Chapter 14: A Deal With The Devil
A/N: To answer your curiosity Joker you were indeed correct.
Riding atop Nimbus at full speed, Goku made his way towards the massive spike of power that was now looming over the world. He could feel Anaidni like never before, the amount of energy he was putting out was astounding. In addition the ki of many of his friends were in the area but they appeared to be much weaker. 'Tien, Yamcha, Krillin, Chaotzu…' They had probably gotten involved in an attempt to stop this new threat not knowing that he was probably one of the strongest people on the planet now. But that didn't seem to have stopped them from apparently trying to intervene.
Goku steeled himself knowing that he would have to defeat Anaidni quickly, there was a time limit and not much left of it. He had been blindsided beforehand because he let his guard down. A mistake that may cost many people dearly…
Just miles away was Anaidni, who was busying himself, everything meticulously working towards his goal of preventing his own end. "This curse… This curse won't affect me anymore." He'd seen the light and he knew the truth, the secrets and treasures of the world were all his to know and never want to know at the same time.
In turn he had condemned his own soul to the workings to evil incarnate the moment he had picked up that stupid container. "But I won't be trapped, I'll beat him! I'll undo the contract, I will I WILL!" He ranted. Not that he hadn't already been challenged unknowingly by people who simply did not understand. The four of them had put up a good fight, but they were nothing to the strongest man in the world! 'I did defeat a former world champion and several others who have been finalists.' It only gave him more confidence going forward, he'd already underestimated Goku but he had been able to deal with him effectively enough.
The chaos of the situation had diverted an entire small town to evacuate. Afterall it wasn't often several martial artists fought with a superhuman. People quickly fled out of panic, not that he had any real concern for collateral damage at the moment. He was dealing with a conflict that was far beyond just property damage and people getting hurt.
Trying to fight off pure evil and not having the time to explain that was difficult. But he needed this location, the town aptly named 'Crossroads' - it would be the place where evil would manifest itself looking to harm him and further spread all of its evil and corruption across the world.
What were a few innocent people now, compared to the thousands if not tens of thousands who had been pulled in by the promises made by the same demon? There wasn't one, his actions could save thousands more if he managed to break the contract and kill the demon pretending to be a genie.
While she may be human looking, he knew that there was a demon heart inside of her. That was his focus, draining her power and removing her from the world was paramount. But for now he just needed to keep building wards to keep that demon out of his location then he could be just fine. The contract would only last as long as the wish was fulfilled, if the contract was broken then he would be freed. His soul wouldn't be taken and he wouldn't have to be spending an eternity in agony and suffering as one of evil's playthings.
He'd been tirelessly working on everything, but his eyes looked towards his vaunted 'genie' or demoness. Strewn out over a stone slab, her form almost inert, she appeared to be sleeping but he knew that the magics keeping her tethered here were fading and there was going to be no last minute wishing to undo his power and strength.
If he'd had better foresight he could've gone after the seven mystical dragon balls which he had discovered were real, and not hindered by haunted evil beings. But he didn't have the time or wherewithal to make that happen. "No.. No this will have to do, I need to live first."
But once the demon faded he'd be safe, he just had to endure until that time was complete. So he kept at his work cutting more lines into the ground, there were no more simple chalk markers and he gave himself more space to work with. The deep grooves he could carve by sheer force were impressive.
The only flaw he had, however, was the wish that he struck. A quick clause, something so ridiculously impossible to achieve his wish could not be swindled like before. Wishing to become the world's strongest man so long as he did not set foot on Mars and at the bottom of a volcano. A complete impossibility.
The trap had been laid, now he just had to make sure that evil itself didn't work its way into his wards and cause him problems.
As he carved a path with his bare hands and feet, he marveled at just how much a change his wish had brought him. Looking at himself in the mirror he had nearly tripled his muscular size, but even that wasn't comparable to the amount of strength he had, removing most of his scraggly features upon gaining his new body form, his hair cut into a haggard ponytail and his beard now just a thick goatee. His nails while still unsightly weren't half as bad as they had been before.
It felt like he had been given new life and brand new body. "And it nearly cost me my life and my soul. Gah, this is still too insane!" He'd been able to barely keep his sanity up until this point by pointing out how mad everything actually was.
Hoping, however, that he could keep himself intact was the only real problem.
'Unsurprising, But this would make sense, this guy is unbearably naive. Probably also explains why he isn't affected by the curse at all.' His face pulled into a scowl. "Lucky prick." Observing the warrior land with some force just a dozen meters away after jumping from a yellow cloud. "To what do I owe your company?" Anaidni stated in a low drawl. He'd put enough sleeping powder to knock a man out for a week, yet he was up and running after a few days.
