Cruel Ruin (tylo)

[Ciel]

If somebody thought that the shadow zone was a land of hardships it was because didn't have the pleasure of visiting the bad lands. Cracked and dry land everywhere, the vegetation was mostly composed of cactus and plants adapted to the lack of water and no matter where one looked at, there was only either desert lands or huge rock formations like plateaus around them. Once you experienced the harsh life in the bad lands, you would learn to LOVE the shadow zone.

"Tylo, are you feeling well? This place is ill fitted for marine digimon like you. Let me carry your share of our supplies if you need to relieve yourself from that load"

Lord Myotis was nice enough to hand them several travel supplies, mostly water, for the journey through the bad lands. Some might call it payment for delivering a letter to a digimon they could take days to find, but most likely it was sincere goodwill from the noble count. And oh boy, they really needed those supplies, there were only two of them traveling and the irregular and dry terrain made hard to find food and water to sustain themselves during this journey.

The darcmon showed some worry for her shark companion, he was carrying most of the supplies and under this heat and dry climate he could end up dehydrated; he was literally a fish out of water and anyone who cared for him would be worried for what would happen to him, a being who lived all his life underwater but now was in one of the most hostile environments of the digital world, second only to the desert. If regular digimon had a hard time in this place, it was an incredibly harsh and punishing place for a marine digimon

Regardless of the tylomon's answer, Ciel picked some of the things Tylo was carrying and soaked his skin with the content of a canteen with cold water she had with her. Wasting vital resources like that would look very unprofessional, but it was even more unprofessional to let her partner suffer and get ill and unprepared for any unexpected battle

[tylomon]

Heat... Nothing else, besides this ... accursed heat, sun, dust. If the concept of hell was invented by someone, he sure took inspiration from places like this one. A frying pen, literally, direct rays of sun fell upon it, and the heat was enough to make the stones boil. And if one would set a foot on that scorched earth, charred by merciless rays of sun, he'd probably get a nasty burn. So, what was a fish doing in this mess? Err... pretty good question...

Tylo indeed did not feel too well. Not well at all. He already exhausted his riot water gun storage, redirecting the liquid for cooling systems, but things were getting worse each our he spend under this sun. And with no hint of shade anywhere ... It was only a matter of time before he would collapse unto the ground, unconscious. But till then, he would persevere. Being very prideful, his ego motivated him to keep on going. Plus there was no turning around was there?

- A soldier ... must stoically endure ... all hardships during service. And not whine like a lil' b*tch. - he retorted to the angel's concern, being too preoccupied with a more present matter. Like ... how to ignore the fact he was being cooked alive? His skin started showing cracks, just like the land below him. Funny, armored skin, which could endure impacts, sword blows and whatnot, crippling under simple rays of sun. This wasn't good at all.

- Hey, HEY! What the hell are you doing stop! - he protested when Ciel poured some water unto him. At this heatrate, it would evaporate in a few secs, which it did soon, with little to no cooling effect. That was a waste, a disappointment. The shark sighed and then coughed, his throat was sore from all that dust in the air.

- Do not waste water like that... Instead ... maybe you have a piece of cloth to cover my head? That metal helmet is like an oven and I feel my brains slowly melting inside... - he implored, this was the least she could do for him in this situation. He tried not to drink water, because at his sizes, he needed too much of it, more than they can afford to spend. And besides, he was able to carry it on for so long... - And who's the idiot to build a city HERE, of all places? What the hell did angels lose here, in this wretched and forsaken land anyway?

[Ciel]

"All I have is this"

She unwrapped the piece of cloth covering her head and neck and put it on the armored head of the tylomon, carefully making sure it didn't cover his eyes. It was large enough to do the trick, thought it wasn't enough to cover the rest of his body and relieve more the pain from the sunlight.

While she took her headgear, she also removed her armor pieces covering her body, all that metal wasn't going to do any good in that hot area and fashioned herself an improvised bra using some bandages Myotis gently provided them as her chest protector was made of metal like the rest of her armor as well and it was slowly but firmly growing hotter. Then she put the armor inside a bag and carried it along the rest of the supplies.

