A world where Akashin Tsukimichi never stopped killing, taking down Koh Bellucci and Sayo Scirocco and proceeding to kill so much more... On the surface, a sadist roams, but deep down, he longs to discover just what his birth mother found so appealing about Saviour Datand...

This is the fifth world to be attacked by the Anomalice, beings that manifest in other worlds via the use of hidden desires. But what connection do the Codes of Melancholy and Hubris have with these mysterious anomalies? Perhaps all shall be unveiled...

"It's been a while, Centuriomon."

"Oh, it's you." Normally there was much more contempt in his tone, but he supposed that the other had softened himself up a bit after Mona Artemision corrupted him.

Tai Wuliang gave a loud sigh. "You look better at least."

"Don't mock me. The process to get here was PAINFUL."... Right, he forgot the Creator could be a bit... unhinged when fixing people.

"I'm not. I'm here for information. It's something I'm sure you know the answer to."

"What would that be?" The Time Keeper asked.

"Where was Mona Artemision held previously?" That made Centuriomon pause before he looked up, surprised. "How did you know...?"

"I didn't cheat by asking the team, if that's what you want to hear. And for the record, I'm no longer hopping to that time. I swore that after my battle with Papa, I would stop and I intend to hold up that promise." The sigh of relief was audible, and Wuliang found it amusing how he immediately tried to mask it up, but continued to spare him the embarrassment, "As for your question, she gave off ancient vibes. I've had my own fair share of ancient beings growing up. Plus, someone who manages to corrupt YOU is powerful. Very powerful, and this kind of power is normally sealed away."

"... Spot on." He was starting to see why the Creator allowed him in, even if he STILL disapproved of the time jumping. "That world is one you might not want to visit, though."

"If I had to take a guess... It's the Legend of Zelda world."

"Again, spot on."

"That place DOES act as an ancient center to all the worlds, doesn't it?" He remarked. "I'm still relieved that you allowed the team to handle the Monokuma thing, by the way."

He snorted. "That was YOUR dimension's issue. You brought it here by sheer luck. It's a wonder I haven't destroyed you for that."

"That there is a wonder indeed, although wouldn't your job be much more boring if I didn't show up?" He teased, a smirk on his face.

"My life was perfectly fine until YOU came into it."

Glasssweeper rolled his eyes. So did Jackjack as Jettra chuckled.

"Just those three, though?"

"Oh, Kamemon takes care of my fishie pets when I'm not around, and Yuci is resting at home."

Despite himself, Centuriomon smirked. "Still calling fishes fishies, huh?"

"What's wrong with that?!" Wuliang huffed. "The nerve of some people!"

(A weird dynamic the two had, but they made it work. Sure, Centuriomon didn't like Wuliang but he wouldn't go and murder the other. He had standards. Likewise, Wuliang wouldn't break the rules unless absolutely necessary. Sometimes he did drop by for fun but tried not to spoil the future much.

When it came down to it, they still worried for the other.)

"Anyway, are you going to check that out?" He asked.

"I'll see," Wuliang said while adjusting his cape. (He liked looking mysterious and all but there was a reason he got one that doubled as a jacket. Seriously, his Dadda had weird taste!) "Just... Rest up for now."

"Fine," Centuriomon answered.

Then he paused, and asked, "Are you... Going to help the Dimension Keepers?"

Wuliang sighed. "Of course. Just not in the usual way is all. I... doubt I can be called one anyway. But yeah, see ya around, Centuriomon."

Centuriomon watched him leave, and sighed as well, turning to the baby sleeping in the crib as he gently patted her head. "Oh, Ren... I just hope this all passes by quickly."

"Do you think the awakening of the Fragmented Codes after December allowed her to break free?" Sandayuu asked.

"That could be it. She does seem to have an affinity to them at one point." Tsuchiyume tapped his fingers on the wooden table. "The only question is, what connects them?"

"The Codes were created by Pascatmon, right? Maybe Pascatmon corrupted her as well?" Jinpei suggested while giving Connex some foods to try. Shiift was actively zooming around, already at full energy thanks to the star candy she had been given. (A-Suki had been "willing" [read: had them taken away by A-Rita] to let them go for Skyla, and Shiift LOVED them.])

"True. But we don't exactly know how they were created either. The entire thing is shrouded in mystery..." Ranto exhaled. "We know so little, don't we?"

"Yeah. Even Sensei didn't have that much info..." Skyla frowned. (So much was hidden in the ancient times... Would the answer truly clear things up, or make it worse? She didn't know, wasn't sure she WANTED to know right now, but they would have to face the truth someday. Not during the fight, though. They would deal with it after Mona Artemision was stopped, after all the Miraculous had been gathered.)

