The Power of the Burst Mode

"Agumon is back?" Rosemon inquired.

"His digiegg…" Ravemon added. "Is finally hatched."

Belphemon growled at the charging duo, thrusting his claws at them. The sheer intensity of the gale was enough to blow Miki and Megumi off their feet and throw Marcus and Agumon off.

"Heads up Boss!" Agumon called, as he jumped off Marcus' head.

"Hey, why does it have to be my head?" Marcus complained.

"Sorry." Agumon replied as MirageGaogamon chuckled.

"Over here Boss. Hurry up!" Agumon urged as the two landed inside a demolished building. "He's coming this way!"

"Even if Agumon is back, we still can't win." Megumi moaned.

"No." Yoshi corrected.

"You're wrong." Dare told his girlfriend.

"Not only those two, even D's back." He nodded towards Ami and Ophanimon.

"We also have one of the Royal Knights assisting us." Charlie added, slowly getting to his feet.

"We're the Digimon Data Squad." Thomas assured the operative. "When we work together as a team, there isn't a single obstacle that we can't overcome."

"We combine our power." Keenan added. "We fight like we're one!"

"No matter how bad it gets, we managed to get through it somehow." Yoshi noted.

"And now that Agumon and Ophanimon are back, all the scattered pieces of our puzzle have come together again." Rosemon agreed.

"Let's go a few more rounds." Imperialdramon FM declared as WarGreymon, Phoenixmon, Plesiomon and Valkyrimon stood up straight.

"I'm not done yet." Ravemon stood back up. "I can still fight."

"As long as I can still lift a finger, you could count on me." Miragegaogamon added.

"What do you think?" Miki asked Megumi.

"Yoshi's right." Megumi agreed. "We can win."

"Yeah." Miki agreed. "You hear that Bishopchessmon?"

"Ready to try again, Rockchessmon?" Megumi asked her partner.

Meanwhile, Marcus and Agumon were rushing up the staircase as they proceeded to reach the roof.

"Awaiting orders, sir." MirageGaogamon looked at his partner.

"I think you know." Thomas replied.

"Sir, yes sir." MirageGaogamon responded for all the Digimon present.

Once on top of the roof, Marcus and Agumon grinned down at Belphemon. The Demon Lord was about to fire its attack at the two when Bishopchessmon's and Rookchessmon's attacks interrupted.

"Sefirot Crystals!" Ophanimon released her crystals.

"Double Crescent Mirage!" Miragegaogamon unleashed his attack, merging his energy with Ophanimon's crystals.

"Blast Wing!" Ravemon fired his attack.

"Rose Spear!" Rosemon added her attack. Both Ophanimon's and Miragegaogamon's attacks managed to force Belphemon to back off a few steps as Ravemon's and Rosemon's attacks clashed into the Demon Lord.

From the smoke, Marcus and Agumon charged in, both landing a punch each on Belphemon.

"You doing okay, Agumon?" Marcus asked once the impact blew them off and caused Belphemon to crash to the ground.

"Yeah Boss." Agumon replied. "I feel more power than ever before."

"Alight, then let's do this!" Marcus remarked. "D.N.A Charge, Overdrive!"

"Agumon double warp digivolve to ShineGreymon!" Agumon declared as he evolved.

"Alright guys!" Marcus told the team once Rosemon dropped him back to the group. "It's fighting time again!"

"Yeah!" everyone chorused.

Back on the road…

"I'm worried about Tommy, Father." Relena told her father.

"He'll be okay, dear." Yushima assured her. "Your big brother isn't alone."

"He's not, Mr. Yushima?" Relena inquired.

"He's with a team of friends known as the Digimon Data Squad." Yushima told her. "He'll be fine. I'm absolutely sure."

Back in the basement under Angel's Bath House…

Kristy and Sarah huddled together as the ground shook from the aftershock of the battle.

I hope someone's looking after Marcus, keeping him safe. Kristy wondered.

Back with BanchoLeomon…

The golden lion was still watching from the skyscraper as the battle raged on.

