An Unburdened Fury
Chapter 24: Diabolus Ex Nihilo
"So daddy's come out to play?" The condescending tone of the ancient scoundrel sent a wave of disgust through him. This animal was so beneath him yet he has the strength to force him, King Cold, to acknowledge him as a problem.
The very thought that he had to get his hands dirty practically offended him.
But it was this or lose his sons; an easy choice.
"Bojack, was it?" His tone was mostly flat yet the royal Arcosian still gave the impression that the Hera in front of him wasn't worthy of his time, that this was more of a chore than anything else. It made the pirate growl. Cold reached up and unclasped his cape which fell to the ground without much fanfare.
"You've done a lot lately. Destroyed my outposts, plundered my planets, and killed my men." The Planet Trade Emperor rolled his head around; getting a cramp while putting down this nuisance wouldn't be good for his image.
"Ah, good times. I remember them like they happened yesterday." Bojack's sarcasm was not lost on Cold but the green brute wouldn't get under his skin; he wouldn't allow him the pleasure.
"But your most egregious sin..." The father of Frieza and Cooler continued without pause. "...was the attempted murder of my children. For this, death is not enough."
Shining cracks of violet ki appeared on Cold's skin as the broken ground beneath him was flattened into a smooth semicircle by an invisible force.
"You want to be remembered? Anything and everything even tangentially related to you will be expunged by my hand."
Cold's form shattered like glass, the brilliant display of light from his form nearly blinded Bojack who had brought his arm up to protect his eyes. Seconds later, the light show subsided and the Hera deemed it safe to look.
The king was much smaller, only a head taller than Cooler's fourth form, yet he easily outclassed both of his sons in build. The patriarch looked the spitting image of Frieza though with sage bio-gems rather than the purple of the younger tyrant and a facial structure more reminiscent of his eldest. A violent aura of blackened purple with shrieks of bio-electricity danced over his form.
King Cold floated in the air with his arms outstretched, beckoning all who could see him to gaze upon him with awe.
"You should feel lucky; it's a privilege to witness Kami before you die."
It would only be a few minutes before he made contact. There was a battle going on that was for sure if all the fluctuating power levels were indicative of anything but the one constant was the first.
The adrenaline running through his system was overwhelming.
Another spike of ki stabbed his mind and the Saiyan had to stop. It was getting to be too much.
Broly put his hands to his head as it threatened to explode. He had to get to the planet now or risk himself out here in the void.
His ki skyrocketed. Any sense of intelligent thought faded. All he wanted to do was soak his fists in the blood of someone worthy.
The Legendary Super Saiyan roared and he was gone once more at a speed he had never known before.
Bojack was unimpressed by what he saw. His 'sons' were weak and now he was basically a carbon copy of them. At least the purple one had the decency to look somewhat intimidating after transforming.
"I sure hope looks are deceiving because, right now, you are underwhelming to say the least"
Cold lifted a hand, his fingers curled inwards, lit aflame with power. The ground beneath the pirate cracked opened and geysers of ki spilled out around him.
Having an idea of what would happen, Bojack jumped into the air a moment before the area he stood in exploded in a hellish display. The smaller fighter appeared before him out of thin air, his face made of pure determination, but his reflexes were honed and ready. The crimson haired plunderer threw a punch, nothing wasted in the motion, but his fist only met air.
Three impacts hit him in an instant.
The pirate floated back in shock as he struggled to get a breath. Those punches hurt! They actually hurt!
Bojack wrapped his arms around his abdomen, more out of shock than anything else, and he paid for the show of weakness by receiving a kick to the face from Cold.
'I actually have to take someone seriously! At Full Power too!' The Hera wiped some spittle from his mouth as he pushed himself up out of the hole in the ground his body made. King Cold floated there with his arms crossed, his face stoic though his eyes conveyed a smug satisfaction.
"I'll admit, you caught me off guard." It was an odd feeling to admit that as it meant that someone was able enough to outplay him even if it was for just a moment. The last time such a thing happened was with the Kais when the deities pulled out a last resort spell to seal him away.
