G & Liollmon were at the city limits when a whole bunch of other Digimon fled the city. Liollmon stopped a Puttimon. "What is it now? Did the Digidestined fail and Orcamon destroyed the city?" Puttimon shook no. "Maildramon is threatening the Digidestined. They are to weak. They might be able to pull off a miracle but who knows how much damage, death, and destruction will be caused first." Liollmon let the Puttimon run. G was looking at a video on the tablet. "We gotta head back G." G never looked up. "If you want to fight Maildramon like that be my guest. I would prefer to even the playing field. With your lack of memories from the last time you can't exactly tell me how this thing" She held the Digivice. "makes you artificially evolve. This tablet has videos covering about just everything, I just unlocked a video on how to make you artificially evolve." Liollmon backed off. G finished watching the video. "Let's give it a try." She copies what her mother did in the video. Liollmon evolved to Leomon.

"Why did you do that, Kaitou?" Falcomon demanded. The two had made it a few buildings away when Falcomon suddenly stopped in Kaitou's way and began questioning him, "We're supposed to steal the treasure, not use it for blackmail! You said that yourself, don't you remember?" Falcomon's eyes were piercing and serious.

"I was trying to end it without a fight." Kaitou retorted, attempting to explain himself, "How many times have battles dragged out and led to someone getting hurt? All because we weren't willing to do whatever it takes? How many have died?" he stopped after the last part. He hadn't intended to open up any old wounds, but that was what had happened. At this Falcomon's expression became a bit more saddened.

"Is that what this about? We all miss her, but you can't let that-" whatever Falcomon was about to say, he stopped himself and suddenly pointed back in the direction they had just come from, "Uh, that's not good!" and without even waiting for Kaitou to respond he fluttered off, back in the direction of the fight. Kaitou turned around to look and then he saw it too. Another Digimon floating down from the sky. But they were different, not like the Orcamon. This one was working on their own.

Kaitou hesitated a moment. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his Digivice. It's grey and blue coloring gave it a darker palette than some of the others. It was almost rather fitting given what Kaitou had since become. He tightened his grip briefly then took off after Falcomon. He knew Falcomon wouldn't be able to do much without Kaitou and the Digivice.

Falcomon was first to make it back to the scene. The higher level Digimon had their back turned and was facing KK and the others. The bird digimon didn't hesitate and began bombarding the bigger Digimon with feather shurikens. They wouldn't do much due to the level difference, but it would certainly get Maildramon's attention. And it was a moment after that the calling came flying from the same direction. It stuck into the floor of the roof at Maildramon's feet. There, having returned to the scene was Raven, the Digivice in hand and its screen glowing with a bright light, "Here's your advanced notice. We're taking your treasure." Raven said with a quick greeting bow before suddenly holding up the Digivice as its light poured over onto Falcomon.

At the same time, Falcomon flew forward as if to dive bomb Maildramon. But during that time he began to glow from the light of the Digivice. A familiar scene to any Digidestined, "Falcomon... digivolve to..." the evolution finished and a fully grown Peckmon was now the opponent dive bombing Maildramon with a powerful, spiraling kick... his Spiral Claw attack. After the kick Peck used his wings and legs to leap back over to where Raven stood, all in a single effortless bound, "Peckmon!" and then Peckmon leaped again and went for another attack. This time he moved with blinding speed, enough to leave behind countless afterimages as he began to assault Maildramon with numerous peck attacks, "Thousand Beaks!"

Axel began to move out of the way. Kudamon would be of no use until he could eat some food. Axel had to get somewhere that his partner could eat without them getting killed. Axel hoped that if Kudamon could get his energy back, maybe he could help with this, possibly even Digivolve. But, he had to focus on one problem at a time, and the first one would be staying alive.

The rain of feathers plinked harmlessly off of Maildramon’s armoured hide, the attack being completely ineffective but certainly serving their purpose in distracting the Champion Digimon from the others. The Digimon turned away from the weakened Digidestined to face Falcomon and Raven, holding his gaze on them for a few second before casually crushing the calling card underfoot as he took a couple steps towards them.

