Circle of Life
is a crossover between Gungrave and Digimon X-Evolution (more like an AU of X-Evolution than anything) and part of Gungrave: Aftermath fan series. It is set after The Hellhound of Billion and assumes Twisted Death as non-canon.
During their journey back home, Brandon, Mika, and Albert found themselves trapped in a fog bank. Brandon went to check what was happening outside, only to find a bone-wielding ogre (Fugamon, but remained unnamed due to being told in the POV of a Gungrave character) wreaking havoc. Brandon fought it, and when it died, it disintegrated into dust. This fact baffled Brandon, who decided to take the bone he stole from the ogre to the lab for research.
Meanwhile, at Yggdrasil's realm, the Royal Knights were discussing the matter. It was revealed that the overpopulation of Digital World caused the appearance of the Digimon at human world. Naturally, Yggdrasil would handle the overpopulation by launching Program X - a program that would eliminate 99% population of the Digital World, but due to the appearance of X-Antibody Digimon, Yggdrasil would not launch it due to the fear of spawning more X-Antibody Digimon, the byproduct of the program that were immune to the program. Dukemon suggested that they let Digimon co-exist with humans, but Magnamon and Omegamon were against it, fearing that humans would enslave Digimon and use them for Mob War because Billion was already well-known for reviving corpses to use them as Super-Soldier in Mob War. Omegamon, as a passionate servant of Yggdrasil, decided to eliminate the X-Antibody Digimon by himself.
Down there, at Digital World - File City, Dorumon was sleeping under a tree with Tokomon X when it suddenly rained. He escaped to their house, where MetalGreymon X and other X-Antibody Digimon were waiting for him. As MetalGreymon X told them more about Digital World, WereGarurumon X suddenly returned from his foraging trip and reminded them about Omegamon's attack.
Omegamon intended to kill everybody, but instead of letting Omegamon kill him, Dorumon jumped into the crater and wound up at human world, where he met Brandon and Mika.
Circle of Life provides examples of:
- All-Loving Heroine: Mika cares a lot about every single living. When Brandon attempts to dispatch Dorumon because Dorumon does not belong to human world, Mika stops him from doing so because Dorumon is not more than an innocent dragon puppy. Dorumon is spared because of this.
- Badass Adorable: Dorumon. He has the guts to stand up against Omegamon, an Ultimate and a Royal Knight.
- Badass Armfold: Dukemon's standard pose.
- Bad with the Bone: The very first Digimon at the fic is Fugamon, a Palette Swap version of Ogremon that wields a bone club. Brandon later snatches it to beat Fugamon.
- Breath Weapon: Vegimon species has poisonous breath.
- Damsel in Distress: Mika is kidnapped along with Dorumon by RedVegimon at the end of chapter 2.
- Dishing Out Dirt: Gotsumon X specializes in barraging his foes with rocks.
- Extendable Arms: MetalGreymon X's Trident Arm.
- Extra Oredinary: Dorumon's signature move involves firing solid metal cannonball from his mouth.
- Fantastic Racism: Standard Digimon and X-Antibody Digimon, to some degree. Standard Digimon always try to kill X-Antibody Digimon for their antibody to be immune to Program X.
- Freudian Trio: The Royal Knights, with the ruthless, grumpy Omegamon as Id, the idealistic and somewhat naive Dukemon as Ego, and the intelligent and logical Magnamon as Superego.
- Friend to All Children: It's why Brandon can't really bring himself to shoot Dorumon.
- Grey-and-Gray Morality: Yggdrasil's Program X involves killing off 99% population of Digital World, and His Royal Knights agree with the program (except Dukemon) because it's the only way to keep Digital World stable and protect it from humans, who may find a way to enslave them if they know too much about Digital World. Meanwhile, X-Antibody Digimon are ignorant about the fact that they are causing overpopulation (Program X cannot eliminate X-Antibody Digimon) and the appearance of the portals to human world, making them innocent while being a threat to Digital World.
- Handicapped Badass: Brandon can beat an Adult Digimon by himself despite having lost an eye, An Arm and a Leg. Magnamon later notes that Brandon is probably as strong as a Perfect Digimon, after having his armor grazed by Cerberus rounds.
- Literal Cliffhanger: The first chapter ends with Dorumon jumping into a very deep crater... In the second chapter, it's revealed that he falls into a portal to human world.
- Make Me Wanna Shout: Plotmon X can stun Digimon with its bark.
- Morality Pet: Mika to Brandon. While Brandon is naturally pretty nice, he can be very ruthless when it comes to protecting his family. Mika keeps him from being completely heartless.
- My Master, Right or Wrong: Magnamon. He knows Yggdrasil's Program X is cruel, but he remains loyal to Him nonetheless.
- Mythology Gag: The fic is loaded with references to Digimon World.
- For starters, the invisible bridge at Great Canyon. Monochromon's shop is also mentioned, and the minigame is hinted through MetalGreymon X saying that it's possible to negotiate the price at the shop.
- Digimon turning to statues at Misty Trees is referencing to Cockatrimon at said place.
- When Magnamon sees Kunemon munching the bushes at Digimon Bridge, he thinks Kunemon can eventually clear a path to File City.
- The sprout at Tropical Jungle and Rain Plants are referring to how to recruit Vegimon.
- Igamon may or may not appear at Digimon Bridge.
- A small one to X-Evolution: Dorumon is the closest to Tokomon X.
- Papa Wolf: Brandon immediately gets murderous thoughts when Mika is kidnapped by RedVegimon.
- The Power of Friendship: Dorumon realizes how surviving is easier with a few friends, namely Plotmon X and Gotsumon X. During their foraging trip, their teamwork enables them to gather a lot of food pretty easily.
- The Purge: Yggdrasil picks only Baby and Child Digimon to his realm so that they can survive and kill higher level Digimon because He is afraid that higher level Digimon can pass the knowledge about Program X and spark the young to rebel.
- Sacrificial Lamb: Garudamon X is killed off-screen at the very first chapter.
- Street Smart: When all Dorumon's friends go hiding inside Native Forest, Brandon knows where exactly they have gone. Just rained? Should be in a shelter then.
- Superior Species: X-Antibody Digimon are immune to Program X and generally stronger than standard Digimon. This is part of why Fantastic Racism exists in Digital World.
- Sword and Gun: Omegamon wields both a BFG and a BFS.
- Tranquil Fury: When RedVegimon kidnaps Mika, Brandon just gets rid of him all while being silent and none too pleased. Even Dorumon, who isn't Brandon's target, is terrified.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Yggdrasil and the Royal Knights (except Dukemon) believe only Program X and by eliminating X-Antibody Digimon can Digital World be stable.
- The World Is Always Doomed: It's actually how Yggdrasil keeps Digital World stable.