That thought alone brought the world into a tighter focus. He let himself get too lost in the reverie of destroying all who opposed him and he forgot that it was only one moment of vulnerability to kill anyone. The Mad King knew that better than anyone.
Bojack met the emperor's eyes without fear; only conviction. "But that will be the only time."
The two warriors disappeared from sight and met with a fierce shockwave. Their elbows met for a brief struggle but it was clear that the larger fighter had the edge in physical strength as he pushed Cold back. The Planet Trade leader used the show of strength to his advantage as he suddenly twisted around the brute's arm. As Bojack fell forward, the Arcosian kneed him in the ribs.
He disappeared and reappeared behind the Hera with his leg already in motion. The kick hit right between his shoulders which sent him careening forward to his dismay. Cold's form materialized in front of his target once more and launched a tremendous right hook into Bojack's jaw.
The Hera was seeing stars but he was aware enough to see the Arcosian royalty coming. As the Planet Trade emperor went in for a kick to the ribs, the brute clamped his hand onto the king's head before launching his own fist. In spite of the vice on his head, Cold blocked the attack with his own hands.
The Planet Trade king's eyes shone bright and Bojack's world went up in smoke. Two more eye blasts hit him: one in the leg, the other on his temple.
The Hera growled in anger as he put a hand to his own head. King Cold took the opportunity to attempt an axe kick on the apparently hurt Hera. As Bojack turned to look at him with a smirk on his face, the Arcosian realized too late that his pain was a ruse. His kick was blocked and his tail was grabbed in the same instant.
The ruler of the Planet Trade was sent flying by a quick spin and toss with a follow up ki blast tailing him aggressively. He flipped in the air and put up a psychic barrier against which the attack detonated against.
Cold scowled. This disgusting, vile creature had more muscles than him but it was clear that he was the better fighter. Too bad the gulf in raw power was enough to overcome any advantages his superior skills had.
Bido looked up from his place on the ground at the sound of an explosion. Neither Bojack nor his new opponent were truly harmed but that wasn't particularly relieving information. The Full Power Hera always tore through his enemies with ease.
To witness someone else have enough power to equal the pirate disturbed him on an existential level.
As the two went back at each other, Bido glanced around for his fellow soldiers. Kogu was helping Bujin up but it appeared that the small fighter had a broken arm if the odd angle said anything. Zangya looked to be trying her best to follow the action.
The mohawked pirate got up from the dirt and made his way to the rest of the crew.
"...looks clean at the very least; it should heal up easily enough." Kogu finished as he tentatively put his hands on the fractured limb. Without warning, the swordsmen twisted and pulled at the break with a practiced precision and the arm was righted though not without some loud, painful protest from Bujin.
"You're gonna need a sling." Bido said as took off his vest and made an impromptu support for the gypsy-like Hera to put his arm.
Nuclear fireworks colored the sky above them with a terrible mix of purple and green. Zangya had to look away as the others squinted.
"This is ridiculous." She commented as the light faded. Silent agreement was the only response. "This new guy is matching Bojack blow for blow."
"Psh, it doesn't matter,-" Kogu replied dismissively though worry noticeable on his face. "- Bojack will win like he always does."
Bujin piped up, his first words since the appearance of Cooler's savior. "No one's ever matched him like this before."
"He'll win."
The diminutive pirate locked eyes with the swordsmen. "And if he doesn't?"
Real fear shocked Kogu's system at the thought and he ripped his gaze away from Bujin. The mere thought that Bojack wasn't the only one at his level of power in the universe scared him. The thought of him losing, and leaving them at the whim of whatever beats him, left him with a feeling of horror.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there I guess."
Cold tore through the blast with his psychic barrier and slammed his fist into Bojack's jaw. The pirate growled before he returned the gesture and the two were locked in another power struggle. The emperor backed off once more but the plunderer was on him in an instant. That last maneuver was too predictable and he paid for it with a blow to his chest.