“Yes, I was wondering if you would come back. I wanted to applaud your ingenuity in the last battle, though it seems you may be misunderstanding my intentions here.”

If the Champion was attempting to talk his way out of things it wasn’t going well, as he was interrupted by the new arrival Digivolving to the Champion level as well. As Falcomon digivolved into Peckmon, the observant eye would have noticed the claws on Maildramon’s front feet digging slightly into the rooftop as he tensed up. It was next to impossible to tell what the Champion was thinking under than helmet, but something about his body language suggested he was ready for a fight.

Maildramon avoided Peckmon’s kick, jumping away and out of the path of the attack. Almost as soon as he touched the ground however he was under attack again, a flurry of pecks raining down on him as Peckmon charged him with his Thousand Beaks attack. He first few hits landed, leaving scratches and marks on Maildramon’s armoured body, before the Pegasus-like Digimon spread his wings and took off from the rooftop, drifting away before alighting on another building nearby, looking down on them from his new, elevated position.

“Do you always attack without first trying to comprehend the situation you bird brained fool!? Yes, no matter. I had hoped to deal with you all with a little more tact, but if this is how you want to play it then so be it.”

The Maildramon reared his head back, a crackle of electricity beginning to fill the air as energy gathered at the point of the Digimon’s horn. The armoured Champion threw his head forward, launching a bolt of lightning towards his target which turned out to be not Peckmon, but Raven himself.

“Lightning Spear!”

After transforming into Leomon, he picked up G and began running towards scene of chaos caused by Digidestined. If Maildramon was attacking the Digidestined they would still be near there. He dropped G on a nearby building. They both notice Peckmon attacking Maildramon. "Looks like another Digidestined evolved his Digimon. Don't interfere unless absolutely necessary." G went back to the tablet. She strapped the digivice to her wrist. She aimed it at Maildramon. "Did you know this thing can scan and give me information on Digimon. So he's got Chrome Digizoid." She then scanned Leomon. "Your Shishiou-maru is sentient and magical? Weird. Interesting."

Axel and Kudamon eat inside the diner to restore his energy. It seemed odd for them to be hiding from the battle, but since Kudamon is unable to help at the moment, it seemed like it was more excusable to be hiding like this. Once Kudamon had his fill, they returned to the battlefield.

@King Cosmos

Well, they wanted to get Maildramon's attention so... mission accomplished. Now he was actually focusing on them, which probably meant that the misdirection tactics from earlier wouldn't be as effective. This was not exactly what Raven had in mind. Straight forward fights were dangerous and sometimes suicidal for whoever ended up losing. That wasn't something he felt like dealing with today. But what choice did he have? He may not seen completely eye to eye with them, but these were still his friends and surrogate family at the end of the day. And he'd be damned before he let some bastard bring harm to them.

And then the attack came. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Maildramon was not aiming at Peckmon. At this, Raven had only one thought enter his mind. Bastard stole my tactic. Nobody steals around here except for me! The Lightning was far too fast to avoid by side stepping or even diving to the side as Raven would still get caught in the blast. No, there instead was only one way to get out of this and it required that the Human put his upmost faith and trust in Peckmon. Luckily, Raven had no problem doing just that. With a sly look on his face, Raven did what had to have looked utterly unthinkable to everyone else. He stepped forward and let his body drop over the edge of the roof. The gravity from the fall would take him far enough way in a short enough amount of time to avoid the lightning blast. The only real problem now was that he would turn into smear on the pavement.

Or at least he would it he had been partnered with any other Digimon besides Peckmon. With the same blistering speed as a moment ago, Peckmon made his move. No words needed to be exchanged. The two had fought together so many times and for so long that entire battle strategies could be passed around between them with only looks and glances. Peckmon was quick to use to his amazing speed to swoop down and catch his partner with his talons before the latter could splatter onto the pavement. Then with a quick and strong flap of his wings, he brought his partner back up to the safety of the roof, "Nice try." said Raven, offering a taunting bow, "Now it's our turn. Peckmon!"