The tylomon's question about what would angels be doing in this area so hostile against life was an easy one to answer. He simply needed to remember what Ciel said back while they were traveling through the shadow zone.

"The angel race is a very charitable one, the angewomon's group must be trying to ease the life of the inhabitants of this region through things like excavating to look for water and building houses. And if there's any enemy attempting to cause harm, they would be more than willing to battle if negotiations are impossible. At least that's how the angels in my home acted like"

She too sometimes was guilty of being more helpful than she should be; since she met the tylomon she had been slowly regained that charitable and helpful spirit she had left behind in her own world, and that was actually a scary thought: What if she got so used to live traveling with Tylo that she grew to like that lifestyle and forgot about her revenge? Actually that wasn't very likely, she might be getting a bit more nice, but she still had to destroy parallelmon, she simply couldn't go back to a quiet and normal life, were she try to do that the bastard would immediately make himself present to destroy what little happiness she found for herself, that's what he did every time she tried to create a better life in the worlds she visited.

She continued walking along the shark digimon and eventually found in the way a native of the area, some togemon who was selling important goods any wandered should have inside a lonely store in the middle of nowhere. Needless to say, that digimon requested quite the good cash for her products, and one of them was a rather large mantle that could easily fully cover Tylo's body; it looked more like it was made for the use of the large golemons that comfortably lived here, but it could easily be modified to fit in Tylo. the problem was that with the little paid mercenary work they did, they didn't get enough money to buy all what they could need, which also involved refilling their water containers, acquire more long lasting food and at last, maybe some desert clothes for the angel digimon and information about where to go. Decision decisions ...

"I would like to buy the large mantle and as much waster as we can afford with this. And any information you could provide us about how to reach the closest settlement as well."

If only all digital worlds used the same currency she could easily afford to buy everything they needed. Alas, that wasn't the case and all she could do is to start from zero everything a new digital world was visited.

[tylomon]

The togemon rose his head from the stand and looked somberly at the two digimon, who decided to visit his rickety clay hut, which also was the only store for a couple dozen miles in radius. Still, his store had little business, and ... for some reason looked like it was roughed up. There were few goods to sell, and the whole place was a mess. A swelling under togemon's eye kinda gave a few hints. Needless to say, he was not very happy to see visitors, or costumers, or whatever, even though they wanted to buy something...

- Mantle, water, whatever... Little of anything left, ever since that demon army passed through here about half of a month ago. Took everything they needed, everything, without paying a penny. And every time now and then some of their goons come back to snatch some more. So I don't really care to whom all this stuff goes... - he sounded quite unhappy about it, and started digging in whatever was left of his storage. it seemed that this pillage of his supplies left him high and dry, his business, however poor, took quite a blow.

- I think I will close my shop in a matter of days... No point in staying here if everything is gonna be taken anyway. Here's your piece of cloth... - the togemon put a rather large and rough piece of fabric on the table, and returned to look for whatever was left of his water supplies. Tylo listened to what he said, and his eyes widened in shock when the creature mentioned the word "army".

- Teacher... Evil army again... - the shark, who looked a bit like a muslim with that scarf thingy around his head, whispered quietly, poking with his fin, in case the angel did not hear what he said. It was, again, very suspicious... An army again ... well this can't be good...

[Ciel]

Demon army making life HELL for anyone in the vicinity? That explains why the angewomon lord Myotis was fond of hadn't answered to his invitations: It was very likely she was fighting against that enigmatic army and given the desperate situation of this poor togemon, they were either in a stalemate situation or the evil army was winning.

"It would be better if you retreat now with everything you have to the closest settlement and take us there as well; we have interest in knowing about this demon army enemy and about a group of angel digimon we were told were stationed in this region"

Staying there to randomly wander around until their luck changed was a very poor idea, it was in the best of their interest not only to get directions but also to have a guide in this arid land where everything looked the same no matter were you looked at. That and promises of defeating those who wronged the togemon might convince it to guide them to the nearest city.

She picked the supplies she bought from the togemon, gave it the cash she was carrying with her and replaced the headgear she lent to Tylo with the large mantle, that surely would make the tylomon feel better the next time the were at mercy of the sun rays.

