Chapter 25: The Eternal Fight
Despite the cloud cover, the air was now hotter and heavier than ever. Crimson flames soared around the flexed form of Mura.
She was currently grunting. There was clear strain on her face. However, her predatory smile was ever present. It was as if she was struggling under the weight of her own power.
A single drop of water, originating from the black stew of clouds above, had struck the ground, displacing a small packet of sand. Another followed. Soon hundreds of drops descended, then thousands, then millions. For the first time, the parched desert would now be quenched with water from its own heavens.
Phonium and Oriko stood still as statues, attempting to find their footing as the chunks of wood and stone shifted under their feet. Ovosh leapt down and now stood in the sand which felt warm on her black boots. It was as if the twin suns of Capella were blasting the ground with their solar radiance in full midday.
Ovosh could feel her legs tense up as she leaned forward. Her muscles were like springs fully under compression, and she desired more than ever to release it and spring forward.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. The green extremity dug in, stretching the blue material of her sleeveless gi. Phonium gave her a foreboding stare, shaking his head.
"But she's vulnerable!" Ovosh protested.
"Don't be so rash." Phonium scolded, "That ki will burn you on contact."
Ovosh moved her hands to shield her face. She could feel searing heat upon her arms. Sand had become displaced under the influence of Mura's virtually unlimited power, and it caused Ovosh to squint as the particles danced around her eyes.
But soon, the storm calmed. Mura's flames had lost their frenzy, but they still flickered around her.
"Why thank you, Phonium." the wicked woman maliciously complimented, "I wouldn't want my prize damaged. You on the other hand ... "
The crimson inferno flared. Mura had made her move, heading straight for the Namekian. Within the span it took one to blink, she was positioned right in front of him. Already, her arm had pulled back to deliver a devastating blow.
The Namekian's ki swelled, and Phonium, rather than block Mura's fiery fists, instead leapt out of the way. All three fighters took to the sky, scattering before Mura's assault.
Phonium flashed in and out of sight as he accelerated towards the black storm clouds. The back of his neck felt chilly as it courted the constant patter of rain. With Mura on his trail, however, his feet felt as if they had been smoldering next to a fire pit.
He was able to dodge a couple more swipes directed at him. His skin prickled every time her hands drew close. Sweat now accompanied rain dripping down his green skin.
After a desperate rush through the sky, there was a moment Phonium became unable to detect the hot pursuit of Mura chasing after him. As a torrent of icey water quenching a furnace, the heat at his feet became a dark chill. The Namekian felt a shiver travel up his spine, though he knew the sudden cold was not the cause. His head peered over his shoulder, and dread tainted the Namekian's breath for the enemy was now out of his sight.
He instinctively turned around; before the thought had even crossed his mind to do so. Mura was waiting for him up ahead, and was already in motion to deliver another strike. Immediately, Phonium raised both of his arms in the crossed defensive position.
A searing sensation flooded the Namekian's senses as Mura's forearm made contact with his. Purple blood cauterized, and skin boiled to a charred crisp.
Phonium pulled back, agony dominating his senses as he beheld the afflicted area. Mura wasted no time in following up on her offense. She threw a foot forward, planting it in the Namekian's stomach, sending him back towards the ground.
A large shape had materialized to Mura's flank. She only had time to shift her eyes in the direction of the newcomer, before she saw a flash of steel headed straight for her neck.
Quick as a flick, Mura's hand flew up and caught the offending object. Oriko's massive frame, armored head to toe, took up the entirety of the madwoman's sight. Yet, within the visor of Oriko's helmet, Mura could detect shock and anguish within the warrior's otherwise seasoned black eyes. Oriko's fingers tightened upon the hilt of her weapon as she attempted to extract it from Mura's grip. Such efforts proved futile, even as Mura only controlled the blade with two fingers and a thumb.
Mura's eyelids lowered, covering half of her pupils. Deadly apathy tarnished every word of her poisonous taunt. "Remind me again, why did Percy chose a lumbering oaf like yourself?"
Her other hand wrapped around Oriko's wrist. The large woman winced as the affected part of her gauntlets began to glow orange. The armor then deformed, under pressure from Mura's grasp.
Oriko managed to tear her arm away, shedding the gauntlet in the process. She began to retreat, but Mura was a step quicker. Her head was level with Oriko's torso, and maintained such a proximity that she could observe her fiery reflection within the armor. Leaning forward, her fists moved in a blur, visually multiplying as they assaulted Oriko's chest plate. The blows moved too fast for the eye to see, yet made their mark as indents in solid steel.
The armor performed inadequately during the assault. Oriko reeled back, unable to retaliate as she was wracked with the force of 1000 freight-trains simultaneously beating her down.
There was a purple flash and an electric cackle. The roar of anti-protons caused Mura a small stir. Looking over her shoulder, she saw a bolt, fresh from the Iceni's main cannon streaking towards her. Upon impact, she and Oriko disappeared into a cloud of black smoke
"Insult my wife again," growled the voice of Percy, "And I'm turning you into subatomic sludge."
The smoke cleared, yet no preconceptions had been defied as it was revealed that neither Mura nor Oriko received a single scratch from his efforts. Still, the captain jostled his joy stick, repositioning the Iceni to maneuver against a possible counterattack.
"Don't be so desperate to waste your payload on me." Mura sneered.
She raised an unoccupied hand with one finger extended. The death beam was instantaneous. For a split-second was the thin magenta stream of light visible. Yet, such an attack, with the potential to level a mountain, had been brought to a halt against bright the glowing shields of the Iceni.
While disaster had been averted, the sheer force of the death beam batted the massive freighter back, carrying it away from the battle.
With the Iceni out of the picture, Mura turned back to face the reeling form of Oriko in her grip. Her eyes were utterly fiery, burning with an intensity even greater than that of her ki.
"Now, where were we?" Mura mused in faux wonder, "Oh right!"
The hand she used to merely flick the captain's starship away was now fully spread and headed for Oriko's head. Considering the damage she had inflicted before, the archaic helmet adorning the Z warrior would prove little trouble for Mura to overwhelm.
But Mura would not be able to test Oriko's armor again. The faintest of tremors in the rain alerted her to another presence. It was far too late, Ovosh's smaller more compact form was now an arm's length from her. The young woman had primed an avenging fist targeted straight from Mura's head.
Mura's neck had turned to face Ovosh just in time. A split-second later, she received the full brunt of the girl's knuckles. It compressed her mouth, her nose, her cheeks, and caused the bone beneath to scream in strain. Her grip on the larger woman loosened, yet Oriko had not been fully freed.
The minute Ovosh's skin touched Mura's, she was afflicted with an intense burning sensation. Flesh darkened and peeled. As nerve endings were rendered to ash, the remainders sent screaming electrical signals, trapping the hand in a matrix of agony. Even in the rain, Ovosh could smell her own singed flesh. She pulled away, bringing the limb close to her breast in order to shield it from stinging water droplets.
