"Have you found him yet?!"

"No! No sign of him whatsoever!" I yelled while landing from FrosVelgrmon.

"Damn it! Where the **** did he go?!" Mecha snarled. "We saw him here before you guys found Darcmon! She was just standing there too!"

"Does that mean that Darcmon was covering for MetalFantomon? Was the mastermind behind this too....?" Uju asked.

"Forget about that! We HAVE to get those presents back!" Ayame said. "The kids have been looking forward to it!!"

"I agree, but we also need to understand where he's going to strike and why he's doing this," Dad pointed out.

"If he is really Beom-halabeoji's partner, then... I don't know why he would do this..." Uju looked a bit worried as she rubbed her arm. "I remember he was really kind..."

"Maybe someone is controlling him like how Darcmon was controlled," SS Keita offered. "She did say that she met someone who looked priestly with a crown on her head."

"The only one who could fit that is... Phasceatmon," Hiro said.

"But why would they want to steal presents like this?" Keisuke asked. "It makes no sense."

I decided to check on Lirurun again, hoping to find an update on the situation to help us understand his movements.

I marked it down; from the hospital, it seemed that he was... Turning? Why would he be turning around?

I frowned. "Hey, Robinhoodmon, did Beom-san have any special relationship with the church where we fought Darcmon and the train station?"

"That was his church while he was in Japan. He and Young would go there every Sunday... And the train station... That was where we all met up with the others before their deaths."

"What about the other locations then?"

"I... Don't know, but right now, the way he's turning around is even more perplexing."

I frowned as I tapped my pen on my notebook again. What could MetalFantomon want? Why take presents-

Hang on...

Charcoal... That was an old way of punishing naughty kids.

Ghosts of Christmas, they... Help people appreciate Christmas more... And MetalFantomon was technically a ghost.

Krampus... Punishes the kids for being naughty, and the Grinch... Wants to take Christmas away.

Presents. What you normally get on Christmas Day!

And Phasceatmon's words about everyone having logs in their eyes...!

"The charcoal was left behind to signify the old tradition for naughty kids! Phasceatmon thinks that everyone is naughty so they're having MetalFantomon play the role of the Grinch to ruin Christmas!!" I realised.

"What?!" Hiro's eyes widened.

"Not even kids are exempt from that madman's beliefs...?" Tenade hissed. "What the **** is wrong with them?!"

"We don't actually know much about them though..." Touma pointed out. "They just showed up during your talk with the Appmon right?"

"Yeah, but... I don't know if they have a connection to the Codes. It's just that the way they carried themself was very reminiscent of Hubris," I answered.

"Well, I think we can theorise Phasceatmon is the one behind both of them thanks to Darcmon then. Not set in stone, but a theory," Semo-sensei spoke.

"How did they show up in the Net Ocean, though? Could they have a tie to Leviathan and Minerva?" Koutarou asked.

"Huh? What do you mean, Koutarou-kun?" I blinked.

"Realistically speaking, the only reason the Digimon could show up there on the 19th was due to Denpamon letting them in, right? But Phasceatmon seemed to have gotten there on their own. Plus, isn't it weird that they showed up when you guys were discussing Sleepy Hollow?" He reasoned.

"You... Have a point there..." I stopped. "Hang on..."

Looking at the map again I felt all the colour drain from my face. Oh... Oh ****...

It all made sense now.

From the train station, where they met up until their deaths, to the church, and then he turned around abruptly....

There was something he had to take. If Phasceatmon was connected to Leviathan, then that meant...!

"We have to head back to the hospital! Now!" I hurried onto FrosVelgrmon. "MetalFantomon turned around because Pump is in the hospital! Phasceatmon must want something from Leviathan! Or they might want to kill Pump!"

"What?!?" Everyone paled.

"Get on then! We need to hurry!" FrosVelgrmon urged.

The Youkai Tanteisha members immediately split up, and we set off as soon as we could. I called Bokomon, mentally hoping that he was fine.

Ring... Ring... Ring...

"Eos? What's wrong?" Neemon?

"Neemon, what happened to Boko?" I asked, fear pulsing like it had a heart of its own. Usually Boko answered his phone...

"He... He suddenly collapsed a while ago, and Mummymon put him in the same place as Pump. Both are not looking so good... Pump is starting to glitch out..."

