Author notes;
05/09/2020: Here's another revised chapter. Gotta hate it when a file becomes corrupt for no reason. Anyway, since life is getting a little more busier, I'm going to have to upload the revised chapters on a weekly basis. Hopefully Saturday is the latest, but I'll see.
Enjoy!
South Galaxy - Planet ?- Tree of Might
Clashing. Both blasts of fierce ki heaved against each other, crackling as one end refused to fall against the other. The grey lands swirled with a hue of chilly green and purple.
The bitter taste of iron seeped onto his tongue. Turles's luminous, crimson, bleeding eyes trembled. His hands, arms and chest rushed with numbness. How was the power from the fruit of the Tree of Might and Super Saiyan failing him? Turles clenched his teeth tight, a seething trail of vapour trailed into the dark skies above, streaked with crimson. He continued to curse Broly under his breath, swearing he will eliminate the Legendary Super Saiyan at all costs.
But how? Turles's plans were disrupted by Broly's undetermined power- Broly's prowess did not add up, it seemingly had an infinite growth-
A power any Saiyan wished to obtain.
"Losing?" A soothing voice rang through Turles's mind."That can be easily fixed... let me lend you a hand."
A burst of energy illuminated the skies with a white hue, blinding the skies and fading out the colours of the land.
An artificial moon ball hovered against the grey sky.
Saishi twisted her head up. Her lavender eyes quivered at the sight of an artificial moon ball. She dragged her numbed body up by her bruised arms.
"Grgh!" Saishi gasped. Sweat trickled down her face, stinging her wounds. She splashed against the shallow waters. No! Not them! Saishi thought, rising up to a kneel. She snapped her head up at the darkening skies. "Tow-" She choked.
Karu awoke.
-"What do you think your doing? Human!" Karu roared, slamming her tail against the floorless abyss of Saishi's mind. "You're in no condition to fight her- not to mention Mira too!"
Saishi froze.
"Damn it!" Saishi thought, holding a ball of dark fire within her palm. "I'm going to have to gamble on this one. That's definitely an artificial moon, we'll have two rampaging apes... or Ozarus- or whatever... I have no idea if Broly has a tail. I hope not though."
"You should deal with those Demons first!" Karu growled, "otherwise they will get you first!"
"Saiyans are the problem here." Saishi observed the white ki ball hovering in the empty sky above. "I need to stop that from happening at all costs. Towa has a habit of doing that to any Saiyan." She gritted her teeth. "Besides, either option still requires me to face them any way; fight an Ozaru or fight those bastards." She closes her eyes. "I refuse to run away again, I promised Samoe and her people that they will return home."
Karu widened her glowing, crimson eyes.
"No! Get away from Towa and Mira! Forget about the Saiyans and the Shamoians!" Karu growled, clawing the floorless grounds. "They can jump timelines! There's always going to be another variation; Broly and the others in another timeline. Just-"
"The failure survived. How intriguing..."
That deep and calm voice- it couldn't be!
Sweat oozed from Saishi's cold face. Her shaken, cold eyes snapped wider, her pupils shrivelled away to slits. With a snap of her head, she thrusted her palms towards the sound of his voice.
Crick!
"NGH!" Saishi yelled. Her blood splattered against the shallow waters, painting the serene surface crimson.
Up in the arctic airs of the Tree of Might, Broly lowered his arm, shielding his dark eyes from the sudden burst of energy.
That was too close. Broly thought, scanning the area before him. Upon sighting a blue Demoness, her red and black attire hugging her slim form, he arched his brow. Where did Turles go?
If only he knew of the Scientist of the Demon Realm; Towa.
"I hope you're having some fun." Towa smiled, dipping her head to one side. She held her staff with both her hands, her fingers stroking the black, cool surface. She drew one hand away from her staff and pointed her slender finger down at the black lands below.
"Wait," Broly clenched a fist at Towa. However, Towa vanished with nothing more than a whisper of black and red. "Hey!"
A searing set of breaths scorched Broly's back. He twisted his head to met the crimson, blinded eyes of his opponent. Broly skimmed Turles's newfound power, not sure what to make of Turles's combined prowess of the Ozaru form, Super Saiyan, the fruit and whatever else was done to him.
Broly smirked at the challenge.
"Now we can finish our fight." Turles snarled as his fangs spilled out from his snout. "It's time to crush you like a bug!"