Meanwhile, Mura felt her face throb in pain. Her free hand wiped across it. Upon the back, she could see a few red marks. Her eyes veered up, and smiled upon seeing Ovosh clutching her now-burned hand. She began to hover slowly towards the girl.
"Some power you have their Ovosh." she remarked, "You appear to be even stronger since the last we've met."
The titanic form of Oriko fell, finally released from Mura's grip. The woman did not even turn her head to observe her victim's destination, for she now only had eyes fro Ovosh. Z's youngest warrior was still preoccupied calming the raging pain afflicting her hand. Mura's approach evaded her attention.
Slowly, the flames that formed Mura's aura faded away. A strike of lightning highlighted the brooding storm clouds and Mura's sickening smile. Ovosh sensed the woman's malicious ki drawing ever closer, and gradually began raise her head.
"Have you reconsidered my offer?" Mura asked.
Ovosh's answer became clear. Her good hand lashed out, as she shouted, "What offer?"
Mura leaned back, evading Ovosh's attempt. "Powerful," she commented, "but rather dense."
Her knee thrust forward and buried itself in Ovosh's stomach. The girl leaned forward, nearly gagging. It felt as if her intestines had been rendered to jelly. She let out a forceful cough, half-expecting blood to flow forth. Yet, all that exited was air.
"Poor pathetic little thing." Mura observed, placing a finger upon her chin. She had hovered quite closely to Ovosh, almost touching her. Her purple eyes were cast down upon Ovosh's struggling form, bent over from the force of the last blow. As of now, her head lay nearly even with Mura's stomach.
"Don't worry, when I'm through with you, you won't fall so easily."
As soon as Mura had finished her speculation, Ovosh's head shot up. Her skull collided with Mura's chin, forcing Blackjack's matriarch to bite her tongue. Blood became visible within Mura's mouth. Her retreat was instantaneous, as she clutched her throbbing face, suffering from the painful sensation Ovosh had inflicted upon it.
Yet, the girl had been afflicted as well. A ripping headache marked the precise place where her head had collided with Mura. Water welled within her eyes, and both hand immediately rubbed the painful area.
Mura continued her ascent, flying through clouds. Stray raindrops whipped in her face which continued to sting from Ovosh's headbutt. There was another flash of lightning in the clouds, and a distinct silhouette could be seen in the way of her current trajectory.
Phonium raised his fists, both clasped together, in preparation for Mura. Soon as she was near, Phonium brought them down. A sound of thunder accompanied the impact of his blow, which sent his quarry streaking towards the ground.
He engaged his ki aura, then flew towards Ovosh. The girl had doubled over, still clutching her head. She did not look up until he had stopped next to her.
"Not what I would have done." he scolded, though his voice lacked its usual harsh edge, "Shake it off, we're not finished here."
Ovosh nodded, and managed to pull her hands down. Pain still affected the crown of her head, yet the sensation had been pushed back from her mind. "Right" she said.
Her eyes turned to the still falling form of Mura, who had now cleared the cloud layer. From their current distance, it could not be discerned if Mura was still recovering from the shock of the previous assault.
Without a word, both Phonium and Ovosh crossed their hands in front in near perfect unison. Already, the golden glow of concentrated ki formed in front of the two. From the distance, it appeared as if twin yellow stars had materialized within the clouds. With Mura in full view, both shouted in unison, their deadly chorus drowning out the thunder.
"MASEKNO HA!"
On the ground, Oriko too traced the falling trajectory of Mura. She now only wore her white tank top and loose navy pants. The silver-grey pieces of her armor lay scattered in the sand around her. One of her hands was held in front of her face. A pale-blue spirit ball had fully formed, ready to be added to the combined offensive.
Oriko let the spirit ball fly, it's flight path curving to the anticipated position of Mura. Mura had now taken to crossing both of her arms in front of her face, as the two yellow waves of ki began to dominate her vision. Just before she reached the ground, all three attacks converged.
A detonation, such that rendered many weapons of mass destruction inadequate by comparison, illuminated the region. The golden dome was nearly as large as the town of Sunder itself was. The massive cataclysm slowly expanded, swallowing up some of the broken and decrepit structures that had survived the first bout. Upon contact, the sandy buildings had begun to disintegrate into ash.
As a candle reaching the end of its wax, the explosion began to shrink down. As the light grew dimmer, yet another crater, larger in diameter, yet lesser in depth, now decorated the now turbulent landscape.
Then, there was naught but the crater, and a storm-cloud's worth of gray puffy smoke rising from it. This particular smoke had visible mass; it appeared as if one required a knife to get through it.
Ovosh and Phonium began to descend. As they floated downwards, their ki remained flared. The Namekian voiced the only thing that was on every mind at the moment.
"No way that finished her off. We're going to need something more potent ... "
Ovosh's eyes brightened as they turned to Phonium, "What about your execution beam attack?"
"The Makankosappo?" Phonium queried, "I don't think such a trick will work on her."
As soon as he stated his objection, his brow raised, and the faintest curve of a smile materialized on his face. " ... Not that we'll need it." he finished.
There was a burst within the crater. The thick dark sludge of smoke scattered, revealing Mura's fully intact form. Dark marks of ash dotted her clothes and flesh. Her hair, once neatly falling down to her ears, was now disheveled and messy. Small tears and loose threads marked her tank top and pants.
Despite this, her fiery power still loomed large.
"I'll give you that." she stated, matching the altitude of Phonium and Ovosh, "It tickled a little bit. Nothing compared what I'm going to do to you."
The pale blue translucent aura surrounding her trasitioned back into the crimson hue of the phoenix ki. The flames themselves appeared larger than before, despite the rain.
Upon observing this, the Namekian remarked, "I believe at this point, we'll have to throw caution to the wind."
From the front, he and Ovosh flared up and charged. From below, on the ground Oriko reengaged, flanking Mura. Despite the apparent positional disadvantage Mura now found herself in, with all three performing a potential envelopment of her, she remained still, and she remained smiling.
All three erupted into a flurry of fists. Surrounded on all sides, Mura didn't break as her body moved in synch with the repeated punches, ducking and weaving through them. As she continued to evade, the collective frustration of the Z warriors appeared to grow.
Out of the flurry, Mura broke off, not worse for the wear. As she ascended, she looked down, observing only Oriko pursuing her. A finger extended, aimed straight for the woman. A frightened expression took the Z warrior, an expression that Mura took the time to relish.
The death beam's journey towards its target was instantaneous. Oriko's shoulder was pierced. Blood streamed from the wound, and her expression became pained.
Phonium teleported directly behind Mura. He shifted forward to strike. But, before he met his mark, Mura's arm shot out, and grabbed him by the neck. Air was ejected from the Namekian's mouth, and Mura's grip proved too constricting to allow him relief.
"That old trick won't work." she remarked, clearly amused.
