Digimon Adventure Tri: Echo

59) Coming Apotheosis

Touching down on the ground at the base of the mountain was, to put it simply, a nerve-wracking experience. The group wasn't particularly close to the peak quite yet, but it was still obvious just how large the mountain was. It seemed to tear a hole in the sky without a second though, and Taichi frowned as he looked up at it. If he got any closer, he was going to make himself dizzy by staring at it. 

But the worst part of the situation came in the form of the Singed Ones clustered around the base of the peak. It was just as the previous Chosen Children had stated; the area was filled to the brim with Singed Ones. If there had ever been any doubts about this being Piemon's hideout, they had been dispelled the second they all set their sights on the area ahead. 

Taichi let out a sigh as he turned to face the rest of the group. He was aware of the goggles on his head all over again, and he had to admit that he felt alive having such easy access to a pair again after all this time. "Well... This is it," he declared simply. 

The rest of the group looked over to him with eyes of hardened steel, all just as aware of the fact that this was going to be the battle that decided everything. Taichi gave the group a small nod before he shifted his attention to one member of the crowd specifically. "Koushiro, what do you think would be the best strategy here? There are so many Singed Ones that I doubt our previous plan is going to work out. The group defending is going to get overwhelmed while the others fight Piemon," he said. 

Koushiro nodded his agreement. "I'm afraid that you're right," he said carefully. "Omegamon was easily able to fight back against Piemon, and I think that it would be best if he was part of the charge to defeat him. On top of that, SlashAngemon is a holy Digimon, and HolyAngemon is the one who seems to upset Piemon the most. Piemon is going to be able to keep his composure and fight back unless we have HolyAngemon there to throw him off guard. I think that it would be best if those three took care of Piemon while the rest of us focused on fighting against the Singed Ones on the ground level."

"It isn't going to be easy to fight back against the Singed Ones," Sora frowned. "There are so many of them, and maintaining a perimeter around the mountain is going to be difficult. The mountain is so big that we're going to have to split up."

"Then we'll do what we can to stay in Jogress pairs. Meiko can go with you and Mimi to cover any extra ground that needs it," Koushiro told her. "I think that splitting up is going to be our only option if we want to keep the Singed Ones at bay long enough for Piemon to be defeated."

"The sky is going to be our best bet in terms of dealing damage," Ken murmured as he looked up. "The Singed Ones aren't able to fly because of the fire weighing them down. I think we should take advantage of that and snipe them down from the air. On top of that, it'll make it much easier for us to make sure that none start to get up the side of the mountain to interfere with the battle against Piemon."

"We'll stay on the ground level and do what we can to make sure that nothing happens there," Jou said. "Though perhaps it would be best if Meiko came with us instead. After all, Meicrackmon can't fly, and Ceresmon would be best suited to fighting in the air."

Koushiro nodded after a moment of contemplation. "You're right. Meiko, you're coming with Jou and me. Everybody else, split up according to your Jogress pairs and do what you can to fight back. It would be best if you stayed with your partners up in the air if you can. After all, we still don't know how dangerous the Singed Ones are in terms of dealing burn damage to us, and it would be for the best if we never had to hear that answer," he announced. 

"Then I guess we know what we're doing," Yamato said softly. He let out a small sigh before he looked to Taichi, a smirk starting to glimmer on his face even though it didn't entirely reach his eyes. "Are you ready?"