Back in the battlefield…

"Rosemon, Phoenixmon, Plesiomon, MagnaGarurumon, Miragegaogamon, Ophanimon, circle over to the left." Thomas instructed, the six Mega Digimon following his orders as Belphemon's claw barely missed scratching them.

"Ravemon, Imperialdramon, Valkyrimon, WarGreymon, ShineGreymon, circle over the right and distract him." Thomas added, the five Mega Digimon following his instructions.

"Double Crescent Mirage!" Miragegaogamon unleashed his attack.

"Eden's Javelin!" Ophanimon fired her energy beam.

"Thorn Whipping!" Rosemon released her attack, the three attacks clashing into Belphemon.

"Rook and Bishopchessmon, provide backup for the others!" Thomas told the two Chessmons as the two Ultimate Digimon dodged Belphemon's claw from the smoke.

Ravemon and Rosemon split up as the two Chessmons' attacks clashed into Belphemon.

The three fourteen-years-olds then smirked at each other.

"Shining Blast!" ShineGreymon rammed himself into Belphemon, knocking the Demon Lord over.

"Bullseye!" Marcus whooped.

"Remarkable!" Miki was astonished.

"I didn't expect this." Megumi added. "ShineGreymon seems more powerful than ever before."

"Not bad guys." Rosemon grinned as Miragegaogamon chuckled.

"Not bad at all." Ravemon agreed.

We can do this, as long as we keep the pressure on. Thomas mused.

"Hold that thought." Ami cut in after Belphemon got back to his feet, roaring.

"Soul Shield!" MaloMyotismon's barrier managed to guard the humans.

"Look there!" Keenan pointed to Belphemon as Kurata's face emerged from Belphemon's chest.

"What is that sick thing?" Thomas inquired.

"Kurata." Both Marcus and Ami hissed.

"Damon… Damon… Damon!" Kurata screamed in rage. "The first thorn in my side was the father, Spencer Damon. And now, it's his meddling sons, Marcus and Charlie! Why!? I hate you, Marcus Damon. I never hated anyone or anything more than I hate you! Why is it always you? Why must you stand in the way of my plans, time after time, again and again!? I am getting so sick of the Damon family sticking their nose where it doesn't belong! If it hadn't been for the two of you, both father and son, then I would have already been the ruler of the Human World and the Digital World by now!"

"Gee, hatred much?" Ami muttered.

"Be quiet." Charlie demanded. "You did all this horrible stuff just to rule both dimensions. That's pathetic."

"Pathetic." Kurata retorted.

"Who do you think would follow your lead?" Marcus asked. "No one from the Digital World, that's for sure. And certainly no humans either. Not as long as I am here!"

"Damon!" Kurata hollered as Belphemon released his chains onto the group.

Rosemon, Miragegaogamon and Ophanimon split to dodge another chain flying at them. Ravemon and ShineGreymon split up, avoiding the two chains thrown at them.

"Ravemon!" Keenan gasped.

"Keenan!" Yoshi dived to save the boy from the chain coming at him.

"Castle Wall!" Megumi told her partner.

"Soul Shield!" MaloMyotismon added another barrier.

"You okay?" Yoshi asked the boy.

"Yes, thanks Yoshi." Keenan replied. "How's Ravemon?"

The said humanoid bird was stunned in shock as Belphemon's chain barely missed him.

"Thanks." Ami told the blond above her before stealing a quick kiss.

"No…" she gasped, tilting her head upside down and seeing Marineangemon, Metalgarurumon and Goldramon reverting back to their rookie forms after being hit by the chains while saving their partners.

"How did Kurata break through?" Thomas inquired after he got off from the blue-haired girl. "Somehow, he's able to once again subdue Belphemon's consciousness and take control of his body."

"Marcus Damon!" Kurata fumed. "I will destroy you!"

"I do believe that's your 'how'." Ami noted.

"What's he doing?" ShineGreymon inquired.

"The lights." Rosemon gasped.

"They're going out all over the city!" Ophanimon added, realizing the same thing Rosemon did.

Back in the basement under Angel's Bath House…

Sarah and Kristy gasped when the lights went totally out.

