Frontiers Unexplored

13) Unchained

Before we get into this chapter, I would like to offer a preliminary trigger warning for graphic mentions of abuse from a sibling (verbal, emotional, and physical). Please stay safe if this pertains to you, and take care of yourselves, everyone!

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Duskmon walked through the crystal halls of Rose Morning Star slowly. His shoes left clicking noises echoing in the air, but he could hardly care less. After all, there was a subject that required far more of his attention in that moment, and he couldn't afford to get distracted. 

Cherubimon had called upon him. 

Duskmon hadn't been to Rose Morning Star prior to Cherubimon's request that the two of them meet. Cherubimon had made it rather clear from the start that the Fallen Warriors had their own space to operate out of. After all, they were the most important members of the Beast Digimon army, so it only made sense that they were given an entire environment to suit their needs. Rose Morning Star, on the other hand, was Cherubimon's domain alone, and infringing upon that was far from being a good idea. 

Rose Morning Star had the same design of crystals that both Evergreen Dawn and Abraxas did, but something about Cherubimon's palace felt eerie by comparison. The Continent of Darkness was not a place filled with light regularly, but the sun had not shone since Cherubimon began his conquest. It left Rose Morning Star feeling somewhat lackluster when compared to the other palaces, barely shining with the dignified glow one would have expected of it. 

Still, Duskmon cared little for such a fact. Aesthetics mattered minimally to him. In that moment, all that mattered was finding Cherubimon and learning about why the Celestial Digimon had requested his presence in the palace for the first time. 

Duskmon arrived at the hall where Cherubimon made his home soon after arriving at the palace, and he walked in without bothering to knock. Even if Cherubimon was a stickler for manners, something Duskmon doubted, the Warrior of Darkness truly couldn't be asked to give a damn about anything others wanted in that moment. All he cared about was taking care of business so that he was allowed to return to doing his own thing. 

"Duskmon." 

Cherubimon's voice cut through the air, and he didn't even bother turning to see that the Warrior of Darkness had arrived. The rabbit-like Digimon was too focused on the map of the Digital World that floated in the air before him. 

Cherubimon was purple in color with lanky arms that seemed longer than his actual body. He had lengthy ears the same color as the rest of his body, but the edges were slightly jagged and torn. A blue and white collar was wrapped around his neck, obscuring the top segment of his chest. The front of his stomach was green, and Cherubimon's eyes were an eerie yellow. He seemed to be swallowed by the shadows, as if he was simply part of them rather than merely their commander. Anyone would have been frightened to see such, but Duskmon remained passive in the face of terror without batting an eyelash. 

"Cherubimon," Duskmon replied. It was impossible to say if that was the best thing to say in that moment, but if it wasn't, Duskmon didn't care in the slightest. It wasn't surprising given how little he minded what Lyramon got up to. If the Warrior of Steel didn't frighten him, then he had nerves made of metal. Such was only solidified by his nonchalance when faced with Cherubimon. 

"Lyramon dropped off Seraphimon's data this morning," Cherubimon told Duskmon, finally turning to face the Warrior of Darkness. "They granted me great power, but you... You are still something special. You are my greatest creation, Duskmon. As such, I would like you to have this."

Cherubimon didn't even need to move to press his hand to Duskmon's forehead thanks to how long his arms were. Duskmon didn't flinch, simply allowing the transfer of power to take place. He felt energy flood through his body, and he recognized it as the same power that he had clashed with at Evergreen Dawn. True to his word, Cherubimon was granting Duskmon the strength of Seraphimon.