Lance Through the Canopy [PLOT] [5/5]

Feeling the ring crumble on Smamemon's forehead was virtually therapeutic for the angry little spheroid, serves the bug brain right for ignoring him. Smamemon fell alongside the rookie bug digimon the champion turned into, with a visible lack of aggression now, it was safe to assume the fight was over, now, resulting in a slow regression of adrenaline, in Smamemon as he glanced around, realizing that everything that needed to be punched had been, as the big black pillar crumbled before the concentrated attacks of everyone, and the champion level guardians were disposed of, and just like that, the battle was over. If he knew it would have been that easy, Smamemon would have used his finishing move, just for that extra satisfaction.

Instead, however, some projections of two digimon appeared, their voices dripping with sarcastic thanks, and with the sensation of the two leering at the group, Smamemon gradually made his way towards the remains of the pillar, as everyone spoke their minds, against the two jerkwads responsible for all of this. Another vein popped on Smamemon's smooth dome, his expression remaining the neutral, taciturn expression. Once everyone gave their piece, Smamemon finally spoke up, his small size leading to him virtually appearing from nowhere. "Pretty easy to talk big when you aren't even here." They said, childishly monotone as always, as he bumped his fists together, "But it doesn't really matter what you build, if someone punches it enough, it'll break." They stated, brutally matter-of-fact, before they launched them-self at the crystal, his fist sparking, as he aimed his explosive "Smiley Cracker" at the crystal ball, intent on ending the conversation there and then, at the temporary expense of losing one of their hands. "Like that." Smamemon said, staring at the fragments of the crystal that would remain if the attack worked as intended.

The holograms of the two digimon took in the words spoken to them with unwavering smiles, seemingly satisfied with their work. The female one spoke first.

"Really... you state that we're the bigots" she said. "I am aware of what you humans do to others you see beneath you. Your ongoing presence in our world will bring nothing but suffering to us digimon. These towers may be an unfortunate tool that we must use, but use them we will, if it means ridding you from our planet. You'll find my offer generous, we will even let your partners leave and stay by your side on your world, as they seem to want so dearly".

"That might be true..." Luke said, panting heavily as the Elecmon tried to stand, but in the end failed, remaining on all fours. "But we have to stay and save this world! You don't have the right to tell us to leave, if we do, you'll be doomed to whatever's coming!" Something bad was approaching from the Dark Area after all.

"We can handle whatever's coming" the male figure spoke. Then K offered an act of healing to one of the twins. Bellamy coughed as he weakly nudged Luke forward.

"You take it, Luke, I can hold up a little longer" he said, but was surprised when Luke far more strongly pushed him forward to take the aura.

"No, you got hurt more than I did" he told the Impmon. It was one of the few moments where Bellamy was reminded that he was the little brother, and gratefully accepted the healing, still exhausted, but no longer on the verge of de-digivolving to Yaamon.

Then the figures turned to K, looking curious. "Interesting, you see humans as your salvation, Renamon?" the female asked. "Perhaps you'd feel differently if you knew what they'd do to you once they have no more use for you. Still, perhaps you're not entirely lost to us. In time, you would do well once the digital world returns to the way it's meant to be"

Next to act was the little Mamemon, whose act was to destroy the hologram emitter. At once the two figures disappeared, but a bodiless chuckle indicated that they weren't entirely gone yet.

"Not in the mood to talk, Mamemon? Very well, we shall simply meet again in person one day, perhaps then you will see that fighting for humans will bring you nothing but betrayal" the male voice spoke.

Last was the spirit wielder. This one was the most intriguing of all to the two unknown enemies. A human that could directly use the power of a digimon. To her fierce words though, the female voice responded.

"Perhaps our towers will fall" she said. "But, it will take more and more from you to attempt to do so on every new one built. Eventually, the price to pay to bring one down will be simply too much for you, and perhaps then you will see that to fight on is pointless".

So that's what this was. Colin held his partners gently, feeling them tremble from the effort they had just exerted. A battle of attrition, where the cost of fighting further would eventually be too much. But it would take more than a couple of digimon xenophobes to make him give up on his responsibility to help the digital world be safe and peaceful.