No more words were needed as Peckmon went back onto the offensive. He moved as if to attack with Thousand Beaks again. But the pecks never came. Instead he was simply staying on the move and leaving behind countless afterimages of himself. This hopefully would make much harder to see the actual attack coming. From one of the many angles Peckmon was moving about in, he came in with what looked like another Spiral Claw. But this time his body spun, and spun fast enough that the friction practically ignited his talons and the attack was no longer the Spiral Claw, but the more powerful Burning Spiral.

Having now recovered some energy, Kudamon re-entered the fray. "Holy Shot!" Kudamon fired off his technique in an attempt to distract Maildramon, to give Peckmon a better shot at dealing a good blow. Kudamon may not be able to do much yet, but he was happy to contribute in anyway that he could.

Leomon was not going to let a child Digimon take on Maildramon. He rushed into battle. "Get to safety Kuda. I got this. Also stay away from G." He unleashed Hyakujūken a hundred lion heads aimed at Maildramon came from his hands. Leomon unsheathed his Shishiou-maru prepared for any counter attacks.

"I can't just leave this to you guys," Kudamon said. He fired off another Holy Shot to combo with Leomon's attack. "If I want Axel to open up and work with the others then I need to show him how to do so." It was quite clear that on this front, Kudamon was going to make a stand. "Even if it means I get deleted, I have to show Axel how to work with others again."

Of all the ways Raven could have tried to avoid the Lightning Spear, Maildramon certainly wasn’t expecting him to try and save himself by jumping from the roof. For a second he simply stared at the edge of the building in curiosity as he wondered if one of the Digidestined had just decided to make his life easier by ending things himself, only to realise Raven’s intentions when Peckmon carried his partner back onto the roof.

“Yes, bravo. Let’s see how long you can hold on to that confidence shall we?”

The ostrich-like Digimon dashed across towards him, leaving behind multiple false images in an attempt to confuse his armoured opponent. Maildramon kept his calm and used his elevated position to keep an eye on as many of the Peckmon as he could, waiting until he saw one of them begin to leap up at him before he pushed forward and jumped down towards the other Digimon with an attack of his own. “Iron Press!”

Flaming talons met glowing claws as Maildramon caught Peckmon’s attack with the claws on one foreleg. The two Digimon were suspended in mid-air as the two attacks clashed, each Digimon attempting to overpower the other. At the same time, a couple of weak blasts caught the Champion in the side, harmlessly bursting on his armoured flank to no effect; presumably the spirited little rookie who had exhausted himself earlier was still trying to lend a hand.

“Is this all you are capable of? Feebly struggling against someone like myself? I thought the Digidestined were supposed to be legendary heroes? Yes, pathetic. Has peace made you all weak?”

Suddenly, a barrage of attacks slammed into Maildramon from the side, throwing him away from Peckmon and sending him crashing to the rooftop. For a moment the Champion still before stirring, rising with a pained grunt as he lifted his head and turned towards his attacker.

Standing at the other end of the rooftop Leomon was waiting for him with his sword drawn. With a chuckled the Maildramon rose back his feet, digging his claws into the concrete as he glared from within his helmet at the new arrival. “I see the Lion still has some claws at least. Yes, come, I will take you all on! Lightning Spear!”

With another nod of his head the armoured Champion sent forth another bolt of lightning, this time aimed at Leomon.

"Feeble?" Peckmon retorted once his clash with Malidramon's claws had concluded, "That's rich, coming from the Digimon who waited until we were tired and exhausted before attacking. And yet we're still holding our own. So who's really the feeble one here?" he was trying to keep Maildramon's attention on him, but it didn't seem to work. Even less so when an extremely familiar-looking attack came out of nowhere and hit Maildramon, "No way!" Peckmon recognized the attack, and he knew Raven would as well.