"Neemon, can you get Lucemon to protect the ward? We think MetalFantomon may want to delete Pumpmon!" I was starting to get frantic.

"Wha- Why would he?! Pump's deadline is today. There is LITERALLY no reason to do that!"

... Not quite. I remembered that the Appli Drivers had revived Leviathan via a Virusmon. Gatchmon had later explained that it had been a program to get rid of Leviathan's data...

"It could be that MetalFantomon wants to unleash Leviathan fully. He was stuck with Pump for years. Surely he would have regained a good amount of his power! The 4% of the Melancholy Code can help sustain him too, so...!"

"You're suggesting that killing Pump before his deadline will unleash him?!"

"A theory, but a plausible one! And plus, it would be perfect fuel to get Melancholy to an imbalance so Boko's Codes can trigger and kill him!"

"That... That is such a ****ed up plan. Whoever thought of it was downright psychotic!"

"I know, that's why...!" My grip on the phone tightened. "Please, Nee-kun. I don't know when MetalFantomon will com-"

The sound of glass shattering suddenly came from the other end, and Neemon let out a string of curse words. "I'll hold him at bay! You guys hurry over!"

"Got it!" I pressed the buttons and the digital field soon spread out before us as FrosVelgrmon sped up, probably sensing the urgency in my tone.

Oh, this was not good! Not good at all! Pump...!

Even after everything, I was not prepared for the emotional turmoil...

The sound of gunfire soon became clear as we saw Mummymon and Gladimon, Neemon's Champion form, on the rooftop, fighting off-

What the ****...

"Is that... THAT MetalFantomon?" Ruri paled. "That mark on his head!"

"Y-You mean from the race?!" Kiyo looked very terrified.

"That's..." Hiro shuddered. "He looks so different now..."

Indeed he did. His arms and the lower part of his spinal cord were gone, but his scythe had become his arm as he swung it madly at the two Digimon. No more red glowing eyes-

Hold on.

Muchomon's red eyes. My familiarity...

I gasped. "Oh... Oh ****... Aduyvesmon... He used MetalFantomon for his experiments... That's why Muchomon's eyes were so familiar! I had seen them when we were introduced to the Fruits DigiDestined!"

"What?!" Uju paled. "Oh ****!"

"Guys, the presents!" Ryubo-san yelled as she pointed to a black bundle, a bulging one too, on the roof of a different building.

"We'll take care of that! You guys should deal with MetalFantomon!" Dracmon said.

"Alright. Get them back to the kids!" I answered before we split up. The Youkai Tanteisha went with the Death Knights, and the seven ex-Perfectio members joined us as we dove for MetalFantomon.

"Freezing Ray!" I commanded.

"Supersonic Voice!" Ruri added.

"Shaking Pulse!" Kiyo called out.

"Destroyed Hook!" Hiro yelled.

"Stinger Surprise!" Anomalocarimon X sent off a shockwave.

"Hellfire, Ice Bomb and Fried Charge!" The three Digimon sent off their attacks.

"Terror's Cluster!" Asagao-san commanded and the RustTyranomon fired the electromagnetic attack.

"Robinhoodmon, Vigilante Blast!" The Digimon appeared behind MetalFantomon and sent off an arrow blast.

"HeavyLeomon, Barrage Sweeper!" Jang added as Yeong shot with his autocannons.

"Spiral Sword!" Amato commanded and Mecha as a HiAndromon threw the blade at the Digimon.

"MusosIatreiamon, Anemone Cleanup!" The marine Digimon blasted a bunch of anemones.

The attacks all smacked the Digimon hard, and as we landed on the roof, a dust cloud kicked up.

"Pump!" My eyes widened upon seeing my partner lying on the ground, panting hard while the aura was really dark now...! I saw Antimon, another of Nico's partners, also there, and it seemed like she had been trying to heal him... Had one of the Buddy Appmon called her over to help?

"Oh crap, Pump!" I ran over to him, but he stumbled up. "Not... Done... Still there..."

"How do you-" Robinhoodmon was interrupted as an attack soared through the dust cloud, nearly hitting him. "****!"

MetalFantomon emerged from the cloud, scythe at the ready while roaring, "Soul Predator!!"

