Darkness Under the Ice.

As Vent got close to the temple doors a voice spoke from above, "So...you're the darkness I sensed?" It said to him. When Vent would look above to try and see through the snowfall he would see the silhouette of a man sitting atop the massive temple. The silhouette stood up and jumped from where he sat; roughly about twenty stories high, and landed effortlessly in front of the doors. The man wore all black over his pale white complexion, smooth black hair running down to the base of his neck but only from behind while strands just drooped down covering most of his forehead. He looked at Vent, "Yo." He said. "I am Daisuke Ichi. You must be the next corpse. What is your name?" He asked coldly. Despite Vent not having his digimon spirit yet, the DDNA coursing through his veins now was enough to tell him that this man in front of him was not someone to take lightly. He knew something about this Daisuke Ichi was off.

Vent watched the man jump down and introduce himself. Vent didn't show any reaction other than a look in his eyes something keen eyes would notice as a hidden fear but not of Daisuke strangely he was more scared of the task ahead.
" My name is Vent Saitou do you work for the W.A.D.A too?"
Vent ignored the dark feeling he got from Daisuke as he already knew it wasn't directed at him he learned the difference the hard way.
"And the dark feeling you had probably has to do with my outlook on life thanks to my past."
Vent had no idea why he said this to a stranger he had just met but he did and he started getting mad at himself for it. He didn't want people pitying him so why did he say that to this man.

Daisuke said nothing for a moment, letting the icy whisper of the wind blowing through the ice cap be the only sound heard. He was silently assessing the man before him. "Vent Saitou. I'll remember it." He said. "To answer your question....no I don't work for W.A.D.A., we simply have an understanding of one another. Though if I had to have a title...I'd be the chief of their medical and scientific divisions. As for the darkness I sensed...it has to do with your spirit. The DDNA that was injected into you....has reacted to the element of your spirit. I'd never mistake it." Daisuke lifted his D.I.G. towards Vent. A warmth could be felt in Vent's heart area, if he looked down he would notice a small purple glow. "It's reacting to the darkness I possess." Daisuke then put his D.I.G. down. "You are to be the next hybrid of darkness." Daisuke once again paused. "Answer me a question Agent Saitou. What is darkness?" He said.

Vent looked down feeling his chest get warm as Daisuke raised his D.I.G. He then saw the purple glow and looked surprised but shook it of and gave Daisuke an answer. "Darkness is different for everyone that experiences it. Darkness can have many causes and many outcomes. Such as to most darkness is a void filled with your worst times in your past. Others its just an empty abyss. So to answer your question sir I can't answer it for whatever I tell you my darkness is like it may be completely different than yours."
Vent said this matter of factly but was hoping it was an ok answer for truthfully he just didn't wanna say anything about his own darkness.

Gordon and Caleb were flying through the icy air at very high speed, given the speed capabilities of Caleb's ultimate form. It would be a matter of minutes before they reached the Temple, as opposed to the hour or two by car, let alone walking. They were running behind schedule this time. Gordon liked being there before his agents arrived, partly to prepare them for the danger of the trial ahead and partly to show off his own power and speed, arriving before them after leaving second. He had to have his own fun, after all. Desk work isn't all that exciting.

"See, we wouldn't be late if you hadn't decided to grab a snack after he left the office, Caleb!" Gordon shouted over the wind wiping by as he held on to his partner's back. Given his strength and training over the years, the high wind and cold air didn't phase him. Plus, being a hardened Level 90 Agent didn't hurt, either.

"Well, I wouldn't have needed a snack if we hadn't skipped lunch to file reports all day. Again!" Caleb responded to his friend. "You need to get your head out of that computer every now and th......." Caleb stopped talking. He suddenly felt an intense power in the air. An an unpleasantly familiar one at that. "Gordon. Do you......" he began.

"Yeah, I feel it too, Caleb. He's here. Why the hell is that bastard here?!! Interfering with my agents again!!! You have to go faster, Caleb!!" Gordon yelled. Without hesitation or response, Caleb's massive wings went into over-drive, doubling the speed they were traveling. In seconds, they were at the temple. 

Sure enough, they found the new Hybrid Vent speaking with the bastard Dr. Daisuke Ichi. Caleb did a circle around the temple, the buzzing of his massive wings would no doubt alert the pair to their presence. He then landed with a mighty thud right next to them, accompanied by a massive gust of wind and snow. Gordon immediately jumped down the height of his partner, landing effortlessly on his feet. He placed his left hand on his sword hilt. It would be impossible to draw from this angle, but it was enough to give the impression of force.

