As Kaseaen's words echoed around the silent realm, both warriors became distracted and punched each other in the face, shattering the floating rocks around them.
Lowering themselves to the ground, both Zagraeus and Gogeta looked up to Kaseaen at a complete loss for words. "Mother?" Zagraeus asked, the Destroyer's voice vanishing as his eyes returned to their normal color.
Turning their attention towards her, the two warrior's put aside their previous transgression's and waited patiently; side by side for Kaseaen's explanation.
Lowering her gaze to Zagraeus, Kaseaen sighed and wiped tears from her face before she spoke. "When Xerrath found out that she was infertile, she became enraged… Once she had calmed down though, she turned her attention to me, she didn't give me a choice; I was forcefully injected with the Saiyan's DNA. During my pregnancy, Xerrath left me alone so that she could exact her plan to corrupt Karrar and return herself to her former glory. During that time, I fled to the distant planet of Gargun; a world inhabited by peace loving people. The only species that I have ever seen that had transcended into a state of pure peace with both themselves and the world around them. I had only planed to stay their until Zagraeus was old enough to understand his plight… Hiss destiny if you will, but on his fourth birthday; four young children landed on our planet, they were fleeing from the destruction of their world. One of Xerrath's minions had chased them to Gargun and realized who I was, he threatened to reveal my location to Xerrath… So I killed him, making sure not to break the Angel law. For saving their world, the Gargunian's asked me to stay lm their planet and be their protector. I took the four orphaned children in as my own and raised them. Only later did I realize, that the four of them were the only remaining survivors of our Universe's Saiyan's." Kaseaen explained, pausing as she wiped tears from her eyes.
Looking down at Zagraeus, she smiled lovingly. "The six of us lived happily for seven years until Zamasu found us; inhabiting Goku's body. Left with no other option, I took Zagraeus and ran to safety, sending him to Earth; believing that Xerrath would never find him there, and feigned my death… I never imagined that Zagraeus would ever meet, let alone recognize Goku's face." She admitted, her face contorted in sadness and guilt as she took another deep breath.
"By the time I returned to the village; it had been burned to ground; everyone, including three of my other children had been killed, and Cayn was nowhere to be found." Turning toward Zagraeus, she began to cry. "I'm sorry, I did what I thought was right. I… I couldn't let Xerrath take you." With her secret revealed, Kaseaen began to cry uncontrollably.
Shougen quickly pulled her close to him, allowing her to bury her face in his mountainous chest. Staring up at Kaseaen, completely shocked by her recollection, Zagraeus turned to Gogeta, his eyes softened as he looked down at his shaking hands. "So… You didn't kill my mother after all. I've been chasing after a framed innocence all these years… Zamasu told me that you were to blame, and yet he was the one who perpetrated it." Zagraeus whispered, still shocked by the news. "That's alright, everyone makes mistakes. We forgive you for trying to kill us." Gogeta stated, a soft smile forming on his face. "Goku, Vegeta!? What are you doing!? Finish him while he's distracted!" Berrus yelled, snapping both of the warriors out of their trances.
Realizing that they were still in the middle of a tournament were the outcome involved the life and death of everything they knew, both warriors charged at each other, punching each other in the face once more.
Both recoiled slightly before charging back again. As they neared each other, a loud pop resounded in the air as Goku and Vegeta became unfused, surprising Zagraeus enough that he missed punching either of them.
As the two Saiyan's fell to the ground, their hair color reverted to it's original black. both beginning to scream as black energy began to excrete from them. "What's happening?" Gazu asked, touching Ruby's wing. "Whatever power level they reached when they fused must have been far greater than their own bodies could handle, it seems that the power that they held, overloaded them… And now it's reaping what is due." Belmond explained; not removing his gaze from Goku and Vegeta as they fell still and silent.
Zagraeus continued to stare at Goku and Vegeta as they lay motionlessly on the ground, clenching his fist tightly when Peiri grumbled. "Zagraeus!? What are you waiting for!? Knock'em off!" Peiri cried, shaking her fist at him.
Hearing her orders, Zagraeus grunted and shook his head as he stared at Goku and Vegeta, his eyes beginning to twitch. "He refuses to act." Drago grunted, causing everyone to look at him. "Hohoho! And why is that? Another warrior with a disgusting sense of righteousness? Or is he having a change of heart, realizing that those monkeys are technically his father's?" Frieza asked, winking an eye at him. "The Only things Zagraeus and I have in common is our pride and honor. What honor is their in defeating an opponent that can no longer stand. To see the whites in their eyes as you deliver the killing blow; that.. Is the Spargan way." Shougen explained, smiled as he spoke. "Who cares about your childish ideal of pride in this sort of situation you blubbering buffoon, just do it!" Zagraeus, Shougen, Gazu, and Peiri all glared at Drago as he yelled; causing him to sink back into his seat; chuckling nervously.