"What trick?" Phonium retorted.
Mura's eyes narrowed in confusion. As she pulled Phonium in to inspect him she noticed that he was smiling.
It was instinct that caused her head to snap around and look downward. Mura exhaled sharply as her instincts were confirmed. Oriko had not been crippled by her death beam, and was still charging her with a small bloody hole in her shoulder.
"Wolf Fang Fist!"
White energy surrounded the large woman. As Mura's ki resembled fire, Oriko's resembled that of a wolf's fur. Her hands cupped together, and acted as the mouth of a mighty canine. The maw of the beast shot forward. Mura attempted to counter with a punch, but her hand was grasped by the jaw of the spectral wolf.
Mura let out a frustrated grunt, clenching her teeth as she attempted to free herself. Blood began leaking out where Oriko's fingers had clamped down on her arm. Meanwhile, in her other arm, Phonium began rocking his neck back and forth, causing her grip on him to loosen.
Oriko's hands then climbed up Mura's arm, as the jaw of the wolf worked its way to her neck. There was nothing the Blackjack matriarch could do as the maw of the beast took hold of her throat.
With her air supply now cut off, Mura released Phonium. Her hand now free of the Namekian, she brought it to Oriko's wrists, attempting to pry off Oriko's grip. The wolf-like aura that surrounded the Z warrior had begun to dwindle. As it did, Mura was getting closer to freeing herself.
Blood was gushing out at a faster rate from Oriko's shoulder wound, but the woman did not pay any heed to it. Still, Mura was gradually gaining the advantage.
Oriko then lifted her arms up, unsettling Mura. Mura's body was brought behind Oriko's head. She was then thrown, finally released from the mouth of the beast. Mura's hair whipped across as she passed through wind and rainwater. Her eyes veered, before they settled upon a bulky outline directly within her flight path.
It was the Iceni lurking behind the dark columns of cloud. The flying form of Mura was centered in Percy's target reticle. Thumbing the trigger, the captain unleashed the Iceni's payload; high-velocity anit-ki pins fired from the top mounted turret.
A hand extended from the flying assailant. This was not the action of a cornered animal, but of a cunning predatorl. Nimbly, each pin was caught, held motionless by two fingers.
The eyes of the mercenary widened. Mura then asserted control over her flight path. Yet still, she barreled towards the Iceni.
Her fingers still held the anti-ki pins. It was not for long, for Mura felt it best to return them, flicking them at the freighter's cockpit. The sheer velocity at which she threw the projectiles exceeded that of any firearm, and proved too much for the translucent glass-like material. Upon impact with its native ammunition, it shattered.
Percy was hit by a blast of stormy winds. The Iceni ducked and swerved, as he attempted to regain control. But even as he tightened upon the grip of his joystick, he found himself no longer alone within the cockpit.
Mura had taken a seat next to him. Her arms were folded and legs were crossed, as if she had been lounging there the entire time. A predatory smile was directed at Percy.
With no hesitation, Percy's hand immediately traveled to his waist, releasing his anti-ki sidearm from its holster. Reminiscent of the ancient gunslingers tradition, he had brought the weapon to bear on Mura in an instant. But to someone such as Mura, Percy's quick-draw took nearly an eternity. With a mere gesture of her finger, and the smallest exertion of ki, she had caused the barrel of Percy's weapon to implode.
Percy winced as he retracted his arm. Fragments of his smoldering weapon had sunk into his hand. As it began to bleed, it was cradled by his opposite hand.
"I'd love to stay and chat," Mura quipped quite casually, as Percy attempted to wipe away stray debris from his eyes, "But I'm quite busy now."
Another finger extended, pointing at Percy. The man's hands immediately rose , if only to provide futile protection. Behind the appendages, was the look of a man facing imminent fatality. His eyes remained closed, but not from pain or shock, but for inevitabily.
Mura redirected her finger towards the back of the ship. A magenta flash followed, before a loud explosion.
Percy's eyes widened, as he looked to where Mura had directed her destructive malice. A miniscule hole was burned within the steel door to the cockpit. It provided a small viewpoint, where the deadly orange glow of calamity was all that could be observed.
"VIC! NO!" Percy shouted. All attention was off of Mura, as rushed back to wrench the door open. He was immediately greeted by a backdraft of smoke and flame .
There was a haughty cackle from the former Z warrior. Remaining in her seated position, she floated away as Percy struggled to wade through the devastation she had introduced to his ship.
The Iceni buckled as it flew. Black smoke and flame appeared to morph into the dark storm clouds that loomed overhead. Soon enough, the ship's flight path shifted towards a tumultuous descent. Its meeting with the surface was now imminent.
A flash of pale blue ki raced towards the falling ship. Within it lay a figure. Ovosh had desperation in her eyes. The shape of the careening freighter was reflected in her irises. At her speed, she was easily able to out race the Iceni, and made it to the front of the ship.
As she braced both of her arms against the metal frame, it bent easily. Grimacing, Ovosh attempted to limit her strength for the sake of the integrity of the ship. Even so, the Iceni's descent had slowed, and it's erratic flight pattern steadied to a smooth descent.
Skimming across the dunes, Ovosh let up some more, allowing her feet to dig into the moist ground. Sand was kicked up in response, sending great tan waves of particles spraying in opposite directions. Some even rained upon the ship itself. Ovosh's head braced against the hull. She grit her teeth as the struggle persisted against the last of the Iceni's velocity, all while trying to not break the ship itself.
The rear of the Iceni began to rise, angling its nose towards the sand. Orange flame, once raging from the engines, were now sputtering and dying due to heavy rain. Upon coming to the stop, the Iceni was perched at a 45 degree angle. It then dropped down with a morbid thud.
Ovosh lay there, hugging the vessel. In the distance, she could feel the blows of battle. Mura's clashes with Phonium and Oriko could not simply be measured in ki-sense, she could feel the rattles in her bones. Yet, as she began inspecting the now wrecked ship, Mura had become a secondary concern.
The girl began to relax, upon witnessing Percy springing out of the cockpit. Blood streamed from his messy mop of hair, flowing over his eyes, and dripping down his chin. His blue jacket flapped as he climbed to the top of the freighter, and ran towards the ruined rear.
"Vic! Vic!" he shouted in a hoarse voice, "Tell me you're okay!"
Ovosh had followed Percy to the top of the ship, keeping close to the surface of charred metal. Her heart began to accelerate as she heard Percy's desperate pleas.
The captain wasted no time getting on his knees, and flinging away loose shards of debris. Eventually, the chunks of twisted, hot metal that buried the Iceni's rear engines proved too large and too heavy for Percy to budge.
"Kid, help me out!"
She nodded and ran up beside him. Taking the stubborn pieces of metal in her hands, she tore it away. The bulky construction of the ship was deceptive, for despite its tough appearance, it felt as if she was ripping off tissue paper.
