Chapter 28
Tarden kept reading the books left with him silently absorbing some of the information until suddenly he shouts out in frustration droops the book and falls onto his back and rolls side to side letting his frustrations out. Then the boy stopped his childish tantrum and just sat starring at the ceiling of his temporary prison.
"I should be sparring with Ginny right now; I don't even know how much stronger she has become because of how busy I been training this past year. Now I'm stuck reading about forbidden and incomplete techniques, which is cool and all, but I have to read." Tarden said out loud before sitting up and gathering energy for his spirit armor. After about five minutes the armor appeared and Tarden tried to focus all the energy in a solidified orb, the energy spun rapidly as it took its ball shape between both his hands.
'The amount of pressure, it's super heavy it's like I can feel my arms becoming numb from the raw power.' Tarden though as he slowly pulled away one hand and tried controlling the energy with one hand. The transition was difficult but with some patients the orb stayed in its shape and Tarden was now holding it with one hand. 'I finally can hold on to it with one hand now, but it feels like it's about too... oh crap baskets.' Tarden saw the orb pulse and ripple, thinking quickly Tarden went to the opposite side of the room and fell on top of the orb.
The Energy then imploded and Tarden suppressed most of the destruction with his own body, successfully preventing any form of damage to the room beside the small crater he was above. Tarden managed to survive the explosion but he was bruised up and felt his conscious fading. Tarden managed to protect the books from and backlash but in the process knocked himself out. But there was a small smile on his face as he was proud to make progress with the technique.
With Gear
All the Elders sat waiting in a line by Lake Xiox, where the final battle against Slug, Gear and the others sat down meditating as a group of five pods broke atmosphere and made a beeline to land by the lake around a football fields length away from Gear. Gear watched as how five aliens escaped their pods slowly, to buff green aliens from the same species an even taller purple alien with red eyes and bald, another with a amphibian or reptilian head and lastly A blue skinned alien with blonde hair similar to some of the commandoes that killed his own father.
The group of aliens walked closer before suddenly the blue one shouted out, "Squad assemble!" Before Gear could react he watched as one of the green guys took a step beside and went through a few stances before Posing in a strange stance. "Dore!" The man shouted before the bigger green alien of the same species started to do the same then he settled in a similar pose but on the other side shouting out, "Core!" Gear watched confused as they continued as the purple alien made his way to the center before hitting his own pose, "Falter!" Then the gecko looking one went in front slightly to the side and crouched down hitting his ow pose, "Niaz!" Lastly the Blue one who called out, to start the weird ritual made his way beside the crouched Alien and posed in a flamboyant way "and Salza! And we are!" He shouted before they all got up and posed in a different way, "Lord Cooler's Elite armored Squad!"
Gear was stunned in confusion, was this there attempt to intimidate them, the group of aliens looked ridiculous. Gear looked back to his allies and saw that most of them embarrassed or attempting not to laugh. Gear looked at his sister to see that she was disgusted like him.
"I count eleven fighters, where was the 12th fighter?" Neiz said confused.
"He must be suppressing his energy." Falter concluded.
"Cut the chatter boys, alright listen up, this planet is now under the jurisdiction of Captain Salza, A.k.a me. I have orders from lord Frieza to just destroy the planet with a single attack. Poof, nothing but space dust, but as I am a merciful guy and we have also traveled such a long way to get here. I decided to let my boys have some fun, are you not the strongest fighters this world has to offer?" Salza asked. Not getting a response the Blue saiyan mumbled about typical backwater species before continuing, "Consider this your opportunity to survive for if you manage to defeat us you can take the loser's spot on our team. You will be fighting anyone of us you see fit. Considering there are 11 of you and five of us you can fight in teams of no more than two."
"You mean like a tournament?" Gear asked as the other elders started talking amounts themselves.
"Something of the sort, you pick your teams and send them to fight, we will pick amongst ourselves one fighter and the match is over when one team is dead, if you send in any more the game is over and you will fight us all at the same time. This way we can kill more time killing you all one by one. Oh and to make things interesting a different fighter will be presented after each match."
Gear turned to look at Lucis to take them on first when Orth and Chalk stepped up, Orth and Chalk being the oldest members there. "we will take you on!" They both declared shocking Gear.
"Wait let me fight beside one of you! we don't know how strong they are!" It was Orth that turned back and glared at Gear, silencing the younger Llab.
"Silence boy, make sure we know how powerful they could be, that's why we choose to fight first we are, the weakest. Let us go first so you all can see what we are up against." Orth finished speaking before he and Chalk flew to the center of the lake where they started to meditate, intending to go all out from the start.
"well it seems they are sending in their first team. You boys go ahead I'm going to sit out on this one." Salza said going back to sit on a pod. Leaving his four teammates to stare at each other. Gear was hoping however they decided it would give Orth and Chalk time to gather spirit energy.
