The difference in specs was clear—whether it was physical capability or combat skill born from experience, the Royal Knight was superior. Furthermore, Takato was fighting a being that could anticipate every threat. Hence, this was a being that would not be defeated by a stroke of luck or a convenient accident.
Omegamon does not make mistakes.
Gold and white clashed again and again in the sky. While the gold one darted in every direction like a mad pinball, the white one relied on minimalistic movements to parry the other one’s furious assault. Omegamon only did the absolutely minimum necessary to prevent damage and it was only because he was Omegamon that he could do that.
He could not be defeated in a battle of attrition.
Takato’s back met an outcrop of rock, but he moved just in time to avoid the horizontal slash that cut the stone at the base. Omegamon’s eyes narrowed just before the gargantuan rock he had just sliced off the ground shattered in a million irregular and very sharp fragments, but the point-blank explosion would not harm his excellent armor. The Royal Knight elegantly protected himself by letting the shards bounce off his cape—
The knight’s bladed right arm darted out of the cape to meet Takato’s punch.
“It is useless,†he stated of Takato’s idea of using the shower of fragments for cover. Soon enough, the armored human was once more overpowered, his golden form crashing on the ground like a beautiful meteor.
This time, Takato did not stand up immediately afterwards. Lopmon watched the prone boy sprawled on the hard soil with sad eyes.
“So, this is the difference between Magnamon and Omegamon,†Takato murmured as he struggled to control the hasty pace of his heaving breath.
The difference between the weakest and the second strongest among the Royal Knights.
Omegamon’s heels touched the ground, the knight standing over the fallen human and unhesitatingly pointing his Grey Sword at his face.
“You will speak now.â€
A statement. Never a question. Omegamon does not need to ask questions.
Takato chuckled even as he raised his body until he was kneeling on one leg. It was actually kind of hard to speak in his current state. He would not be able to explain things properly even if he wanted to.
The Royal Knight’s next attempt at pulling information out of Takato was interrupted by a series of explosions. Two Royal Knights, a human and a Child-level Digimon glanced in unison in the direction of Reichmon’s castle. It was falling apart, despite not having suffered significant structural damage. Pieces of obsidian towers fragmented and collapsed like Lego blocks, never touching the ground for they dispersed into meaningless data as they fell.
“Reichmon is dead,†Omegamon declared, and Takato sighed in relief. Now he had to distract the Royal Knights long enough to slip everyone through the gate…
“Step back, Omegamon.â€
It could not be a Digimon.
The owner of that voice could not possibly be a Digimon, but perhaps it was precisely for this being that the word ‘Digimon’ applied the most. That which filled the vast open land with the magnitude of its mere existence was a true ‘Digital Monster’. A monster of monsters that defied all comparison.
Should he laugh or cry? Should he bit his tongue or cry in outrage at his misfortune? Takato had yet to even see the monster standing behind him, but his miserable, pitiful body clad in the most radiant golden armor had already surrendered. Vaguely, just vaguely, he heard the shrilly, pathetic cries of Shaochung’s Digimon partner. Of course, if he, Matsuda Takato, had succumbed to this point, then Lopmon must be wracked by incomparable terror…!
Omegamon’s eyes showed the extent of his surprise at the most unexpected newcomer. His own power was immense, and he was amongst the few who could stand before this immense, unreasonable existence without being defeated by its very presence. Even Magnamon had chosen to land and fall on one knee, keeping his eyes fixated on the ground so as to not reveal the extent of his awe and his fear.
This was a Digimon that could not appear before other Digimon. The gift of undefeatable power was also the curse of eternal solitude.
“I am Alphamon.â€
Yes, Takato had already figured out as much. The abomination before him could only be the one who imprisoned Lucemon in the Dark Area. In fact, how monstrous could Lucemon possibly be, that not even this absurd being could slay him?
“I have come following the presence of the Crest of Wrath,†Alphamon explained his appearance to all the presence. “I can feel it within you, human, and not only that.â€
Takato squeezed a clump of hard soil with his left hand. He could not…he could not allow this monster to say another word! Lopmon was right there! This…Alphamon, he was about to ruin everything!