Goku looked around, his senses scanning for any signs of other life in the area. He found it disturbing that there was none. A mild stab of guilt touched at him as he didn't fully check on all of his friends, their kis were stable and lower than normal. He assumed that they would need some time to get themselves back in fighting shape. But considering he was on the clock there wasn't time for idle chatter.
"Where is Chi-Chi?" Goku asked directly.
The snort of contempt was quick, "Why do you care about some misguided demon? Did you forget everything I told you?" Anaidni had to add thickheadedness to the list of traits he was beginning to dislike immensely from this man.
"I was asleep for the past few days after that dirty trick of yours." Goku countered, not that his memory was serving him the best. Trying to remember exactly what he told him had been, complicated, considering that he had been awakened by the strange man who appeared out of nowhere and left just the same.
"True… But I assume that you've come here to take her back? Well sorry I won't let that happen. No one will be subject to her whiles or that of her demon master. That I assure you will be a certainty."
"Let her go, you don't know Chi-Chi, she's not evil. I know evil people, I know people who just need a little help understanding right from wrong and even if you don't like what I'm saying it doesn't give you the right to kill her. So I am asking you," He outstretched his palm towards Anaidni, "Please give her back to me so I can save her life."
There was no way he was going to back down from this. Evil had to be destroyed and even if by some small miracle Goku was right. Well, sacrifices had to be made for that greater good. "No."
Gritting his teeth ,Goku let his ki flare up in response. "Please don't make me fight you, no one else has to get hurt or maybe die from this. Please, it doesn't have to be this way."
Before either side could further their climactic speeches a new voice appeared and one that had a foreboding tone and implications. "Oh but someone is going to get hurt. The question is… who?" Standing atop a signpost, one that had a fork in the road marker. Another set of crossroads into the city. Dressed just the same, the thin veiled smile on his lips showing nothing but amusement at the entire situation.
"You-!" Anaidni decried, in part terror and anger. Looking towards his carefully carved runes and wondering how the demon had managed to get past them. "You bloody monster, you are just like the legends say you are, the man of glass, the merchant of mirrors, or do you still go by the traveling name Gaunter O' Dimm!" He shouted, the anger causing his own voice to crack as he felt a flood of mild panic. "I won't be swindled, I won't be taken away by you like you have so many others!"
"You have learned so much about me it seems, quite so." O'Dimm merely laughed, "But you need not worry, I have plans for what will happen to you when this ends, because it can only end one way." Still perched atop the signpost like a bird, his form not all bothered by where he was standing he outstretched one arm towads Goku. "I present to you, my Champion. Son Goku, he's here to grant your last wish as per the contract you agreed to when taking my little servant."
"Hah! Like he can fulfill that, the sheer impossibility of that wish you can't manage, but also… I doubt that he will fight me. I know the man won't kill me and I know he won't put me in any situation that might end up with me dying, O'Dimm." His voice arrogant, he'd thought this through. There was no way that he would not achieve victory. "You will lose, so why not just run away while you still have some pride intact!" Spitting back at the man whose expression did not change.
"See Goku, this is why I placed Chi-Chi inside of that bottle, I give the man everything he desires and then has the nerve to mock and spit in my face as if I am the reason for this." He shook his head, and slipping down from the crossroad sign he approached Goku bringing his fingers together in front of his body. "All you have to do is beat him, once you've done that I will release Chi-Chi as per the agreement."
Goku eyed Gaunter O'Dimm, the bizarre thing that he was only made him feel off balance. "I don't want to hurt anyone if I don't have to, we can work this out." His protests were met with small tsks from O'Dimm.
"I'm sorry, Goku, but I can not agree to that and while I know it is low of a man to force others into their bidding. Sometimes it is necessary to add a little, hm, shall we say motivation?" Reaching into his hand, he pulled out a small hourglass. Holding it up to Goku he showed that the sand was already ticking. It sat within his palm, both ends were about the size of a baseball and there was already a small amount of sand poured into one side. "This is the time remaining for Chi-Chi. If you don't defeat him then I won't be able to save her. Not as long as she bound to Anaidni as her default master."
"Hah! So you admit you've already lost? What is this some attempt to kill me, that doesn't fulfill the contract of the wish I made at all."