Bojack pressed his advantage by unleashing a flurry of attacks but the Arcosian ducked and weaved through the barrage. Seconds passed, an eternity to both warriors, before an opening showed itself to Cold. The tyrant put his hands to the brute's chest.
"You're sloppy!"
The green Hera's smoking body shot into a pillar of displaced stone before he flipped around to land on his feet. Cold landed ahead of him with an all too pleased expression on his face.
"Don't get all high and mighty just because you got a good hit in! I'm still getting started!"
"I'm happy to hear that. Imagine my disappointment if you were already down for the count."
Bojack retaliated by putting his hands together and launching half a dozen orbs of ki in rapid succession at the Arcosian. Cold launched a sweeping Death Beam that popped the blasts like overfilled balloons on its way to the Hera.
The pirate ducked under the wave of energy before he brought his arm back. Dust and smoke swirled around him as ki coalesced into his palm in a horrifying display of power. He swung his arm forward and the mere action of the attack leaving his palm shook the ground around him.
The Planet Trade Emperor sent out a push of telekinesis to detonate the blast but he underestimated its strength. He was forced to put up a barrier as his counterattack failed to slow the shell of planet destroying potential coming his way.
The green brute grinned but for a moment before King Cold burst through the remains of the explosion.
Bojack met the royal Arcosian's incoming fist with his own and the world beneath them groaned before the two disappeared once more.
It took him longer than expected but he was able to find his half-dead brother lying in a pile of broken stone.
Cooler sneered at the pathetic state of his brother. Even now, unable to move and only barely breathing, he still managed to piss him off.
And to think! At some point, he used to tolerate Frieza.
His fists tightened. It would be so simple to just reach down, twist his neck just so, and be one step closer to ruling the Planet Trade. If his father inquired, he could just give him a brief, 'heartfelt' spiel about how his dear younger brother succumbed to the injuries from Bojack's blast.
A moan brought his attention down to the future corpse in front of him.
"C-Cooler?"
He said nothing as his sibling struggled to focus his vision. The injured Arcosian reached up with his hand. "H-help..." A groan of immense pain shuddered out from Frieza. "...me..."
Cooler's eyes were lit with a fury unlike anything he had felt before. His brother constantly berated him, abused his power against him, and now he had the audacity to beg for his help?! He grabbed his brother's hand, the bones in the smaller Arcosian's wrist creaking under the pressure of his grip.
The planet shook as the skies above them were painted by flame and Cooler suddenly realized the folly in his near-lapse of judgement. Their father didn't get to where he was by sheer luck; the king was as cunning as he was powerful. He wouldn't leave it alone at such a simple explanation.
The elder sibling pulled Frieza onto his shoulder and blasted off to their father's flagship. As long as Cold lived, so would his youngest son as much as Cooler hated it.
An intense jade, toxic in its hue, clouded his vision and the Arcosian looked up in time so watch a comet tear through the clouds. His eyes narrowed in confusion.
It wasn't fire that coated the object apparently hurdling towards the planet but- ki? A shiver went down his spine. Whatever that thing was, it would be best witnessed from the cameras on the ship.
The two separated once more and sized each other up.
'I can't hurt him.' Was the thought going through Cold's mind as he began pacing to the right. The battle had not gone how he had hoped it would go. The king had only avoided injury by virtue of his speed. The brute might not know but the sheer muscle mass he had limited his range of motion.
Frieza and Cooler were supposed to crush these scoundrels after they were drained by a flood of fodder but everything that could fail did fail.
Then there was the matter of his eldest's transformation. The Fifth Form was a legend told to children on Arcos as a bedtime story! An honor bestowed upon the worthy for the glory of their people! Even the lowliest peasants , once blessed with the form, could overthrow gods!
It wasn't supposed to be real and yet there it was!
Maybe...just maybe Cooler was more than he had originally thought him to be. He had thought his son unambitious and, frankly, disappointing after Frieza surpassed him. Was he so blind to his potential all along?