“Please…†For some reason, that was the word that left his lips.
A tilt of the supreme knight’s head. Holy? Could they really call this thing a ‘Holy Knight’? This thing, more fearsome, more terrifying than any Demon Lord?
Alphamon turned its body to fully face the fallen Takato, whose body trembled as it became the sole recipient of the huge knight’s attention. This was…this was ridiculous, and humiliating beyond compare.
What were his options? None; it was preposterous to even think of the possibility of options existing. No, to the current Matsuda Takato, there was only one way out.
“Please…say, say no more,†Takato pleaded, and as if his words were an admission of surrender, the golden armor of Magnamon he wore scattered into worthless bits of data. “I…I’ll tell you everything.â€
However, that did not mean he had lost.
“But…â€
The Royal Knights’ eyes narrowed.
“Only to you,†Takato declared, quickly working his way to the least disadvantageous path. No matter what, his pieces could not learn of the Game. Not yet.
“I’ll speak only to you, Alphamon.â€
********************************
“Jen…â€
“Hmm?â€
Late that evening, partner and Digimon stared at the ceiling together. While her mother often argued about letting the Digimon sleep with their Tamers on the same bed—mostly out of ‘health concerns’ or the such—, most of the time Jenrya’s and Shiuchon’s partners did pretty much whatever they wanted.
“What are you thinking?â€
Jenrya hesitated for a moment.
“I think…†He eventually spoke, slowly and somewhat distractedly. “…that I’ll ask you and Lopmon to repeat that story again tomorrow.â€
“Hmm…â€
There was a strange coldness in the room, at odds with the warm summer night breeze. Rather than coldness, it was more a sense of “distanceâ€. Terriermon was resting on his Tamer’s chest, but there might as well be a stone wall between them.
“I cannot help but feel there’s something you guys are not saying.â€
“We told you everything we saw that day, Jen,†Terriermon retorted. “Lopmon told you how they were beaten by the Royal Knights. When I and the others got out of Reichmon’s castle, Takato and Alphamon were away from Lopmon and the other two, and nobody knows what those two said to each other.â€
The green-white Digimon leapt off Jenrya’s torso and planted his head on the pillow to stare at the young human’s eyes. It was a level of intimacy Lee Jenrya only shared with his Digimon partner, so far.
“We told them that we beat Reichmon, but Cyberdramon went on a rampage. Takato and Alphamon then hurried to the collapsing castle, but we were too exhausted to follow, and Alphamon scared the living shit out of us.â€
The Child Digimon shuddered; the mere memory of that abominable existence shaking him to his very DigiCore.
“We don’t know what happened in the castle, either. They returned a few minutes later, Takato carrying a sleeping Monodramon. Alphamon left with the other Knights after that; Magnamon and Omegamon did not look too happy about it, but who’s gonna argue with that monster?â€
“Haa…â€
Jenrya sighed, and looked away from his partner and back to the ceiling once more.
“Takato…reached some sort of deal with Alphamon.â€
Terriermon did the same, and both Tamer and partner found themselves once more admiring the clean ceiling above their heads.
“That…would be the likely possibility, yes. But what really bothers is what Alphamon said when he first arrived, according to Lopmon.â€
“The Crest of Wrath…â€
Jenrya and the Digimon Tamers already knew about the Crests of Deadly Sins from Katou Juri. They also knew of Juri’s possession by Leviamon and how Takato saved her by claiming the Demon Lord’s Crest of Envy for himself.
“Takato already had the Crest of Wrath, back then,†Jenrya stated, and it was, indeed, the absolute truth.
The Digimon Tamers do not know this, but the number of Crests of Deadly Sins Matsuda Takato currently possesses, is three.
It was a good thing, of course. It was a step towards Takato’s victory and freedom. However, the question was important because it was frightening. Jenrya wished to know because not knowing made him nervous.
When did Takato defeat Demon?
*******************************
With the glow of myriad points of artificial light, Lucemon arrived to his final destination of the evening. Standing in the middle of the small room, the Child Digimon planted his small hands on his hips and made a face of smug satisfaction.