All four subordinates took a few steps pack as the pulled back their arms, curious Gear watched closely trying to get a read on his enemies when they all punched outward and shouted out, "Rock, Paper, scissors! Tie Go again. Tie go again." And repeated doing so over and over as Gear clinched his fists in anger.
"They are not taking us seriously; this is purely for their own entertainment!" Gear growled out as his sister went up to him placing a hand on his shoulder.
"The next team they send you need to pair up with Gum, he will be the weakest, should Chalk and Orin fall, I'll team up with Vex, Karax with Lucis and so on, we need to pair the strongest with the weakest so we can all have the best chance of survival." She said as Gear saw the logic behind the plan but frowned.
"I don't like the idea of you fighting, with someone other than Me or Karax. But your right we need to be able to defeat these guys with minimal casualties, Yami said Salza was the strongest and he isn't even participating yet.
"Ahhh ha seems like I won boys!" Neiz said out loud as the others complained.
"No fair you always win!" Core said upset.
"Oh settle down Core this is why we do the rotational rule now, no one is allowed to fight back to back." Falter said.
"You guys should decide who is fighting when I'm done." Neiz said before floating over to the lake with a fair distance between him and the two meditating Llabs, it took two minutes for the elite armor squad to send in their fighter as Chalk and Orin charged up their armor.
"What are yall doing praying to your gods before you meet them." Neiz said laughing, Gear realized that they need more time so he shouted out to get Neiz attention. "It's the custom of this planet, before we engage in battle we pray it's the honorable thing to do when facing a powerful opponent!" Gear shouted.
"Hm… I suppose I'll wait then. After all these are their final moments." Neiz waited and time started to move on, it took another extra five minutes for Orin and Chalk to finally awaken their power, bringing forth all of their strength as the spirit armor appeared around them, Neiz Watching with wide eyes as the scouter beeped reading their power skyrocket. "Impossible, there power was so small a moment ago to think they could jump up in strength so quickly!"
"Well then let the fight begin!" Salza said shooting a small Ki blast in the air that imploded sending a small shockwave to ripple the water below the fighters. Then in a burst of speed Chalk engaged Neiz lunging towards the alien forcing him to dodge and run away. Chalk kept him pressured until Orin appeared behind Neiz. The Alien turned around in time a too a kick to the chest, he felt the air leave his lunges as he was sent flying.
"They are actually putting up a fight." Gear said amazed,
"I'm not so surprised, Orin and Chalk have more team chemistry than anyone alive, what they lack in power they make up with flawless team work. Unless Their opponent has a secret ability, the power he has now will not be enough to defeat them, so long as spirit armor stay up." Lucis said.
Gear looked at Lucis and saw the proud but serious look on the older Llabs face, then gear realized something as he looked back at the other elders. "the three of you are the last of your generation!" Gear said suddenly, Lucis smiled turning to face Gear.
"Correct, Orin, Chalk, and I were the last of our generation, the Generation that was with Wax, I was Wax's rival, as Gwynn was Xiox's as you are Tarden's." Lucis explained. Before they paid attention to the fight again.
Neiz but up a good effort as he blocked the combination attacks from Orin and Chalk, every now and then the two would land a punch or kick that slipped past Neiz's defense. Then Chalk was about to kick Neiz in the head before Neiz's head suddenly retracted into his body, causing Chalk to miss as Neiz quickly countered with an Elbow to the back of Chalks head sending the Llab to the water below as he now focused his wrath on Orin.
"That's not good!" One of the other elders shouted.
"Hang in their Orin!" Lucis now shouted concerned. The elder watched in horror as they saw Orin struggle the punches and Kicks from Neiz coming in to fast for him to counter alone, luckily for him the armor absorbed most of the damage, but the attacks took their toll Orin became sluggish as fatigue sank in.
Neiz was frustrated and amazed, no matter how much he hit the elder before him the warrior proved extremely durable, but Neiz noticed he was slowing down must have been the old age the Alien thought, before quickly turning around to grab the foot of Chalk and Neiz let a vicious smile appear on his face.
Chalk started fighting back and forth Neiz smirking before getting double teamed again but not engage them on their terms Neiz ran away as quickly as possible gaining some distance before he Let out a powerful Ki blast at both opponents then both Elders fired their own, the energy colliding only managed to slow down the attack buying the Two elders time to avoid the actual attack before closing in on Neiz again. Neiz smirked before Chalk fired another Ki blast where Neiz dodged barely by retracting his head popping back out laughing.