"Turles," Broly raised his fists at Turles, "I should have known. You'll use any tactic to get it your way." He clenched his fists, powering up into his Super Saiyan state with a burst of gold ki.
As Turles brought his hands together to capture Broly, Broly dashed up, dodging Turles's massive fist. He took a sharp U-turn and dashed down Turles's spine in a burst of gold, his teal eyes fixed on Turles's tail.
A grin left Turles's snout. Just where he needed that Saiyan to be. He jerked his elbow back, ramming Broly in his ribs with a dull thud. With pain singing in Turles's ears, he slapped Broly away with the flick of his tail.
"You need to be much faster than that to beat me." Turles roared, firing off a beam from his mouth at the somersaulting Saiyan.
Broly jerked to a stop. Broly raised his arms up.
The beam slammed into him, the blast consumed the black lands into a thick shroud of smog.
Another hit like that and I'll be down. Broly thought, lowering his arms as the smoke left his forearms. The icy winds lashed at his bare back. Broly snapped his head back, only to get grabbed by a massive hand. His arms and legs were now bounded tightly to his body. And the shard still lodged deep within his abdomen irritated him further. How is he still keeping control? Rgh. Broly squirmed, moving his head in attempt to break free.
Turles grinned at the bug trapped within his palm.
"It's time to squash you." Turles sneered, covering Broly's head with his other hand.
"You're being stupid today." Broly observed Turles's fingers coiling around his body. He pressed his tongue against his canine, making sure he had that option available.
"You won't get away." Turles tightened his grip on Broly. "Now it's time to pop your head from your b- GRGH!"
A sharp row of needles stabbed into his index finger. Turles loosened his grip, only to find Broly chomping deep into his thumb with a feral growl.
"You bug!" Turles roared as Broly ripped a chunk of flesh from his finger, spewing blood. "GRGH!"
Broly shoved Turles's raw fingers away, and dove towards the misty lands below.
"I have to be faster? I think you're the one who needs to be faster!" Broly sneered, "and smarter!" He spat the blood from his mouth and rubbed away the blood from his lips. "You surrendered your brains for strength! A dumb move you made there!" He soared up into the arctic breeze, tossing a barrage of ki up at the Ozaru's face. Blinding Turles's crimson eyes, Turles roared out in pain.
Broly U-turned sharply, twisting out from another massive fist thrusted by Turles. He somersaulted over Turles's arm and rammed his fist down at Turles's inner elbow joint, cracking Turles's arm. Turles yelled out in pain once more.
"Come on! Try and hit me already!" Broly laughed, raising his hands to Turles and continued to taunt the ape. He ducked, evading another speeding fist. "You're too easy to read now."
How dare he! Turles thought, clenching his jaws tight. He swung his foot down at the Broly.
Broly caught the incoming foot, gripping the sole of Turles's boot.
"You've lost speed, and the brains." Broly peered his head out from under Turles's massive boot. "You've turned yourself into a big target. Not only that, but you've never trained to fully tap onto the potential of a Super Saiyan, did you?" A smirk grew on his lips. "Those fruits boosted your ability without the need to train." Broly dragged Turles down with a grunt. "Well let me tell you something... you'll suffer greatly if you refuse to train the Super Saiyan transformation!" He swung Turles, tossing the rogue Saiyan up into the grey skies. A green hue drained the lands with a high screeching whistle, forming into a small ball of ki within Broly's palm. He tossed the energy, in pursuit of Turles.
"NO!" Turles roared, blasting up to the empty skies with a roar in green. "YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!" His voice echoed as he vanished in a hue of green.
Broly lowered his hand, his golden aura faded into the silent air. At least he won't be seeing that annoyance anytime soon. Now, the woman who was responsible for this… just who was she?
Wait, was it that Makio-whatever the girl spoke of?
Broly searched the dark land below. Something didn't feel right and he very knew it. He descended into the land below in search for answers.
From the dark, damp ground below, Saishi limped. Her arm swayed left and right aimlessly. She gripped her broken arm.
"Mira!" Saishi hissed under her strained voice. One of her eyes twitched open, observing the ultimate warrior standing before her.
"There's no need to shout my name if I'm standing right here before you." Mira spoke in a flat tone, his scarlet eyes staring down at her. His arms crossed over his chest. "You will not intervene with my creator's wishes. That's an order."