Back in the battlefield…

"He's absorbing it." Miragegaogamon remarked, noticing the lights in the buildings going off.

"What?" Ravemon asked.

"He's feeding off the city's energy." MirageGaogamon supplied.

The city's power… Thomas wondered. Oh no!

"Hurry, break the chains!" He told the ten Mega Digimon.

"Ami!" both Marcus and Thomas gasped when the girl was thrown off her feet when Belphemon retrieved his chains.

"Don't worry about me, just hurry up and smash those chains!" Ami shouted.

"Rosemon!" Yoshi gaped after Rosemon tried futilely to sever one of the chains. "What's Kurata doing with our van?"

"The Space…" Megumi was shocked when the chains wrapping around the vehicle broke the van, four spheres of 'Space Isolation Device' breaking out.

"Isolation Devices…" Thomas finished her sentence.

"What are you up to, Kurata?" Marcus demanded.

"Damn!" Ami spat when Belphemon swallowed the four mechanical spheres. "If Belphemon did what I think it did, we're so screwed."

"It's show time folks!" Kurata declared as the 'Space Isolation Device' exploded inside Belphemon, the time-space energy emitting from his nostrils and mouth.

"Kurata…" Marcus hissed as Belphemon grew larger in size.

The four teens shielded themselves from the shockwave as Belphemon unleashed his powered up energy blast from his mouth.

Back on the road…

"What's that?" Yushima inquired after noticing a sudden burst of light emitting from the battlefield.

"Something different is going on with Belphemon's attack." He noted, after getting out of the sedan.

"Mr. Yushima, is Tommy okay?" Relena asked, as she was held back by Kamemon.

"Yes, he's okay." Yushima replied.

Please, be okay. He mentally pleaded.

Back in the battlefield…

Miragegaogamon was using his speed to avoid the chains.

"What's going on?" the blue wolf asked after dodging a chain.

Up top, Ravemon and Rosemon were busy avoiding getting hit. ShineGreymon punched through a China before it hit Rosemon.

"At this rate, we'll ever get close enough to Kurata." The dinosaur remarked as Ophanimon sliced off a chain coming at Ravemon with her weapon.

"Curse you… curse you!" Kurata cursed as Belphemon fired another energy blast at the two Chessmon who split to dodge the attack.

Turning his attention to Ravemon now, Belphemon slashed the humanoid bird with its claws, Ravemon flying up to avoid the attack.

"Kurata…" Thomas hissed. "I can't believe you took it this far!"

"What's going on, Thomas?" Marcus asked the two geniuses.

"What are all those streaks in the sky?" Yoshi inquired.

"They're Digital Gates." Yusei answered.

"Exactly." Thomas nodded. "Kurata seems to be able to Belphemon much better now." Thomas replied. "He's consumed huge potions of the city's energy, allowing him to grow. And now, since he swallowed those 'Space Isolation Device', he's able to rip through space continuum. He's tearing open Digital Gates in the sky."

"Sir, your orders." Miragegaogamon turned to his partner.

"Everybody, fall back! Gather together down here right now!" Thomas instructed.

"Roger." ShineGreymon, Ophanimon, Imperialdramon FM and Miragegaogamon chorused.

"Right." Rosemon, WarGreymon, Plesiomon, Valkyrimon and Ravemon added.

"Why are you having them fall back for?" Marcus asked.

"It's really quite simple. We need to be careful with how we respond. Kurata cannot be allowed to keep blasting away. Both worlds are at risk of destruction." Cyclops explained further.

"But how?" Keenan gasped as Belphemon blasted another building with his attack.

"If this continues the Digital Gates will expand to the point where both the Digital and Human World collide, smashing them to pieces." Yusei added.

"No way." Yoshi gasped.

"Same old story." Marcus remarked. "So, what you're saying is we need to beat his jerk fast. The situation is always dangerous, so what's so different about now? We still have to win right? So what are we waiting for? Let's get going!"

"Yeah, I guess he's right." Megumi noted as Miki gave him a thumbs-up.

"It's simple when he say it." Keenan added.

