Dracmon's body writhed in agony, his pale skin turning a sickly shade of red as the fireball impacted his face. The sheer force of the blow sent him flying backward, crashing to the ground in a heap of scorched flesh. His wings were shredded, his body barely holding together as the flames continued to burn away at him. The scream that followed was a mix of pain and terror, his voice cracking with desperation.
"It hurts, you little bastard!" Dracmon shrieked, his body convulsing as he tried to regain some control over the situation. With a last-ditch effort, he extended his arms and released his dreaded Eye of Nightmare.
A sickly green light flickered from the eyes embedded in his palms, shooting out toward Arthur. The illusion ray was meant to dominate the hearts of those who dared to gaze into the eyes, subduing them with fear and submission. But Arthur, having trained to control his aggression and instincts, had already closed his eyes, relying on his heightened sense of smell to track his opponent. The scent of blood only fueled his primal rage, pushing his already intense battle lust to greater heights.
Arthur's physical prowess had grown exponentially. His body, armored and honed through endless training, slammed into Dracmon like a battering ram. He gouged the enemy with the sharp horns protruding from his head, lifting Dracmon off the ground as he charged forward, relentlessly driven by the need to tear his foe apart. As he continued his assault, his tail whipped around, stabbing Dracmon's side with brutal precision. With a roar, Arthur charged up a fireball, his claws crackling with flame, and thrust the fiery sphere point-blank into Dracmon's torso.
The impact was devastating. Dracmon's insides were scorched, his body ravaged from the inside out. The heat seared through him, the internal damage immense as blood poured from his mouth. Dracmon screamed in agony, the pain overwhelming him. "I am sorry. I am sorry. I beg you, please let me go. I won't do anything bad. I will be your slave, please!"
But Arthur didn't respond to the pleas. His instincts were too far gone, his mind clouded by the hunger for victory and the satisfaction of the fight. With a brutal flick of his tail, he dragged Dracmon along by the horns, pulling him closer. The once-proud Digimon was nothing more than a broken shell now, desperate and pleading.
With no mercy left, Arthur unleashed another fireball from point-blank range. The attack exploded into Dracmon's face, igniting what little remained of his body. His screams became a garbled mess as his skin burned away, his body twitching and smoking from the intense heat. Dracmon was beyond saving now. His charred form was nothing more than a smoldering heap of flesh.
Takato, witnessing the horror unfold before him, couldn't bring himself to look any longer. His stomach turned at the sight of his partner's relentless assault, but he understood. This was the reality of the Digital World. Sometimes survival came at the cost of mercy. He closed his eyes, trying to push the gruesome scene out of his mind.
Dracmon attempted to crawl toward Takato, but his throat was burned beyond recognition, his voice nothing more than a rasping whisper. His efforts were futile. His body was broken, and his time was up. Arthur, still within the heat of battle, stepped onto Dracmon's back, his foot sinking into the charred remains as he planted his sharp claws into the helpless Digimon's skull.
The final blow was swift and decisive. With a piercing strike, Arthur drove his claws into Dracmon's head, ending the battle in an instant. Dracmon's data began to disintegrate, fading into the air as his existence came to an end.
Arthur let out a triumphant roar, his chest swelling with pride and power. His body thrummed with energy as the data of Dracmon flowed into him, consumed without hesitation. The process was almost instinctive now. He was stronger for it. The data from the defeated enemy rushed into his form, and his power surged. His level shot up to 15, a marked increase that sent a wave of new strength coursing through his veins. His body grew in size, becoming more imposing and intimidating.
"More, more!" Arthur growled, his eyes flickering with the hunger for more power. His Digital Hazard flared to life, the ominous glow surrounding him as his energy spiked.
Takato's breath came in ragged gasps as he rushed toward Arthur, his feet pounding against the uneven ground. The weight of the situation weighed heavily on his chest, but he didn't hesitate. Boosted by his armor, Takato collided with Arthur, sending the startled Digimon tumbling to the side. Arthur's wild, aggressive gaze was locked onto his target, a burning hunger still flickering in his eyes, but Takato's intervention broke through the haze.
"ARTHUR!" Takato shouted with all the force he could muster, his voice filled with both authority and concern.
Arthur's eyes, glowing with the remnants of his dragon's rage, slowly cleared. His body shuddered as Takato's voice reached him, cutting through the frenzy. "Ta…Takatomon, sorry," Arthur stammered, the weight of his near-fury still lingering. He had been so close to losing himself entirely, the urge to consume Dracmon's data almost overtaking his rational mind.
Takato didn't waste a moment. With a determined look, he activated his digivice, its light shining brightly. The energy from the device coursed into Arthur, guiding him back from the brink of madness, helping to restore his focus. Slowly, Arthur's breathing began to even out, his tail twitching with restrained energy. Takato's firm hand on his partner's shoulder grounded him, pulling him away from the berserk state.
"It's okay, it isn't your fault," Takato reassured, his voice softening as he knelt beside Arthur. "We'll get through this, so don't get sad on me, okay?" His words were meant to calm both his partner and himself, but the uncertainty still gnawed at him.