Saishi gritted her teeth tighter, her canines sharpening. "I refuse to obey you! I'm never going back with you!" Saishi snarled, writhing her head at Mira. "I'm a human! An Earthlin-"
"The blood the Demons courses through your veins." Mira cautioned, not once breaking his gaze with her. He raised his palm to Saishi. "The lust for power, the need for battle, the utter dominance over your enemies and drawing their blood and agony!" He clenched his palm, crushing the life out of the silent air. "You do understand this unquenchable hunger, you can feel it, can't you?"
Saishi shifted her body away from Mira, gripping her broken arm. As she locked her gaze with him, her eyes glinted crimson for a moment. She shook her head, trying to retain her human husk.
"You, an Earthling," Mira crossed his arms over his chest again, "with the DNA of the other countless races... Don't you realise without you, and the countless failures of others, gave birth to the ultimate fighter?" He pointed his index finger down at her. "Earthlings, their strengths lies within their mastery of control over ki." He held up his middle finger. "Demons, their strengths being their control over fire, and the magic they wield- just like the Demon King once had." He held up his ring finger. "Namekians, their strength being to regenerate lost limbs." He rested all of his fingers on his bicep. "The Frieza race; or Frost Demons, however you name them fit, their strengths are their speed, durability and ability to change their physical appearance greatly." He pointed his chin up at Saishi. "But the power of the Saiyans... they continue to grow. You should be grateful for helping my creator to create me. For that one failure, I was able to adapt and absorb that power into my own being. A power that you will never amount to. A Saiyan's prowess always will grow-"
-"I don't care how strong you are! You will go down!" Saishi snapped, her hands morphed into armoured, dark claws.
"Why don't you utilise the darkness within you?" Mira uncrossed his arms to his sides. "Fighting you now won't be much of a challenge."
A slash of purple ki zipped towards Mira, followed by several rows of purple blades.
"Rakshasa claw." Mira muttured, side stepping to his left. "And yet you do not use a sword to pull that off." He stepped to his right, dodging another blade.
"What are you trying to say?" Saishi panted. She collapsed onto her knees. Sweat trickled down her reddened face. This isn't good, I've reached my limit.
"It reminds me of a young Demon in another timeline." Mira recalled. Twisting his body, he extended his leg, sending a swift shockwave from his kick. He decapitated several ki blades at once. He landed before Saishi, his sharp gaze observing her weak form. "I'll have to absorb you. I refuse to let you foolishly live."
His hand reached out to Saishi; stretching every muscle over her face.
Saishi's eyes narrowed, trembling. Then they widened. All her muscles refused to budge. She must escape! She tensed her body, trying to heave out of the crushing pressure placed on her body. Veins popped out from her forehead, neck and hands.
It was all futile.
Towa's magic! Saishi thought, her heart heaving, thumping against her rib cage. I can't be absorbed by him! Her eyes shrivelled away into slits, her skin crawling with sweat as his hand drew closer and closer to her face. No! I don't want to turn into a that either!
Those crimson eyes, the crimson crown of horns, the black armour of chaos- and those inhuman features… no, anything but that!
"Go on, transform into that creature you truly are." Mira ordered, holding his hand out and above her head. A dark swirl of energy swirled forth from his palm. "But the end will be the same. You were nothing more than an experiment, a mindless beast, controlled like a puppet to serve only my creator." A luminous, lavender mark glowed from his palm, a marking similar to the infinity sign, but yet the curves from either side did not quite meet.
A numb pain shot through her skull, shattering her last line of restraints from the Demon who dwelled deep within her subconscious- the prison where Towa sealed Saishi's true potential.
It was time to break that disgusting, human form.
"NGH!" Saishi choked, covering her burning eyes. "GRGH!" She yelled, ripping her head away from Mira's palm. She curled up on the shallow waters with a frantic splash. She squeezed her eyelids shut; hearing nothing but her breaths, and the echoes of the cracking of her bones and squelches from her flesh.
"You're not escaping your fate." Mira loomed over her. He thrusted his palms once more at her, expanded his magic. "Go on, transform!"
"NO!" Saishi screamed, shaking her head. Her maroon hair lashed at the chilly airs. A searing, scarlet pain shot down her spine and cracked apart her shoulder blades.