"Ha you missed me!" Neiz said before hearing a voice behind him shout "Reflection!" Turning around Neiz Found the Ki blast sent back to him with extra power and the Alien Quickly Reached forward to Catch the attack struggling against the power before tossing it straight into the air. Neiz took some deep breaths as he was frustrated, angry how he almost kicked the bucket.
"It's over Judgment Call." Chalk said firing the final attack, knowing his armor was running out. Neiz watched as the energy came an attack that he knew he couldn't just toss aside. Reacting quickly Neiz dodged the blast. Neiz sighed as he barely avoided the attack but didn't have much longer when Chalk appeared behind him and grappled Neiz trying to hold him down.
"What are you doing," Neiz said
"What I must!" Chalk responded, before Orin appeared.
"Forgive me my old friend." Orin said as he released his final attack, "Judgment call." The attack was fired and now consumed Neiz and Chalk effectively dealing damage to them both.
"He sacrificed himself, to kill the enemy… His sacrifice will not be in vain." Karax said. Only for the Aliens watching begun to laugh.
"hahaha that's what you get Neiz!" Core said.
"cocky bastard!" Dore said as Falter just crossed his arms.
"You seriously play around with your food too much." Falter said as Gear couldn't believe his ears, they say harsh words to their own ally, not even grieving over death. "Savages." Gear mutter under his breath. Then Salza stood up shouting out.
"Neiz! enough playing around!" Sure enough this caused the others to look back as the attack and smoke faded to see Neiz bruised up and burned but clearly Alive, but nothing remaining from Chalk.
"Ouch that smart's, that's the last time I don't take things seriously." Neiz said before turning his head to look at Orin's shocked face. "You bastards actually managed to hurt me pretty badly, then with a speed that was much faster than they have seen the whole fight Neiz appeared in front of Orin and punched Orin in the gut so quickly his hand penetrated inside Orin's body, causing the Llab to cough up Blood. "Allow me to return the favor." Neiz whispered as he used a Ki blast to vaporize Orin from within.
The elders gear and Ginny included let out a unified gasp as they all watched in horror but none so devastated as Lucis who watched as tears slowly escaped his eyes. Watching his oldest friends die, one sacrificing himself for nothing while the other vaporized by the enemy. The devastating feeling of grief struck Lucis in the heart as if someone tore it out and stabbed it with a venomous jagged blade.
"I know they expected to die but after putting up such a performance that's how they die, one thinking he took the opponent down with him the other realizing he killed his own friend for nothing! That's just too cruel!" Karax gritted his teeth.
"It was fun while it lasted but next time I'll end it faster, I'm beat!" Neiz said floating back down to his allies. "Did you guys already decided who is next?" Neiz asked as Core stood up, "While they prayed I won the last round so I'm next." Immediately the large Alien flew towards the lake as he waited as Gear was about to go when Lucis put a hand on his shoulder. Gear turned to say something but saw Lucis's face covered by his Hair.
"I'm going…. I'm barely holding myself together." Lucis said looking up where Gear saw tears running free but beyond the surface the familiar look of rage. Karax watched Lucis go towards the lake and He quickly followed before gear grabbed his arm, shaking his head.
"He's about to lose control, you'll be in danger too." Karax smiled at Gear before speaking, "That's exactly why I must go, He taught me almost everything I know, I won't leave him to fight alone while he like this… don't worry I can more than handle enough for myself."
With Tarden
Tarden awoke from his self-induced premature sleep. The saiyan sat up hurt and dazed but quickly stretched before going back to reading where he found an interesting technique that was banned for crippling the user. "Interesting so this is what cripple Xiox, the technique called Overcharge." Tarden said out loud. "Says here it was created by Grand Elder Bile, it was based on the theory that a people carry a second "Container" for their Ki, although the process of activating the second Ki core, is considered too powerful, and will cripple the body due to the body being unable to adjust to the sudden output of Ki. The Technique was originally created to be a ready-made version of Spiritual limit break, which require the energy of spirit armor.
Tarden noticed how Xiox wrote in his own notes stating a theory on activating the second Core and deactivating the first one at the same time, allowing one to act as if they never spent their energy attacking in the first place. "Activating the second core sounds useful but if no one has done it before how does one activate what lies dormant inside one body. Tarden could see why so many elders ignored the technique and Spiritual Limit break had a lot more notes in comparison, but for some reason Tarden like the overcharge, shifting idea. Being able to activate it without meditating for spirit armor will be useful.
"Alright then, I guess I'll work on where Xiox left off, I wonder how annoyed he will get if I make more progress than him in a shorter time, that other crap he tried to make me master can wait!" With that said Tarden started to read and look at the model that was drawn for the second core as he tried to figure out a way to deactivate his Own Ki, probably safer to deactivate one core before activating the second. Tarden continued his training with the knowledge written down by the ancient grand elders complete ignorant of the battles happening on the planets surface.