Sighing, Zagraeus held out his hand towards the motionless Saiyan's below him. "I hate to finish off worthy opponents such as you two like this… Believe me, I do. But, right now I don't really have much of a choice, I hope you understand. The duty I uphold stands above all; the duty to protect my Universe and my family… A wise man once told me that sometimes duty and honor must be cast aside to do what must be done. Nevertheless, you shall both live on forever in the confines of my memory. Perhaps, one day we can have a rematch on more friendly terms… Goodbye Vegeta…. And I truly am sorry Kakarot." Zagraeus stated, forming a large, red energy ball in his outstretched hand as he spoke. "I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive a blind fool." Closing his eyes, he prepared to release his attack as the stands watched with batted breath.
The stands leapt to their feet when Zagraeus gasped and fell to his knees; choking and grasping at his chest. "No... No, not yet! I knew that this was bound to happen!" Drago gasped, grasping the hilt of Siegfried so tightly that the leather wrapping of it's hilt cracked under his fingers. "What's happening!?" Peiri cried as she grabbed Drago by the neck, shaking him furiously. "The relationship between Zagraeus and the Destroyer is completely symbiotic, some would even call it Parasitic." Drago explained, his eye beginning to twitch as a small spider climbed from his shirt's breast pocket. "Oh, after all of this, you choose to come out now? What have you been up to?" He asked, glaring at the spider as he held it in his hand. Everyone stared in confusion as the spider began to make a chattering noise as it seemingly spoke to him. "What do you mean, you were to tired to even think about assisting!? You sleep 19 hours a day!?" Drago asked, his left eye twitching in rage as the spider chattered again before climbing back in his pocket. "Don't you take that tone with me!? You come out of that pocket this instant, young lady! I expect you to be fully prepared for serious discussion about your deteriorating work ethic… Do you truly think that spending a thousand years guarding Otan's tomb excuses you from any other future obligations?" He asked before throwing his hands into the air in pure frustration.
Shaking his head, Shougen sighed. "Can someone explain what he just said so we can understand?" Shougen asked, crossing his arms sternly. "Zagraeus becomes stronger by absorbing our life forces. The Destroyer on the other hand, is unable to. When he awakens; he survives solely by Zagraeus's life force. When Zagraeus's life force wanes, the Destroyer reverts into hibernation once more, leaving Zagraeus completely defenseless. Just like Drago when he loses his amulet, or Gazubiro once he uses his Ageo Sotto-Ken attack… Right now, Zagraeus has been completely drained of all energy and stamina, something as slight as a punch from one of the children back on Vitania would be enough to send him to the afterlife at this point." The entire multiverse fell eerily silent as they absorbed Kaylin's explanation.
With all three Warriors having exhausted all of their energy and stamina. The spectators could do nothing but sit and watch as the outcome of the tournament and the fate of their Universe's hung in balance.
Struggling to stand, Zagraeus groaned when the spectators gasped. Looking up, he sighed when he saw the blue boots that he knew could only belong to one man. "Kakarot!" Zagraeus stated, half way laughing. "How the hell did he get up so fast!?" Shougen yelled as he looked at Vegeta who was still laying motionless on the ground. "Even more so than Vegeta; Goku is an enigma, no one can truly explain how he does the things that he does. I could not explain this if I tried." Peiri glanced at Whiss as he explained, shaking her head in confusion at what he meant.
Struggling to his knees, Zagraeus lost his balance and fell backwards, landing against a rock. "You really are something Zagraeus, you're the toughest guy I've ever fought, and I've fought a lot of people. I hope you meant what you said about a rematch." As Goku spoke, Zagraeus tried in vain to stand.
Finding himself unable to, he lowered his head in recognition of his defeat. "I have searched so long… Looking for the one that took everything from me. But… Until now, I never realized that without that fateful day, I would never have met the ones I now happily call friends… I would never have met Shougen, Drago or even Peiri… Kukei would've never been born… And I would never have been able to share the battlefield with you, and correct my foolish beliefs. I should've known better than to believe a man that was there one second and gone the next. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me… I must admit though, I'm not saddened by my loss at all, such is the way of the desert. The strong will always devour the weak… The only thing that I regret…-" Zagraeus spoke as tears began to fall from his cheeks. "My only regret is that my unborn daughter will never be able to see the beautiful sun of Vitania. I have lived my life burdened by my past, by the things that I believed were the cause of my weakness. But now, looking back at what I've done, and what I've said during this tournament, I… I see that I became that foolish child; who believed that his weakness was to blame for his hardships… I am sorry that you had to witness that side of me, and I truly do hope that you can forgive me… The person that has not only been berating you, but vehemently attempting to murder you. That is not the person I am." Looking down at Zagraeus, Goku chuckled. "Is that all?" He asked, shaking his head. "If people couldn't be forgiven for their actions, most of my friends would be dead." He admitted, laughing heartily as Zagraeus smiled. "Kakarot? Can I ask you for one favor?" Zagraeus asked, looking up at the Saiyan and extending his hand.