"Either way, we should focus on stopping the Fragmented Digimon, keeping an eye on the Digitamas and gathering the Miraculous. Once we have all 13 we may stand a chance against her," Daun suggested.

"Maybe. But... Something feels off." Ranto drummed his fingers on his arm. (A coping mechanism Keisuke taught him.) "Was it just me... Or did they seem to be their own people?"

"We... Didn't get to see much of Jaltermon, but Miasmamon definitely had personality with the puns and all," Skyla agreed. "Amato is a jokester so it could be that but..."

"The possibility of the Digimon choosing their hosts is there too, isn't it? Like how Jaltermon managed to manifest in Reppamon despite his connection to A-Ismaya-san," Tsuchiyume offered.

(It was a real mystery; perhaps it had something to do with the fact that the Digimon were still Digimon at the end of the day. Maybe their influence varied? Who knew at this point....)

"Either way, we need to figure out when their next move is. Skyla, could you figure out where their next target is?" Gangsan inquired.

She sighed. "About that.... I DO have a theory on how I managed to track down the Miraculous when we were in the Bakugan AU."

"What kind of theory?" Sandayuu asked curiously, sitting beside Jinpei who was still feeding Conne-

"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Jinpei actively jumped as Connex flopped his back tail left and right, black eyes bright. Everyone else was on edge, but then-

"THIS IS SOOOO GOOD!!!" Connex cheered while popping into his mouth what had him enamoured.

"Sweet and spicy nuts....?" was Skyla's confused question. "I mean, I know most of the GG group likes sweet stuff and Hiro loves chili but..."

"Who in the world likes nuts?!" Tsuchiyume squawked.

(A part of Ranto jokes that he looks so cute when he's flabbergasted, and said part promptly gets a bump on the head for the trouble THAT thought could get him into.)

"I think they're fine," Jinpei said as he popped a nut into his mouth.

He then proceeded to choke on it due to the sheer spice the nuts packed. "HOT HOT HOT!!"

"J-Jinpei-kun!!" Sandayuu yelped. "Hang on, I'll get you a drink!!"

The team snickered. Shiift giggled. Ranto was even recording it. (Payback for the nonsense he put poor Ranto through!)

They're so whipped for each other... Tsuchiyume thought to himself, but sneaked a glance at Ranto. Wonder if we could have that as wel-

"I'm amused by the chaos happening here, but we have a problem."

All heads spun, on edge, to see a familiar person wave. "Yo."

"Wuliang? What are you-" Skyla blinked.

"Centuriomon warned me about another world having an Anomalice Digimon manifest," He said in reply. "Gangsan, Daun, you... May not like this AU. It's got something to do with Ismaya-san."

Gangsan felt his blood drain the heat out of him. What did he... Mean? "Wuliang?"

(Even if it's not his home world, Gangsan cares for Uju and his extended family immensely. So does Daun. Both know Ismaya is sometimes a ticking time bomb, yet they know he's kind...

What did he...)

The Indo-American gave a sigh. "It's... Complicated, but..."

His next words sent a chill down every spine, especially Connex.

"It's an AU where Ismaya-san never stopped killing, and the time of interference is... The day he finally found his way to Saviour Datand, November 30 of 20XX."

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

~~ November 30, 20XX ~~

"I honestly am impressed how foolish all of you were." He mildly smiled.

Suddenly, the eyes he thought he always knew seemed like those of a stranger. Benton could only watch this man, Aramaki Mitsuo (how had he not made the connection?! Mitsuo as in Mitsuo Yamaki...), no, Akashin Tsukimichi, no Mitsuo Arif... Which one was it? He genuinely had no clue.

"You killed grandma. How could you be so heartless...?!" Mei snarled at him, eyes burning with a cold rage.

"And my grandfather..." Aoi's fists were drawing blood.

"How can you even think you're human!?!" Ichita hissed.

"Am I? What does constitute as a human anyway?" He asked while tilting his head.

Beside him, Pascatmon smiled wickedly. "Not that matters anyway! We finally got what we needed!"

"What do you mean by that?!" Lizzy demanded.

The serial killer only chuckled as he closed off what he had been drawing on the ground.

Everyone felt their blood run cold.

His signature.... In one of their friends' blood.

No, to be accurate.... In data....

"KYAROMON!!!" Reppamon screamed.

The scarf lay in tatters, a Digitama was all that was left, yet the man chuckled. "And it is done."

The mark glowed bright.

