The Light of Hope

Devimon waved one hand, and a beam of black light enveloped the DigiDestined, including Zhou Zhu and Leomon.

"I'll reduce every last one of you wretched brats to ashes!" Devimon raised both claws and advanced on the children, who were trapped in the darkness and unable to digivolve.

"Harpoon Torpedo!"

Boom, boom, boom!

At the critical moment, Sora and Joe arrived with Ikkakumon and the others, interrupting Devimon's attack.

"Meteor Wing!"

Whoosh-bang, bang!

Birdramon began attacking Devimon from the sky as well.

The two consecutive attacks forced Devimon back several steps.

Meanwhile, Tai and the others broke free of Devimon's dark power.

"Everyone, digivolve now, while you have the chance!"

As Sora ran toward Tai and the others, she reminded them to seize the opportunity.

"Agumon, everyone, digivolve!"

At Sora's reminder, Tai turned to his companions!

"Yeah!" ×4

Agumon... digivolve!

&... (BGM: Brave Heart)

Greymon!

Gabumon... digivolve!

&... (BGM: Brave Heart)

Garurumon!

Palmon... digivolve!

&... (BGM: Brave Heart)

Cactuar!

Tentomon... digivolve!

&... (BGM: Brave Heart)

Kabuterimon!

T.K., Patamon: ...

"Super Flame!"

"Fox Fire!"

Boom!

The two attacks struck Devimon. It wasn't that they did nothing-they merely gave Devimon a good scratch.

Bang!

With a casual swing, Devimon hurled Garurumon, who had clamped down on Devimon's arm, into Greymon, taking them both out at once.

"Mega Blaster!"

"Needle Spray!"

Seeing Garurumon and Greymon's attacks fail, Kabuterimon and Cactuar immediately launched their own!

"Thunder Cloud!"

Wizardmon followed Cactuar's lead and attacked Devimon as well!

Although Zhou Zhu planned to coast along and reap the rewards, he couldn't make his act too obvious, could he? If everyone else went down and only his Wizardmon remained standing, wouldn't the job that originally fell to Patamon land on him instead?

With Wizardmon's current strength, there was no chance of beating the enhanced Devimon. If things really went that way, Devimon would wipe them all out...

Bang!

Smack!

Clang!

With just a few swings, Devimon swatted the three Champion Digimon to the ground like mosquitoes!

Whoosh!

At the critical moment, Leomon charged forward without hesitation.

"Now that's Leomon, a true champion of justice. When trouble comes, Leomon really steps up." Watching Leomon charge in alone, Zhou Zhu silently admired that courage while slowly retreating behind the others.

"Beast King-"

Bang!

Just as Leomon was about to attack, Ogremon suddenly burst out of Devimon's body and brought a club down on the unsuspecting Leomon's head!

"Hahaha! I've become one with Lord Devimon! Leomon, you'll never defeat me!" Ogremon laughed smugly at Leomon, who lay sprawled on the ground.

As the children's Digimon fell to Devimon one after another, Devimon's enormous body turned toward T.K. and Patamon.

"So you're T.K., the youngest of the DigiDestined? Once I defeat you, I'll have nothing left to fear." Despite T.K.'s terrified expression and the seemingly weak, helpless, pitiful Patamon beside him, Devimon didn't let down any guard.

After all, judging by the DigiDestined's usual antics, this Patamon could digivolve at any moment.

Thud!

Just as Devimon reached for T.K. and Patamon, Garurumon leaped up and bit down on Devimon's leg.

Cactuar, Ikkakumon, Birdramon, Kabuterimon, and Greymon rushed in right afterward and grabbed hold of Devimon!

"T.K., run!"

Seeing Devimon target his little brother, Matt hurried toward T.K.

"Damn you!"

Whoosh!

Devimon shook that enormous body, instantly flinging every Digimon holding on several meters away and leaving them unable to fight.

Except for the weak Patamon, the entire main cast had been wiped out...

That naturally included Wizardmon, who was coasting along and putting on an act.

Devimon... reached those enormous claws toward Patamon and T.K. once more...

This time, no one could stop Devimon!

"Air Shot!"

"Air Shot!"

"Air Shot!"

Facing Devimon's hand, which loomed like the sky itself, Patamon kept struggling desperately despite knowing those attacks couldn't budge it.

Because T.K. was right behind Patamon!

"It's no use...

"Why am I the only one... the only one who can't digivolve?!"

Looking at the enormous hand that was about to engulf Patamon's body, Patamon could no longer hold back the tears.

"Patamon!"

T.K. cried out in terror as Devimon's hand drew closer.

But Devimon wouldn't show mercy just because he screamed!

Whoosh!

Patamon flew forward, blocking the hand reaching for T.K. with that small body alone.

If I can't stop Devimon's claws, then I'll give my life to buy T.K. a little time-even just one second...

Looking at Devimon's tightly clenched hand, there was no need to spell out what would happen to Patamon, trapped inside.

&... (BGM: Brave Heart)

"Huh?"

As dazzling light poured out from within that hand, Devimon's sense of foreboding grew ever stronger!

"That light is...?"

The familiar light instantly reminded the DigiDestined of something.

Patamon... digivolve!

Angemon!

"Look, Patamon digivolved!" Joe, who had been on the verge of despair, instantly grew excited at the sight.

"Angemon?"

Thank goodness, we're saved. Too bad Birdramon can't fight anymore. Otherwise, we'd have an even better chance.

"He looks just like an angel..."

As Mimi gazed at Angemon in the sky, the image of her own Cactuar involuntarily surfaced in her mind...

"Patamon digivolved!"

He finally digivolved. Looking up at Angemon, T.K. finally felt all the frustration in his heart melt away.

After all, even Zhou Zhu's friend Candlemon had digivolved into Wizardmon, despite Zhou Zhu not being a DigiDestined, while T.K.'s own Digivice had seemed like nothing more than a decoration...

"Damn it! I was so close!"

Just as I feared, it happened after all!

Devimon couldn't have felt more frustrated at the sight of Angemon...

"Evil force of darkness, I command you to disappear at once!"

Ignoring Devimon's resentment, Angemon delivered a thoroughly melodramatic line...