An inferno of smoke and flame was the response to her actions, catching her in the face. Percy rolled away just in time, for such an event would harm him far more than Ovosh. Yet, when the smoke died down, and the exposed engines of the Iceni were laid bare, there was no sign of Victor.
Percy peered into the jagged opening, not minding the shards of torn metal pricking at his hands. Despite the fact his head was immersed within smoky air, his breath was deep and slow. And as his widened eyes confirmed his worst fears, all he could do was to mutter, "My God, my God, what have I done?"
Ovosh put her hands over her mouth, and her eyes began to shake. She saw Percy slowly get up. His eyes were cast in shadow, the same glum expression the wore when he beheld the lifeless body of Kei.
"Don't wait for me kid." he growled, "Give that bitch one for me."
Upon hearing the guttural request of the captain, Ovosh's fingers clenched into fists. Blood that had rushed through her veins in desperation and anxiety. Adrenaline soon became a companion. Despite Percy's slang, Ovosh required no translation, as she replied "Understood."
Her ki aura flared, and she burst into the sky, heading back to the thick of battle.
Both Phonium and Oriko had taken to attacking Mura in unison. Just as last time, their combined assault amounted to Mura arrogantly smirking as she danced between attacks. Her arms were folded, and it appeared she was content with the sheer mockery of both her opponent's efforts.
The two fighters were soaked, and not simply due to the rain. Every strike Phonium initiated required that he breathed quicker and deeper. Any punches Oriko threw with her right, were significantly lacking in comparison to her left. Her white tank top had now been soaked red from the blood seeping out of her shoulder wound.
Oriko's expression still brimmed with intensity, even if Phonium was beginning to falter. Yet her rather massive reach made little difference, as Mura made sure that Oriko was always centimeter's short with each blow.
"I don't know why you're fighting me so hard." Mura addressed Oriko, with a clearly amused tone, "I'm sure your husband survived that crash."
For the split second Mura had taken to throw figurative dirt at her enemy, Phonium had repositioned himself. From the clouds, diving down, the Namekian was poised to deliver a powerful, double-fisted smack down on the head of the enemy.
Mura's familiar sneer appeared once more, as did her Phoenix ki. The fiery energy flared up, as if oil had been sprayed into a roaring blaze. Phonium was caught in it. His arms were raised in defense, but it was to no avail. From within the inferno, his howls could be heard.
Oriko pressed on with her attack, throwing another punch. Mura caught the fist, searing the flesh on Oriko with her fiery grasp. The warrior betrayed little pain, but her movements had been brought to a halt.
There was nothing that could be done, as Mura brought down her elbow upon Oriko's arm. A massive crack echoed in the clouds, almost indistinguishable from the thunder that roared. Oriko yelled in agony as her affected arm went limp. Her screams echoed across the battlefield, vibrating the sands, and sending chills through her allies.
"Probably the only thing out I've heard from you worth something," Mura commented.
Her grip relented, releasing the crippled warrior. Like a stone, she fell, displacing the surface of sand upon colliding with the surface.
Mura hovered triumphantly, glaring down at her vanquished foe. She would not get long to savor her victory, for she felt a massive, yet familiar power growing. Her eyes caught a glow in the distance.
Phonium had recovered, and now charging a ki-based attack. The volatile energy pulsed in his clutch. Fresh burns and scratches dotted his green skin. Vulnerable purple fluid flowed from freshly opened wounds, while thin membranes and cauterized managed to hold it at bay.
The Namekian threw his hands forward, unleashing his attack. Instead of one large energy burst, however, a hail of ki blasts were sent towards Mura. The barrage of energy formed a deadly golden cloud of which there was little room to maneuver.
Yet, to Mura, the hail of ki heading her way was as lethal as a harmless spray of moisture. She swam through, slipping between gaps in an otherwise all-encompassing assault. When she tired of her acrobatics, the next few bolts were swatted away with her arms.
Having finished his attack, Phonium let out a sharp exhale, his muscles sinking. But, no sooner did he catch his breath, did Mura materialize in front of him.
The Namekian was quick on the recovery, and sent forth a swift jab. His fist found itself held securely in the clutches of Mura's hand. Eye-to-eye they remained each glaring into the window of their enemy's soul. For Phonium it proved difficult to focus on such a putrid sight. He could feel joints bending and popping as Mura's grip around his fist tightened.
Squinting in pain, Phonium broke eye contact. His neck slackened, forcing the Namekian's vision to veer towards the ground. Immediately, a look of realization washed upon him.
Newfound vigor found itself into the Namekian's spirit. Mura appeared puzzled, raising a brow in confusion. She too, felt the newest rush of adrenaline coursing through the Namekian's veins, yet she could not discern from where it came. There was little time to ponder, for Phonium's head shot up. From his intense eyes, focused ki was delivered.
Mura was struck by Phonium's eye-beams. The quaint attack forced her back, causing her grip to release. Redoubling her efforts, she was able to stop midair. Her head shook fast, as she experienced ringing in her ears. As purple eyes veered downward, she noticed two new holes in her now stained tank top.
"What?" Mura gasped. Shock had taken away tone and timbre from her voice, allowing only a breathy enunciation. "That shouldn't have ... "
It was then that she was made aware of a stinging sensation in her left calf. One of her hands clutched the leg, and she begun to inspect the source of her troubles.
Azure eyes widened upon observing two thin needles protruding from her flesh. Each needle, almost as thin as a hair, managed to bury their tips within her calf by an inch. She could already feel her strength fading away, similar to a wet towel smothering a fire. In desperation, and vengeful frustration, Mura began to scan the ground.
In the measure of a few seconds, the culprit had been found. Her sight focused upon a metallic pod buried in the sand, made from the same clunky, rusted material as the Iceni. The entrance had been popped open. Not far from it, sprawled on the ground was its occupant. Mura could not make out any significant details upon the individual, except for the unmistakable shape of a rifle barrel pointed directly at her.
Her teeth clenched, and her brows began to furrow. If she could have made her fists burst by clenching them too hard, she would have.
"You little-"
Mura's finger extended, pointing at the figure upon the ground, with the sole intention of transforming, the stranger, the escape pod, and the surrounding area within one mile, into a smoldering crater. Ki struggled to get to her finger, the offending needles the primary reason. But, before she could muster enough energy, her vision was blocked by the wide chest of Phonium.
A green hand closed around her offending hand. Just minutes earlier, she would have made the Namekian pay for his tactical boldness. But now, all the twisting and wringing she could manage was all for naught in his powerful grip. Even the use of a second hand proved ineffective.
"You look paler than Reitoko," Phonium quipped, stone-faced as ever, "How pathetic, to lean on your might like a crutch."
He struck her her across the face with the back of his hand, releasing his grip on her. The force of the blow was more than enough to send her flying. Mura's body flailed and spun, never in threat of regaining control against the momentum that hindered it.