Takato reached out and wrapped his arms around Arthur, pulling him into a tight hug. He deactivated the armor around them, and as he did, Arthur's form shrank, becoming smaller in his embrace. Takato held him close, but inside, his heart was heavy. The images of Dracmon's broken, burnt body flashed in his mind, and his stomach twisted with disgust. The sight of his partner standing victorious in such a brutal battle had shaken him more than he had expected. The violence was necessary, but it was still... disturbing.
"I..." Takato faltered, unsure of how to express the turmoil inside. "I never thought it would look like that. I didn't realize it would feel this terrible. I didn't want to see it. I wanted to stop you, but I..." His voice trailed off, filled with guilt. He had turned away when he should have been strong. He had failed in that moment.
Arthur, still shaking from the intensity of the battle and the aftershocks of his dragon instincts, nuzzled into Takato's embrace. The warmth of his tamer's affection helped to soothe his ruffled nerves, but he could sense the unease in Takato. "Takatomon, it's not your fault. You were just trying to protect me, right?" Arthur's voice was steady, though his own feelings of shame lingered. "I… I almost lost myself again, but I'll get better. We'll get better."
But Takato wasn't sure. He couldn't stop the questions that kept circling in his mind. He had just seen how easily Arthur could fall into that dark place. Could he really handle the responsibility of keeping his partner in check when the world was filled with enemies and danger? Could he handle Arthur going wild again? Could he stand to watch it, or worse—be the one to stop it?
He felt his chest tighten at the thought. "What if it happens again?" he whispered, barely audible. "What if I can't stop you next time? What if I can't keep you from going wild?"
The uncertainty was suffocating. Takato had always been confident in his bond with Arthur, but now, after seeing his partner so close to losing control, he questioned everything. He wasn't sure if he could continue this path, not knowing if he would be strong enough to handle the consequences. And the more he thought about it, the more a troubling thought crossed his mind—was it too dangerous for him to keep going? Was it too dangerous for Arthur?
Takato glanced at his digivice, its faint glow offering a fleeting sense of comfort, but it did little to quell the anxiety churning in his gut. He thought about Naruto and the others. Would they think he was weak for even considering stepping away? But what if it was the only way to protect Arthur from going too far?
"Maybe... maybe I should ask Naruto to let me step out for a while," Takato muttered, his voice tinged with doubt. "I don't know if I can keep doing this. I'm not sure I'm ready for all this… responsibility."
While Takato wrestled with his fear and doubt, Arthur was no better off. The young Guilmon, once brimming with determination and pride, now sat trembling in his tamer's arms. The vivid memory of Dracmon's screams echoed in his mind, each cry a dagger to his heart. He had heard the desperate pleas for mercy, had seen the raw fear in his enemy's eyes before delivering the final blow. And now, guilt churned inside him like a storm.
Arthur clung to Takato tightly, his claws trembling as he buried his face against his tamer's chest. "Takatomon," he whimpered, his voice cracked and filled with anguish. "It hurts... it hurts so much. I don't like this." Tears streamed from his eyes, pooling against Takato's shirt. His entire body shook as if trying to release the emotional weight crushing him. "I don't want to see it. I don't want you to leave me… I don't want you to be scared of me."
Hearing Arthur's voice so raw and broken was like a knife through Takato's soul. The pain in his partner's words resonated through their bond, amplifying the ache in Takato's own chest. It was a pain that threatened to overwhelm them both. Takato had been so caught up in his own fears that he hadn't considered how deeply Arthur was suffering. The bond they shared didn't just transfer strength—it carried emotions, too. Arthur's anguish fueled Takato's guilt, and Takato's guilt worsened Arthur's despair.
"Arthur..." Takato's voice wavered as tears welled in his own eyes. He wrapped his arms tighter around the trembling Digimon, holding him as if to shield him from the weight of the world. "Don't cry, Arthur. I'm here for you. I'll never leave you. You're making me cry, so please... smile. Smile like always, because we won. We're safe now." His words were shaky, but they carried a deep sincerity, a desperate need to comfort his partner.
Arthur didn't respond at first. The weight of what he had done—the screams, the pleas, the feeling of his claws piercing another being—was too much. He had always dreamed of being strong, of fighting for justice and standing as the King of all Knights. But now, for the first time, he saw the cost of that strength, and it terrified him. He didn't feel like a knight. He felt like a monster from the horror stories Takato had once told him, the kind that preyed on the weak.
Takato's tears began to fall, silently at first, then in a steady stream as he felt Arthur's pain grow stronger. He couldn't hold it back anymore. Seeing Arthur cry, hearing his partner's words filled with fear and hurt—it broke something inside him. "Arthur, it's okay," Takato whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You're not a monster. You're my partner. My friend. And I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
He pulled Arthur closer, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of his head. The gesture was small, but it carried all the love and reassurance Takato could muster. "We'll figure this out, together. I promise. You don't have to carry this pain alone."
Arthur's trembling began to subside as he felt Takato's warmth and sincerity. The bond between them, though strained by the battle's aftermath, pulsed with a faint light—a reminder of the strength they shared. "Takatomon... thank you," Arthur whispered, his voice still shaky but steadier than before. He clung to Takato, unwilling to let go, as if his tamer's presence was the only thing keeping him grounded.
The two sat there for a long time, wrapped in each other's embrace, their tears slowly drying as they found comfort in their shared pain. The Digital World around them seemed eerily quiet, the echoes of the battle fading into the background. For now, they had each other, and that was enough.