAAK!
The beam tore across the battlefield, slicing past Devidramon and smashing directly into DarkTyrannomon's chest. The fire in the dinosaur's mouth sputtered and died as frost crackled across his scales. His limbs froze mid-motion, arms raised, snarl half-formed.
"Boosted output!" Matt's Digivice flared in his hand, amplifying the beam with a burst of energy that gleamed with the Crest of Friendship.
DarkTyrannomon staggered—ice spreading rapidly, pinning his joints, binding his tail.
"Now, Kabuterimon!" Izzy called.
"Electro Shocker—full blast!"
Kabuterimon's horn surged with violent brilliance, a storm given form, and with a mighty cry, he launched the bolt.
The sky turned white for a heartbeat.
The bolt crashed into DarkTyrannomon's frozen form—shattering the ice, but also overloading the Digimon beneath. The ground shook as the beast roared in agony, blue energy racing along every red stripe of his body.
And then—with a sound like thunder meeting stone—DarkTyrannomon collapsed, smoke rising from his back, eyes blank, limbs twitching in defeat.
One down.
Devidramon shrieked in fury, realizing too late he'd been tricked.
-----------------
The sound of heavy breathing and pounding paws filled the air as Garurumon and Kabuterimon tore through the dense undergrowth, weaving between gnarled trees and leaping over fallen trunks. Mist trailed behind them—Garurumon's icy fog, chilling the forest in his wake. Sparks flickered in the air around Kabuterimon's gleaming horn, lightning arcing between trees like angry spirits.
"Piximon's domain is close—just two kilometers!" Izzy shouted, clutching his Digivice with white-knuckled fingers. "We just have to make it there!"
"Go!" Matt urged. "Don't look back!"
But behind them, the sky split with an unholy scream.
Devidramon—the Many-Eyed Demon—was far from done.
He gave chase like a stormcloud with wings, his claws tearing into the earth, his four blood-red eyes burning with fury. With a beat of his great wings, he surged forward, the wind screaming in his wake. The earth beneath the children trembled—their legs were failing, their partners weakening, the last of their energy vanishing like sand through their fingers.
And then—a blur of red light streaked past them like a comet.
A gale erupted from nowhere, ripping trees from their roots, shaking the forest down to its bones.
Matt and Izzy shielded their eyes as the red streak landed with a thunderous crack, a crater forming at its feet.
Naruto.
But not just Naruto—One-Tailed Cloak Naruto, his body wreathed in molten chakra, flickering like wildfire in a storm. His eyes were slits of molten gold, his cloak of bubbling energy radiating power far beyond anything a Champion-level Digimon could summon.
He had watched them, just as he had done many times before—never interfering until it mattered most.
And now, it did.
Naruto raised his clawed hand. The chakra around it twisted, forming a ghostly sickle. With a growl that echoed like thunder, he slashed the air—
Whooooosh!
A wind scythe burst forth, cleaving through the battlefield like a force of nature. The forest exploded, trees disintegrated into dust, and the very sky seemed to tremble. Devidramon barely had time to react, raising his arms in a crossed block. Even then, the strike tore through his defenses, carving deep gashes into his arms, sending him spiraling backward through the wreckage of the forest.
Before he could recover, Naruto landed with a snarl—feral and regal, a being of pure power and purpose.
"Stay down," he growled, voice distorted by the beast within.
He slammed his clawed hand into the ground.
BOOM!
From the earth, dozens of giant chakra claws erupted, monstrous and serpentine, grabbing and slashing at Devidramon with terrifying speed. The demon flapped his wings wildly, evading some, but not all—one claw raked across his chest, another slammed into his back, and a third caught his leg, snapping bone with a sickening crunch.
Devidramon let out a screech of agony and tried to rise—but Naruto had already charged his final blow.
Mouth opening, the air shimmered.
A sphere of chakra gathered, swirling in his maw like a miniature sun. The very air warped as he released it—a beam of pure chakra, burning bright blue and white, tore through the battlefield.
It struck Devidramon full-on.
The demon's shriek was swallowed by the explosion.
Light devoured shadow. Trees were leveled. Earth was scorched black.
When it cleared—Devidramon was gone, disintegrated by the force of Naruto's wrath.
Silence fell.
Only the distant rustling of wind remained, carrying the scent of ozone and scorched wood.
Naruto exhaled slowly, his chakra cloak flickering, then dimming. He turned toward the boys, his voice calm again, tinged with faint amusement.
"You almost had him," he said with a grin.
Matt and Izzy just stared—half-exhausted, half-awed.
Then Izzy laughed—genuine, if shaky. "You know, for a guardian fox-spirit thing… you have a knack for timing."
Matt gave a smirk, ruffling Gabumon's fur. "Let's not make a habit of that close a call."
-------------------
As the scorched air cooled and the shadows of battle retreated into the trees, the trio—Naruto, Matt, and Izzy—walked along a winding, moss-lined path leading back to Piximon's domain, where the canopy grew dense, and gentle pink light filtered through the trees. Garurumon and Kabuterimon had reverted back to Gabumon and Tentomon, riding quietly on their partners' shoulders, still tired but comforted by the safety in Naruto's presence.
Naruto walked slightly ahead, hands tucked behind his head, his chakra cloak gone, replaced once again by his casual orange jacket—though his wild hair and sharp eyes hinted at the force just beneath the surface.
Matt broke the silence first. "...You were watching us, weren't you?"
Naruto didn't stop walking. "Yeah."
"Why didn't you help earlier?"
At that, Naruto gave a small smile. "Because you didn't need me to."
Izzy glanced up from his Digivice. "We were nearly out of energy."
"But you made a plan," Naruto replied. "And it worked. You adapted, worked together, trusted each other. You're not just tamers with Digimon—you're warriors with partners."
Matt looked down at Gabumon, who gave him a small, proud nod. "Still… if you hadn't shown up when you did—"
"You still would've made it," Naruto cut in gently. "Maybe a bit bruised. Maybe tired. But you would've gotten through. You underestimate yourselves… especially you, Matt."
Matt blinked. "Me?"
Naruto slowed, turning to face him fully. The mood grew quieter.
"I saw you when you picked up those crests," Naruto said. "The way you looked at yours… like you didn't believe in it."
Matt frowned slightly, arms crossing. "It's the Crest of Friendship. I… I'm not even sure I deserve it. I don't know what friendship really means sometimes. I keep wondering… if I'm just dragging everyone down."
Izzy looked like he wanted to say something, but Naruto held up a hand.
"I used to feel that way too," Naruto said, voice softer now. "There was a time I had no friends. No family. Just silence and stares. I thought power was the only way to be seen… the only way to be someone."
He glanced at Matt, eyes shining not with power, but warmth.
"But I learned that friendship isn't about always smiling, or getting along perfectly. It's about standing with someone even when it's hard. When you fight. When you don't understand each other. And you, Matt—" he gave a small grin, "—you fight hardest for the people you care about. You push them. That's what real friendship is. That's why your crest chose you."
Matt's gaze dropped for a moment, thoughtful. Then Gabumon nudged his leg gently. "See? Told you."
Izzy smirked, relaxing. "Well… maybe now we can stop being chased by flaming demon lizards for a while."
Naruto laughed. "Don't get your hopes up too much."