"DODGE!" I grabbed Pump and Antimon and barely managed to get onto FrosVelgrmon before the attack destroyed the rooftop.

"Are you okay, Pump?!" Hiro yelled from Chaosdramon's shoulder.

"I-I'm okie-" He screamed, the mark glowing harder on his forehead. "C-Can still fight!!"

"Pump..." I gasped quietly. He was still willing to fight even though he was panting? Even though he was grasping his chest as if it was suffocating him? 

If... If he wanted to go out fighting... I would honor that to the end!

"Pump! Let's go!" This could be our final fight together, so time to go all out.

Pumpmon grinned. He knew that I understood his intentions as we grabbed each other's hands, and-

A bright glow suddenly emanated off him. My Digivice shone multiple colours, a pumpkin symbol showing on the screen.

"Pumpmon..." A voice suddenly spoke. "Thank you so much for reminding me that I shouldn't give up."

Huh? This voice... "Who are you?..."

"I... Am known as Leviathan. And... I am so sorry that my data is doing this to you..." A small serpent appeared in front of us and FrosVelgrmon as it slithered out of the Digivice. "I... never wanted to kill the Appli Drivers. The Fragment, SHE made me do it. It... Doesn't change what I've done to everyone." His eyes seemed to look at Antimon as the Appmon looked away. "I was lonely. Even surrounded by all those henchmen, I felt like there was no one around to understand me. After the deaths, I hibernated, hoping someday someone could end me... But... When someone did find me... Amanokawa Hokuto instead forced me into a DIM card. He insisted on learning more about the Codes... And then... He gave me off to you two. But... Pumpmon, as I spent more time watching you, as I had... Fun for the first time in my life, I realised... That I had been going at it wrong all this time. Instead of hiding away... I should have reached out and apologised. I... Found something worth fighting for. I... Don't want to hide anymore, so please... allow me to help."

Antimon looked surprised and hesitant, but I could sense the sincerity in his tone. "How do you plan on doing that?"

"As I am right now, Pump will fade off and die, but... If I integrate my data with Pumpmon, I can flush out the Melancholy data."

"That would mean you... You would die though," Pumpmon stammered.

He gave a gentle smile as he used his tail to pat him. "I've long wanted to die, but if I can save someone along the way... I think it's worth it. Pumpmon... You were a great friend to me. Thank you for... E-everything."

"Leviathan-san... Thank you as well... You... You will be remembered," I promised.

"I... Can't forgive you, but... Thank you," Antimon spoke up.

He smiled, tilting his head sideways as tears fell down his eyes. "The serpent caused sin to come to humanity. How ironic is it that a serpent is going to save a life? Haneul Srirocco, keep fighting. Never give up."

"I... Promise," I said.

And the glow then intensified.

I closed my eyes. Leviathan, your sacrifice will not be forgotten!

"We're going to take down MetalFant-" I hissed as something seemed to slam right into me, but when I opened my eyes, I didn't have any injuries?

Yet Pump continued to glow, and I could sense it.

Sleepy Hollow's legend was about to be reborn right here and now to exorcise the Christmas reaper!

Pumpmon Evolve to LampKnightmon!

LampKnightmon Evolve to!!!!!!

"METANOIAMON!!"

+ SPIRITUAL DIGILEMMA +

Antimon's mouth was open while FrosVelgrmon seemed intrigued. "Fascinating." 

Metanoiamon spread his pure white wings, reminiscent of a dove as he smiled, his ram-shaped face grinning while his serpentine body moved left and right slowly, his wreath tail seeming to wave. "Eos. Let's win this battle." 

"I get you!" I said. "We're not going to lose this battle! I won't let him suffer anymore." 

"We share the same sentiment," he said, and I smiled.

MetalFantomon roared as he flew up. He was swinging his scythe hands randomly, nearly hitting random people and causing more damage than I had ever seen in our kind of field!

A new name raced through my head, and I yelled, "Blazing Dove!" 

Metanoiamon nodded, using his wings to summon small doves that soared so quickly that they began to burn up while heading toward MetalFantomon. 

"Hyper Mugen Cannon!" Hiro added. 

"Supersonic Voice!" 

"Plesiomon Tail!" 

"Freezing Ray!" 

"Spectral Arrow!"