"What the hell are you doing here, Ichi? This isn't your place. Leave my agents alone. I am their guild master. I am more than capable of checking in on their status," Gordon said, eyeing the man coldly. He didn't want to start a confrontation in front of his newest agent. "Hello, Vent. How are you doing?" Gordon went silent now. Caleb gave a quiet growl, remaining in his Ultimate form.

Before Daisuke could respond to Vent's answer, his guild master showed up. Daisuke knew he had been on his way this whole time so he wasn't taken off guard when he finally showed up. "Guild master Gordon Scarborough. With all do respect..." Ichi turned his head slightly to glimpse Gordon. "I don't give a damn. What I'm doing here and trying to ascertain far exceeds titles and job descriptions, or perhaps your content with sending the eleventh darkness hybrid candidate to his death? You lack any ability to properly prepare him for this test." Ichi turned his head back to Vent. "Now to respond to what you said Agent, what you described is how most darkness is formed. Darkness is birthed in a variety of ways. However, you haven't truly answered the question. What is the essence of darkness? If you cannot understand that, answer that, then you will join the ten before you in death." Daisuke made a sharp whistle and suddenly five women nurses jumped from the top of the temple. They had their eyes covered with a headband. Up until now, Gordon and Caleb would not have known their presence.

"These five women. They are former candidates like yourself. They thought they knew their own darkness....they thought they knew darkness itself. They were all destroyed by the spirit of darkness. It is the hardest exam of any of the ten because you will have to face a hellish experience that cannot even compare to the other exams. These women now serve as my private staff, they're long dead but I was able to salvage their bodies to still keep their memory alive. You'd be the first man to join my ranks should you die today." Ichi placed his hands into his pockets. "I truly hope it doesn't come to that Agent. So, tell me what is darkness?" Ichi asked. The nurses remained motionless.

Vent headed Gordon as him and Caleb arrived and watched them land not showing much surprise at their fast landing. He sensed the hostility Gordon and Caleb had but weren't hiding.
"Hi Sir."
Vent said that putting on a semi smile.
"Why are you here sir?"
Vent didn't know the answer he was just scared that is he didn't ask a fight would start out and he wasn't in the mood to see a fight break out before he even had his first test. Ya sounds selfish but that's the way he looked at it he barley knew these people and therefore it was hard to care much they weren't friends yet just co workers. His boss and the man named Ichi also intimidated him he could sense their fight would be catastrophic like that of an anime.

In reference to Dr. Ichi's question, Vent sighed as he thought about it. "The true definition is darkness is the absence of light. But for darkness to exist in the first place so must a light. This light only needs to exist to put everything into its pitch black shadow known as darkness. If that is not the answer you wished well I'm sorry but if you want some of my past ask someone else I don't talk about it at least not yet. Personally I think my darkness is something I need to embrace my past may haunt me but it will make me stronger. I promise even if I haven't given you the answer you wish for my tiny tiny light will let me walk out of that building alive and on my own two feet." Vent pointed at the doors as he spoke.
"Darkness is the element that causes pain, anger, hate and much more but if used right it will also give strength and purpose at least for me it will. Darkness is an ever empty road that no one can see no matter how much they walk it." He points at the five women.
"There mistake was thinking they knew darkness at all it has no true shape no true purpose it only exists it is all knowing but unknown and cannot be known for as I said it is unlimited. I promise you I will walk out of here I'll even flip you off as I walk by if you want I don't care what it takes. I will make sure no one goes through what me and my friends went through as long as I can help it." Vent was obviously getting angry at what seemed like everyone's lack of confidence in him but he knew if he didn't stay confident in himself he might as well die.

Gordon clenched his fist tighter around the hilt of his sword as Ichi answered him in such a callous manner, and for a brief second, a black aura could be seen emanating from it, but this aura would go unseen unless someone knew to look for it. Caleb's mandible's sparked twice, then settled down. He knew better than to do anything without Gordon's orders, and he especially did not plan on starting a revenge battle right in front of their newest agent for what would look like no reason. The pair of them watched the women leap from the temple and land behind Ichi. They had been unable to sense their presence there, but that was to be expected because, as they had learned from Agent Dasuke Moto, the nurses were all dead and therefore had no energy to give off and be sensed.