"STOP! YOU HAVE NO CLUE WHAT YOU'RE DOING!!" Shin Kyoya screamed, rushing forward.

Someone who had suffered like him, who had gone down the wrong path as he had.... He was about to cause something irreversible. He just knew it.

Yet this... Man (who was he, even? Which was truly this person? The façade he put up? Which name was truly his?) Gave a smile, veiling sadness as he said, "Finally, it's time to see what Saviour Datand is all about. What was soooooo compelling about this place Aulia Mentari sought that she was willing to traumatise her own kid and kill her own husband for."

The two then stepped into the circle, and it began to absorb them.

No no no no..... They had to stop them. They HAD to stop them from causing this mess!!!!

IF ONLY THEY COULD STOP THEM!!!!

"Your inner desire is HEARD~"

"W-wait, d-did anyone hear that?" A-Amano stammered quietly.

A-Pascatmon actually froze herself. Eyes wide. She was SHAKING. That voice...!!!

And it was like a pair of eyes had landed on her.

The... The creation she had.... No... HOW?! She thought she had gotten rid of them when her former partner-

Next thing she felt was pain. Excruciating pain that scream as the seal stopped working and ejected the two, sending her partner to the wall while her vision went black.

"Pascatmon"

Evolve

To

ACHEELMON

"Finally~ Some payback to that stupid creator of mine~" He, no, she, sang. The transgender Digimon then looked around, eyes landing on her new contractor, and grinned ferally. "Thanks for your desire~ It was amazingly delicious~"

"What are you talking about?!" A-Hiro demanded.

But they felt fear coil around their stomach. No. No. No no no no no!!!!! What had they don-

"Mugen Hand!"

Execute!

Comet Lancer!

Explosive Sneeze!

Cosmic Big Bang!

Trick or Tweet!

"Earth Shatter!" A voice commanded as a Ventus Nillious swung their tail at the Digimon, only for the Digimon to avoid it with a scowl before a female swung her spear right at him.

"Yeah, no! Jettra, Lazer Gaze!" THIS voice was familiar.

Team Demigod turned back to look at a slightly less confused A-Wuliang, whose Bakugan was perched on his shoulder.

"Looks like something's happening in the multiverse?" He offered in reply.

"THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN ****!" was A-Light's response.

... Honestly, the fact that A-Kumori, his Buddy, was nodding along to WULIANG made it all the more hilarious.

Acheelmon dodged and used Imperial Lance, the weapon forming from her fangs before soaring toward the interlopers.

The seven ducked out of the way, causing her to snarl. "I WILL get the Miraculous! Just you wait!!"

She then forced her way out of the building at Cho-Taiyo with a Trojan Horse Slash, leaving the group with very confused and conflicted soon-to-be Mystic Detectives.

(Although... Would they actually BE Mystic Detectives in this timeline?)

"A desire led to Acheelmon's manifestation?" A-Angoramon repeated.

"That's how these things work, apparently. Hidden desires in the form of a single thought can lead to a contract. An unwilling one," Wuliang explained.

"When they do that, a mark forms on the person, even if it's invisible to the naked eye. Gangsan's Digivice allows him to know who it is. Right now, the consensus is that we need to sever the contract, then defeat the Digimon. While we don't have the final requirement to take down the Digimon once and for all, it should at least expel the Digimon from this timeline," Tsuchiyume added.

"That's all nice but it doesn't mean we're addressing the fact that HE-" There was contempt in A-Aoi's voice, a tremor as she pointed at the serial killer, hands shaking. "-had killed people!! HE'S THE REASON THAT THING CAME TO BE IN THE FIRST PLACE!! IF HE HADN'T... IF HE HADN'T KILLED KYAROMON... HADN'T KILLED ASTREAMON!!"

"I agree with Aoi. We need to address THIS before anything else." A-Mei crossed her eyes. Cold olive eyes stared at him.

The only reply was a lazy smile. "I could easily get rid of all of you. I'm more... Concerned about Pascatmon, though."

(A warm smi-

NAOMI WHY? WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DIE?! WHY DID YOU SACRIFICE YOURSELF?!

A young girl, he remembers, he can't, he's a monster, it wasn't, it was an ACCIDENT-)

"She'll be fine. Half of the reason we have our hands full on our job is because of her..." Wuliang muttered the second half to himself.

That caught the others off guard.

"What do you mean by that?" Gangsan asked.

"I.... I'll explain it later. Right now, all you need to know is that this thing goes deeper than you thought," Wuliang said with a sigh. "Either way, we need to focus on Acheelmon. We leave what happens to Ismaya to you."

