With Piemon's defeat, the last of the Digital World dissolved away leaving the Chosen Children in a void. They contact Gennai who again states that the Dark Masters were not their real enemy. They needed to defeat the source of the evil. He explains of the inscriptions in the Ancient Dino Region that said that long ago a creature came from the Wall of Fire deep within the Digital World so they called on the first group of Chosen Children to defeat it. They are surprised to learn they were not the first Chosen Children and come to the conclusion that another creature has come from the Wall of Fire. Gennai confirms this saying the inscriptions say that a large darkness will enter the Digital World from the Wall of Fire again. Taichi questions if the void they are in is the enemy. Gennai says that it has a physical body as well. Gennai says to fight with cautions as his connection fails. Jou ponders how they should fight an enemy they know nothing about. Koushirou worries that this enemy will be fundamentally different from what they have fought before.
They hear a groaning from every direction telling them to "listen to the lingering remnants of our regrets." Apocalymon appears before them. An image of the scene appears in the skies of the Earth allowing the families of the Chosen Children to watch. Apocalymon asks if they find him ugly but gets no answer. He then states that was what they were thinking. Apocalymon states that he is the ones who did not survive the evolution process. Koushirou states that it is inevitable for some species not to survive the evolution process. This angers Apocalymon who exclaims that the single word "inevitable" does not put an end to the matter. Apocalymon further accuses them of living in the warm light while he was in the cold utter darkness. Apocalymon sends out an electric shock-wave blasting the Chosen Children and their Digimon away but dealing little damage. Apocalymon continues to demand why he had such sad lives and injures himself by digging his claws into his shoulders drawing green blood. Mimi looks away from the sight. As Apocalymon retracts his claws the wounds heal leaving Koushirou to conclude that he has self-regenerative abilities. Apocalymon goes on to state that he shall rule the world and curses the light where ever it shines. He then attacks Hikari with Metal Seadramon's Ultimate Stream. Angewomon intercepts the attack taking the hit herself. Apocalymon insists that that was a sign of his friendship and says next he will show them the sign of his love. He attacks Mimi with Vamdemon's Bloody Stream. Lilimon takes the hit for her partner. Apocalymon calls justice next, and attacks Sora with Mugendramon's Infinity Cannon, but Garudamon takes the hit. Koushirou states that Apocalymon can use the attacks of all the Digimon they've faced which worries Jou who franticly states that they'd have to face their combined power. Sora asks if they can't win. Taichi tells them not to worry and orders them back into position. Takeru backs him up by saying all they have to do his work together. But Apocalymon turns hope into despair as he grabs each of their Digimon in each of his claws and uses Death Evolution to devolve him to their Child forms (save Tailmon who only regressed to her Adult from) while stating he'd show them how he felt disappearing through the evolution process. The Chosen Children attempt to evolve their Digimon again but Apocalymon uses Devimon's Death Claw attack to snatch away their Crests and destroy them. Apocalymon gloats about them feeling the despair he felt as they are in shock. As they pounder their situation Apocalymon begins a chant that dissolves the Chosen Children and their partners away.
They find themselves in "the world of information" as Koushirou identifies it explaining that they've been broken down into data. At first they are all discouraged at the hopeless situation they are faced with. After they talk for a bit they recollect their thoughts and courage. They discover that it was their own virtues that allowed their Digimon to evolve, not the physical Crests that Apocalymon had destroyed. They all re-materialize before Apocalymon. Taichi insists that he won't let Apocalymon have his way.
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