"Tylo, we can't be sure this evil army is the same one from the dino valley. Until we know what is going on it would be better not to do anything rash"

[tylomon]

Togemon only shook his head and sighed when he heard the proposition to retreat to the nearest settlement. The two were clearly foreigners, and did not know much about this land. Where water is so very scarce, and were dangers are so many, you cannot afford to have many settlements around. Which was exactly the point. There was only one major settlement in the badlands, where all those unfortunate enough to be exiled here lived, and that one ... well...

- The only settlement nearby is about 30 miles away from here. And the demon army went exactly that way, so ... It doesn't really matter whether I go or stay here. - he shrugged.

- Maybe the demon army was after the angels, who were running away from them? - the tylomon, which was now a flying sofa, considering how he looked covered in that cloth the angel bought for him, proposed. After all, demons and angels had a long feud since ... well, as long as he could remember.

- Maybe. Angels came around here a long time ago, to help those forced to spend the rest of their days here. They traded with me often, and always paid generously. Some looked like your companion here, others ... differently. I once saw a huge flying guy with blades for arms, and a really tall angel lady... They also hunted down bandits, so this region became much quieter... But they were few, only about a few hundred, but the demons that came were thousands! - he exclaimed. Well that seemed rather ... disheartening. The odds were ... bad. If not worse...

- Teacher teacher! But those angels are your kind, aren't they? Aren't we supposed to try helping them out somehow? - the sahrk asked from below. Usually he'd ratehr stay away from big armies and all, but those were angels they were talking about, and Ciel was an angel, and he cared about his teacher, so ... yeah, in that case he'd rather do something.

- Still, why are you asking me about angels and demons here? You're one of them aren't you? I saw several in their pack who looked just like you, hell even sounded like you. You should know all I told ye already...

[Ciel]

"So that is the case ..."

The nearest settlement already fell to the enemy army .... terrible news that severely hindered her plan: With what little supplies she could gather in this small shop there was no way in hell they would last enough in the aridness of the bad lands to find a farther settlement to gather information, they were not natives of this region and spent their water reserves at least three or four times faster than those digimon used to living in this place.

According to what the togemon and tylomon said, in this world the old cliché trope of angels VS demons was still pretty much at full force and both sides were waging a fierce war between them, which was a real shame as in her own world demons and angels were in good terms and no bad blood lied between them. She had to accept that this world was too involved in conflict to ... wait, did the togemon say an angel with blades and a tall lady angel? That brought to Ciel some nice memories about the person she respected the most in the world, her mentor slash angemon. Maybe it was her desire to redeem herself for failing to her mentor, but she suddenly got really interested in meeting this digimon who could be a slash angemon and do anything to prevent its demise, obviously that one was not her mentor but at least she would feel better if she managed to save one of his species.

"I am not part of that group of angels, I'm from a very distant place. If you know about it, tell us where we can meet those angels, we could be of some help to repel the enemy forces and maybe the one to whom we have to deliver a special gift is there as well"

Not only she was interested in meeting who might be a slash angemon but also it was very likely they would find angewomon there. Lord Myotis gave them many supplies and let them rest and eat in his home and the least they could do was to return the favor and help she whom he appreciates. It was part of the a warrior's code to always return the favors and Ciel was determined to do it.

[tylomon]

- The angels always settled in the town, my guess would be that they're still in there, if they are still alive. If the settlement is taken, my guess would be they're dead. If they're alive - the settlement has not surrendered ... yet. The folk out there loves the angelic host for care and help they offered when anyone forgot about them, and would fight to the death for them... - the togemon sounded very reluctant about saying they might be dead, it was pretty obvious he held the angels in high regard as well. He too, after all, was one of the banished ones, and the angels were the only people who did not forsake them...

- Maybe we can try breaking through the siege to aid the defenders? I mean ... like last time, scream aim and fire, make a tiny hole, slip through? - Tylomon proposed. he seemed to ignore the possibility the city could be taken already and there is no one left to be aided and all that. He was just being too optimistic. Ciel was an angel, and looked pretty invincible to the shark student, surely a whole bunch of angels can defeat just about anybody!