Bones, flesh, then thick layers of armoured skin ripped out from both her shoulder blades, stretching out like fingers. Black bones grew out from her spine, and her form continued to shift, casting away that 'weaker' form into the depths of her agony.
The DNA of a Frieza race destroyed the outer shell of the user when reverting back to their pure form, but they had the ability to regrow bio-armour. But Saishi was an Earthling, a race not capable of shifting their genetic structure to a vastly different form. But; that's why Towa injected Saishi with the DNA of the Namekians, to make up for the loss skin and limbs. This power... burning, ripping apart whatever strands of "Earthling" she had left.
No. She was no Earthling no more.
Saishi clenched her fangs tight, hissing a curse as blood trickled down her claw-like hands.
Amaya... someone... h..Help me. Saishi thought, snapping her head up, crying up at the dark skies. She gasped for air- as though she was on the verge of drowning. I don't want to... I don't want to become one. I just want to go back.. I never asked for any of this! She hung her head, gripping her skull as it felt her head splitted apart. Growling lowly, she clenched her sharpening fangs closed as saliva left her lips. Her sight; blurred and painted crimson. An Earthling... Please, I just want to be human again! Her wings and tail curled into her; creating a shield from Mira.
"Go on, I know how much you need to kill me." Mira continued. "Let your bloodlust run wild. You don't consider yourself 'human' any way."
"Mira!"
Mira snapped his head up to the grey sky. Towa glided down on her staff.
"We'll leave her now and collect her energy later." Towa warned, gripping onto the metre marked with a swirly M. "Someone's following us!"
"She only has a few moments left." Mira replied, looking back at the demonic form of the girl before them. "Whoever this intruder is will be crushed like a fly."
Saishi's arms hung. Her face covered with the hardened, maroon hairs on her head, and black bones- spikes, grew from both sides of her head and elbows, something of a mix between an Earthling and a Frieza race lifeform.
"I refuse to surrender." Saishi hissed a quivering whisper. She raised her head up to Mira, her eyes remained closed.
"Obey! You weakling!" Mira commanded, thrusting his marked hand at the unwavering creature before him.
"Hey! I'm not done with you!" A guttural voice echoed from the far ends of the shallow waters.
Towa snapped her head up. She sighted Broly crossing his arms, his gaze firm on her.
That power. Broly thought as he shifted his eyes from Towa, to Mira. His eyes glanced from Mira to the creature facing to the Demon duo. Saishi? His dark eyes noted the detail of the rings of crimson blood surrounding the waters around her. As much as his Saiyan impulses craved for blood, he restrained himself and forced his focus on the two Demons. Where did the kid get all of that power from? His eyes narrowed. I haven't felt this much power since that night. But those two-
"Great; what happened to you playing with your new toy?" Towa raised her voice, holding her staff near her face. "Broke him already?" She furrowed her brows. Saiyans; why did they have to be so troublesome?
"I don't hav-"
-The lands gave way, cutting Broly off from finishing. A purple burst of light shrouded the shallow waters and echoed far above to the grey skies.
With that distraction, Towa waved her staff over her head. "Have fun!" Towa laughed, vanishing along with Mira in a swirl of black and red.
As the murky air cleared, Broly landed on a high, arching root.
"What the Hell's going on here?" Broly said, itching his raven hair. His dark eyes shifted to the creature held in his other arm. To think- "Sai- Ngh!" He squeezed one of his eyelids shut. One of the spikes from Saishi's elbow grazed the side of his abdomen, tainting his skin red. It's just a scratch I've been through tougher crap. Broly thought, grunting. The kid's down for the count. Broly gazed down the empty expression on her face.
His black eyes snapped wider.
The bastard's still alive?!
"I'm going to rip your sorry existence apart!" Broly snarled, snapping his head up at the crimson sky. An Ozaru plummeted down towards Broly. Saiyans, Ozarus, Super Saiyan... and then you have whatever the Hell he became. Broly thought, leaping away onto another root and evading the impact of Turles's landing.
Turles cracked his head up, firing off a beam from his mouth in pursuit of Broly. As Broly dodged the beam, Turles lunged towards Broly, his hands outstretched.
Broly squinted his eyes, agitated at Turles. He refused to get crushed again. He darted up, evading Turles's grip. Turles pursued, swatting his hands up after Broly. Broly swiftly kicked Turles's hands away, then thrusted the heel of his foot towards Turles's snout. However, Turles swiped his tail at Broly.
