Chapter 37: Divine Luminescence
"You're a fool."
Beerus held his arms behind his back, glaring into Vegetto's eyes with a heavy scowl. Vegetto still maintained his third transformation in the Super Saiyan Blue state, his eyebrow less blue eyes turning from Beerus' towards Vegetto Black.
"It'll be fine. What can he do that this demon was unable to match?"
Beerus scoffed.
"It has nothing to do with the potential. It has to do with my intervention."
He nodded to Vegetto Black, who stood merely with a scowl of his own and his arms at his sides.
"If you allow this...mistake...to leave this world, then the burden falls to you. He exists because of my own mistake, and I will take responsibility for his destruction here and now. But I will not be responsible if you allow him to leave: he will be your problem from now on and I won't intervene on your behalf again."
Vegetto smirked, nodding his head once.
"That's fine...I'm more than a match for him."
His gruff voice grew darker.
"After all, he knows his place."
Vegetto Black's eyebrow twitched.
"Tsk...for now. I swear...when I return here, you'll wish you hadn't talked down to me."
Vegetto kept his smirk.
"Looking forward to it."
Vegetto Black stood in silence for a moment, meeting Vegetto's confident expression with his scowl. Soon, however, the doppelganger broke out into a devilish smirk of his own, turning on his heel.
"As am I."
Beerus grunted, rolling his eyes as Vegetto Black slowly rose into the air.
"Saiyans. Your love for battle will get you killed one day."
Vegetto only turned his head up, but squinted slightly at the sudden pulse of green light that hit his eyes. Both Kassava and Trunks also turned their heads up, all four of the group turning their attention to the blinking light radiating from Vegetto Black's lone Potara earring.
"What the-"
Vegettos eyes shot open, his attention rapidly shifting to the prison complex across the way.
Zamas...we left him alone...
Vegetto turned his head back up, cupping his hands around his mouth.
"Black! Take off that earring!"
Now having risen into the air about forty feet away from the group, Vegetto Black cocked an eyebrow, turning his head down towards the group. His perplexed expression rapidly changed, however, the glare of his Potara catching his eye. He blinked hard for a moment, his hands instinctively flying up to his ear.
"No...no no no-"
Vegetto Black hacked, his body jolting to the side on its own, the earring pulling him in the opposite direction high above the others towards the Time Nest. He snarled, tugging on the piece of jewelry as best he could, his eyes turning up. The portal perched on the platuea leading into the Time Nest shifted and distorted, soon spitting out Zamasu from its white glow.
Both figures shot towards each other, the two green glows radiating strongly above the city square once the two bodies collided against each other. Vegetto's eyes remained narrowed, curling his right arm back and forming a small ball of blue energy in his palm. Trunks blinked, watching on as Vegetto hurled the small blue ball forward, the three soon colliding altogether into a massive, violent explosion high in the sky above the city square. The storm force wind barreled down on the group, prompting them to tense in bracing the winds for a moment before rapidly subsiding.
Vegetto squinted hard at the smoke cloud hanging above, his frown deepening. His eyes widened at the sight of a figure suddenly descending down through the bottom of the cloud, smoke trails covering his form as he crashed into the ground below. Panting heavily, Zamasu slowly rose up from the indent he left from his impact into the ground. His wide eyes remained locked on the ground, his hands reaching up and lightly patting the large bundle of white, spiky hair atop his head. His attention soon shifted down to his robes, the black color scheme mixing with the traditional Kaioshin garb confirming his worst fears.
I am...me. I've become...one...
He grit his teeth together, his hands balling into fists as he leaned forward on all fours.
My perfect immortality...my plan...my...dream.
The light glinted off the small amount of water building at the edges of his eyes, his head lifting slightly.
Gone...
The newly merged Zamasu sauntered and swayed as he rose to his feet, staring down with an empty frown at his fists. The rage slowly mounted in his eyes, barring his white teeth and tensing his arms.
Curse you mortal...curse you...
Letting out a tumultuous roar, Zamasu threw his arms down as a massive surge of violent energy exploded in every direction around him. His magnified voice resonated strongly over the storm force winds, the energy growing more violent by the second.
"GENN!"