"Rust Breath!"

"Hellfire, Ice Bomb and Fried Charge again!"

"Copy Paste, Mecha!" 

"Tail Blade!" 

"Reef Slice!" MusosIatreiamon wielded her coral sword and swung at him. 

"Resting Burner!"

MetalFantomon hissed while the attacks hit him straight on, but we couldn't afford to let him win this!

"Temptation Eraser!" I commanded as vines shot up from the ground and held his scythe hands down while keeping him from escaping via a vine wrapped around his hood. 

He roared once more, the Melancholy mark glowing on his forehead. "You! Must! Lose!"

"Sadly, we don't plan on doing that! Metanoiamon?"

"Of course!" He slithered downwards, beginning to charge up before I yelled, "GO!! Salvation Ram!!!" 

He grinned, getting closer and closer and closer...! MetalFantomon scowled and tried to defend, embracing himself for the impact. 

But it never hit. As he opened his eyes, he saw that Metanoiamon had missed. 

Or so he thought. Right behind him, Metanoiamon had finished charging while Dantella gave me a thumbs-up. Using Anomalocarimon X's Ghost Surprise was the perfect idea to confuse him long enough and hit him point blank, sending him slamming to the ground. Literally!

"Libra of Morality!" I yelled, causing a bunch of apples to appear from the sky before Metanoiamon swatted them with his tail towards MetalFantomon. Red ones sent out a mist that made him sleepy, green ones exploded on him.

"Finale?" He looked back at me.

I closed my eyes, and looked over to MusosIatreiamon and Robinhoodmon. "You two should make the choice. What should we do?"

"I... I don't know..." Robinhoodmon looked away. "I... Want to save him but.. He has the Codes already... And... Beom would have been so hurt if he could see this."

"Yeah..." MusosIatreiamon agreed. "We... We don't know."

But as I watched him writhing in pain, I saw it. Deep into his eye sockets...

He was... Pained. Lonely. Hurt.

He wanted all this suffering to end.

Maybe...

Sharing a glance with Uju and Metanoiamon, I then had FrosVelgrmon land as I walked over to him. "MetalFantomon... You... You want to be set free, don't you?"

A tear fell out, and he was glitching really really badly now. His code was unstable... And yet... He still mustered up the ability to give a feeble nod.

"Then... Would you like us to..."

Again, another nod.

Robinhoodmon and MusosIatreiamon rushed over as he soon devolved into a FunBeemon. His glitching seemed to get worse, but... He looked at me, and... Mouthed a small "please."

"FunBee... We... We..." MusosIatreiamon sobbed.

"Please.... You can still-"

He shook his head. I understood his eyes. He had... He had done wrong, but if he could, he wanted... One small good thing in his life. He wanted to reunite with his partner.

That was the sign I needed as I picked up a sharp piece of rubble and walked over to him, gently kneeling. I could feel it cutting into my palm.

It... Would serve as a reminder that there would be mercy killings.

I felt tears streaming down my face, but when I sensed someone holding it with me, I looked over to see Uju, Robinhoodmon and MusosIatreiamon. (Well, as much as a sea snail could.)

"We... need to end this together," Robinhoodmon said with a teary smile.

"Together. You're not alone here, Haneul. Never again." Uju's grip tightened.

"Then... Let's do this. For... His sake," MusosIatreiamon said.

The four of us shared a glance before nodding. It was time.

"Goodbye, FunBeemon..." Uju stammered. "T-thank you for the great memories..."

FunBeemon could only smile and mouth, "Thank you." As we stabbed the shrapnel into him.

No blood. No scream. Just, tears, as he faded off.

MetalFantomon, no, FunBeemon was gone.

And as I hugged all three of them, letting them mourn the death of someone they had cared for, I could only feel determined to save the rest of Perfectio. If only to save their partners and friends the pain of having to go through... This pain.

I then picked Uju up bridal style, ignoring the flush on my and her faces. "You're tired, right? You've been working hard."

"I-I..." She gaped. "Erm... O-Okay?"

And so, when we returned to the normal world, everyone was staring at us in amusement as I dropped Uju, who had fallen asleep on the way, gently onto a couch.

Aliana was very much amused and it was clear as she cackled in Carbunmon form. Even Mummymon had a smirk on his face while asking, "When's the wedding?"