"I'll say." Yoshi agreed.

"So?" Ami turned to the blond beside her.

"You're absolutely right Marcus." Thomas agreed. "Nothing's changed at all. We still have the same mission."

"In that case," Marcus turned back to Belphemon.

"It's fighting time!" Thomas finished the other teen's sentence.

Ami raised an amused eyebrow at her blond lover, "You do realize you just said Marcus' trademark line, right?"

Everyone else chuckled at her proclaim.

"I'll be suing for copyrights later." Marcus kidded.

"Very funny." Thomas muttered, before the group returned to the task at hand.

"We'll make ShineGreymon and Ophanimon the focal of our attacks because they are the freshest. We need to finish off Kurata with one strike so he can't do anymore damage." Thomas told the five Mega Digimon.

"Sir, yes sir." Miragegaogamon responded.

"Last stand huh?" Kurata mocked. "Good loss!"

ShineGreymon and Ophanimon were stunned when Belphemon's chains came at them first, only to have Miragegaogamon slash through the fetters.

"Thanks, dear." Ophanimon told the blue wolf.

"We'll deal with the chains." WarGreymon said.

"You two just focus on Belphemon." Rosemon added.

"We'll try to create an opening for you two, then the both you of will have to do the rest." Ravemon remarked.

"Got it!" ShineGreymon nodded.

"Let's go!" Miragegaogamon told the team as the five dodged the chains' attack.

"Double Crescent Mirage!" the blue wolf unleashed his attack, destroying four chains.

"Celestial Blade!" Ravemon's attack took care of a couple more.

"Rookchessmon!" Megumi called out.

"Bishopchessmon!" Miki added.

"Rook Gatling!" Megumi instructed, Rockchessmon firing its attack.

"Bishop Laser!" Miki remarked, Bishopchessmon firing its attack.

MaloMyotismon added his 'Screaming Darkness' attack in as Seraphimon released her 'Hallowed Ascension' attack.

The four attacks clashed into Belphemon, giving Rosemon the chance to appear before Kurata.

"Forbidden Temptation!" the female Digimon released her attack.

"Ravemon, ready to attack?" Miragegaogamon asked his companion.

"Yes." Ravemon replied.

"At full power." Miragegaogamon instructed.

At that, the two Mega Digimon pushed against Belphemon's arms, forcing the Demon Lord back.

"What? What?" Kurata was stunned as ShineGreymon and Ophanimon charged up their attacks.

"Alright!" Marcus whooped. "Go for it, ShineGreymon, Ophanimon!"

"Glorious Burst!" ShineGreymon released his attack.

"Eden's Javelin!" Ophanimon unleashed her energy.

"Their attack! It's ten times the size!" Kurata exclaimed in horror as the two attacks clashed into Belphemon.

"Way to go!" Marcus cheered.

"Did we get him?" Miragegaogamon asked, the five Mega Digimon waiting for the smoke to clear.

"No…" Ophanimon gasped, noticing Belphemon's glowing red eyes from the clearing smoke.

"Impossible!" Thomas was shocked. "He's still standing and he doesn't even have a scratch on him."

"You'll never stop me." Kurata growled. "My plans will move forward no matter what you do!"

At that, Belphemon unleashed his chains, crashing Rosemon and Miragegaogamon against a building. ShineGreymon, Ophanimon and Ravemon were next, each clashing into a building each.

"Hand on Bishopchessmon!" Miki called out, her partner entangled within the chains.

"Stay strong Rockchessmon!" Megumi told her partner who was in the same situation as Bishopchessmon before the two devolved back to their rookies forms.

"Oh no!" Miki gasped, before the two operatives screamed when Belphemon's chains were raised below them.

"You can't win! I am the best!" Kurata hollered in victory as he wielded the chains at his will.

"Yoshi, Keenan!" Thomas turned to the two who were thrown back by Belphemon's chains. "Take cover!"

"He's too strong for us." He remarked. "At this rate…"

"Hold up!" Marcus stopped him. "I don't want to hear anymore talk like that. We're not giving up!"