“Umu,†he said to himself, as if there had been any possibility of his instantaneous movement failing. It was an unnecessary gesture that did not truly mask the excitement clear in his beautiful irises.
He inhaled. Deeply.
“Suuuu…â€
He inhaled, and his body flushed with almost sensual bliss.
“…haa…â€
He exhaled, almost reluctantly, the sound of the air escaping his lips carrying an undercurrent of longing. Still, his eyes glimmered with happiness.
“This place…†He murmured as in a trance, his voice half an octave higher. “It’s so full of you…â€
Like an art geek who visits the Louvre for the first time, Lucemon’s eyes danced merrily to capture the sights of Matsuda Takato’s bedroom: the school textbooks aligned on a shelf over the desk, the Digimon Card Game posters adorning the walls, the Agumon action figure that triggered an unusual dark feeling in Lucemon’s chest.
Of course, he had seen this place hundreds of times before, when following Takato’s days. He knew of the old drawing notebooks stuffed in a cardboard box in the closet, together with an old Disney cap he received from Makino Ruki and a make-up kit he got from Makino Rumiko. He also remembered the group of stray cats that chose the alleyway right out of Takato’s window for their occasional nighttime concerts.
Lucemon, who had followed Takato’s life for five fruitful years, knew everything that could possibly be known about this room. But the happiness that inflamed his chest simply by being there, in person, could not be denied.
Furthermore, that thing was there. On the corner.
It beckoned.
Lucemon looked at it with trepidation, out of the corner of his right eye; his pride obliging him to resist its temptation, even if he knew it was pointless. Even stronger than his pride, that insufferable, irresistible feeling…!
Stealthily, hesitatingly, sliding his bare feet along the cold floor, he inched towards that damnable thing. He glanced nervously at both window and door, no matter how unlikely it was for anybody to catch him unaware. Window, door, and then that…that…
He could not.
Lucemon simply could not hold himself anymore!
He plopped down on its empyreal softness, and a most unbelievable “funyaaa~†sound escaped his majestic lips. His angelic wings wagged like the tail of a delighted puppy. An electrical current shot from his tail bone upwards, making his body shudder and his vision go blank for a moment.
It was wonderful! So wonderful! Too wonderful!
“Funyaaa~†The same strange, incomprehensible word, this time muffled by the malleable softness of Matsuda Takato’s pillow.
Lucemon’s eyes suddenly shot up in utmost shock!
Yes, it was certainly a pillow.
Lucemon was resting face-down on Matsuda Takato’s bed.
And his face…on the pillow.
The pillow.
The pillow…!
Lucemon’s face was buried on Matsuda Takato’s pillow!
He trembled. It was hesitation that made him tremble. Not even the strongest Digimon, Alphamon, could make Lucemon feel doubt in this manner. He acknowledged Alphamon as the strongest, but he did not fear him.
No, Alphamon did not…he had nothing on the ultimate temptation presented before him! Even his magnificent pride would surrender before its charm!
Yes.
It was pointless to hesitate. After all, this battle was lost long before it started.
Lucemon inhaled. He inhaled like he had never inhaled before.
He was lying on a bed long unused; a bed Matsuda Takato had not rested on in months. Rather than any human scent, his nostrils were instead filled with the perfume of detergent and softener.
However, it was still the bed where Matsuda Takato had slept since he had memory. It was the place where he had spent between one-fifth and one-fourth of his entire life.
Nowhere in the universe was Matsuda Takato’s presence stronger, than on that bed. Thus, even better than the best trained dogs, Lucemon could feel him. All over that room, and at its strongest on that bed.
“Takato…†Lucemon whispered gleefully. “It’s like…fuaaah~â€
He rubbed his face against the pillow in inexplicable joy. He giggled like a girl who was confessed to by the boy she had always liked. He greedily grabbed the pillow and squeezed it against his body. He rolled on the bed like a hyperactive kid, his tiny hands never letting go of the fluffy headrest. He was out of control; he truly could not control himself. It was something completely beyond his control, something that betrayed even the pride that was his power. Before this incomprehensible feeling he never asked for, his body succumbed and his mind became like marshmallows.