In her flight path, Phonium appeared. Upon reaching him, he smashed down with two fists, instantaneously changing her trajectory. Now she was headed for the ground, but that would not be her final destination.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a white light approaching. She could quickly determine that there was someone within that light.
It was Ovosh, her body nearly consumed by powerful energy. She was flying at full velocity towards Mura, her fists at her side. Mura's final destination would be somewhere else, of Ovosh's own choosing.
Witnessing the brilliant light from Ovosh draw ever closer, Mura closed her eyes. Her arms crossed in front of her face. A searing heat began to build within her.
Time appeared to slow for Ovosh. She grimaced as she strained, attempting to squeeze every last bit of speed she could muster. Yet still, her approach to Mura seemed to take an eternity. There was a ripple in the air. She grew desperate, as she could feel the area around her target heat up.
With a shout, Mura's eyes sprang open, and she was engulfed in phoenix flames, as was the immediate area around her. Swiftly and fiercely they spread, catching Oriko, Phonium, and Ovosh in its fiery radius.
The attack was shaped like a bird of prey, flaring it's wings, dooming all unfortunate to be caught in its mighty reach.
The bird faded away, leaving Mura the only one standing. Such was the intensity of heat, that particles in the air had been rendered to millions upon millions of tiny embers, forming a faint glowing cloud.
Mura had righted herself in the air. Her purple eyes veered down. On her calf, there were two bloody holes. Liquid metal dripped from them, until none had remained, and the leeching material had dropped to the ground below.
The woman was breathing heavily. Gingerly she hovered, her shoulders sunken as she scanned the area.
Oriko was out of sight, and thus, below Mura's attention. She lit up, however, when she saw the form of Phonium on the ground.
The Namekian was crouched down, his head tucked in. Beneath him was the sprawled figure of Ovosh, staring straight into his eyes.
Ovosh quivered in her spot, unable to move a muscle. Her eyes then shifted right, and she gasped at what she saw.
The Namekian's arm was completely black, having taken the full wrath of Mura's attack. A stiff breeze began blowing through the now silent battlefield. Slowly, the affected arm crumbled into dust, and scattered into the wind.
Ovosh turned back. She was met with a rare smile from the Namekian. The girl shook her head, "Phonium, you didn't need to-"
"-As your new leader," Phonium responded, "it's my duty. I'll be fine."
"How touching."
Phonium immediately became alert, and looked behind him. He did not need to, he could immediately match Mura's face with the irreverent, mocking tone he heard. But, before he could respond, Mura backhanded him, sending him sprawling away.
The woman inspected the back of her hand, stained with purple blood. In a conversational tone, she rhetorically remarked "See what altruism gets you?"
The Namekian had come to a stop nearly 80 meters away. Ovosh could trace the trail he traveled from the disruptions in the sand. His body lay there in a heap. No limbs moved, and even the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest had ceased. The young warrior had begun to draw morbid conclusions from her master's form before her very eyes.
But, even in the valley of death, there was a spark of light. Even from the distance, battered by sand and rain, stung by flying ash, she could observe with clarity, two fingers pointing outwards from the Namekian's limp hand.
Ovosh quickly shifted her attention back to Mura, who continued to inspect her own hand, as one would have had they swatted away a bug.
"I would rather die as his friend, then live as yours." Ovosh declared, feeling the heat within her beginning to swell.
"I'm not offering my friendship," Mura corrected, finally letting her hand fall to her side, "I'm offering my expertise, there's a difference."
Ovosh remained steady, "Your efforts to sway me are futile. Why persist?"
"Are you kidding?" Mura shouted, stifling a chuckle, "And allow dear Reitoko the bragging rights of witnessing the might of the legendary Golden Warriors first?"
The woman then let out a sigh, allowing her shoulders to deflate. "But now I see. You may have been brainwashed by that little Arcosian, but the blood of those warriors still flows within you. And warriors understand one language."
A predatory grin formed on her face. Ovosh immediately felt the urge to back away, yet her muscles would not allow her. In an uncomfortably small amount of time, Mura was standing over her, and her fist was raised to the sky.
She brought the fist down, burying it into Ovosh's stomach. The girl's legs reflexively flailed in the air. A blast of air was ejected from her lungs.
Before Ovosh could even draw another breath, she was struck again, this time in the chest. And again, and again. She soon lost track of the individual blows, as they all melded together into one massive monolith of torment.
"No lesson sticks more than that which results in broken ribs, am I right?" Mura jeered between punches.
A splash of blood spat out from Ovosh was her answer. It was an answer Mura was satisfied with, and she continued her assault.
Yet, while Mura's attention was fully on Ovosh, the actions of Phonium had gone on unnoticed. His feet shifted, drawn in by bending knees. Soon, they were beneath him, and able to support his weight once more. His breath was heavy, yet controlled. His only functional hand rose in front of his face, still sporting two extended fingers. A spark of energy danced from them. Despite the distance from her, Mura remained crystal clear within his vantage.
Within the gauntlet of agony, Ovosh could only bear it by focusing upon the state of the Namekian. She found herself able to endure the pain as Phonium's attack began to charge. The growing monolith of energy brought a strange comfort to her, like a bandage upon a bleeding wound. There was also clarity, of what her next move should be.
Ovosh's actions were instantaneous. As soon as Mura hesitated in her assault, she grabbed one of her legs, wrapping both of her arms around the limb. She ceased her assault, but only to give Ovosh an amused look. Not once did the sadistic woman even pay heed to the growing danger in the distance. A loud shout, however, would demand her attention.
"Makkankosappo!"
An orange beam wrapped by blue helices streaked towards Mura. Her head immediately turned around, and a look of pure shock and exquisite horror plastered her face. She began to struggle, attempting to pull her leg away from Ovosh's grip. However, the girl would not yield in her efforts.
Her struggle then ceased, appearing resigned to the oncoming attack. As it drew near, a confident smirk began to creep across her lips.
Mura's arm pulled back. Her azure orbs were briefly tinted with the luminescence of the special beam headed her way. Once the attack was upon her, did she swing her arm towards it.
The the special beam cannon struck her forearm. Yet, it neither detonated, nor pierced Mura. Instead, it's path was redirected, arcing towards a distant dune. Phonium's finishing move met its end with a massive explosion, completely annihilating the land mark. An intense orange glow, illuminated a cloud-covered horizon. Mura's arm remained fully extended, still in its triumph. Flesh which had touched Phonium's beam let out the slightest puff of smoke. Yet, it remained unmarked by scars or bruises.
Ovosh's grip on Mura released. Every muscle in her body felt as if it had dissolved into jelly. Her movement amounted to slight twitches, while her eyes could only fixate upon the offending forearm that had stolen what should have been, the last fatal attack.
Phonium himself found balance difficult to maintain. While his reserves had been spent, he knew better why his body had now been petrified. Both of his fingers were still directed at Mura. Smoke from the last attack, still rose from the two digits.