- You'd be signing your death warr... Wait... - the togemon started talking and suddenly silenced, he heard someone. In the eerie quietness that followed, it was possible to hear every sound, both within, and from the outside. Tylo could have heard his heart beating, but also ... in that quiet, he heard ... wings flapping...

[Ciel]

" If that is the place where they are, then that's our next destination."

If they had a slash angemon with them, the angel army had to be alive, the bladed punisher of evil was one if not the strongest combat-type angel among them and would never lose unless the enemy were somebody insanely powerful as parallelmon. Ciel had faith that this time she could save the angel clan members from death and do here what she couldn't in her own world, it was her opportunity to redeem herself for the failures of the past and maybe even team up with them to destroy parallelmon; they were the angelical host and would feel obliged to listen to what she had to say and hopefully believe to her tale about parallel worlds and the one monster who found pleasure in destroying the lives, hopes and dreams of digimon everywhere in the multiverse.

"We will chose what strategy to follow once we asses the situation, and we are more than ready to fight to death"

No sooner she finished speaking both the shark and cactus digimon become completely mute, the togemon felt somebody other than them and the angel digimon decided to focus all her senses into trying to recognize the noise, something was very close to them and no one would know if they were friend or foe.

"Stay alert and ready to defend yourself, but don't use your missile indoors"

She told to her disciple as she put one of her hands on the hilt of one of her swords, if the incoming digimon was not a threat there was no need to point her sword at it, but if it was a hostile digimon, she could quickdraw her weapon and strike at the enemy swiftly

[[NPC]admin]

The flapping of the wings outside was getting louder and closer, and more frantic as it approached. Should the duo try peeking out of the windows, they'd see the reason why. Or they could have figured it a moment later, when sounds of more wings flapping were heard. These, however, sounded a bit different. If the first was like a bird flying around, the latter were ... well, bat-like. Their wings, judging from the sound, did not have feathers. And then ... they heard n eerie sound of swords clashing between each other. Whoever were those people outside ... they were fighting...

... The darcmon was the only one left of the party sent to break through the blockade and call for reinforcements. Their attempt took place at night, but still, they were discovered, and promptly slaughtered. This one was only lucky to get through and make a run for it, but ... was she lucky enough to get away? Obviously not. The demons were upon her. She was just a raw recruit, and the demons send after her their best trackers, fastest flyers. Eventually, they caught up with her, and she had to fight for her life now...

She was locked in combat with a vicious devimon, a creature so vile and sinister its glare could paralyze the lesser victims. But not the angel. She bravely stood up to the monster, her dual swords clashing with his immense and powerful zweihander. She simply did not manage to evade this blow, and had to parry it, locking the giant blade between her own two swords. This was hard enough, considering the devimon was stronger than she, and wielded the menacing weapon with frightening ease.

The duel continued, angel being mainly in defense, trying to counterattack a few times, though unsuccessfully. The unrelenting foe just kept coming, and she couldn't evade all of his blows, some needed to be blocked, and when blocking blows of such power ... *yank!* One of her swords was broken in two, as she remained only with one. After deflecting such a blow she was lucky she didn't lose a hand along with it. The fighting stopped for a brief moment, and the angel was already wheezing heavily, while her opponent looked much more vigorous.

- You can't win... - she sighed out and a devilish grin appeared on the monster's face.

- Can't I? - he sounded complacent enough, as if he was completely certain he would win after all. Well, there was more to his confidence that a simple prevalence in skill... For he did not come alone after her. His ... servants fell behind a little, but as they fought, said servants managed to catch on too, and now...

- Can't he? - suddenly a malicious giggling voice came from behind. The angel half-turned to face new enemies, but it was too late - the pair of demidevimon which followed their master, already launched their syringes with poison at her, and they hit her in the spine, weakening venom coursing through her veins. This was distraction enough.

- You're through! - the devimon exclaimed, charging at his confused and bedazzled opponent, performing a diagonal slash at her. The darcmon tried blocking it, but could one sword triumph against such a savage blow? No. The zweihander slashed across her chest, and the second blow devimon delivered cut the angel down from her legs. With a moan of pain, she fell to the ground, which was dipped in her own blood...