Vegetto grimaced, his arms raised at the sudden explosion of power emitting from Zamasu's new body. Kassava and Trunks both slid backwards slightly, bracing themselves against the floor while Beerus stood tall with his arms crossed behind his back. The god of destruction's glare intensified slightly, soon bolting forward. Arriving within a millisecond, Beerus launched a small chop down at Zamasu's shoulder with his right hand, the impact dispersing the growing white energy and winds entirely.
Zamasu winced heavily and stumbled down towards the ground, struggling to catch his breath while Beerus loomed over him.
"Vegetto might have spared Black...but Zamasu must be destroyed. You will die together."
Zamasu snarled, whirling up to his feet and throwing a lazy left fist forward that Beerus easily caught in his hand.
"You let yourself be a slave to these mortals. Choosing them over the divine rule of purity."
Beerus' smirk rose.
"You have no idea how the universe works, do you Zamas?"
Zamasu launched his right fist forward, landing in Beerus' hand too and crumbled lightly towards the floor while the god of destruction continued.
"The rule of the destroyer is not eternal either. Once the current god of destruction passes, the role then falls to the next candidate selected by my attendant. And with every selection, one constant remains..."
Beerus leaned forward, barring his teeth.
"A mortal rises...and becomes a god."
Zamasu's eyes widened, staring back into Beerus' as the god's tone grew dark.
"I am a mortal, Zamas...just as the rest of the universe you wish to cleanse. In the end, you will die as you lived: a failure. Killed...by what you believe is inferior."
Beerus slapped down Zamasu's right arm, his now free hand stiffening into an open palm aimed at Zamasu's face.
"Hakai."
Zamasu screamed violently, an invisible pulse shaking the entire world itself. The newly fused body began to glow with a bright purple lightly, slowly disintegrating into small light particles that flowed upwards into the sky. Beerus' expression softened slightly, releasing his grip on Zamasu's hand as the last body part of the fallen Kaioshin deteriorated up into the air, the particles heavily contrasting the black clouds above.
Vegetto's narrowed eyes watched on, letting out a small sigh while Beerus turned on his heel, casually striding back towards the group.
"There. It's over."
Trunks frowned, pointing up with his right hand.
"Wait...look..."
Beerus cocked an eyebrow, turning his head. His narrowed eyes instantly locked onto the light particles still hanging in the air a few feet above from where Zamasu once stood, still floating. The god of destruction's confusion grew, turning around fully to face towards the particles as they began to radiate with a sinister glow of their own, rapidly growing in size.
"I..."
Beerus glanced down, his arms uncrossing behind his back as the ground shook beneath his feet, Zamasu's voice resonating strongly once again.
"Am..."
Vegetto tensed instinctively, his blue aura rapidly flaring out and preparing himself as the light particles slowly converged inward, forming a single bright light.
"IMMORTAL!"
The massive light darkened, sucking what remained in the cloudly atmosphere before rapidly exploding outward. Zamasu's form had returned to normal completely, his muscles bulging with his black aura exploding outward in his furious scream. Beerus blinked hard, stepping back instinctively but turned his eyes up in time to see Zamasu already upon him. The fallen Kaioshin's eyes were wide in a frantic, evil rage, along with his mouth wide open with a thunderous roar as he slammed a right fist into Beerus' cheek. The god of destruction flipped backwards, crashing through the ground and disappearing into a large building a few hundred meters away.
Vegetto gasped, watching on as the building collapsed in on where Beerus disappeared.
"Beerus!"
His eyes narrowed, soon crouching down and clenching his fists.
"Trunks, we have to go now!"
Trunks nodded, tensing as lightning spiraled up around his blue aura.
"Right!"
Kassava tensed as well, but blinked in confusion as Vegetto blocked her movement forward with his left arm.
"Stay here Kass."
Kassava frowned.
"Why? I can help!"
Vegetto turned his head slightly.
"No, you can't. Zamas is too strong for you: stay here and don't jump in unless I tell you to."
Kassava's frowned deepened.
"But-"
Vegetto snarled.
"I said stay here!"
His eyes then widened, the explosion of wind nearly knocking him off balance. Zamasu's hateful glare now locked with Vegetto's eyes, having moved a few feet in front of him and throwing his own fist forward. Vegetto's arms rapidly flew up, blocking the punch with both forearms and sliding backwards across the ground. Trunks drew his sword, slashing down with both hands at Zamasu's head. The merged god caught the blade with his right hand, his left fist flying forward and clocking Trunks across the cheek to send the half Saiyan flying high into the air.