O'Dimm ignored the taunting. "One fight Goku, and I'm not asking you to kill him. But you will have to make him surrender her to you. If you don't, then I am afraid her life will be forfeited for his, such are the terms of the contract I have made with you and the rules upon which I have set for the genie you set loose upon the world."
'This isn't right! None of this is right. Damnit!' Goku was stuck, trapped between a mountain and a mountain. Neither option was appealing to him, "I see your hesitation, I know the signs of conflict within a man with a good heart when I see it. Though don't forget… you are on a clock." He set down the hourglass on the ground, "Sometimes as a man you just have to make a split decision, go for what you feel in your heart as the right answer." He put a hand on Goku's shoulder. "I know you'll make the right one, because the future you have before you now will be greater than any reward I can bestow upon you. Just do what your body is telling you and there shall be no regrets." He gave Goku a small bow before patting him on the back. "Good luck Goku, I'll be watching."
"Ah yes, one final tip, Goku," O'dimm's voice becoming a whisper, leaning in close so that no one else could hear him. "The secret to your victory and Chi-Chi's life is in your history. Lead Anaidni to the depths of your history and you shall be victorious. I promise you." He pulled back leaving Goku confused as he started to walk away.
"Oh, not going to watch yourself fail, I wouldn't have expected evil like you to just walk away with his tail between his legs." Anaidni couldn't believe it. This was the best plan? That somehow Goku was going to get him onto Mars and in the middle of a volcano? Hah! Everything was going to work out, just like he planned.
O'dimm didn't turn around, he just held up both of his hands before turning back around slowly and offered a deep bow. "I don't believe I'll fail. Because I've put the best this planet has to offer against you and I know… that he will succeed." Lifting his head, O'dimm's face was blocked as Goku charged Anaidini.
The super powered human, while stronger than any man on the planet and with a body that was rivaled by none, met a force that he had not ever seen before. A man with something dear to lose. Though it might be avenging the life of a fallen friend, or going up against an all powerful demon bent on world domination. It had all the framework for a struggle that Goku had gone through time and time again.
Anaidni might've held the pure strength advantage but lacked a critical element when fighting someone like Goku. Grabbing his first he attempted to fling the fight away, more focused on creating distance than a direct confrontation. Goku, being carried by the giant man's momentum, swung himself up into the air and shot straight back down. Fist reared back as if he was going to repeat the same charge. Anaidni readied himself for another strike but as he threw a counter punch he met only air, the after image left behind caused a momentary lapse of the powered up human.
And that opening gave Goku one hell of a counter blow. Two strikes right to the sternum and with so much force it made Anaidni buckle his knees and spit to spill from his lips as Goku pulled one fist back and swung it straight upwards. The devastating uppercut split Anaidni's lip and sent him flying backwards. Landing on his back, the far larger man rolled and came to a stop in a kneeling position. His body low to the ground and with his increased strength exploded like a cannon. There was no flight or ki to guide him, just raw power.
Goku did not back down, meeting the challenge head on, unafraid and also feeling the excitement of a truly great battle filling his veins, the adrenaline and endorphins blanking his mind to nothing but the rush of the moment. Anaidni caught Goku with a cross, breaking through his guard with a titanic blow making him stagger, but Goku kept himself upright and as Anaidni readied another hammer blow with his fist poised to slam so far down into the ground that Goku might find him buried beneath dozens of feet of Earth he caught the muscled arm that had just struck him, one hand grasping the forearm the other locking his shoulder just above shoulder blade.
A bellowing cry as Goku used his superior leverage and flip the massive bulk up and over. Cracking Anaidni's head straight into the concrete. The force burying him up to his elbows.
Ripping himself free Anaidni was not given a chance to rest this time. Goku struck at him again. Several shots battered the man's larger ribs, making catching a breath feeling like a knife was digging into him. But the warrior didn't stop, using his smaller size he shoulder charged Anaidni, knocking him onto his side. One of his arms covering his injured ribs as Goku tried to grapple him, moving into a position where he could incapacitate without causing too much damage.
Grabbing underneath one of elbow's Goku began to pull backwards. Anaidni's head pinned by Goku's foot. The body trying to follow the head but as Goku locked the arm into an awkward position it only amplified the stress and pain of his joints. "Give up!" Goku told him through his teeth.
"And what?" Anaidni ground through his teeth, the former famed archaeologist had becoming nothing more than a vagrant brawling in the streets. "Let my soul and life be taken by a being of pure evil? No, I refuse to yield. You'll have to manage the impossible." He raised one foot into the air and with the force of a small explosion shattered the ground beneath them. Goku's footing and perch lost to keep his grip and let go. Unable to break away, he was struck hard by Anaidni. Driving one hammer blow into Goku's guard again and again.