“And that’s why…†He muttered, as his relentless rampage on the bed finally came to a stop. With his face half-hidden by the pillow, Lucemon glanced at the empty ceiling of Takato’s dark bedroom. But nothing could hide the emotions in his eyes.
Sadness, longing, regret, disappointment, boundless affection.
But, above all, the determination of one with the power to both create and destroy worlds.
“That is why, I have to destroy you, Takato.â€
As long as Matsuda Takato existed in this world, Lucemon’s wish could not be fulfilled.
This, Lucemon believed to be absolutely and undeniably true.
However, if only for that night, he would forget about that and bask in the comforting presence of the one who was his and only his.
Clutching the pillow like an unimaginable treasure, the Avatar of Pride, Lucemon, for the first time in many, many, many years, slept.
******************************
Eight hours passed, and the two chatted the whole time. They spoke of all sorts of things: of the Tamers, of Takato’s Digimon partner, of Makino Ruki, of the Digital World, of life, the universe, and everything.
“It’s done,†Takato finally said. Albeit reluctantly, he lifted himself off Dreams’ soft thighs and faced her properly. “It’s compiled.â€
The Crest nodded. The boy smiled with affection and gratitude.
“Thank you for staying with me tonight.â€
He honestly did not know if he would be able to express his gratitude like that again, so he thought it better to make his feelings clear in that moment. The strange, inhuman girl, however, shook her head in response.
“Takato,†she said. “No matter what you request of me, no matter what you choose to do or what you choose to become, I am yours.â€
She exists beyond good and evil, right and wrong. She is but a machine, a perfect genie that unhesitatingly turns her master’s dreams into reality, without regard for the consequences.
Takato chuckled. “I don’t deserve you.â€
Dreams shook her head again. Worthiness or virtue had nothing to do with it. She chose him because, even before he was born, she knew he would make her do amazing things for him.
Because she knew, and still knows that, one day, he will dream a Dream of incomparable greatness.
“Go, Takato. Dream for your own sake. Dream for me.â€
Her expression had never changed. Neither had her voice. But Takato still felt an irreplaceable connection to this transcendental being. He considered Dreaming her into reality for a moment, but Dreaming to manipulate the nature of Dreams was too risky, especially at this critical juncture. No, he had to accept this as their one and only night.
“Don’t worry,†Takato said while grinning confidently. “I intend to use you thoroughly and without hesitation.â€
Dreams nodded and the world around them, the hall of gold and marble and elegance beyond compare, began to fall apart like house of cards. Takato’s words, words that would be deplorable when aimed to a human being were accepted most eagerly by this vast existence beyond comprehension.
“Use me with abandon, my precious Dreamer.â€
********************************
Inside an octahedral crystalline prison, Matsuda Takato opened his eyes. Almost immediately, he felt the pressure of GranDracmon’s gaze on him. The Vampire Lord watched him from above, elegantly seated on the wide throne at the top of the staircase of red felt, golden threads and violet crystal.
Even in the center of his territory, where he was at his strongest, GranDracmon was cautious. Takato thought it was a great quality. He almost felt sorry for him, for no amount of caution would be of help in the current circumstances. Really, it could not be helped.
Human (if he can really be called such) and Digimon stared at each other at length. The Digimon watched over the crystal with an austere, regal poise, like a sphinx guarding the gate to great riches. The human boy wore a calm, pleasant smile.
GranDracmon jumped to its paws the moment the concentric circles of the Crest of Dreams came to life under the crystalline prison. However, by then, it was already far too late.
“BABALON.â€
The source is Thelema. The language is Enochian. No schema was applied.
The name of the sacred whore in whose purity resides the path of supernal enlightenment.
GranDracmon’s crystal fortress exploded.
********************************
“Holy, Holy, Holy art thou, and blessed be Thy name for ever, unto whom the Aeons are but the pulsings of thy blood.â€
Aleister Crowley, “The Book of Thoth: A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians, Part Twoâ€, Appendix, p.143, 1944.
********************************
CHAPTER 03 – END