Tossing the sword to the side, Zamasu's eyes moved back to Vegetto, crouching forward. Kassava threw her right arm forward, but shot backwards and crashed into the ground from Zamasu's black energy flaring up in front of her alone. Zamasu roared once more, chasing after Vegetto and launching into another furious onslaught of punches.
"I've suffered for too long! I will no longer be humiliated at your common hands!"
Vegetto winced, the damage from merely blocking the blows taking its toll, but managing to duck down and narrowly dodge the incoming kick from the fused Zamasu's white boot. His blue hair rapidly retreated back to his normal length, lightning sparking outward as he dashed up into the air. However, his entire body show back towards the hard floor once Zamasu's elbow connected with the top of his head, crashing into the floor on both feet. Vegetto shook his head, his blue eyebrows returning as he turned his head back up to the enraged Zamasu, that floated high above.
"Your mortals of time could not contain me...the god of destruction could not defeat me...and you will not see the end of this day!"
The familiar halo of white light began to form behind Zamasu's back, the circular ring soon expanding outward. Four pointed beams formed like dials on a compass, pointed in north, south, east and west while a second ring grew out larger than the first behind it. Zamasu inhaled deeply, his frantic expression growing sinister and his narrowed glare still strongly locked on Vegetto.
"This is my world, my universe! All will bow before Zamasu!"
Vegetto crouched down, his blue aura flaring up.
"Not on my watch!"
Bolting up into a bright blue dash, Vegetto cocked his right fist back as he shot towards Zamasu, who raised his left arm above his head. Small little pockets of red energy began to form in the cloudy sky above.
"Blades of Judgement!"
Spiralling downwards, a massive torrent of red energy blades shot towards the blue streak that continued to climb towards Zamasu. Vegetto swayed rapidly in his flight, dodging the first few red streaks firing towards him before more suddenly pelted him head on, erupting into a massive explosion that engulfed him in the cloud. Zamasu's smirk rose at the sight, but soon disappeared as Vegetto shot out from the left side of the smoke cloud left in the wake. Shifting his left arm, Zamasu summoned the continuing barrage of red blades to the side to follow Vegetto's change of direction, each blade erupting into a small explosion on the ground when they missed their mark. Vegetto grunted heavily, his head turning to the side as he shot farther towards the outskirts of the city.
His energy is massive...I have to catch him off guard...
Bolting forward, Vegetto abruptly came to a halt behind the nearest building he could, raising two fingers to his forehead. His head turned towards where Zamasu floated, the red blades shooting through the ruined skyscraper seconds after Vegetto disappeared into thin air.
Zamasu's eyes widened, scanning the rubble and calling off the barrage at the sight of the skyscraper falling to pieces without Vegetto. His head turned just in time at the burning sensation of energy and lightning on his back, his eyes locking with Vegetto's fierce glare as a red aura now coated his blue one.
"KAIOKEN!"
Zamasu yelped, the white glove coated in red and blue energy slamming into his cheek in the form of a fist, and propelling the merged Kaioshin into the cement below with a thunderous shockwave. Vegetto panted heavily, the red aura leaving instantly as lightning sparked around his blue glow. The two bangs that normally hung from Vegetto's hairline dropped down, his hair turning black as he slowly shut his eyes, collapsing hard onto the ground with a thud.
The dust barely rose from where Vegetto crashed into the ground before Zamasu already rose up to his feet, vehemently ventilating in his quick breaths. The fury and rage continued to rise in the form of his black aura surging outward, his eyes scanning the sky.
"Where did you go?!"
Zamasu's breathing slowed, however, turning his attention towards the ground. His eyes soon landed on the unconscious form of Trunks, propped up against the wall of a destroyed building. His narrowed eyes studied him only for a moment, soon shifting more to the right side and taking in the sight of Beerus' feet hanging out in the air, the rest of his body covered in the rubble of rock and broken metal. His breathing returned to normal, his head turning to left this time and his eyes landing on Kassava, who laid still on the ground face first. His narrowed eyes finally turned forward, locking onto Vegetto and slowly walking forward with his arms at his side.
The sound of a light breeze was all that rang out in the barren city, the dark clouds hanging overhead while Zamasu came to a halt a few feet away from Vegetto. The merged Kaioshin glanced around once more, taking in the sight of the bodies litering the ground across the streets for only a moment, before turning back to face towards Vegetto with a heavy scowl.