Mura glared upon the defeated Namekian. She found his distant form far more quaint and pathetic than usual. With a steady, casual gait, she began making her way towards him. Yet, Phonium could not find it within himself to act, neither to confront the enemy, nor to turn tail and run.
Like breeze in the wind, Phonium's sharp ears discerned a whisper. He was puzzled at this, yet moved not a muscle to betray anything. The voice within the stormy gale was familiar, yet its faint echo prevented him from recognizing whom it was. Slowly, did he rotate his head, as to angle his ears to perceive the whisper more clearly. The approaching danger of Mura had become less of a concern to him, for the voice within the gale had captured his attention.
"Phonium, Phonium. Blink twice if you can hear me."
The words, wispy and quiet, were clear as crystal. Distinct they rang, with a definite aristocratic drawl that was all-to-familiar. Phonium did as was instructed, and blinked twice.
The voice then continued, unmistakable as to whom it belonged to, "I have a plan. Use your solar flare and grab Ovosh. Then, rendezvous to my position. I will flare my ki for you."
He nodded at this, though it was slight. Despite the malicious presence now within close proximity, he could feel the distant tingle. It was a distinct flickering flame among a roaring inferno, yet Phonium's focus had become as unyielding as stone.
The Namekian immediately rose, utilizing his remaining ki to air dance. His efforts amounted to simple amusement from Mura.
"Running away?" she taunted.
The Namekian afforded himself an unlikely smirk, "Your memory of me isn't that good. Taio-ken!"
Phonium's hands flanked his face as he acted. There was a brilliant flash of white light which consumed his form. This light utterly decimated Mura's fully exposed eyes. She could only exclaim, "Damn it!" as the Solar Flare forced her to painfully shut her vision away.
Ovosh, bloodied and broken, was far more prepared than Mura. Once she had heard the Namekian shout, her eyes were closed preemptively. While she could remained in darkness, she felt two strong arms wrapped around her torso, lifiting her away. Wind blasted her face, and as her innards shifted and churned within their fleshy prison.
Upon the winds dying down, Ovosh opened her eyes. No longer did she lay in a barren field, at the mercy of Mura. Ovosh gazed to her side, looking upon a splayed piece of the compound which hung at least twenty meters above her head. Jagged splinters of wood and metal stretched to the sky, barely resembling the structure it was once a part of.
Gently, she felt herself being lowered. Her sight met the black orbs of Phonium. Upon him, did they remain, as she was allowed to slowly roll off his shoulder, before being gently placed upon the grainy ground.
There were also others present. Mr. and Mrs. Smitter were currently crouched, braced against a tall piece of debris. They were currently attending to Reitoko, his body bruised and cut, bandaged and patched with various medical devices that the doctor was currently administering to him.
Phonium wasted no time, marching towards Reitoko. He stood over him, saying, "So what brilliant plan do you have this time? My Makkankosappo barely made a scratch on her."
"There is one more option." Reitoko responded, as he refused additional service, "The Genki Dama."
Ovosh blinked at this, "Genki Dama?"
Phonium's eyes went wide. "That takes even longer than the makkankosappo! " He objected, "Besides, I have a hard time believing Mura would be blind to such an attack!"
"We have one senzu bean left," Reitoko explained gesturing to the now near-empty bag in Mr. Smitter's hands, "We lose in a battle of attrition. I need five minutes."
"Considering she can turn me into paste in four, that's not encouraging," the Namekian lamented.
The rough hand of Mr. Smitter was near. Upon it's palm lay the plain grey senzu bean. "Would this help?" he offered.
The Namekian reached out for the bean. His green hand slightly overshadowed the middle-aged engineer. It remained for a minute, as Phonium's mind raced. He shifted his eyes towards Reitoko. The Arcosian had already taken up a meditating position. Nature's energy had begun to flow, congealing high in the sky.
Sighing, Phonium took hold of the senzu bean.
...
Mura remained crouched over with both of her hands covering her eyes. She massaged her face repeatedly. Her teeth had been clenched with such pressure, that veins had begun to bulge along her jawline.
"How in the hell did I forget that he has that?" she lamented, with naught but the hallow storm winds to heed her, "Even when we were sparring for fun he'd use that annoying move!"
Mura's head immediately shot up. Eyes which were once squeezed shut were now wide open. Within, her blood she thirsted for streaking across the windows to her soul. They swerved around, scanning the immediate area, as her extra senses searched for what the eyes could not see.
"Hiding your power from me?" Mura shouted out. Her inquiry was rhetorical, and directed to no one in particular. The dying crack of thunder and the howl of a volatile breeze provided their answers.
"They're probably devising some plan." she continued, in a voice that only she could hear, "What good that'll do them. Still, it would be such a bore if I let them take too long."
Her search persisted. Less did she rely upon her eyes, and more on her senses. For minutes, the desert did not betray even a speck of ki. Not even a scorpion or a mouse registered as she probed the area.
But she would not wait long. A flare of energy had been detected, and she knew who it was. Immediately, she was drawn. Her body acted upon its own will, facing the direction of the ki signature. She expressed much excitement, yet little surprise, as she caught the stone, stoic form of Phonium headed her way.
The Namekian appeared in a far better state than she could recall. Several wounds that marked him had now closed. While bruises and scars still marked his flesh, they were notably less in both number and in color. However, for what powers he had possessed to recover this quickly, one of his arms remained a green, fleshy stump, crowned by a fresh dark purple scab.
The crimson ki had been reactivated, and she rose up to meet him.
Both came to a stop in midair, leaving nearly 10 meters in between them. Phonium's obsidian eyes gave a hard glare. His muscles had been tensed, while he had assumed a combat stance. No other ki signatures threatened Mura's senses, nor could she discern any others in the immediate area. And yet, her suspicious were still aroused.
"So what plan did your fellows concoct this time Phonium?" Mura asked, once again with rhetorical intent, "What attack is going to blindside me this time?"
"Take a wild guess," he answered. With a short, stout grunt, a new arm burst out of his cauterized stump. It hung limply, covered in transparent slime, before the newly composed muscles bulged. Phonium flexed his new arm, before balling his regenerated hand into a fist.
"You should have saved the energy," Mura suggested, her malicious tone not exactly inspiring good faith in the suggestion.
They both charged. There was a sound of thunder as they clashed in the sky.
Reitoko remained seated in a cross-legged position. His eyes were closed. For all the scars that marked him, both inwardly and outwardly, neither the distant battle, nor the storm overhead disturbed him. It was as if he was one with the ground itself, anchored by an unbreakable root. The only distinction he possessed, was that unlike the ground, his chest rose and fell with the steady breaths he took.
A white band was tied around Ovosh's upper arm. Mrs. Smitter had begun to run a hand-held device over the other. Cuts had begun to seal on their own, and discolored bruises were erased. All defects yielded to the restoring light the device was emitting.