Speaking of Raven, the masked thief watched in stunned silence as the familiar barrage of Lion-head projectiles pelted Maildramon, "Is it...?" Raven's voice trailed. Whatever persona he was wearing up until now had temporarily washed away. Kaitou looked around hurriedly. Could it be...? Could she really be...? But his shoulders quickly sagged with disappointment. He didn't see her anywhere. And why would he? She was gone, and he'd accepted that fact long ago. But Maildramon's attention was now firmly on Leomon. And that Lightning Spear attack was no joke. So Raven clutched his Digivice and silently conveyed a plan to Peckmon who nodded in agreement.

Then, of all things, Peckmon... reverted? Yes, he reverted back to Falcomon, though not before using his speed as Peckmon to position himself next to Leomon. But like always, there was a method to this apparent madness. Falcomon had something that Peckmon didn't have, and that something would Leomon the means of avoiding the brunt of the Lightning Spear, "Shadow Screen!" Falcomon suddenly declared. He used his digital ninjutsu, but not to create illusions of himself. Instead the illusions were of Leomon. That would give the Champion adequate means to avoid the Lightning Spear for the most part. It also meant he could potentially catch Maildramon off guard with at least one of his next attacks. Falcomon and Raven could only hope that Leomon wouldn't waste it.

"That was really clever." Axel thought to himself. "Not many people would decide to go to a weaker form to buff an ally, not unless they were certain of their victory." Axel looked around at the Digimon involved in the combo, and their partners as well. Is this what it is like to have someone to trust? To know that someone has your back? Many questions began to stream through Axel's mind.
"Holy Shot!" Kudamon fired his attack into a nearby plastic trash can, launching it into the path of the incoming attack. The trash can exploded in a small cloud of smoke. He may not be able to do much harm to this enemy, but Kudamon could still play on the defensive if needed.
"Axel! wake up!" Kudamon yelled when he saw his partner staring into space. "This isn't the time for daydreaming." In stopping for this, Kudamon was not watching his back, leaving himself open for a counterattack.

Leomon knew that if he dodged Lightning Spear it might hit the Kudamon. He also knew that his flesh, tempered well by daily training, can endure any attack. So he rushed into the attack, he stumbled but kept going. Once he was close enough he raised his sword to strike the Maildramon’s neck.

"Courageous Flame!" Rings out over the area, from the top of one of the buildings Maildramon would be hit with an extra large blast of fire from Yukarumon. He knew he would stand no chance of doing any serious damage on him, especially being so weak from the previous battle, but it would at least buy them some time. Leaping from the building he descends quickly along the edge of it, running down digging his claws into the building itself. Getting about 10 feet from the ground he pushes off and slides to the street with the rest of the group. "I don't think we are going to last much longer."

"Blinding Ray!" Kudamon made an attempt to blind the enemy so the others could get into a better position. "That let's hurry up and end this," Kudamon called out. Kudamon was doing better now that he had caught his second wind. He may not be able to reach champion yet, but he was determined to do whatever he could to help the others.

Fighting against multiple opponents, even when most of them were only Rookies, was proving to be a frustrating experience for Maildramon. Another ball of light from the Kudamon flew past him and a burst of fire from the now de-digivolved Yukarumon caused some vague discomfort as it heated his armour; the attacks from the Rookies were worthless but distracting and if one struck him at the wrong moment it could still be decisive.

The Falcoman was proving especially troublesome, purposely returning to his weaker form in order to create an obfuscating group of clones in an effort to hide the Leomon. It made no difference for his spear, which had already been launched at the real Leomon before the clones were created and which struck the Lion Digimon directly, but it did make things trickier when all of the Leomon rushed him at once.

As the clones drew close to Maildramon he began to swipe at them with his claws, or tried to bat them away with his large wings, only for them to all disappear as soon as he made contact with them. In the midst of this confusion the real Leomon slipped through his defence and swung his sword in a powerful down stroke that caught Maildramon in the neck. The force of the strike forced Maildramon to bow his head, his feet cracking the surface of the roof as he was pressed down by the harsh blow.

But the sword failed to cut through his armour.

Swinging his head around Maildramon sought to knock the sword away as he pointed his horn directly at Leomon’s chest. “Yes, you charged in so valiantly, as befitting a hero, but I think this reckless action might be the end of you! Lightning Spear!”