"Get up."
Vegetto remained motionless, his face hidden as it pressed into the ground. Zamasu stared down in silence, his smirk rising.
"I see now. This is a ruse...just like last time. You're waiting for me to drop my guard again...and then you'll strike."
Zamasu placed his hands on his hips, turning his chin to the sky.
"I've finally bested you, Son Goku...son...Vegetto. This world is now mine! I have nothing to fear anymore!"
Zamasu held his chin high for a few seconds, his body tensing in anticipation of the counter attack. His smirk slowly faded after a few seconds, his eyes turning back down to see that Vegetto had not moved an inch from where he laid. Zamasu's glare intensified, his tone dark.
"Get up and fight me mortal!"
Zamasu held his stance after the outburst, waiting in silence for a few seconds while Vegetto still remained unresponsive. Growling heavily, Zamasu suddenly threw out his right arm, a black blade of energy forming at the end.
"Fine...then you will die, here and now. The epitome of sin finally is cleansed...by my hand."
He curled his arm inward, the blade now pointing down at Vegetto. Zamasu's eyebrow twitched, his arm slowly creeping forward until the blade hung only millimeters from Vegetto's back. However, it moved no further as the back of Vegetto's blue gi singed from the burning energy radiating into it, Zamasu's arm twitching heavily.
Do it...do it! He's a mortal fool...he's nothing to me! A mortal who looks down upon the gods!
His eyebrow twitched once more.
This is it! I've...beaten him...
Zamasu lowered his arm slightly, but the tension eased as the voice in his mind came out even darker.
I..didn't...beat him. He won't know...the humiliation of defeat, losing to me this way...
Zamasu's eyebrows intensified in the glare, frowning.
He will die with his friends...without suffering as I have.
Zamasu pulled his arm back, the black energy retreating into his hand as he snarled down at Vegetto.
"No...you don't get to go that easily, scum."
His eyes stayed locked on Vegetto, rising slowly into the air.
"You will face me again, you will fight with all your might. And then, when you're truly beaten by my hands alone, I will see you bow before your god."
The merged Kaioshin rose fully into the air, his arms at his side as he floated up to the edge of the plateau overlooking the now ruined city. He landed gracefully, his back towards the smoking landscape and his eyes on the massive portal door that now stood in front of him.
"The dawn of a new era has begun. History will bow to me...and I will create a better world. Time...is now my servant."
Zamasu chuckled darkly, striding forward and soon disappearing into the portal shortly after.
Inside of the Time Vault, both the Supreme Kai of Time and the Elder Kai stood next to each other, their solemn gazes locked on the still body now resting on the table top in the room. Whis loomed over the two as well as the table, his expression flat.
"If it's any consolation, he fought well."
The Supreme Kai of Time sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"It's not me you should be worried about, Whis. Kassava won't take this news well."
Whis nodded curtly, the wear slightly showing for the first time in his voice.
"I know...I know."
The Supreme Kai of Time blinked, her head turning up. Her eyes looked over Whis, who merely stood the same as before. However, his flat expression had softened a little, the ends of his lips slightly turning down into a very minuscule frown. The taller angel's voice remained flat, however, despite the very small display of emotion.
"It's been a long time since I've seen death up close. Perhaps I made a mistake, allowing this to occur."
The Supreme Kai of Time narrowed her eyes slightly, turning her head up.
"We're all responsible for what Zamasu has become. We should've caught him the moment he showed up on our radar, but we waited too long. This is our mistake to bear, more than yours, Whis. This is our duty...our mission. I'm sure Vegetto and the others will see this through to the end."
Her head turned, however, the color soon leaving her face at the sound of the sinister voice ringing out from the top of the stairs.
"That end draws near."
Zamasu's glare looked down on the three standing around the table, sauntering down the stairsteps with his eyes never once leaving Chronoa. Both of the Kais gasped instinctively, tensing as Zamasu approached with his arms at his sides. His narrowed eyes glanced between them both for a moment, his voice flat and firm in the single word that came out.
"Kneel."
The Supreme Kai of Time stared up at the stone faced Zamasu in horror, her eyes only diverting to Whis. The taller angel held a small frown, but nodded once at her. She swallowed hard, slowly lowering down to the ground on both knees with the Elder Kai soon following suit. Zamasu's eyed Genn's body on the table for a moment, his calm demeanor deteriorating for a second before he slowly turned his gaze back to the Kais, forming a small smirk across his face.