"Wed- Mummymon, we've yet to go on an actual date!"

"YET. You said, YET." Natsume had a sinister look on her face. "It could change."

"With a jail sentence upcoming?"

"Hey, long distance relationships," Dan reminded.

"I mean-"

"Look, this relationship with Uju you got going, is the real deal. Call it instinct," Robinhoodmon said. "Well, minus romantic love, but it's still there."

I could only stare at all of them. "You guys are weird."

"We're romantics," Garga corrected while chewing on some popcorn. "Plus, after everything, I think you deserve some good, don't you think?"

I just gave a sigh. "I give up with you all."

They smirked back at me in reply before Blues walked out.

"So?" Hiro asked. "Are the Codes...are they really gone?"

I held my breath. I had been wary about it. Even if he had seemed sincere, I was still skeptical. I worried that this new form could end up being like Jokermon at first, so...

Blues looked very happy and surprised as he answered, "It's thoroughly gone. I don't know how, but Pump's Digicore has no corruption."

My eyes widened. Tears pooled out when Pumpmon came out, yellow eyes bright as per usual. "Eos!!"

I ran to him, scooping him up and hugging him. Relief crashed over me.

Turned out, all it took was faith. All it took was trust and belief, even if it hurt.

I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my lips. "It... It's a miracle. It's a ****ing Christmas miracle. We found out how to save Pump and Bokomon. I can't believe it."

"Wait hold on, you KNOW how to do this?!" Duri-san gasped.

Antimon nodded as Dad carried her. "We were there. It was... Leviathan."

"Apparently, Hokuto did this to him. He was forced to kill and I bet the Melancholy code was what led him to go insane," I explained. "He never wanted any of this, but he integrated his data into Pump's to kick the Melancholy code out and save Pump. Pump changed him for the better, apparently."

"I... I still hate him, but... Everyone has both good and bad, right?" Antimon smiled sadly. "If only this had happened before the others were killed..."

Dad gave her a hug. "I'm sorry for calling you here, Antimon."

"No... I... I just... Feel glad he's dead now. And that Pumpmon is safe, that things are looking up for everyone." She teared up. "Ismaya, you too. You worked so hard. I'm glad you have a family now."

"I..." He patted her despite the strain on his face. "I didn't work hard. I only got it handed to me."

"Dad...?" I looked over to him. He seemed... Sad and melancholic... Was it because of everything? Amato seemed distrustful of him too, so mayb-

"Wait, so how would we cure Bokomon? His situation is different from everyone else." Ryubo-san raised a good point.

"Well, the old data was of the Legendary Warriors, so... Maybe we could ask Ranamon, Gigasmon, or Mercuremon," Neemon offered.

"We could also check on Bolgmon and AncientMermaimon, since Boko is out of commission," Blues admitted. "But Haneul, shouldn't you be heading off to tell Bokomon the good news?"

"Wait yeah!!" I gasped. "Come on, Pump, Baku! We need to let him know!"

Herissmon joined up with us and Neemon as we headed to Bokomon's room.

When we neared the room, though, a scream made my blood run cold.

"Boko!!" I gasped, my footsteps quickening.

Slamming the door open, the first thing that struck me was how dark this room was. A Digimon I barely recognised as Curimon was crying on the bed, and the Codes were glowing so, so brightly on his forehead. A letter was on the bedside table too....

Oh... Oh ****ing ****...

How did it get so bad in one day?...

"Kekekeek~"

Watching from afar

I thought I could take a ride

And soon I danced and danced

To their screaming of despair~

Oh look at their faces

So filled with fear of loss

A beautiful scene to see

Oh, what can I do now?

Shattered souls, shattered souls,

Broken all the way

How much fun it is to see

Their anxiety and terror, oh~

Shattered soul, broken souls,

Corrupted all the way

Oh what fun it is to see

Them fall apart inside~~

"Thank you, thank you! Would you like an encore?... Oh, I'm sorry, I suppose I didn't make it clear. It was not an option~ Kekekekeke~"

How shattered does one have to be... In order for the Codes to trigger and destroy everything in sight?

venusaura owns Antimon, and Carbunmon.

@XenoSaiyan helped with refining Metanoiamon.