The Penultimate [Plot Arc 4-X - Bridging Post]

"Ah, as you wish my lord... let's see, let's see..."

"It seems that D-Reaper addled doctor's had her knights beat up a bit - but don't be too lax, she has more than one card to use for 'em." (X).

"Ah, but that Gluttony proxy you were worried about's already fled - and we won't have to worry about that old Greed either. Mm... but somehow that MeiCrackmon's coming our way..." (X)

"And, sheesh! No need to worry about that imposter spellcaster or the fox, they're still fighting!" (X)

"And... it seems like that bunny spirit you sent off's gotten a freshening up from the sidelines. He's running headlong for you, probably will get there first." (X)

"But if you want my opinion, you'd better act fast, my Lord! Battered as they may be, they're all coming right for that big signal flare!"

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Continued from War Game

Is that so? Well, as much as I wanted to try and play the diplomat here, I guess I should be at least a little serious...

Suffice to say, the mere form of a Wizardmon was probably not the most imposing threat to the Fladramon, and the act that the sorcerer put forth would have, hopefully, at least made the lizard consider his existence as more than just another flunky to waste away in the flames. But with the goal so close at hand, he couldn't contain his facade much longer: beneath that cloak, he was already wearing a wide grin.

With the advancing party worn down by his soldiers, it was time to play the best card the spellcaster had: with one arm hidden beneath his cloak, a powerful, dark light enveloped his body, enough force to at least force the dragon to brace himself as the Wizardmon ascended to his true form, not as another marked warrior...

... But as the undoubted mastermind of the raid.

However, the sorcerer didn't maintain center stage for long. His eyes on the statue - then on the Fladramon - he simply gave a chuckle. Opening the book hidden beneath his arm, Wisemon didn't even utter a spell, the text on the page simply flickering to life as a massive crimson stream of data poured on out. Between the Fladramon and the bookkeeper, a crimson dragon roared ferociously towards the sky.

"Good... I'm sure you don't need my order, but leave nothing here alive!" As soon as the Wisemon's order was given, the sorcerer rose quickly above the battlefield. But even before that order was fully given, the dragon roared to the sky, the hazard symbol upon its chest emblazoned in a sickly, orange light, the few plants that had survived the Fladramon's scourging flame curling and souring up at the radioactive dragon's mere presence.

"Nothing... left... alive..."

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And so, the stage was set: with Fladramon's inferno burning through the forest, and those that wanted to enter in having to brave the flames, it would seem that Wisemon had managed to reach the center, wear down the opposition, and only have one true challenge left between himself and his ultimate goal...

... Were it not for reinforcements from Vander Tower. Looking on from above, the Wisemon gave a glance down towards the forest - confused to see that red flame turning black. "What in the... tch!"

As if we'd just let you!

Luke and Iko's (X) role in all of this was not to become directly involved, but rather to change the scope of the battlefield before them. Their biomerged form, the wolf Dakuferamon, stood at the edge of the forest, the shadows of the trees and foliage cast into a dark 'cord' that stretched out into the woods, forcing its way to intertwine with the flames. That yellow blaze was cut out and replaced with a black fire...

... But their interference wouldn't stop there. As the air at the center became thick with a foul heat wrought on by the Megidramon's energy, the sky itself began to darken, a heavy rainfall beginning to pound the ground below. Steam rose from the Megidramon's scales as it was pelted with water, but more importantly, the heavy radiation within the air was dampened by the forceful addition of water.

That was all they could offer - the rest was up to those in the forest itself. But the rain would likely cut a path through for the rest of them!

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No matter... all I have to do is cancel out their weather with one of my own...

The Wisemon shuffled through his spells - but before he could bring anything to mind, his focus was quickly drawn to something else. Another data signal had passed into his range - and this one, he was quite familiar with.

Snapping his book shut, he put his focus in that direction, even increasing his distance from the battlefield to make sure no-one took an opportunistic shot. There, suspended and floating in the air, he grit his teeth.

That mess of a data signal could only belong to one being.