"Your city lies in ruins, your strongest warriors have failed to contain me. This charade ends now."
The Supreme Kai of Time whimpered slightly, her head hung low while the Elder only held a solemn stare at the floor. Zamasu's dark smirk rose, studying the two for a moment until a realization slowly dawned on him. His eyes narrowed slightly, shifting away from the two Kais and turning onto Whis. The taller angel met his stare, remaining expressionless while Zamasu turned to face towards him, his tone flat again.
"I thought I told you to kneel."
Whis nodded once.
"You did."
Zamasu narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Then kneel."
Whis' lips rose into a small half smile.
"No."
Zamasu stared back at Whis in silence for a few seconds, a small chuckle escaping his lips.
"Do you realize who you're talking to?"
Whis nodded curtly once again.
"Yes. But I do not serve you: I attend to the god of destruction."
Zamasu chuckled darkly, gesturing around the room.
"And where is your god? I don't see him."
He dropped his arms, his tone venomous.
"The broken mortal you put into power to stop me has failed. You've made your gamble and lost...now it's time to beg for my forgiveness."
Whis followed Zamasu's eyes, watching the newly merged fusion tense his arms.
"So...this is the last time I'll say it. Kneel...or I will make you kneel."
Whis sighed lightly, spacing his legs and turning towards Zamasu fully.
"By all means, try."
Zamasu snarled, lunging forward and throwing his right fist forward. His eyes widened, the determined fury and rage rapidly replaced with shock as Whis lightly swung his scepter down, the large orb striking right at the middle of Zamasu's arm. Thrown off balance with his arm shooting towards the floor, Zamasu stumbled forward but shot back as the large orb shot out and connected directly into the center of Zamasu's face.
Grimacing heavily and clutching his nose, Zamasu stumbled backwards in the opposite direction. He shook his head once, his narrowed eyes finding Whis again and slinging his right arm, a small blast of black energy shooting towards Whis. The fused Kaioshin slung his left arm afterwards, a second blast hurtling toward Whis, who inhaled deeply. The taller angel then exhaled with a slow breath, the wind from his nostrils blasting the sides of the two black energy balls as they approached and forcing them to spiral down toward the ground to his sides, erupting into a couple of small smoke clouds at his feet.
Zamasu blinked, the smoke around Whis instantly dispersing with a small swipe of his left hand. Stepping back instinctively, Zamasu's wide stare remained locked on Whis, who stood tall with his scepter clutched tightly in his hand.
"What...what the hell are you?!"
Whis' smile returned.
"I am simply Whis. Nothing more...nothing less."
Zamasu's panic stricken eyes only narrowed slightly, the fear mounting rapidly into rage. His black aura exploded upwards from his boots, engulfing his body as he shot forward once again. Whis, however, sighed lightly as Zamasu approached, ducking his head down to the side. Zamasu's fist shot through the air a second later, Whis' free hand lightly jabbing into the fallen Kaioshin's chest before gripping onto his throat. Slightly turning to his side, Whis hurled Zamasu's entire body by his neck against a pedestal on the opposite side of the dome room. Zamasu crashed back first into the glass case housing another ornate scroll, collapsing onto his rear hard onto the floor with glass shards cascading down around him.
Zamasu cringed heavily for a moment, his eyes soon opening once he felt the small paper roll land in his lap. He blinked, staring at the ominous glow illuminating from the parchment for a second before the surge of Whis' energy caught his attention. The taller angel glared down heavily at Zamasu, slowly walking forward.
"No where to run, Zamas."
Zamasu gasped, his eyes frantically glancing around. His eyes soon found the scroll in his lap once again, a small sinister grin forming.
"Heh...nowhere but the past!"
Clutching onto the scroll, Zamasu chuckled darkly to himself as a black, sinister glow radiated around his own body in contrast to the usual bright white light from the Scroll of Eternity. Whis came to a halt, watching on and standing still as Zamasu soon vanished completely from sight, leaving the black scroll to drop onto the hard marble floor. The taller angel watched the scroll slowly roll to his feet, the end of his scepter tapping onto the ground next to it.
"Then let us see if you have what it takes to face that past."