"You're a fool! You are working for a being who is the personification of evil incarnate and you ask me to give myself up to eternal suffering for the sake of one of his puppets?" His imbued strength battered Goku's forearms until it could take the abuse and broke to the side. Two hard hooks with both hands cut Goku's cheek, staining his face and shoulder with blood until Goku shoved both hands into Anaidni's chest.
The explosions from Goku's ki sent the once human man into the air, the burning pain and scorched flesh making him cry out as he was launched high into the air. Anaidni lacked any sort of grace or finesse as he plummeted back down.
Bracing his body for the tremendous impact which shattered a car as he landed, one entire foot caving in the front hood as the other broke through the axle and punctured concrete.
Anaidni could only swear in aggravation, the others who had tried to fight him were not even close to this guy's level, his brute force was more than enough to overwhelm them but this guy could not only take the abuse. But give it back in kind. "Fuck. I should've asked for crazy powers like you." Rubbing his jaw as Goku flipped out from the ground and landed a few meters away. "What kind of freakish powers do people like you have? Where you can summon energy like that from thin air? Are you some superpowered god of lightning or something?" By all accounts he should be using a giant hammer with all of the crazy things he'd seen so far.
"It's not lightning," Goku corrected moving into his stance. "It's ki, all life big or small, plant or animal has it."
The two had a staredown, neither side refusing to blink or break in the moment as the weight of the situation just hung in the air for a few moments.
When one blinked they both had thrown themselves forward. Goku refused to just back down from the challenge, despite the other man's glaring handicap when fighting him. A part of the teen didn't want to win this fight by just flying around. He wanted to fight his opponent head on.
Goku pulled his arm back as Anaidni released a bellow becoming a mirror of the same actions Goku was taking. Both of their senses heightened and waiting for the first moment and when it came to both of them swung. Goku's fist and Anaidni's collided with the other's face the resulting shockwave knocked both of them apart and parting the clouds around them from the impact alone.
Both minds went blank as they slipped from the air and returned towards the ground. Landing with a resounding crash, concrete and gravel torn free by the impact.
Laying just a couple dozen meters away both of them pulled themselves back onto their knees, their eyes still flashing and seeing stars. Goku shook his head, and as his eyes looked around he saw a set of words that made him think back to what O'Dimm had told him. Just beside them: The Museum of Natural History. 'Did he mean? Here? Is this what he was talking about?'
Only Goku noticed it but he saw a flicker of O'Dimm's face standing in the window of the building. A coy grin on his face before he disappeared. But what remained was the hourglass. Like a monitor it showed that the bottom was mostly filled with sand. 'Time is running out!' Goku Ignored the ringing of his ears and pain in his jaw. With nothing but determination in his heart he released a battle cry and charged his foe.
Anaidni attempted to block.
But he did not have the endurance or speed to keep up with Goku who was used to this treatment. Ducking under his guard, Goku shoulder charged him and with both of his knees pumping tore a line through the ground leaving grooves as the large man tried to find a perch with his feet but could not and was pushed through the glass of the large history building. They broke through a kiosk sending papers flying as Goku came down with a heavy blow to Anaidni's head, a resounding crack could be heard.
There was a grin on O'Dimm's face. "Just as planned." His fingers strummed together watching as Goku had got the hint quickly enough. "But how quickly?" He mused, on the second floor of the museum. The center exposed out and hollowed for at the basement contained an island replica, with a very key feature.
Slamming Anaidni into one exhibit piles of red and brown sand shot outwards. A cut across the archaeologist's face from the glass caused his vision to blur, his huge arms grabbed at the sand and threw arms fulls at Goku, the choking thickness made Goku hack and cough. Missing as the sound of metal being crunched beneath Anaidni's fingers came through the dust and smashed him in the nose, blood burst from his nose a long cut was left alongside his face. The metal object breaking apart as its glass and replica wheels were shattered on the ground. Still coughing, Goku managed to dodge the next blow as flagpole was swung next, the metal snapping in two full pieces as it missed. The flapping banner clearing just enough dust and debris from Goku's senses to let him tackle Anaidni.
The two flipped end over end as they broke through a banister and landed in the basement. Falling through a brown stone cylinder. Red lights and orange colors flashing as they hit the bottom. Anaidni's finger grabbed Goku by the throat as the teen tried to pull back from the pressure and get a better flow of air.