"Wherever you are, we'll stop you. One way or another, we promise" was all he said. There was no further answer. The voices did not respond, it seemed that their communication had ended.

It seemed that the war was not over, but still, the battle for now was won.

"Is everyone okay?" Colin asked the rest of the group. "I can call my mercenary to help you back to Whitewater if you need" he offered. It would be improper of him not to at least extend the offer after all.

K's eyes narrowed a little bit when the Holograms reacted quite.. surprisingly well to the group as a whole. They seemed to have tempered results; like they were okay with failure and that they could deal with it. She'd thoughtfully rub her muzzle and turn a little bit as she healed Bellamay. If they were okay with this; that meant with each failure they'd get better at this entire mess and would continued forward with more ideas in mind.

Considering the pulse they had a way of combating armor forms in some manner or another but rookies were less affected by it. Unless they come up with the same way there was an easy defense the moment you noticed that pulse. It'd take some work, timing and a team that knew about it but they could fight that still.

"I never said I saw them as my salvation; I see them as problem solvers. Partners, individuals with drive and purpose often outweighing our own."

The renamon stood and stretched frowning just a little bit. She'd stare quietly at the two in front of her; shaking her head just a little bit.

"My relationship with humans are largely professional, a give take sort of business but there is truth in what you say; but it can go for more than just humans. Digimon can hurt in just the same way... But with what you said and how you phrased it... Who hurt you?"

The renamon turned and shifted standing so that she could stretch quietly. Whether or not the individuals responded to her query or statements was besides the point. She'd blink and turn her head to colin.

"If I may I would appreciate a lift to whitewater; Reporting this to the government there will be a good idea. It'd also be wise if we don't go around spreading what this towers are capable of or what they are experimenting with. Wouldn't want to start a panic with the civilian section of the digital world would we?"

Haru wasn't the type to be usually easily upset by even others... but everything the puppet and primate Digimon was saying felt so offensively wrong that even Haru refused to just let this slide. Even with a weakened Nyaromon in her arms, the girl defiantly gazed towards the two Digimon with a determined look on her face. "Well, not all humans are like that! Your trying to make a decision based on wildly unfair assumptions!" she spoked aloud, her foot firmly place on the soft soil below her as he look refused to waver. "If you think enslaving people and cheap terror tactics will scare us out, then so be it... but we'll make sure to knock any more of those towers in the future, cause we're no gonna settle for this!"

Of course, such boasts still felt empty-handed as both of the mysterious Digimon disappeared from the projection... It was honestly frustrating to think such stubborn people existed, those who just refuse to listen to even reason. She... she wasn't in the wrong, was she? No... What they were doing was wrong, and it had to be stopped! Pushing humans out of the Digital World would do nothing! It was frustrating that this was by no means the end of it... but their part in stopping this mess would not be over anytime soon.

Still... At least for now a calm after the storm was formed. Everyone seemed pretty worse for wear, but at least the tower was gone... It was just worrying to Haru that more of these damned things may exist, ready to enslave others for some racist campaign against tamers or Spirit Wielders. Knowing that did not allow Haru to rest too easily even now.

Everyone now was just trying to decide what to do... And well, while she appreciated Colin's offer to go to Whitewater, honestly what they really all needed was some rest. "I-I'm fine, I'll just take a Digiport back home... My partner's in no condition now to be doing anything else, so she needs rest." she gently apologized to her fellow tamer as she pulled out her Digivice, Tawna's dematerializing into data and reappearing on the device's screen as a tiny LED sprite. As fun as it would have been to chat, she really had to prio on her partner's own health. Still, she at least offered a smile to everyone... Thankful at least for the help. She even flashed an appreciative look to the Harpymon that had appeared out of nowhere to help them. "Th-Thank you all... I hope we can alert like others to the presence of these awful towers. Maybe those two goons are trying to make the towers bigger and better, but I bet Digimon will be able to find ways to adapt and take them out just as easily."