A-Yuga furrowed his eyebrows. "Ismaya? Who's that?"

Wuliang paused, eyes widening, cheeks flaring up as he realised, 'Oh ****, I ****Ed up.'

(Then again, Yuga-senpai was always perceptive. It didn't show a lot on his face but he knew Yuga-senpai was no fool. Tag-teaming with him against Kei and Alec proved it.)

"Long story," Skyla quickly smoothed it over. "But either way, it's not that important to you guys right now. What matters is finding out who got contracted."

"This was... Not the best of situations. And to be honest, compared to when Asagao used Acheelmon, he's a lot stronger..." Ranto said. He had observed when Acheelmon first showed up. Compared to then, this one was stronger...

"Is it possible... To have more than one contractor?" Tsuchiyume then offered. His eyes were on four people in particular as he continued, "I don't think the desires have to be the exact same so..."

Wuliang paused a bit, remembering what he had found in the ruins of that prison before showing up.

"It... May be possible, but it is a tricky process," he carefully said. "I'm not sure that's what happened here."

Beep! Beep!

Everyone froze as they saw Gangsan's belt light up, showing the Anomalice mark as a hologram above the person's head.

"Wait, that's...!!" Ranto's eyes widened.

"Can't say I'm surprised... They know more than anyone the feeling of messing up royally," Wuliang said quietly, remembering when he had talks with their main self.

"How do you approach a person who found out a family member was murdered brutally by someone you thought was a kind person...?" Daun had a fair point.... Yet...

Looking at her, he couldn't help but feel like... They understood each other...

... Wait.

Something had been off the entire time. Something about the way the killer and they had interacted.

He knew of their history, of course. (The truth of it, yes.)

But what could have triggered such a reaction...?

.... What if... It wasn't anger? What if, it was...

Tsuchiyume offered, "I could talk to her."

Wuliang had a confused look. So did Sandayuu. But the other five knew what Tsuchiyume had gone through, knew that he had a plan, that something was churning in his head. His brain was on full spark. That meant...

Skyla nodded. "You got this, Tsuchiyume."

"Thanks, Skyla-san," he said with a smile, before walking over to the person.

He... Wasn't the best at words, and he realised this as he approached her.

Still, his footsteps moved closer and closer. Hoping to lift the curse off the thawed heart.

(She had a family who did care, and lashed out when they were lost.

He had a family who didn't, and he lashed out when he realised it.

Two sides of the same coin... Those who blamed themselves for mistakes long past. The scars of their childhoods... Seeping into who they were now.)

(The others grow increasingly confused as he approaches this person.)

"Hoshi Mei, right?"

A-Mei looked up. Her eyes spoke of the winter, yet also of fresh wounds. "What?"

"You didn't believe his **** for a single minute. That I can tell. Yet somehow you had a desire. One powerful enough to strengthen Acheelmon exponentially. I think I know what your desire was, so may I make a guess?" He asked.

A-Mei stared back at him coldly, but the cracks were showing. The neurons in his brain were connecting. "It's none of your business."

"It kinda is. Without severing this contract, your world is in danger."

And there it was. Her eyes widened. Fear, sorrow, regret-

He knew it.

The spark on his brain.

(He always thought that way. Connections, logic, using it all to find the answer. All at breakneck speed.

Only when it got personal did he lash out.)

"You and the killer know each other. To be precise, if I may take a guess..." He looked at Wuliang. "This is a world where after her grandmother died, he regained his memories."

Wuliang stared at him. "I don't even know how you-"

"The way they looked at each other. Did he adopt Mei after the death?" He asked.

A stunned nod. (Never let Yuga-senpai, HIS Yuga-senpai get to know this guy. Poor Lec would die and then some.)

"Then it's not anger, spite, or hatred. It's... Probably helplessness. You didn't know what to do. You wanted to do something but you couldn't. You were drowning in too many emotions you couldn't even begin to identify one of them."

"I-"

"You didn't know if he adopted you out of guilt or if it was genuine at all. I..." He faltered. "I get that."

(Tsuchiyume had messed up. He was starting out as a Dimension Keeper, desiring to prove himself to obscure forces due to his own experiences. Hoping, praying for validation.)

"When I was adopted by..." His eyes lingered on A-Touma and A-Natsume before he looked back at A-Mei. "By some people, I had my trust issues as well. The word family held no meaning to me. My entire meaning of it shattered when I was told that my family was not even family. That they just hoped I would be their golden child instead of genuinely loving me for me. I grappled with that until..."