Both thrashed about, Anaidni kept Goku pinned using his size and weight to his advantage but, just as he saw Goku's face began to darken with a light shade of blue. The sound of applause could be heard. "Congratulations…" The voice of O'dimm ringing out, walking down from the air like there was a set of stairs but when there was nothing under his feet.
Anaidni was startled by the sight and even more startled… when his grip on Goku began to fail. All of that power that had once been coursing through his veins faded, his arm began to shrink and his body became naught but the haunty visage it had been but days before. Anaidni watched as O'Dimm stopped just beside him. "Your final request… has been granted." A smirk playing across his lips.
"What the hell are you talking about? We are not on Mars standing in an active volcano!" But the strange merchant of mirrors merely laughed, his amusement showing. "Oh but we have, the dust at your feet came from the Mars exhibit you two smashed into, that thick reddish brown dirt covers your feet upon you which now stand… and of course a small scale volcano replica that you two tore into as well."
Holding up his hand to the rocky wall lined with LED's it was designed to look and act like a real volcano that was actively erupting the lights flashing and showing where the stages of eruption were. Also scattered by their feet was the remains of the mini rover that had been created for the Mars display. The thick dust and dirt a representation of standing on the red planet that was light years away.
"No! NO!" He cried backpedaling from O'Dimm as Goku stood up watching as the strange man just walked slowly forward. The man of glass had a focused look as he reached back his hand.
"Your soul is now mine Anaidni, just as you claimed your power, by our contract it has been completed. You now owe me the bargain for having access to my powers." The man tried to move but O'Dimm's hand grasped his stomach. Anaidni's screams of pain were quick as he fell to his knees, his body seemingly aging in seconds, turning from a young man to that of a husk until the skin became nothing but flakes and ash until the only thing that fell into his palm was the skull of what had been the greatest archaeologist in the world. "At last…. It's over."
Goku stood rooted to the spot, unable to act until the act was finished, it was as if his body had been frozen somehow. But O'Dimm put the skull underneath his shoulder and offered a slight clap and Goku felt his muscles and body return to his control. "What did you just do?!" It was the first thing he demanded.
"Received my payment." O'Dimm remarked, his other hand reaching into his robes and pulled out an hourglass. His eyes peering down and noticing that the sands were just about to run out. "With seconds to spare." Slamming his hands together the hourglass became the container. Taking his hands he then with the greatest of ease snapped it in half.
The smoke burst forth from the broken container and as the smoke filtered down towards the ground leaving a figure to form and in several moments Chi-Chi appeared, her form lip and unmoving. "You have held up your end of the bargain, Goku, and as per your request I have given you my servant. Though she might not be as terribly useful as she was before I'm afraid." O'Dimm flipped Anaidni's skull in his hand once before looking at Goku. "I hope that you are satisfied?"
Goku wanted to ask what had just transpired but he knelt down and picked up Chi-Chi gently off the floor. While she might appear dead, there was only a slight heartbeat and the faintest of breaths leaving her lips. Her master noticed the panic and uncertainty in his face and decided that it would be proper to clarify further. "She's alive, but she will require time to recover, however, her memories since becoming my servant have been removed. I can't have her remembering too much about me. So what is left is the mind of a terrified young girl inside of the woman she has become."
"What did you do to Anaidni?" Goku asked setting Chi-Chi back down and giving the strange being a hard glare.
"Received my payment, finding a greedy, prideful, hollow, and arrogant soul such as this is so rare on Earth nowadays." He flipped the blackened skull in his hand smirking slightly. "Why are you so concerned about him? He nearly killed her, harmed your friends and who knows how many other people because of his actions."
"It doesn't mean he deserved to die, people can change." Goku protested but O'Dimm shook his head. "That virtuism will hurt you one day more than you know. You have admirable qualities, truly one of a kind but your actions may end up hurting more people, especially the ones you love." His voice shifted and became more somber as he spoke. "But enough prattling I do believe our business here is finished. There is something about people whose names start with the letter 'G' that are strangely capable for some reason, just like the last fellow who helped me out centuries ago."
"Who are you?" Goku asked standing upright, his face serious, his hands clenched at his sides and chest thrumming.
"I was the man who gave up the unenviable job to the man you now know as Kami. But that's all I'll tell you, for someone like you still has a greater purpose to serve in this world, Goku, it is why I will not grant you this request. But don't worry, you'll scarcely remember me in the morning."
Goku blinked, and before he could speak O'Dimm raised up his hand and before Goku could protest, the man clapped his hands and the world went dark…
R&R
Kerghan