"Marcus!' Thomas tried to halt the other teen that had run to face Belphemon.

"Kurata!" Marcus hollered.

"Damon!" Kurata shouted back.

"That's right, Kurata." Marcus retorted as Belphemon landed in front of him. "This is Marcus Damon talking and I'm here to tell you that you're going down!"

"Marcus Damon!" Kurata fumed as Belphemon fired another attack.

"Boss watch out!" ShineGreymon shouted.

Marcus shut his eyes as he waited for the attack to clash into him, only to find that he was unharmed seconds later.

"You guys saved me by blocking the attack." He remarked as Miragegaogamon, Ravemon and Rosemon took the attack for him. "Why?"

"Like Thomas said." Miragegaogamon replied. "As a team, there isn't enough we can't overcome."

"You said it too." Ravemon added. "We're a team. We fight together."

"Yeah." Rosemon agreed. "A team."

"Come on ShineGreymon!" Marcus screamed as the three Mega Digimon fell. "Give me power! All that you've got! Otherwise, we're going to lose everything; both our worlds and all out friends!"

"You're looking at it all wrong, Boss." ShineGreymon conveyed his mental message. "Our strength has always come from deep inside of you. You're the one giving the power to me."

"No, you've got it wrong." Marcus corrected. "Our power comes from the combination of you and me and feeds off from our friendship. That's why we're the ultimate. Isn't that right, ShineGreymon?"

ShineGreymon merely nodded in agreement, just as Marcus' Digivice evolved again.

It's time. BanchoLeomon realized.

"We will defeat Kurata." ShineGreymon promised.

"We will save our friends and both our worlds." Marcus added.

At that, Marcus' Digivice burst into full light.

"What is that powerful light?" Kurata was shocked at the sudden surge in power.

"Marcus, that light!" Thomas called out. "On your Digivice, use it!"

"Ready pal?" Marcus asked his partner.

"Ready." ShineGreymon replied.

"Charge, D.N.A Burst Mode!" Marcus called forth his new power.

"You've done it, Marcus Damon." BanchoLeomon remarked. "And you too, ShineGreymon. By combining the intensity of your emotions and your ever-lasting friendship with each other, you've been able to push past the Mega level into new, uncharted areas of power. This is what the true 'Burst Mode' looks like."

"ShineGreymon Burst Mode!" ShineGreymon declared as he evolved up another level.

"Keep him away!" Kurata screamed as ShineGreymon Burst Mode charged at him.

ShineGreymon Burst Mode blocked the incoming chain with his fiery shield, breaking the chain apart after he knocked it off. Then, he crossed his two fire blades, slicing through the pair of chains coming at him and sinking the swords into Belphemon.

"Do something Belphemon quickly!" Kurata told the Demon Lord who charged up his energy blast, firing it at ShineGreymon Burst Mode who then blocked it with his crossed energy blades. Digging both his blades on either side, ShineGreymon Burst Mode released two trails of flames along Belphemon.

"Stay away from me!" Kurata was now frightened as ShineGreymon Burst Mode approached him. "No!"

"You're finished Kurata!" ShineGreymon told the defeated scientist as he leapt to end this war.

Keeping his blade, he then opened his palm to reveal a flaming orb and Marcus appeared after the flames died down.

"Get him Marcus!" Thomas shouted.

"Do it for all the Digimon whose lives Kurata took!" Yoshi agreed.

"Get revenge for Frigimon!" Keenan added.

"And my old friend Merukimon!" EmperorGreymon called out.

"Marcus!" everyone else chorused.

"No please!" Kurata begged as Marcus flaming fist flared. "Take pity on me, Marcus."

"Pity is all I had for you." Marcus hissed.

"Kurata!" he hollered, landing his fist on Kurata's face just as ShineGreymon Burst Mode did the same with Belphemon.

Everyone else beamed at their seeming victory.

"This isn't over." Belphemon growled, now separated from Kurata.

"Can't anything kill this guy?" ShineGreymon Burst Mode was stunned as Marcus looked on in shock.

"It is time." Ami remarked suddenly as Lilith took over.