Broly caught his tail with one hand.
"Give up." Broly warned, his dark eyes stared directly into Turles's crimson, blinded eyes. "You're no longer worth my time." His voice sharpend at the end, his fingers digging into Turles's tail.
However, only a growl left Turles throat.
Did Turles finally lose himself in that power?
Broly assumed whatever prowess Turles gained did not belong to him- or that prowess blinded him into that unending madness.
That madness, Broly recognised it too well.
Turles fired off another beam from his mouth. Broly swerved to his right and then dove away from the enraged Turles, speeding away from the Ozaru. Both Turles and that damned tree had to go.
"B..Broly?" A faint voice caught the Saiyan's attention.
Broly glanced to his arms.
"Kid?" Broly replied, skimming Saishi's form. Her eyes, they were mismatched; one was lavender whilst the other was crimson. Patches of dried blood tainted multiple places of her pale face. Dark scars were visible from the tears in her clothes- however, her scarred back was exposed to the cold... so much for durable clothes. Broly thought, passing a twisted, arched root as Turles continued to pursue him from the distance.
"Can you fight kid?" Broly asked, shifting his focus back to the pursuing Turles. Saishi turned her shaky head left and right in response. Broly stopped for a moment and sensed her ki.
Close to none.
"I thought so." Broly confirmed. He turned his focus to the enraged Turles zooming towards him, just metres away from where he stopped.
Broly darted up, evading Turles's fist flying past below. Broly raced across Turles's arm, leapt up to the Ozaru's face and fired ki, blasting Turles in the face. With a howl from Turles, Broly doved past Turles's shoulder and through the smoke of the blast.
Once out of Turles's reach, Broly shifted his focus to Saishi again. "Survive first," Broly whispered to her, "Understand, kid?"
Saishi nodded. Her heavy eyelids drew over her weak and mismatched eyes. Her breaths quivered as her body rattled in pain. Her head rested against his chest, listening to the sound of his heart.
This pain… when will it stop?
She's not completely broken. Broly thought, flicking his coal eyes from Saishi to Turles, who swatted the smoke away. I have to get rid if him now, otherwise I'll end up power mad as him.
For several moments, Turles stopped growling. He glanced to his hands, then up to Broly.
"SAY GOOD BYE!" Turles yelled, shooting a storm of purple ki from his palm. Broly darted backwards, darted up into the crimson sky, and then dashed past the homing barrage of ki. A fast pest! Turles thought before Broly kicked his snout, stunning Turles's sense of smell. Turles threw his fist, Broly leapt off his knuckles. Turles threw another kick but Broly blocked with one arm.
But the impact of the kick hurled Broly towards the black lands below.
"It's time to crush you along with this planet!" Turles roared, blasting off into the sky, above the Tree of Might. "DIE! LEGENDARY SUPER SAIYAN!" He fired an orange beam down at the black planet below from his palms.
Landing onto the shallow waters, rippling a crimson halo, Broly placed Saishi down. He snapped his head back up. A burst of green ki sucked out the colours from the land, forming into a sphere in his palm. Broly tossed the small, slow moving ki up at the sky.
With a defeaning boom, the orange ki rammed into the green ki blast. Static zapped at the chilly airs, causing the sky to rapidly increase in heat.
"I don't think so!" Broly yelled up at the glaring sky. He thrusted his palm out, expanding the green ball of ki to five times the size.
He fell for it. Turles thought, grinning. He shoved his palms down at the grounds below. A head on attack like this is something I needed him to do; he can't run and he definitely can't match my power with the combined powers if a Super Saiyan, Ozaru and the fruit from the Tree of Might! He's already lost! Turles laughed, shoving the energy wave further down.
"Grgh! Ngh!" Broly grunted, his boots cracking into the ground, tossing up a splatter of water and shoving him deeper into his watery grave. He furrowed his brows, his power rushing throughout his body. He clenched his jaws tighter, tensing his chest, arms and legs. "HAH!" He yelled, erupting into a hue of gold. His hair spiked up and his eyes snapped teal.
"It's too late! Nothing will save you now!" Turles sneered. He was sure of it; the end will result the same.
Broly fired another ki blast, fuelling the clash and budging the orange ki back up.