Once more electricity gathered at the point of Maildramon’s horn, which was all but touching Leomon’s chest at this point. Before he could launch the attack however, Kudamon’s Blinding Ray struck and turned Maildramon’s vision pure white. “Blasted pests!”

Dazed and blinded Maildramon turned his head at the last second, firing the Lightning Spear not at Leomon but just off to the side instead.

****

“So the Digidestined have returned. It is just as you said.”

Far from the battle, in a large chamber bathed in shadows, a single humanoid figure stood next to the cowering form of Hagurumon. The two of them were illuminated only by the light coming from the screen in front of them which was currently displaying the on-going battle between Maildramon and the Digidestined from a bird’s eye view.

“Y-yes sir. Maildramon ordered me to report this information to you as soon as possible.”

“And yet he decided to attack them without waiting for our orders. I suppose the fool thought he could defeat them by himself when they were weakened.”

Though the figure spoke calmly, or perhaps coldly, there was an underlying tension to his words; a subtle threat of anger that belied the disapproval he was feeling. Beside him, the Hagurumon whimpered quietly and tried to make himself invisible.

“Well, he might have been successful had those other two not returned.” Turning away from the screen the figure began to pace into the darkness, moving towards the centre of the room. Hagurumon followed him with his eyes, having not been asked to follow he didn’t dare move to follow. “They are almost all gathered in the same place for the first time in over a century. In addition to this, Yukarumon has been revived.” The figure stopped, seemingly at random, at a spot near to the centre of the large expanse. Facing the far end of the room, the figure craned his neck back and looked up.

Hagurumon looked up as well, trying to see what the figure was looking at; at first he saw nothing, but as his eyes adjusted to the darkness he could just make out a faint outline of something massive which completely filled the far end of the huge chamber.

“I think now would be the best time to strike.”

The silhouette shifted ever so slightly at the words and Hagurumon’s eyes widened in fear as he realised that there was another Digimon in the room that he hadn’t noticed. And he felt a dread certainty that he knew who it was.

“Yes.”

A voice as old as the mountains and just as heavy reached his ears; despite how softly spoken it was the word was clearly audible all throughout the chamber. “Carry out the plan. Bring them to their knees.”

Upon hearing the voice and confirming his fears Hagurumon threw himself to the ground and prostrated himself, cowering in terror and awe. The mysterious, humanoid figure placed a hand over his heart and bowed deeply to the hidden figure. “As you wish General.”

"Maildra you should know better, I am not reckless. I counted on you being so focused on my 'impending doom' at your hands that you left yourself open to be Kuda's attack." Leomon prepared his Jūouken attack a single energy attack in the shape of a lion's head aimed it at Maildramon's neck exactly at the same spot he stroke before with his sword. "May your next life be more beneficial." He unleashed his Jūouken attack.

Raven and Falcomon watched as Leomon unleashed his attack. Rather than join in, Falcmon nimbly returned to his partner's side. Both he and the masked thief were thinking the same thought. They weren't needed here anymore, Leomon was more than enough to settle things with this Maildramon. Falcomon offered a silent glance to Raven, who hadn't spoken a word since Leomon showed up. But all their years together gave Falcomon a near-perfect idea of what his partner was thinking.

"If Leomon's here then that might mean..."

"Don't." said Raven, quickly a coldly, "Just... don't. She's gone, and I'd rather not open that can of worms again." he wasn't trying to keep up the persona in that moment. He was Kaitou, rather than Raven, "Come on. Some of them aren't exactly our biggest fans right now. It's best if we make tracks and keep our distance." without any other words he... left. Or at least he moved to leave. He had no more intention of sticking around, especially if Leomon was there. That conversation... he just wasn't ready for it yet.

Kudamon was still doing what he could to run distraction for Leomon. He did well to stay out of the way and took chances when he could to fire off Holy Shot. He was determined to be of use here, in any way that he could. Even if he was just doing a bit of damage here and there. Kudamon also looked for opportunities in which he could distract that enemy with Blinding Ray to give Leomon an opening.