"How dare you, Ichi. You are not permitted to speak to my agents like that, much less assume you will be granted access to keep his body for your unethical projects in the event of his death. You'd have to get through myself and Master Yamaki before you lay a hand on this young man. You are not as above the rules and regulations as you think you are. And, if you are unaware, I now have two successful hybrids serving under me, so I believe I am more than capable of preparing my agents for the danger that lies within those doors. I have witnessed it firsthand, just as you have," Gordon snarled. He turned his attention to Vent now. "Young Agent, you'll have to forgive my seemingly rude behavior. However, the doctor here is exceeding his jurisdiction. You do not need to answer to him in order to prepare for this trial. All you need is to have faith in yourself and not believe anything you see in there. From what I have seen, victory in this challenge comes from the heart and willpower. If you believe in yourself, you'll have no problem succeeding. Now, if you would please approach the temple doors. They will not open unless a worthy candidate is there. You must know without a doubt that you have what it takes to win before you can enter. The guardian of this temple and myself have had....difficulties in the past, so I will not enter the temple with you. I shall await your return right here outside these doors. Now, do you have any questions for me before you proceed? I do believe your business here is concluded, Ichi. You can leave now." Gordon said, directing the last at the doctor who ruined his life.

"Vent. I have not seen the exam in it's actuality so I cannot say for sure what it is you'll be facing, but I do know one thing, if your darkness is simply a rotten past that you endured then I recommend finding a different line of work because this trial will be your end. Candidates eight and nine had pasts that closed their hearts to the world...so that's clearly not enough. The choice is yours if you want to go on with this trial but it seems to me you have a decent understanding of dark, as naive as you sound, it's enough to pass me. I can only wish you luck at this point." Ichi said.

Ichi turned to address Gordon, "Heart...and willpower..." Ichi gave a wide smile which was completely out of character for him. "That's quite funny. Let me tell you about heart and willpower Master Gordon, those two things are born of the light. They have no business in a darkness hybrid. It's that same speech that killed the last ten candidates. That malice you're so intent on hiding makes you a hypocrite. Why you are directing it at me is beyond my understanding. As I mentioned before, the spirit of darkness is the most difficult of the ten. The ones of fire and ice don't even compare. Rather, they're not even on the same level. Had either one of them taken the spirit of darkness' test, you'd be out two potential hybrids for sure. Well, that's to be expected from those that dance in the light. Also, I doubt Yamaki would have a problem with what I do. Everything I do is for the sake of the digimon, which just so happens to align with W.A.D.A.'s ideals. That includes the collection of the darkness hybrid's corpse upon failing. The spirit of darkness is unlike any of the other nine. When it touches a human like it has in Agent Vent, it leaves a strong presence of darkness that can be sensed by anyone who dwells deeply in it's element." Ichi paused to brush his hair covering his face. He had been standing for so long that the snow was piling on him so he took this moment to clear it off.

"I learned this the hard way with candidate zero, Elena Jones. Former Salvation guild member. She also possessed the spirit of darkness and underwent the exam. Master Sanji and I sat in when she underwent the test. We knew of the risks considering 3 candidates of Wood, 2 Steel and 2 Fire before her failed. Those bodies simply turned to dust; Sanji and I expected Elena's to do the same. It took only twenty minutes for the test to finish in the spirit's favor. The body remained intact. It was quite the phenomenon, Sanji and I decided to take the body back and give it a proper burial. We were making the necessary arrangements when about and hour after her death her body began oozing darkness. She shot up from the ground and was completely unrecognizable. Her features were not her own. Her body moved in an unhuman fashion." Ichi took his hand out of his pocket and lifted his shirt so Gordon, Caleb and Vent could see his well-fit body, however, it had a massive scar over his abs. One that looked like it would have been life threatening. "It happened in half the blink of an eye. 1/3 of my stomach was torn from me and 'it' devoured it. I only survived because of Parasimon inside of me. Before Sanji could attack it, it escaped the temple. It found and devoured 253 digimon on this continent before Yamaki and I 'killed' it. We had to hack that girl to pieces so that it would never move again." Ichi put his shirt back down and his hands in his pockets. "The next candidate. Number one, Ishira Lyubochka a young Russian girl of Twilight Dragon also failed the test. In an hour, Ishira shot up in the same state as Elena before her. Sanji, Fenrir and I were all ready in the, what we thought, unlikely event that she'd wind up like Elena. Sanji struggled but single handedly pinned 'it' down. I used my Neo D.I.G. to enter the mind. What I saw was not a digimon, was not the spirit of darkness...it was something other. Something evil of the purest kind. A demon. It took me six hours of battle to expel it from the corpse." Ichi looked up into the sky as snow fell to his face.