"Un... Til?" A-Mei surprisingly nudged him to continue. Those eyes seemed curious. As if she wanted to know how the story ended.

"My first mission as a Dimension Keeper... Nura..."

The name alone made the others minus Wuliang flinch.

"During that time, the people who kept me sane were them. They cared for me. They stood by me even when they had no reason to. I was nothing to my birth relatives but a glorified trophy. But to them... I was me. Amanoko Tsuchiyume... That's the name they gave me that time."

(It wasn't his birth name. He threw that and his inconclusive birth sex out the day he broke down and realised that he wasn't alone. That he WAS loved. That he had a family now. Regardless of his status as a Dimension Keeper, he was still him.)

"I don't know what he's thinking, but... I do think that for someone claiming to be a psychopath... He isn't consistent. He wants to know what his birth mom wants but he should also know Saviour Datand would have sentenced him to eternal suffering."

The killer finally spoke, "Pascatmon told me that-"

"And you seriously want me to believe that you would take the word of a Digimon who clearly doesn't give a **** about you? I think you're not a fool. You can easily see that she's manipulating you like how she did your birth mother. The fact that you and Mikado Naomi were friends sold me on the fact that you only lashed out because of guilt. Despite everything, you STILL cared for others. Easy to use that against yourself. Make yourself go through an elaborate plan of killing, slowly destroying yourself before leaving the world and suffering like the ******* you are. ... Is what you were thinking right?"

His eyes widened.

For the first time, Akashin Tsukimichi was well and thoroughly stunned by the complete analysis. "How-"

"You and your main counterpart are both idiots. And honestly? So am I. I won't deny it. But being honest about it with your daughter matters more than you think. Sure, your connections were built out of lies, yet those connections can be rebuilt." His eyes landed on Skyla. "I think that instead of hiding it all, you should have been honest from the start. You should have looked your daughter in the eye from the beginning."

(He was never truly angry at Skyla. He just wished she could be more open about how she felt. It bred frustration, sure, but he just wanted her to be honest.)

Skyla understood. Her eyes watered a bit as Tsukimichi slowly looked at A-Mei.

A-Mei, who was starting to understand what this meant;

That her adoptive father, who took her in after her parents all but abandoned her for their jobs, who was there with every emotional milestone, who helped her stop Ravemon, who helped her connect to the others....

For all the lies he had spun using his half-truths recently...

He still cared. He cared so much he was willing to be selfless. He cared so much he was willing to kill himself to let his daughter live freely.

What he had done... Was genuine. All of that.... Was real. He felt with her. He TRIED TO UNDERSTAND HER PAIN.

He had never sugar coated stuff. He had told her when she asked that he couldn't read emotions in other people.

Even if he DID kill....

Even if he CONTINUED killing...

He still did care for her.

(Regardless she would have realised it later on, but... Early intervention could allow for a more hopeful ending, allow her to finally say the words her alternate self would have been unable to say, because it was too late...)

Tears sprung out once more as she cried. Blue goop fell down, dissipating while the others yelped in surprise.

She wasn't the only one with the blue goop, after all.

Tsukimichi didn't know how. He didn't understand WHY he was crying. It was supposed to be impossible for psychopaths to cry so how was this possible...?

(He remembers crying after killing Koh and Sayo, Akame too. He thought he had lost it. But the guilt still carried on.

Had he... Outgrown his psychopath stage? Was it genuine?

.... He realised he had. Somewhere, somehow, he had grown to genuinely care...

He... He wasn't a monster like his mother.

And as he collapses, he sobs. He... He had somehow regained his humanity along the way.

Or maybe... He had never lost it. Maybe that good core remained in him despite everything. Just waiting to resurface.

If only it hadn't taken more lives beforehand....)

Gangsan checked his belt, and smiled. "You hit it spot on, Tsuchiyume. As per usual."

"Thanks, Gangsan. We just need to figure out where in Cho-Taiyo Acheelmon is hiding and defeat her, right?" He asked. When the others nodded, he smiled as he got a new medal out. "Time to sense his Youki out! Henshin!"

Changing Form, Youkai Hero!

Spectral Scanner

He was covered with yukata fabric, allowing his green hair to be held back by a red headband. His eyes glowed yellow as his short green yukata, long brown jeans and a pair of straw shoes sealed the look.

"Omae no kokoro wakaru. Spectral Scanner sanjou!" He said. (I know the contents of your heart. Spectral Scanner is here!) (It resembled..!)

A-Touma and A-Natsume shared a stunned glance. No way... It couldn't be...!