Damn it! Broly thought, a vein bulged from the side of his forehead. I.. Grgh! My power! His body felt raw, burning as his energy burned through his flesh, raged through his veins and surged through his blood. His aura lashed at the winds; leaving trails of gold, but also streaks of luminous green.
It was like a parasite, sucking away at Broly's mind and body- his control for containing such dangerous energy. This massive, unstable energy festering deep within his body caused his flesh to rip apart... and it continued to grow worse over time. Not to mention his bloodlust grew with such a call to power. But he refused to lose control now.
Broly roared, bringing forth another surge in power and shoving the blast back up- at the cost of his skin cracking, seeping out luminous blood from strain.
"I don't care whatever the Hell you are!" Broly tensed the muscle in his fingers as the energy zipped up. He squeezed his eyelids shut, aware of his Saiyan impulses craving to break free.
A spark of gold. A spark of light zipped through his mind, that same light that could have killed Broly if it wasn't for his restrainer breaking. And that awful feeling of hanging suspended in that scorching wave- Death could have licked him and ended his life there.
No! He refused to die here.
"DIE!" Broly roared, cracking his teal eyes open. Cracks grew on his face, losing more blood from his wounds. His ki erupted into the sky above.
Turles gritted his fangs, grunting. Was he losing?
"What overwhelming energy you have…"
Turles snapped his crimson, blinded eyes wider. A stab of pain raced through his spine.
"Don't worry, your energy will be put to good use."
The beam slammed into Turles, ramming him into the Tree of Might. Paralysed, Turles couldn't budge a muscle. His body was forced through the multiple layers of the Tree of Might's defences, grazing and tearing his skin before blasting up into the crimson sky in a hue of green.
Nothing was left of the Tree of Might.
A shroud of golden energy burst from the hollow lands, drenching the lands with its hazy warmth. After so long, the nearby star's light finally reached the freezing planet.
Broly lowered his hand, before kneeling onto the shallow water with a splash. His golden aura vanished into the warmth of the light. Breathing, that was all important at the moment. He panted, gripping his bloody abdomen as his eyes squeezed shut. His blood faded back to a dark red, drying as his torn skin hardened into scabs.
That was too close.
He gazed up at the brightening skies, watching the stars fade into the vast sea of blue.
The restrainer, it made sense. If he couldn't control his own power, then who else could? No one. It was his responsibility to control this power, his birth-right; yet he could not. Was his birth-right destined to lead to that? No. No one should be able to harness his energy, but yet this energy devoured his body and mind.
Broly shook his head. Control. He must control that power- he refused to be controlled by another. But how was he meant to control a power that devoured his body and mind? And grew with bloodlust with every battle?
Splash!
Broly snapped his dark eyes open. That bastard is still alive? His dark eyes glanced to the small form laying in the water. Turles, now back in his base form.
"Haha..." Turles wheezed, his lips leaving a strained vapour. The shallow waters soaked his burnt flesh as he gazed up at the crimson streaked skies with a faint smirk. A halo of crimson surrounded Turles, fading off into the depths.
"You should be dead." Broly snarled, clenching his jaws as a guttural growl left his throat.
"Death is a funny thing... to us Saiyans any way." Turles replied, closing his dark eyes and feeling the soft heat run through his bleeding muscles. "Our wills as a warrior race enables us to withstand literally anything. Even for a new-born." Turles opened his coal eyes again. "The Legendary Super Saiyan- It's a shame the King had to execute you. How sad."
"Shut up." Broly clenched his fist, his brows furrowing down at the broken Saiyan.
"That power," Turles continued, "along with the fruit from the Tree of Might, could have matched the Gods. Possibly both a blessing... or a curse from such divine beings. No one would dare to cross your path. You would have been one of the Elites, a protector of the King-" Turles paused. He coughed up blood for a moment before continuing. "Grgh. But the King feared you, the Elites feared you, everyone feared you. You could have gone rouge." His smirked vanished from his lips. "But, you were portrayed as nothing more than this bloodthirsty, uncontrollable monster, passed down through the legends of our ancestors. You inherited a rare gene, only found within a Saiyan every thousands of years-"
-"I'm warning you to shut up!" Broly rose up to his feet. "Stop telling me about all of this, I damn know all of what I am." His black eyes shook.
Yet he denied the very gift he was born with.