"It told me that even if I win, so long as Ishira's body was around another would take it's place. I found out then that when the spirit of darkness takes it's potential host's life and departs to the next possible candidate; the darkness it leaves behind remains inside the corpse and becomes a magnet to the demons of the dark area. Without a soul the corpse can be easily taken over and used to do the demon's favorite thing. Eat the living. It was then I made the decision to use my own darkness to ensure that the candidates wouldn't become some other realm's plaything. To give peace to their loved ones that instead of being torn apart by W.A.D.A. agents, they'd be safe from the other side by working for me in death. All ten candidates that died now are spared that fate however, Yamaki doesn't know about it. If Vent cannot succeed with your approval or no, I'll be taking his corpse. If you insist on making an enemy of me..." With those last words a massive power erupted from Ichi. A pitch black aura came off of him directed at Gordon and Caleb with the full weight of Ichi's unbelievable power falling on their shoulders. The aura caused the snowfall to flow away from him and the snow on the ground pushed away from him looking like ripples under his feet, "You'll force my hand." Ichi said. "Beings of light...even hypocritical one's...should stay out of the dark." Ichi said.

Vent looked at Gordon as he talked to Ichi but he only noticed Gordon getting madder and madder. He looked at Ichi as Ichi seemed to say that he would fail. He listened to Ichis speech and saw the dark aura Ichi emitted then he sighed audibly. He then stepped in front of Ichi glaring at him as he talked.
" First of all I don't care what problems you two have for each other but you both need to get along for however long this takes. Your past experiences with each other at this moment do not matter to me. Second of all if I do fail I have no family to feel sad over me so you can just burn my body because I can't stand what these girls have become I would rather die a hundred more times than be that."
He looked at Gordon and spoke to him now.
" If I fail you better burn my body to ash right away. Now if you would both excuse me I have a test to pass wait if you wish Ichi but I don't plan on failing ever again."
As he finished his speech he started walking towards the temple doors as they swung open for him he walked through the threshold. The doors slammed shut behind him not giving the other two time to respond to him.

Gordon listened on as Ichi explained just how the Spirit of Darkness claimed its victims, and what happens to their bodies afterwards. What shocked him more than that, though, was the fact that Sanji Daimon himself knew about Ichi's dealings with the corpses and did nothing. However, it seemed as if, had Ichi not claimed the bodies as his slaves, they would have wreaked untold havoc upon the world, especially if one was able to morbidly harm a person as powerful as Ichi in a single swipe. Ichi went on to say that he would be taking Vent's body as well, should he fail, even without Gordon's approval. "If you insist on making an enemy of me..." Ichi said at the end of his speech, "You'll force my hand."  Suddenly, a powerful and all too familiar force burst out of Ichi, blowing away any snow falling around him, and weighing down on Gordon and Caleb. Not being as weak as they had been last time, the force did not harm them, but it was there all the same, taunting them, and Gordon was forced to cover his face against the ensuing wind. He hadn't felt that power in years, and all the memories of what happened to him and his men on that battlefield came flooding back in an instant. A weaker man would have began crying, but Gordon grimaced and grabbed his sword hilt even tighter. The sword once more gave off a thick aura of darkness that rose into the air, which would be easily seen by anyone who was looking at him. Caleb noticed the darkness growing and shook off the force of Ichi's threat.

"Gordon. You have to relax right now," he warned his partner, but he too was feeling the same rage and hate that Gordon was towards the man that stole ten years of their lives from them. The fact that Ichi so obviously had no memory of that day only enraged the pair further, but they were doing their best to keep a calm demeanor in front of their new agent. Gordon released his sword and the dark aura vanished instantly.

"You're not the only one who knows about darkness, Doctor," Gordon said, holding his sword by the sheath this time and giving it a small shake. He knew Ichi must have seen what just happened. Gordon was about to speak again when he was cut off by Vent, who had stepped between them.