Smiling, Goku pulled Zagraeus to his feet and watched as he used some rocks to hold himself upright. "What is he doing?" Berrus asked, leaning forward as Whis hummed in in interest. "If I am to fall here. If the remnants of this void are to be my grave… Then I wish to fall as a warrior, not a child." Zagraeus stated as Goku tilted his head in confusion. "To continue to rise, no matter how severe the wound, to fearlessly stare death in the eye, to raise your weapons, or your fists in defiance of your fate… That is the way the desert sand, that is the way… Of the Spargan!" Zagraeus explained, gritting his teeth as he glared at Goku.
Everyone from the multiverse, the Zeno's included watched in confusion as Gazu rose to his feet, followed by Shougen, Peiri, Fleur, Tink Sakura, Hiromi, Aoia and Ruby. "Meuon'de!" Gazu cheered, stomping his foot and clanging his sword against the stands as he roared. "Meuon'de!" The others repeated, following Gazu's movements. "What are they doing exactly?" Berrus asked, crossing his arms. "It is one of their war chants. This one is a chant that they use when facing absolute, unavoidable demise. I can translate if you wish." Drago offered, smiling when Berrus motioned for him to finish. "Death has come, but I have no fear." Drago stated as Zagraeus repeated the chant.
The entire null realm grew completely silent as everyone waited for the chant to continue. "Laeron'ke!" Gazu chanted as the others repeated. "My fate is my own, and I die when I choose." Drago explained as the chant continued without pause. "Harok'mae!" "whether ten or a thousand, I defiantly stand." "Urong'dai!" "With weapons rose high, I stare death in the eye." "Fubar'gae!" "When the white walker takes me, I choose my own time." "Wait, what's a white walker?" Belmond asked, as Zagraeus repeated the chant. "The white walker is what the Spargan's call death, or the grim reaper if you will. Morrigan is that very being." Drago explained as Gazu rose his blade once more.
Clanging it on the side if the stands, Gazu took a deep breath. "Purah'laye!" "Until my lungs have no air, and my veins have run dry." "Curaj'Meae!" "No matter how grave the wound I will continue to rise." "Aurom'faio!" "I will continue to fight until my bones collapse." "Buasrao'aur!" "Then, and only then; will I allow myself to die." As Drago finished his words, Zagraeus repeated the chant, bringing the null realm back to silence once more as Shougen and the others retook their seats.
The Zeno's stood on their chairs, swaying side to side as Nyx began to hum a sad tune, her voice echoing across the realm. "That was very cool." "Yes, very cool." "This song is nice to." "Yes, very nice indeed." They stated as Zagraeus smiled. "Now, you have heard the chant of my people… I am a Spargan and the desert sand is my home. I will never disgrace my faith… So if you will allow me this final act of defiance, I shall be forever grateful." He stated as he brought his hands to his sides, charging a small and faint, red energy attack. "To fight until all signs of life have left me… That is the Spargan way." He explained, a wide, ear to ear grin plastered on his face as he charged his attack. "Man, you really are something Zagraeus… You are easily the toughest guy I've ever met. I hope you were serious about that rematch though, I'll be waiting." Goku admitted as he cupped his hands behind his back. "Ka… Me… Ha… Me." Realizing that Zagraeus was to weak to win the coming struggle, the members of Universe 13 took each others hands as they awaited their fate.
Laughing, Zagraeus brought his hands together, cupping them infront of him, a faint, red energy ball sparking from within them. "With my dying breath, the multiverse shall know that I am Zagraeus Von Karma, and death comes when I'm good and god dammed ready for it… Supernova!" He roared, firing his fleeting energy attack at Goku.
Hearing Zagraeus's statement, Goku smiled. "Haaaa!" As he yelled, the entire null realm fell silent and still as Goku's attack destroyed Zagraeus's Supernova attack the instant they made contact. Zagraeus's laughter echoing across the realm as Goku's attack covered him, carrying him into the empty void.