"Sorry, that was our last senzu." Mrs. Smitter explained as she continued to patch up Ovosh. Yet, the girl did not heed her, for she was staring at the sky, fixated on the glowing, expanding orb.
"How can he do such a thing?" she questioned, "His ki reserves are insufficient."
Elsewhere, buried in the sand, lay the form of Oriko. She remained breathing, despite the wounds she had suffered. She was also looking at the sky. Her vision was filled with the sight of the glowing, soft blue orb. With a pained grunt, her arm rose, feeling the remaining energy leave her. Her body drained, the arm collapsed into the sand, and the titanic woman lost conciousness.
Reitoko's attack, however, did not concern the two combatants. Despite Phonium's rejuvination, Mura enjoyed a clear advantage. She appeared a split second faster, beating him to every block, and countering his every offense. He had felt refreshed at the beginning of the battle, but in mere minutes, the wear of battle had begun to catch up with him once more.
He blocked an incoming blow from Mura. Her fist drove straight into his forearm. The woman's brows twitched as her fist continued to struggle against the flesh of Phonium's defense. Her clenched hand then ignited with fiery ki. Immediately, green skin had begun to wilt, boil and char. The Namekian could not help but yell out in pain as his arm burned once more.
Instinctively, he lashed out with his other arm, back handing Mura across the face, succeeding in batting her away. Upon closer inspection, Phonium could tell that the woman was sweating more profusely and breathing far heavier. And while it escaped his notice earlier, each move, while quicker than his own, notably possessed less swiftness and decisiveness.
He looked to his burned forearm, then to Mura. She had wiped a trickle of blood from her mouth, a mouth which was no longer curved into a smile. "That technique appears to be quite costly." he observed, "Perhaps I don't need a powerful attack to blindside you."
Mura became visibly incensed. "Don't insult my intelligence you big green slug. My ki still eclipses yours. You don't have a chance."
"Since when was power level a deciding factor in combat?" Phonium asked, raising a brow.
Phonium could see the blood in her eyes, as she forcefully responded. "LET'S PUT YOUR LITTLE THEORY TO THE TEST, SHALL WE?"
They collided in the air once again. This time, they were arm-to-arm, pushing against one another. Phonium could see that Mura's skin had taken a lighter shade, though it was not due to any complexion change of her own. The pale light of the Genki Dama had intensified, its size now making it appear as another sun. Still, he persisted, looking Mura in the eye, and hoping she would do the same.
The Namekian's winced as he heard a snap. His arms had given way, bent in the opposite way all natural laws intended. As a result, his torso was left wide open to a barrage of blows inflicted upon him by Mura. Even in her weakened state, each blow felt like a hammer taken directly to his bones.
Soon, the blows ceased. Phonium felt himself unable to move. His limbs hung limply at his sides as Mura took hold of him, grabbing him by the remains of his tattered shirt. He was lifted over her head, awaiting a painful punishment.
Mura threw him down, while allowing a rising knee to meet the falling Namekian. It buried into his lower back. There was a sound of thunder, as bone snapped. She then tossed aside her paralyzed foe.
Having triumphed over the Namekian once more, Mura could not but notice a new eerie blue light that had illuminated her skin. A puzzled look adorned her face. She then looked up.
The Genki Dama was now within her sight.
She stood still for awhile. Her eyes had nearly gone blank. The woman's skin was now almost as pale as that of her former master.
"Holy cow," she exclaimed, looking down upon Phonium's broken form, "you mean you were going to get me with that? Are you serious?"
Phonium didn't respond. Mura's eyes then shifted to the distance. She couldn't see who she was looking for, but the feeling was all too familiar. Her eye began to twitch.
"It just seems that every single cell in your body was created for the sole purpose of pissing me off!" she seethed.
Reitoko heard the voice echo across the desert, and knew to whom it referenced. His melancholy, meditative state was broken. Distress had taken his face, accompanied with numerous beads of sweat. He did not respond to her provocations, yet he suspected that any reaction would make very little difference.
"Well then fine!" Mura declared, ascending further, "I don't need a student! Knowing you, the legendary Golden Warrior is probably overrated! Damn everything you stand for you slimy pale snake!"
Mura's climb to the overcast heavens was slow and deliberate. She had raised a single finger, but it was not a death beam that was forming at its tip. The ki that had gathered there was not pale blue, nor magenta, but dark maroon. Volatile energy cackled around it as it expanded, at a far greater rate than the Genki Dama.
In mere minutes, the woman's attack was even larger than her own body, and it still continued to expand. Sand and rock were compelled to raise under the power Mura had at her command.
In the air, Mura could see Reitoko's hiding place. And though she was far, so could still visibly imagine his horrified face.
"And believe me when I say in five minutes, this planet will be nothing but cosmic dust!" she punctuated.
The image of the absolute madwoman in the air, with the power to end millions of lives in an instant at the tip of her finger had been burned into Ovosh's retina. Her wounds had been somewhat patched up, but with no senzu bean to restore her, it took a herculean effort to even crane her neck. Yet, she persisted, for to take her eyes off of Mura was an impossibility.
Mura's final parting gift to Sanctuary weighed down upon her. Ovosh was far away from it, yet it felt as if the death ball was touching her shoulders. She attempted to move her arms, her legs, her torso, yet her strength had left her. Thus, in her final moments, she was at the mercy of death itself.
Yet, within the sea of Ovosh's soul, just as it had become subject to the melancholy of finality, there was a tremor. She knew what lurked in the depths. In the face of death once more, the monster would once again bubble to the surface.
Rage had taken hold of her. Brown hair whipped wildly from a newfound source of strength. Her muscles pulsed, stretching and contracting. Her body, having been deprived of all conventional forms of energy, now relied upon a newer, fouler, unnatural and volatile source.
Mura had begun to lower her finger. In response, the death ball she had conjured begun its lumbering descent. Gingerly did it move, at the pace of a sunset. Yet once this newborn black star marked the end of the day, Sanctuary would never see another sunrise.
Just as relish crossed her face, just as she took her eyes off of the descending ball of Armageddon, she found herself face to face with Ovosh. From the ground, utilizing an effort even greater than the sum of her might, the girl had explosively shot up from the sandy ground. A pale blue aura of ki had enveloped every limb, every string of cloth and follicle of hair that she possessed.
The girl crashed into Mura, driving her elbow directly into the woman's stomach. Azure eyes rolled about uncontrollably, while red hair swung wildly. Mura reeled over, as Ovosh drove the woman back, easily covering distances of nearly 50 meters in seconds. The black orb that had once hovered ominously above Mura's shoulder had dispersed with naught a trace.