" First of all I don't care what problems you two have for each other but you both need to get along for however long this takes. Your past experiences with each other at this moment do not matter to me. Second of all if I do fail I have no family to feel sad over me so you can just burn my body because I can't stand what these girls have become I would rather die a hundred more times than be that."  Turning to Gordon, he added,"If I fail you better burn my body to ash right away. Now if you would both excuse me I have a test to pass wait if you wish Ichi but I don't plan on failing ever again."  Vent then walked over to the temple doors, which opened before him and granted him access to the Temple. The doors closed before Gordon could get a word in on the matter. He was now alone with the man who ruined his life.

Gordon contemplated slaying him right here and now, but again, his new agent crossed his mind. He wouldn't want Vent to succeed, only to exit the Temple to find Ichi's mangled body in a pool of blood outside the door. It would be in poor taste. Gordon instead gave Ichi a sideways glance.

"How you have no memory or inclination as to why I am being so hostile towards you baffles me, Daisuke. You only killed all my men in that monstrous form you become, and had both myself and Caleb imprisoned for ten goddamn years during the war. I don't believe something like that could be so easily forgotten. Why do you think I never once met with you since we both joined W.A.D.A.? I could never forgive such an inhuman act. The only reason I never tried to kill you in your sleep is because Ino would banish me from W.A.D.A. forever, and I can't do that to my Agents. I have nothing more to say to you, Daisuke. I will be back to claim my new hybrid when he passes his test. Try to stay out of my way." If left unopposed or unanswered, Gordon then gave a mighty leap straight up and landed in Caleb outstretched claw. Caleb placed his partner on his back, then with a powerful flap of his wings, launched into the air and flew in the direction of Bai Hu. In seconds, he would be out of sight.

When Vent began speaking Ichi contained his digisoul aura. He remained silent as Vent spoke and even so as Gordon spoke, his face not so much as twitching between them. Ichi watched Gordon approach his partner but before he'd jump up to his friend, he would speak saying: "The darkness you claim to know about means you're more ignorant than I originally thought. I said it before and I'll say it again, those who danced in the light should stay away from the dark. What you're emitting isn't darkness. It's evil and it will devour you. Also, to comment on your explanation of you're aggression towards me." Ichi paused a moment that rose the tension in the air. "My actions during the war were a necessary act to advance my research. That foolish war held no real significance for me. I did not care which side would turn out victorious. Once my research was complete, I resigned and moved on but I can tell you this. I did not take a single prisoner during my entire career. Why would I? I was researching the power of the digi xros. Taking prisoners would defeat the purpose of the experiment. I did not care to remember the faces or names of the men I felled. They were all just test subjects. If you and I did in fact cross paths the only reason you still draw breath is because I finished my research. That is all." Ichi began to walk slowly towards the temple doors.

"If you were imprisoned, that was by another. In fact, I don't even remember my allies during that time. Humans are boring creatures with simple patterns and thoughts. Their way of life is predictable and dull. Their anatomy holds no secrets. That is why I don't associate myself with many of them. Why I don't treat humans. They serve only one real purpose and that is to better the digimon of which I dedicated my life too. I don't ask for forgiveness nor crave it for any of my actions because it holds no meaning. Everything that has happened is because my research during that time was a success. You have the power you do because your men served my purposes. I'm sorry you lost ten years of your life but if that is your grudge it is sorely misplaced." Ichi reached the temple doors which now he was perfectly parallel to Gordon. He stopped to finish his statement, "I do know one thing however, the way you are now you could never kill me let alone beat me in battle. I have no reason at all to dislike you or fight you but if you attempt to kill me with that paltry false darkness of yours." He turned his head and with completely emotionless eyes looked at Gordon whether he was looking back or not. "I'll send you to meet your men." After Ichi finished his conversation, if left alone, he'd open the temple doors and begin to walk through saying: "Have a nice day Master Scarsborough."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

As Vent walked into the temple, he'd immediately notice the spacious interior with nothing inside save a few lit torches and an equally as large crystal as the temple he was in. With the doors closed the temple was poorly lit, Vent was alone but knew inside that this place had a strong connection to darkness. Perhaps if he were to call out....?

Vent looked around at the interior. He noticed the crystal was a big part of the interior but he didn't see anyone so he did just that he called out.
" Hello anyone here? I'm here for my Test. So where and how do I start?"
He had no idea what to expect or do as he waited. All he did was tap his foot impatiently.