The monster that looked the part changed his growl into a roar.
And thenàblurred?
No, Meramon realized, heÆs just moving really fast.
Meramon narrowed his eyes. If he focusedàyes! He could see more than a red blur. He could see-!
Meramon caught the creature by the neck, and swung him like he was weightless. He threw him into what had once been a PyocomonÆs house.
The monster went through it, and straight into the house behind it.
ôCrimson Flame!ö He shouted. The blast of flame exploded from his fist, burning away what remained of the first building, and causing a huge explosion in the second.
Meramon turned, with narrowed eyes, towards the other.
The boy was casually reclining on a bench that had miraculously remained unharmed. He spared Meramon a brief glance before turning his attention to the location of his partner in crime.
He smiled and hummed a note of amusement.
Meramon had a moment to be confused before a blast of fire took him upside the head.
And, shockingly, it hurt. Only a little, but still, it was a blast of fire; it should have been an exercise in futility to use it on him.
ôYouÆre a Data Type, arenÆt you, Meramon?ö The boy asked. ôHmàthat makes things convenient.ö
Meramon spared him a growl before turning towards the source of the pain.
The red Digimon was pulling himself from the rubble. Well, really, he just stood up and it fell from him like rain water. He seemed unharmed by the attack.
Meramon was a bit annoyed; sometimes he hated being a Data Type, because it always meant he had a hard time with certain types of Digimon.
ôA Virus, huh?ö Meramon tilted his head to the side and cracked his neck, no mean feat since he didnÆt actually have a skeletal system. ôIt doesnÆt matter. It just means we have to do this the hard way.ö
The boy chuckled.
ôYouÆre right; since it looks like Fireball isnÆt very effective, GuilmonÆs just gonna have to tear you to pieces with his claws instead. Sic æem, boy.ö
The beast snarled while he lunged at Meramon. Taken by surprise by how suddenly things had reverted to melee combat, Meramon barely managed to interpose his arm between GuilmonÆs fangs and his throat, and reduced a cry of pain to a hiss when the fangs sunk in. He hoped that the flames of his body would burn his opponents mouth, but had no such luck; likely a downside of fighting someone who spat fire.
The symbol on the beastÆs stomach pulsed red, and the flames around his jaws began to change color, darkening to red and quickly progressing towards black.
MeramonÆs hiss reverted to a cry. His flames were burning him, at least where the flames were changing color.
Unfortunately, that area happened to be increasing. The colors around the wound were also changing, as though-
Meramon cursed in realization.
As though being infected by a Virus.
ôBurning Fist!ö Meramon shouted, delivering the attack at point blank. This time his attack tore a yelp of pain from his target.
Of course, he didnÆt come away unscathed either. HeÆd blown Guilmon off his arm, and though his uncorrupted flames didnÆt hurt him, heÆd still basically torn the creature off of his arm.
Without prying away his teeth.
And so, in the process, Guilmon had torn a chunk of digital flesh from his arm.
At least those flames were changing back now that Guilmon was no longer connected.
And heÆd managed to burn its face in the process.
Meramon also noticed something that improved his moral; the boy was looking a lot less cocky now. HeÆd lost his relaxed smile, and was now frowning at him. He didnÆt take his eyes away from Meramon as he talked to his partner.
ôHow you doing there, Guilmon?ö
A growl was his only response.
The boy nodded, but still didnÆt look away.
ôWell, on the bright side, those teeth of yours hurt him quite a bit.ö In contrast to his eyes, he spoke as though Meramon wasnÆt there. ôI guess we have two choices now; we can wear him down over time from long range, which would be safer but tedious. Or, you could just tear those arms of his off. ItÆs your choice.ö
Guilmon lowered himself closer to the ground and attacked again. This time it was no senseless lunge; it was a predators dash. He ran with his body nearly parallel to the ground, and low enough that if there was a table between him and his opponent, he likely could have gone straight under it without slowing.
And he was certainly moving fast.
He attacked with his right claws first and aimed for his enemyÆs unprotected belly, but Meramon was prepared this time, and he didnÆt even make contact. Instead, Meramon leaned backwards maybe five centimeters, and the claws hit nothing but air. As soon as they had missed, he leaned back forward, and he brought his fist with him.
The blow took Guilmon across the face, and slide along the ground nearly three meters, before he turned the slide into a roll, and landed back on his feet.
He attacked again, in much the same way, but he aimed for MeramonÆs thigh with his left claws.
Meramon responded by brushing aside GuilmonÆs left arm with his right, and slamming his right knee into his chin.
Guilmon slide back once again, but only half a meter this time, and his feet never left the ground. As soon as he stopped, he attacked again.
And so it continued. A bite aimed for MeramonÆs left arm was answered by his right fist to the left side of GuilmonÆs face. Another attack to the stomach was responded to by grabbing his arm and pulling him into a punch. A successive strike to the stomach caught Meramon slightly by surprise and inflicted a minor wound, but was returned with a punch to GuilmonÆs own stomach. An attack to MeramonÆs right side missed entirely as he stepped lightly to the side and slammed his elbow into GuilmonÆs face.