(A gift from his dad after the Nura mess, a reminder that he and his mom would continue to love him regardless.)

Scanner smiled before he inserted a medal.

Execute!

Dance of the Aural Forest

A burst of energy scanned the entirety of the island clusters, before narrowing it down to an underground facility.

"Huh, it's under the second island," He said after he was done.

"Then I can help you out there," A-Shin Kyoya agreed. "I can get you there using shortcuts."

"I can help out as well," A-Benton said as he walked to join the CEO.

(Maybe he's foolish for liking him. Foolish for falling for a man who could easily manipulate him.

But A-Benton does love Akashin Tsukimichi, and he wants him to be happy.

Maybe... After he repents.... Just maybe.)

"Are... Are we not going to address-"

"You can decide what you want to do with him later. I think he's ready to turn himself in," Tsuchiyume said to A-Aoi, who turned to look at the former killer, eyes softening just a bit.

(She's starting to realise, how far is too far? If she considers his sins unforgivable.... What about hers? She nearly destroyed Mei. She tried to kill Hiro. Brought up painful memories for Kiyoshiro. Traumatised Ruri beyond comprehension....

Sure she can feel this way but... Can she judge? Truly, can she judge when she feels like if pushed as extremely as him... She could have turned out just like him?)

"I guess it's time to get ready to head down there, huh?" Skyla looked at Shiift. "You ready?"

"Yep!" She popped the p before the bracelet appeared again.

"Want a break this time?" Jinpei asked Connex.

The Kwami nodded. "I-I want a break."

"Then I won't judge. Get some rest," He said.

He smiled. "T-Thanks."

A-Shin Kyoya soon showed them the map, gesturing to a tunnel that was coloured red. "This is the one that leads to the other island. I used it for research on flag creation, so I don't actually know why she would be there."

"Could be for the Miraculous or something el-" Ranto paused. "She?"

The rest of the team froze as well.

She?

SHE?

ACHEELMON WAS TRANSGENDER?!

"The pronoun Acheelmon used when she spoke. She used Watashi. It's not a common male pronoun to use," A-Shin Kyoya explained.

Tsuchiyume hummed at that. "Interesting..."

"CHIYUME-SENPAI! YOU KNEW TOO?! HOW COULD WE HAVE MISGENDERED SOMEONE?!" Jinpei went to his knees, bawling.

Sandayuu was also on his knees. "I-I am so sorry Acheelmon!!"

"This... This is normal?" A-Lizzy asked Skyla, who was rubbing her temple.

"Unfortunately," She answered.

"I DIDN'T know," Tsuchiyume clarified. "Meaning that we may have to apologize to her once we meet up with her."

Gangsan nodded. "That works."

"S-She's not going to kill us for misgendering her right?!" Daun stammered while hugging his adoptive brother.

"If she did, she would have long killed us. She probably just wants the Miraculous, though which one remains to be seen...." Skyla admitted.

"We should probably check then. Thanks for your help, Kyoya-san!" Jinpei waved at the Biome world user, who smiled as he waved back.

(It took him losing his Core Deck Gadget to realise how artificial he had been. How shallow. He knew to some extent how Tsukimichi could feel so... If he could help, even if it was a bit, he would go for it.

Wuliang waves, and he grins. He can tell that this Wuliang, even if he's not HIS Wuliang, still respects him, a former villain. He's grateful he and Alec chose HIM as their mentor.)

The group soon headed downwards to stop Acheelmo-

(She watches from their counterpart's eyes. Their eyes glow a slight silver.

Aesopia knows Acheelmon is no fool. She possessed Pascatmon for a specific reason.

She will gladly supply her friend's desires. It's the least she can do for those who were imprisoned with her in that accursed seal.)

The tunnel was pretty small, but they made it even if Wuliang had to be dragged along, his reddish blue eyes bright in wonder at the underwater land they were walking through. (Darn, Kyoya shouldn't have made the tunnel a see-through one!!) He even pouted once the things he lovingly called fishies disappeared from his sight, much to their amusement.

Still, they soon arrived at the location; a lab that looked wrecked as ****. There, Acheelmon prowled around, scratching the metallic surface with a frustrated growl. Seemed like she was searching for something... But what could it be?

"Oi, Acheelmon!" Gangsan called out.

The Digimon paused, turning around to see them.

And the eight bowed right at her.

"We are so sorry for misgendering you! We assumed you were a guy!" Sandayuu apologised.

The leopard Digimon stared at the group, a face of utter confusion written all over. What the- what were these kids DOING?