However, sooner than should be possible, her eyes resumed their focus, and her head straightened and steadied. An expression what once was sheer bewilderment had now twisted into rage, directed at none other than whom was in front of her. Mura struck Ovosh in the face, driving a seething backhand across a sand-blasted cheek. Blood was drawn, yet Ovosh persisted. She wrapped both arms around the woman's waist, locking one hand with the other. Flaring her ki once more, Ovosh shot off in a randomly chosen direction, with Mura her unwilling passanger.
Mura engaged her ki, yet her aura was but a pale sputter of its fiery glory just moments earlier. Her efforts overpowered Ovosh, effectively allowing her to assert control of the direction the two were heading. However, the girl threw all her weight and nonexistent reserves into thwarting the flight path, resulting in many erratic dips and turns. Air dancing in a straight line was now a virtual impossibility, and as such, the two were subject to natural forces and fortune itself.
Their course had taken the two to the sand. As they crashed into the ground, tons of tiny particles were sent spraying into the air. Contact was brief, and in but a moment, the two struggling woman had emerged from the dunes, towards the still-overcast sky.
"Let go you mindslave!" Mura shouted, as they continued to fly around, "I'm not interested in you anymore!"
"You think you can destroy my home and leave?" Ovosh responded. One of her hands successfully grabbed onto Mura's face, roughly taking a hold of her cheek.
Through her stretched chin and mouth, Mura managed to yell back, "That's the idea, genius!"
She attempted to gain altitude, directing their path straight towards the sky, aiming to ascend higher than even the clouds. A tug from Ovosh on her waist dashed that plan, instead leading to an unsteady descent.
Mura's face had become so twisted with rage, that it was a miracle that all veins and arteries that coursed under her beet-red skin remained intact. An arm rose, for Ovosh had not bothered to restrain either of them. The young z warrior's face was the recipient of a crushing elbow. Bones that had been spared from earlier now shattered. Blood that had dried and scabbed gave way to fresh splatters, painting over flesh in erratic splotches.
Despite the injuries piling on, Mura could not budge the young Z warrior.
"You idiot! Do you want to die?" she exclaimed.
"Isn't that what you had in mind anyways?" was Ovosh's retort.
They continued, face-to-face, flying around in a mad dance of death. Both were at the breaking point of rage. In both of their eyes, the two could only see their reflections within the windows of fury.
Ovosh then leaned her head back. As releasing a stone upon a sling shot, Ovosh's skull buried itself into Mura's forehead. Bright spots impeded the mad-woman's vision. For but a moment, her air dancing had lost power, and she was dragged through the sand once more. Mura managed to recover rather quickly, and thus, asserted her control once more over their flight path.
Ovosh's grip had loosened. The girl could feel the familiar weight of exhaustion upon her. Her hands had slipped from Mura's waist, now clinging desperately to one of her legs.
Looking down, Mura glared at Ovosh for but a moment. She then used her free leg to kick Ovosh in the head. This caused the girl to finally relinquish her grip, and send her plummeting down. In a heap she crashed down, lacking even the slightest bit of energy to even raise her arms to break the fall.
Having been freed of Reitoko's newest nuisance, Mura let out a large exhale. "Finally! Now, where was I?"
That was when she felt a chill up her spine.
Mura felt her blood turn to ice. She slowly turned around.
Directly behind her was the Genki Dama. It's brilliant light nearly blinded her. The only thing Mura could do, was raise her in a futile attempt to shield herself. But even in the end, all she could even do was block out the light.
In an instant that spanned eternity, the spirit bomb had hit its mark.
Ovosh lay face up now, able to witness through swollen and bruised flesh, the form of Mura struggling against a large sphere of pure, natural energy. Despite the woman's visible efforts, she was consistently losing ground.
Soon, Mura was trapped between the soft sands of Sanctuary, and the unmovable spirit bomb. Both of her hands shoved against the attack, making a visible indent against the tide of energy. Yet, she could not stall its progress. The powerful attack continued to drive her down, swallowing up her outline, before she had completely disappeared within.
Consumed by pure blinding light, Mura allowed herself a small smile.
The spirit bomb detonated. A brilliant dome of energy expanded, threatening to consume everything. The destructive radius was so great in magnitude, it could be viewed from the vast depths of space.
All nearby were assailed with violent winds. Victor retreated back to his pod, where grains of sand littered the doorway. Likewise. Percy had found sanctuary within the wreckage of the Iceni. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Smitter had no choice but to cower behind the pile of debris.
Phonium, Oriko and Ovosh were exposed to the brunt of the attack, it's massive shockwave shaking them, and burying them in flyaway sands.
Yet, eventually, the brilliant light faded away. In its place, was the largest new crater made that day, its circumference oould have surrounded the entire town of Sunder. Several structures within the city had not been spared, and were indistinguishable from the grains of sand that surrounded them.
In the side of the crater, a struggle could be seen. The sand rolled away, revealing Ovosh. She managed to brush some of the grains off of her arm. Gauging her position, her eyes then veered towards the center of the crater.
Down in the depths of the canyon, lay the prone form of the vanquished adversary. Her skin was completely ravaged, nothing but charred tissue, and red blood. Her tank top and black pants were nearly shredded, leaving none of the marred and scorched flesh to the imagination. As she moved, it looked as if she was trying to move a planet with the effort she was exerting. Even the act of breathing consittuted a galactic labor.
At the edge of the crater stood Reitoko, witnessing his former student struggle against the inevitable advance of death. Cautiously, he began to float down. Even with victory in his grasp, the Arcosian remained solemn and somber.
Mura braced her arms against the ground, using the effort to put herself on two feet once more. But her arms gave away, and she collapsed face-down in the charred sand. She rolled over, till she was faced with the eternal heavens. Her eyes could no longer discern the sunlight that lay behind, only contemplate the overcast darkness that awaited.
Reitoko beheld her face. It was not spared from the destruction of the spirit bomb. Exposed scars left no feature untouched. Despite all she had suffered, she cracked a smile, blood seeping between her teeth. As she spoke, her voice was wispy and guttural at the same time.
"Are you happy, Reitoko?" she croaked, "Happy to see the broken form of your enemy, breathing her final breaths?"
Reitoko remained unmoved." What makes you think any of this makes me happy? "
Mura's smile began to weaken. Her eyes began to roll back as her head sunk into the sand. "Perhaps I saw ... too much of myself in you. How disappointing."
In a flash, life had come back to Mura again. Her former speed had returned. Her arms had been placed upon Reitoko's collar. In all her glory, she stood once more, though her legs were shaking.
Reitoko had gone still. His eyes were wide, making his red pupils nearly disappear into the white veiny jelly that held them in. Mura leaned in, until her mouth was near Reitoko's ear.
"This fight ... it never ends. Even when my heart stops beating, you will hear my laughter. Every day, you will feel the bruises of my punches. Every night when you close your eyes, you will see me smiling."
The purple eyes in Mura appeared to lose their color. There was no malice, nor sadism brightening her face. Her legs lost their strength, and she slumped over Reitoko's shoulder.
At last, Mura had been freed from the chains of her master.