"Do you?" Turles twisted his head up at the Saiyan looming over him. "Let me tell you something, what do you think happened to the previous Legendary Super Saiyans? Hmmm?"
Broly gripped Turles by collar of his armour. "I don't need to hear any more from you." Broly gritted his teeth, snarling at the armoured Saiyan. The whites of his eyes crawled red with veins.
His Saiyan impulse… it craved for blood, for destruction, for chaos. Yet Broly continued to keep that part of him away, knowing of the consequences of letting that side of him free.
"They were executed at birth by their rightful King." Turles choked, grinning as blood seeped from the corners of his lips. "Or, they were killed by their own power. You know, you're not exactly blessed with a long life like all the other Saiyans. Your life is halved- no…" He raised his brows, "your life is much shorter, terribly shorter compare to the others."
Drops of scarlet splattered across the shallow waters. Blood trickled down Broly's fist, trembling.
Trembling with rage.
"It's sad to think your father was forced to use restraints on you to get you to cooperate with him." Turles continued, his blood trickled down his mangled face as one eye watched Broly shaken with rage. "Even your own father fears your own power!" He laughed, shaking in rapture as his lifeless eyes pierced into Broly's gaze.
Crick!
Blood splattered across the shallow waters, leaving halos of red. Mangled bits of flesh and bones cushioned Broly's fist. Streaks of blood ran across his face, dripping as his unwavering, dark eyes glared down at the twisted face of what remained of Turles's face.
"I know what I am, insect." Broly's voice trembled as a guttural growl left from deep within his lungs. "I was left to die. Nothing will amount to the sheer rage I suffer now." His voice dropped deeper, the bridge of his nose creased. He yanked his fist from Turles's bloodied face. "The Prince is still alive. He, and whoever has any connections to him or to Saiyan blood, will die by my hands. Slowly." Broly rose up to his feet, looking away from Turles's empty eyes gazing up at the empty sky. "You're just pure, wasted Saiyan's blood-"
-Thunk…
That sound!
Broly snapped his dark eyes to the sound. A metal piece laid in the water before him by a few metres. His brows furrowed, his jaws clenched tight.
It was his restrainer- his crown.
His eyes cracked up at the grey hands above them. His dark eyes quivered. Saishi… the realisation wounded him deeply.
[BI]Why?
Saishi drew her trembling hands into herself and limped away from the crown. Sweat slithered down her bloody face. She shook her head, gritting her fangs together. She drew her arms over her chest, her wings folding in front of her and her tail coiling around her legs; mimicking a barrier around her body. Her sight blurred. She rubbed her mismatched eyes with the back of her scaly and bruised hand.
Paragus's plan… she knew she messed up.
Broly towered over Saishi's vulnerable state. Someone with that strength, yet they can be reduced to such a pathetic sight. Silent, vulnerable and... crying? She was reduced to nothing. Her dignity, her control and her identity, she had nothing left.
Saishi hung her head; silent tears streamed down her cheeks. There was no escape. She knew she faced death. First by Mira, now by him.
"Is this your end?" Broly spoke lowly, looking down at her as his arms crossed over his chest. "You... grovelling at my feet." His dark eyes narrowed, his voice shifted into a growl, "pathetic, not only you whimper, but you also sided with my father." He raised his voice, his tone shifting sharper and harsher.
Saishi squeezed her eyelids shut, her bitter tears stung at her raw flesh. It was at this point she questioned whether if disobeying Paragus's command would have been the better option.
"Earthlings," Broly gripped his fists tighter, "they are the weakest race in existence. I can kill the whole lot with ease. But you, you took on more suffering than any other weakling I've fought." A grin crept on his lips. "No wonder my father took an interest in you and took you under his wing. For that, I can make you suffer however I want; since you're a traitor after all!" His voice erupted in wrath.
Weakling. Traitor.
"Just kill me then!" Saishi yelled, shaking her head up at the towering Saiyan with a scowl. "If that's what you want to do, by all means do it! I couldn't care less-"
-Her head slammed against the shallow water. The cold sole of his boot rested against her head. Her mismatched eyes widened as she laid half paralysed against the chilly water.