(She... Had to respect them in a way. They were all anomalies yet they were still kind. They hadn't lost their way like how she and her friends had. Even if they called Aesopia master, it was one she earned. Not the title they had been made to call Pascatmon, that *******.

Still, she had a job to do, and as much as she didn't want to, she had to if they wanted to change the way people saw Anomalice.)

She tempered her expression and said, "It doesn't matter. I WILL get the Miraculous, no matter what!"

"Then we will have to stop you," Skyla answered back as the eight stood at attention.

Wuliang took in a small breath, but grabbed an Earth Armour card. His card with Yuga, that one time they fought against Kei and Alec. (Outside of Tag team fights, sure, they could be used, but they were not as strong alone. Still, he was confident he could make it through. He had a home here now and he sure as **** was going to defend it. Regardless of his fate and all, he was defending this place not just because it was Pleco's home. It was HIS home too. And even if he was still a member of the team, he would always continue to protect this place.

An anomaly. Someone whose fate was chosen, who would come to find his home in another world.

An Anomalice. A status he was proud of have. His Papa would have encouraged it. He just knew it.

More than you ever know, Liang. More than you ever know.)

[Another gem lights up. The second cog turns.

They're beginning to awaken. They're beginning to observe the worlds to find the perfect partner for themselves.]

"Anomalous Field, Set!"

"Henshin!"

Changing form, Youkai Hero!

Earth Walker NOA

Deep Shadow Zodiac

Little Kommander Ace

In the midst of the transformations and rolling out and evolution to Mega, he held the card out. "I equip! Aerial Leviathan!"

Wings with Garga's colours spread out from behind him. His Aura powers grew more pronounced as he gained white armour and a grey sword, swinging the weapon around before he said, "My heart is blazing with excitement! Aerial Leviathan!"

(Acheelmon grins. A real fight is at hand. She can feel it. One she longed to have, even in her crazed Hubris state.

She was just brimming with her own excitement despite the mission she had.

I hope Mona doesn't mind....)

"Trojan Horse Slash!" She roared, and the group dodged as Wuliang rushed in, Glasssweeper going big while Jackjack roared at her. Jettra was rolled out too, and he and the Nillious (Rector, he remembered) began attacking together.

Earth Walker NOA and Little Kommander Ace shared a glance before nodding. Time to go all out!

"You know it's time to, upgrade forms, yo, yeah, come on!" He said as he inserted another medal the same time his friend did.

Earth Walker NOA Armoured

Little Kommander Ace was then absorbed, allowing Earth Walker NOA to gain yellow armour above his outfit as he posed. "Earth Walker NOA, Armoured is here!"

Meanwhile, Spectral Scanner grabbed a new medal out, inserting it into the watch.

Execute!

Melodic Slash!

He summoned a flute-like staff and rushed in with Wuliang.

"Pleco, Wrecking Blast! Jackjack, Aerial Dance! Jettra! Lazer Gaze!" The dream demon commanded.

His partners immediately carried out those commands; while Pleco swung his tail but barely hit Acheelmon due to her speed, the jackalope prepared a kick, pooling up energy while Jettra began charging up.

Recognising they had to end it here, the others all activated their finales as well.

Execute!

Dynamic Neko End!

Earth Walker NOA Armoured roared as the vestiges of nekomata Youkai rushed at Acheelmon.

Queen's Blizzard!

Deep Shadow Zodiac sent a flurry of icy slashes her way.

"Giga Destroyer!!" Gangsan commanded, and his partner nodded before blasting out her missiles.

"Crystal Spikes!" Daun added, allowing the Ventus Bakugan to throw a rain of green spikes.

Tyrannical Protector connected her spears together and swung it like a boomerang, causing it to hit bullseye.

Acheelmon roared. (This was EXHILARATING! They were on par with her fighting! Truly stupendous!!)

Aerial Leviathan and Spectral Scanner shared a glance, and grinned before they both prepared.

"I activate Aerial Leviathan's ability! I equip Garsaber without cost and can attack without you defending so long as my Buddy is on the field! Let's go, Pleco!!"

The Biome world monster grinned. "Let's go, Heliang!"

(Despite everything he had been through, something about the two of them had clicked. Even though he was violent, still recovering from Broken World AND Agatha Harkniss, the one-year-old had helped him heal. He owed a lot to Wuliang and the team, and he wasn't about to let this second chance go to waste, damn it!)

Tsuchiyume grinned as Yoshitsune's voice spoke, "Are you ready, Tsuchiyume-kun?"

"Of course, Yoshitsune. Of course," He answered with a smile before he readied his stance.