And then everything began to change.
Another attack to the thigh missed, but this time, MeramonÆs responding fist was dodged. Guilmon attacked again, and scored a blow to MeramonÆs left side before his left fist succeeded where his right had not.
A bite that was aimed for his knee was dodged with a swift sidestep, but so was the replying kick. GuilmonÆs claws never connected with his thigh, but MeramonÆs fist didnÆt connect with his face, either. And then Guilmon did manage to claw at his left hip, and dodge the angry backhand. He scored another blow to the left side, slightly above the first, before Meramon retaliated successfully with his right fist.
Guilmon focused more on the left side in response to the successful attacks.
He attacked twice with his claws, and missed, but he was vicious enough to push the injury-favoring Meramon back enough to not worry about dodging any attacks. He then took Meramon by surprise; he swiftly turned and swept his tail at MeramonÆs legs.
Due to MeramonÆs superior size, it did little more then throw him off balance, but throwing him off balance was enough; Guilmon raked his claws across MeramonÆs left thigh.
Realizing that he was losing, and to a Child, at that, Meramon quickly decided heÆd had enough.
ôMagma Bomb!ö
The sudden rain of magma rocks dissuaded GuilmonÆs attempted advance. Using the brief pause granted by not being under attack, Meramon attempted to shift the tide of the battle by putting Guilmon on the defensive.
ôFire Wave!ö
The flames of MeramonÆs body grew and intensified and he rushed towards Guilmon who was forced to quickly backtrack away from the flames. In truth, while the flames were a dangerous attack in and of themselves, their true purpose was to keep Guilmon out of melee range.
Safely out of harmÆs way, Meramon took advantage of his ranged attacks, knowing that GuilmonÆs werenÆt very damaging to him.
ôCrimson Flame!ö He cried, punching with his right fist as he stepped forward with his left foot.
Guilmon was forced to scrabble way from the flames, for though he knew they couldnÆt really hurt him either, he was also aware that being put in a position in which Meramon could rain down blows was a bad idea.
ôCrimson Flame!ö Meramon repeated, stepping forward with his right foot and firing with his left. Guilmon was also forced to repeat his evasive maneuvers.
Meramon didnÆt let up; he attacked with each step he took. He had the advantage now, and more to the point, he knew the area better. If he could lead Guilmon into an area where evasion was impossible, then he could simply rain down blow after blow until his enemy stopped moving.
Just a few more steps and his opponent would be trapped between Meramon and a rock wall, with Pyocomon houses on either side.
Of course, Meramon wasnÆt the only person to notice this, and he quickly cursed himself for forgetting about his other opponent when he heard his voice.
ôGuilmon, attack his wounds!ö
The beast didnÆt even hesitate, its loyalty was so unquestioning.
ôFireball!ö
MeramonÆs assault faltered as the attack connected with his left side. It didnÆt do too much damage, but it felt like someone was rubbing salt on his wounds.
ôGet behind him!ö The beastÆs master ordered.
Guilmon took advantage of his opponents pause and dashed between his opponents legs. MeramonÆs invigorated flames burnt him as he did, but he seemed to pay them no mind in his hurry to follow his orders.
ôPush him back!ö The voice followed up, and Meramon noted a great deal of glee in it.
And he knew why.
He was about to be shoved into his own trap.
ôFireball!ö The blast didnÆt hurt, but it made him stumble.
ôFireball!ö Again, he stumbled, but this time he managed to turn around in the process.
It did him no good.
ôGo for the face!ö The boy commanded.
ôFireball!ö The blast took him straight in the face and forced him back yet again.
ôFireball! Fireball! Fireball!ö The three successive blasts to the face hurt, and more importantly, knocked him off his feet.
Meramon felt fear. He was lying prone; he knew what was about to happen.
ôGet on him, boy!ö
The beast landed on him with a pounce, and bared him down with his superior position. Those slavering jaws opened and flames lingered in their depths.
Five blasts; five successive, point-black blasts to the face slammed MeramonÆs head into the ground one after the other. It hurt.
A lot.
The monster would have continued, too, if a voice hadnÆt interrupted.
ôGuilmonàö
Meramon had a suspicion he wasnÆt going to say anything good.
ôBreak him.ö The statement fell as though it was an executionerÆs blade; an example that was, Meramon noted, probably fitting.
ôRock Breaker!ö The beasts claws came down, and true to the attacks name, the force of the blow was powerful enough to crack the ground all around his head.
ôRock Breaker!ö Guilmon repeated its attack, and the cracks grew alongside MeramonÆs pain.
ôRock Breaker!ö He did so again.
ôRock Breaker!ö And again.
ôRock Breaker!ö And again.
ôRock Breaker!ö And again.
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