'I'll have to have a discussion with him after this.' Provided he survived of course.
Bojack's visage was less restrained and his displeasure was clearly evident. 'He's too fast.' He simply couldn't hit him; martial artists were never a problem before because of just how overwhelmingly powerful he was. To fight one near his level of strength was a new experience and he wasn't adapting as well as he should. It was just ridiculous how little damage he had inflicted to the little freak so far.
There was only one before who had ever made him feel so foolish.
'If you truly want to kill me...to have your name etched in stone...'
He was just building up his reputation when he faced the Mad King first and the only one to survive past a punch. In fact, it was because of that fight that he even unlocked his Full Power form.
'You must let yourself be consumed by your desire...let it burn you...oh subject mine.'
Bojack's resolve hardened. He wouldn't let all of his struggles lead to his death here.
The two of them saw the change in the environment before they heard the roar of something breaking the atmosphere. The object hit the ground mere yards away and the shockwave passed over their puzzled expressions. This had to have landed near them purposely. What were the odds otherwise?
Moments passed and it was easy to see that it was a man through the kicked up debris.
He rose, his form obscured save for jade eyes radiating madness. King Cold and Bojack glanced at each other.
"Last minute back up for the royalty?"
The Arcosian emperor scowled. "That isn't yours?"
Connecting the dots, the pirate smirked. A new fighter has entered the battle. The poor fool probably thought they would be easy pickings.
Laughter echoed over the battlefield. It was a coarse, hearty laugh and it was easy to tell that whomever it came from was eager to spill blood. A black boot was the first thing to pierce the haze of debris kicked up from impact followed by a similarly colored pants leg. Tan skin riddled with scars and cracks revealed itself and a head of golden hair topped this new arrival. Ki leaked from the corners of his eyes.
Cold took a step back at the sight. What was he doing here?
Bojack noted the reaction and he straightened up with a hand held out. "It's rude to interrupt!" The ancient plunderer launched a blast, a weak one by his standards but more than enough to destroy a planet, but it was deflected casually by golden warrior.
"Okay, what the he-?"
He pointed at the Hera. "Are you Bojack?"
How did this random nobody know of him? It's been so long that the galaxy has more or less completely recovered from his rampage all those years ago. He nodded, suddenly wary of the stranger. "I am him. What, you want to fight? I'm a little preoccupied here."
His cracked skin was ripped wider and torrents of ki poured out of the man.
"Nobody is too busy for their own funeral."
Author's Notes
Broly makes his triumphant return/entrance!
This one was particularly difficult to write mainly because Dark Souls has recently taken over my life. I recently got into the first game because of all the hype around the third one (I had it downloaded for a while when Xbox live offered it for free but I never got past the Undead Parish) and I must say that I really regret not going through the game earlier. I just got the second game and I'm debating on getting the DLC for the first one.
Now I'm just rambling.
Anyways, we're so close to 300 reviews! Fingers crossed that this chapter reaches it!
Ent out.
Review Responses!
Gunmetal The Immortal: Glad to see you think so! And this chapter answers your question about Cold!
enarmonios: I'm looking forward to fleshing out everyone a bit in the next few chapters myself. It's really fun to write the Cold family for some reason and making Bojack an actual character is a nice challenge. And yeah, it's like a giant monster movie battle. Just pure destruction with nothing so small as morality getting in the way of things haha.
Jack: Well, here's your answer. Lol.
Rufael: No team-ups here! Everyone fights everyone! :O
Tango Charlie: The comparisons to BoD and Honor Trip are very humbling given just how amazing those stories are so thanks! And yeah, looking back, there are a few things here and there that I plan to rewrite in the future. I actually planned to have him transform originally but I already did something similar with Turles in the review special (Jesus, I need to get on with that 200 review special soon...) so I didn't want to have readers go through deja vu y'know? And Goku and co will get more appearances soon, that's for sure.
SuperSaiyanKnight: Good news is that he's back!