Tai flicked his hand; a beam of light lanced out and met the X-shaped wooden boomerang slicing toward him.
Boom.
The beam vanished and the boomerang whipped back to its owner. WarGreymon hurried in front of Tai, guarding him. Tai narrowed his eyes at the figure hanging upside down from the ceiling—Puppetmon.
Whoosh—something rushed from the right.
Wham—Tai turned in time to see Machinedramon's vast palm; several swords were now jutting from it. A Digimon in a jester's mask and motley, a magic sword box strapped to his back with four blades stuck in it, stepped out of the shadows.
"Piedmon," Tai said, naming him. Piedmon smiled, and Tai's gut tightened.
"Ultimate Stream!" A titanic energy beam roared from the left.
"Terra Force!" WarGreymon formed a blazing sphere between his palms and drove it into the oncoming torrent.
Kaboom—kaboom!
An even greater blast rattled the hall, leaving it cracked and shredded. A swarm of Hagurumon and repair Digimon poured in and started patching the damage. No one moved; all watched one another warily while Tai and Piedmon stared each other down in silence.
In short order the hall stood restored, identical to before. The repair crews withdrew.
Still wearing that eternal smile, Piedmon regarded Tai. "Chosen Child—what business brings you here? And you, Machinedramon—planning to defect to Gennai's side?"
Machinedramon said nothing, looking at Tai. Tai thought a moment. "I'm only reclaiming what's mine. And since when did I belong to Gennai?"
"Hmph." Piedmon shot a glance at WarGreymon and Machinedramon. "Your squabbles don't concern me. But the sealing of the Four Sovereigns will not stop. I don't care who holds the reins of this 'Steel Empire.' That work is the line you do not cross."
Tai held his gaze, then smiled. "Relax. The seal won't stop. They've had their time on the stage."
Piedmon laughed. "All the better. I won't intrude on your reunion." He turned to go. Puppetmon, seeing the show was over, hefted his hammer and vanished. MetalSeadramon slipped away without a sound.
When they were gone, WarGreymon frowned. "Tai, why do we have to seal the Four Sovereigns?"
Tai looked at him. "You don't want to?"
WarGreymon shook his head, meeting Tai's eyes. "Whatever you decide, I'm with you."
"You still don't see it? Piedmon showed up with Puppetmon and MetalSeadramon to force our hand. Three Megas together—no way we beat them now. They're not united, but that doesn't matter—we can't face them yet. Piedmon came to make sure the sealing continues, and he doesn't care who runs the Steel Empire. His aim is to cut off any chance we'd team up with the Four Sovereigns. If we'd refused, he'd have killed us and put someone else in to keep Machinedramon's job going." The taste of coercion burned; Tai hated it—even if he'd never planned to work with the Sovereigns anyway.
He drew a steadying breath and opened a channel. "Datamon, I'm sending coordinates. Open a gate."
Datamon didn't ask why—a good subordinate's habit. "Understood."
A moment later, with a low hum, a doorway flared. Datamon stepped through.
Tai strode over. "Datamon, begin merging the Metal Empire with the Steel Empire. One state. Machinedramon, continue the seal on Baihumon. WarGreymon—get comfortable in your Mega form." Then, silently: Just wait, Piedmon. You'll pay for today.
The Metal Empire's sweeping integration began. When it finished, the power it would unleash would be immense.
On the far west of the Server Continent, a white tiger encircled by twelve orbiting Dig Cores lay pinned beneath a mountain. His cores were dim. Machinedramon's colossal frame approached, casting a data web around Baihumon's body. Streams of energy bled away; the Sovereign could do nothing but roar.
In a palace, Piedmon watched through a giant telescope, laughing. A woman's silhouette slipped from the shadows.
"Lord Piedmon—why not kill the boy?" LadyDevimon asked.
Piedmon turned. "Why bother? Only downside there. You think that child is so easily cornered? Foolish. He's carrying a data oscillator. It doesn't disturb him like it would us—the ones made entirely of data. He truly doesn't fear collateral harm to his partner… Besides, all I need is someone to keep the seal in place. Who it is makes no difference. Why fight to mutual ruin? Don't forget—we've other rebels to handle."
Tai sat atop the tallest spire, overlooking a capital that had ballooned in days. With both Machinedramon and WarGreymon, the Metal Empire's expansion had gone into overdrive; the entire Western Continent now lay within his borders. He pushed internal development and shored up his rule. It was about time to visit Myotismon—Gatomon and the Crest of Light were still in that vampire's hands. Time to take them back.
Gekomon's castle.
No matter how Sora coaxed, Mimi wouldn't budge; she couldn't let go of the pampered life here, and the thought of marching off to fight a new enemy made her hesitate.
They learned the reason Mimi was "princess": King Gekomon had fallen into a deep sleep after losing a karaoke contest. When Mimi arrived, her singing stirred him, so the Gekomon enthroned her in hopes she'd sing again and wake him. But Mimi, guarding her princess persona, refused to sing.
After the explanation, every eye drifted to Matt. He glanced around—and surrendered.
Onstage before King Gekomon, Matt began to sing. No wonder he'd someday be the frontman of a hit band; his voice lifted the king's tail—by the final note, King Gekomon was on his feet.
He didn't have time to throw the tantrum he did in the original.
Boom, boom—outside, a neat line of mechanical soldiers loosed missiles. The castle's outer wall shattered.
"Ah!" the children yelped. Mimi, in a princess gown, picked her way along with Lilymon's help. Lilymon grumbled as she steadied her. "Mimi, you're heavy. And this dress is impossible to walk in!"
"What? I am not that heavy! You're just not trying," Mimi huffed.
"I am trying!"
"Really?"
"Really."
Watching the pair, everyone ran out of energy to snark. If not for the raining stones, this would have been a fine time to let them bond—except—
"All right, Mimi, Lilymon—enough. Please, look where we are," Sora said, rubbing her temple.
"Out, out! It's going to collapse!" Kids and Gekomon dashed for the doors—but aside from some falling masonry, the castle showed no signs of coming down. Inside, King Gekomon blinked. "What are you running for? Don't think I'll forget you woke me!"
The kids stared. We thought you were steady as a mountain; turns out you didn't even notice what's happening.
"What is that?" Joe asked, baffled.
A Gekomon peered down the mountain and dropped to his knees, shaking. "It's… it's the Steel Empire's mechanical soldiers!"
"Steel Empire?" Izzy's curiosity kicked in—only to be cut off by another blast.
"All right, everyone—go!" Gabumon called, evolving first to Garurumon and charging the mechs. The partners all evolved in turn and rushed the lines.
High above, Tai rode a Megadramon at the head of his army toward Myotismon's castle when the column halted and explosions rolled from the front. Tai frowned and spoke to the MetalPhantomon at his side. "See what's happening ahead."
MetalPhantomon returned quickly. "Report, Lord Tai. A castle blocked the army. During demolition, several Digimon emerged to resist. Strong units have been dispatched; we'll advance shortly."
Tai settled back, then asked, "Which Digimon?"
"WereGarurumon, Angemon, MegaKabuterimon, Lilymon, Garudamon, and Zudomon. They won't hold long. They're already giving ground."
Tai blinked. No way. This world's too small… Them? And a castle… don't tell me—
"Is that Gekomon's castle?"
"Yes, Lord Tai."
Tai stood, eyes on the relay feed in his digi-goggles. Onscreen, a handful of Digimon fought on, encircled by his troops; children stood behind them. His mouth twitched. Small world indeed.
"The army will withdraw. Disengage."
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