"What?" Belphemon was shocked with he saw that the light on his chains was fading rapidly. "This power!?"

"Lady Lilith?" ShineGreymon Burst Mode blinked at the 'Light of Hope' who was now standing before Belphemon.

"Belphemon, you have lost." Lilith declared.

Belphemon let out a small smirk before his eyes widened at the object in Lilith's hands. This is!?

"Your actions are unbefitting of you." Lilith added. "Therefore, you have no right to call yourself God."

Raising the Sacred Flask in her hands, she continued, "I will seal you and your ambition once more within this flask."

At that, the cap opened as streams of golden holy light emerged from the flask.

"Until you realize your own shortcomings." Lilith added.

"Shut up! I won't listen to a girl like you!" Belphemon hollered.

"You should sleep forever!" he declared, raising one of his remaining chains as a whip. "Take that!"

Lilith's Cosmo remained unwaveringly strong as the chain came at her, its power dispelling when it came into contact with her aura.

"Now you understand Lilith." Belphemon remarked. "Since ancient times, you and I have been enemies. And now, many years have passed. The time is now upon us to decide… which one of us shall be the victor."

At that, he unleashed another chain at her, Lilith yelped as the energy lashed out on her. Not giving her any respite, Belphemon continued his relentless assault.

"Lady Lilith!" ShineGreymon Burst Mode gaped.

"Lilith-sama!" Ophanimon called out as Belphemon continued his attack on her.

"How is it, Lilith?" Belphemon mocked. "Little wonder, you who have always hated using weapons, have no fighting abilities now."

"Belphemon." Lilith replied as she regained her stature, her left hand holding onto the Sacred Flask. "I'm afraid you have forgotten one very important thing."

"What?" Belphemon hissed.

"I've always won my battles without any weapons." Lilith told him.

"Shut up!" Belphemon hollered, firing another of his chains at her.

Lilith's Cosmo grew stronger as she took the attack head-on, the powered-up chains having no effect on her.

"Even you are a God." She added, Belphemon's next attack hardly fazing her at all. "Having nothing but evil within your heart, you'll never win against us."

"Awaken to your senses, Belphemon." She declared. "You have completely lost."

"Shut up!" Belphemon shouted. "I will now in the name of the Seven Great Demon Lords, release all of my power against you!"

"Take this!" he yelled, unleashed a horde of his powered-up chains at her.

"Lilith, your end is near!" Belphemon informed her as his chains closed in on Lilith.

"What?" he was shocked when his attack was returned back to him. "This Cosmo that reflected my power."

"Lilith!" he growled at the girl. "Not only that, it clearly overrides even my power!"

Belphemon barely had time to scream when the holy light from the Sacred Flask shone on him, its rainbow-colored ripples of energy encasing him, assaulting his very being.

The Demon Lord then let out an anguish yell as his spirit was being drawn into the Sacred Flask.

Lilith raised the Flask with her hands, as she drew Belphemon's spirit into the vessel. With Belphemon's spirit in the Flask, the cap then shut on its own.

"You still haven't won, Marcus." Kurata told the teen on ShineGreymon Burst Mode's palm after Lilith placed her seal on the Sacred Flask. "All my dreams, all my plans, even when Belphemon sealed off, they're not over yet!"

With that, he pressed a button on his remote control, activating the last remaining 'Space Isolation Device'.

"What was that explosion?" Yoshi asked as the final detonation rocked the ground.

"No…" Thomas gasped in realization. "It can't be!"

"Not this…" Kurata was stunned at the unexpected result, the massive Digital Gate opening above him. "Please no. this wasn't what I was trying to do!"

"Ravemon!" Keenan shouted.

"Right." Ravemon replied.

"NO!" Kurata's scream stopped him. "Help me. Please!" before he was drawn into the Digital Gate in a burst of white light, never to be seen again.

ShineGreymon Burst Mode, Lilith and Marcus shielded their eyes from the intense light.

"That's what I call just desserts." Lilith noted, realizing what had happened.

"That's the…" Marcus muttered in shock after Kurata vanished. "Digital World!"