(Maybe he'll accept his status as an Anomalice someday. But for now... He's content with the things he DOES know about himself.

He'll take his time.)

[A gem lights up. The third only fills up half of it.

Not yet. Not just yet. It'll mature soon enough.]

The two jumped together before they lunged at the Digimon from different sides.

Acheelmon... Smirked.

"Hermesian Pride!" A winged snake with 2 heads got caught in the blast in exchange as the leopard gracefully jumped upwards. "Very exciting. I gotta say this is the first time in a while since I got a rush like this! Has it been millennia since we got sealed away?"

"Sealed away?" Gangsan repeated. "What do you mean by that?"

Wuliang detransformed. "That's what I found out during my trip to the seal. These Digimon were not created by the Codes. Their data was corrupted by Pascatmon after she forcibly broke the seal to get more power. The ironic thing is that... That they were sealed with her former partner."

Everyone's eyes widened.

"Master is a title we gave to the person who stayed determined to change the world even though people called her a glitch. Something that shouldn't exist." Acheelmon's tone had pride in it for their master. "That ******* Pascatmon deserves nothing but the deepest pits of the Dimension of Eternal Suffering. So you know, I decided to do her a favour and take her body as my own. I just had to destroy her Fractal Code and everything was safe."

This was... That was.... "You can't..." Sandayuu stammered.

And immediately those cold eyes were on him as Acheelmon snapped, "She was downright evil. People like that should die. Not that I expect someone like you to understand. She... She got all of us stuck on false accusations before we were seen as flaws. She blamed US for the Creator's rejection! Then she shows up last December and expects us to worship the ground she walked on! Ha! Her stupid Codes killed a human and left Master Aesopia to suffer in a pit of loneliness! Because of her, Master Aesopia became nothing but a specter!”

All of them froze.

Sandayuu slowly looked at the others. Their faces ranged from horror to sheer... Fear. Anxiety. Terror. Even Ranto was shaking.

What... What could he do?...

"Make of that as you will. We WILL undo the existence of everyone who let this happen. If... If it weren't for that ONE apple..." Acheelmon went quiet, but soon popped away, leading them to go quiet.

Wuliang and Sandayuu shared a glance.

What... What should they do?

"Hey, [REDACTED]. What's that mark?"

"Oh, this? I think I've always had it," They answer. "It's a rare thing to see, I think. I mean, how can there be an apple for a birthmark?”

"Fair. Either way, I hope we can find your SO."

"I do too, [REDACTED]. I do too..."

As soon as the other person leaves, [REDACTED] lies on the bed, closing their eye-

The cloak is back on as Acheelmon lands on the floor. "Master Aesopia. I have attained a body."

"To think you would use HER body of all things..." Aesopia says with a frown. "Will you be okay?"

"As long as it helps us find the Miraculous. But... If I do get worse... I'd rather have those Dimension Keepers get rid of me." Her words surprise Aesopia.

"I... I don't know, Master. Seeing them... Something in me is starting to feel like... Maybe there's another alternative. It may be foolish but-" She is cut off by a quiet laugh.

"Acchan, I understand what you mean," She says. "Perhaps... They CAN change our multiverse. We shall have to see."

Hearing that nickname makes Acheelmon smile. "I am grateful, Master Aesopia."

"Still, we must keep going. The search for the Owl House Miraculous is afoot."

"Yes, Master. I will do so."

Then she pauses. "... Do you think Jaltermon..."

"He would be happy for us, for sure. I can tell. For now, let us focus on finding the Kwami and convincing them to join us."

She smiles and bows. "Yes, Master Aesopia!"

As she hops out, digitising into Hologram Ghost form thanks to the new body, Aesopia gri-

"So you're the one using my body. Why?"

Curious. "I'm surprised you recovered fast enough, [REDACTED]. You really take after your parents."

"Cut the crap and tell me what you're possessing me for. I'm not Haneul Scirocco. I didn't have the Codes in me."

"But you ARE an Anomalice. A curious, rare case even."

"Huh? What are you TALKING about- Actually no, just GET OUT OF MY BODY!!"

"I'm afraid your awareness of the situation only made it harder for you. I was planning on letting you off but now... I cannot let you talk to anyone until I get the Kwamis to come out of hiding."

"Let me change my statement if that's the case. WHAT, pray tell, are you DOING to my team?" There is a dark undertone clear.

Aesopia remains calm. "All will come in time, [REDACTED]. Until then... I believe a nap is in order.”

"NO STOP, DON'T-"

Silence.

She sighs, looking at the mark again.

"... It's growing again."

Just like her own mark, many years prior.