"Do you honestly want to go through with that?" Broly firmly rested his boot on her skull. "When I kill, I didn't say it will go nicely. It'll drag," the freezing, metal surface rubbed against her head, "and you'll be screaming, begging me to stop." He tilted his head. "You'll feel the weight of my feet crushing into your skull; your bones will snap, your blood will blind you- but you'll continue to scream helplessly, flailing your little limbs as if it will do something." He drew his head lower to her, observing her vulnerable and bounded state. "What does a pathetic bug like you have against someone as powerful as me?"
Saishi's lips quivered. She squinted her eyes, accepting her helpless predicament. She surrendered her will to fight, aware she can't win, nor escape.
"Nothing. There's just nothing left..." Saishi's voice fell into a whisper. Her scaly hands gripped the mud within the shallow, red water. "Anything but them." The skin around her eyes and nose creased as tears streamed down her bloody cheeks.
It was better to be killed than to be reduced to a puppet.
Broly's grin faded as he drew his head away from her. Those two from earlier; who were they? What were their purpose? And why was he so powerful? Broly narrowed his eyes on her for a moment. He drew his foot away from her head and observed her broken form. He sighed silently through his nose and closed his eyes for a moment.
He decided to turn his back on her.
Saishi's mismatched eyes quivered. No… no! Surely he wasn't walking away from this. He killed every threat to him-
Yet, as the Saiyan took another step away from her, Saishi feared her assumption was true. She drew her shaking hand out to him, her blurry sight witnessing him walking further and further away from her. She took a sharp and wobbly breath.
"Please… you have to."
Broly halted at her words. His fingers dug into his palms, trembling as his dark gaze hardened. He glanced back to her, noticing one of her shaking hands reaching out to him.
"Please," Saishi wheezed weakly, her bloody and dry lips quivered, "end this."
To surrender her life…
"Don't you understand what you're saying?" Broly snapped at her, raising his trembling fist at her, "Or who you're talking to?" He snarled at her as he furrowed his brows.
Saishi's hand plummeted through the water, unable to plead further. With no strength, her body refused to move. However, she continued to plead, fearing of the ones constantly observing her actions.
"Please… I surrendered my life… just take it… end all of this…"
Broly observed her unmoving form. How troublesome. To think someone wished death upon themselves… he couldn't begin to understand why anyone would welcome death- especially by his hands. And for someone who was strong enough to stand on her own two feet, why would she surrender her life to him?
Surrender her life to him… Broly lowered his hand to his side, his eyes widened. The thought alarmed him.
"Listen to yourself!" Broly yelled at her, keeping his distance from her. "You can continue to beg me to take your life, but I refuse-" His dark eyes trembled, "... I refuse." He repeated, realising the words he spoke. Those words, they contradicted his craving to kill her, his need to kill her for betraying him.
The silence filled the cold air. And after several more moments, it remained silent.
Broly observed Saishi's unmoving form. He waited for her to fight back, to say something for him to counter her 'weak' ideologies.
Yet she remained silent, her mismatched eyes closed as her weak breaths left her nose.
Broly stepped away from her, drawing his hands to his head. Then he stopped. Torn between his Saiyan impulse to kill her, and his choice to spare her, his mind collapsed under his conflicting thoughts. His Saiyan impulses… for his own sake he refused to let it consume him, to control his rationality and awareness. For once he chose to rely on his own judgement, not his Saiyan birth-right.
Yet his Saiyan impulses craved for more bloodshed, for more chaos and ruination.
And then his mind clicked. To surrender her life to him… maybe she didn't mean death at all. His hand drew away from his head, his dark and twisted eyes held a gleam. A grin grew on his lips, soon laughing, roaring into a guffaw up at the crimson sky.
He fell silent. His grin vanished from his lips as he twisted his head to see her vulnerable state once more. He approached her, his dark eyes fixated on her crippled form. This couldn't have been more of a better opportunity for him.
To surrender her life to him, her life belonged only to him now- not Paragus. Saishi surrendered her will, her power- everything to him. She was only his to keep.
Saishi should have known the implications of her words and how easily her words can be twisted and used against her.
Broly drew his maroon sash from his waist and crouched in front of her, grasping her cold hand.
"Saishi." Broly spoke calmly, lifting Saishi up to her knees and kept her knelt on the water. He drew his sash over the feeble girl, wrapping his sash over her shoulders and covering her scars.
Tensing her body, Saishi froze. Sweat trickled down the back of her neck, her weak, mismatched eyes widened. Her face met with his, unable to sense his intentions through her barrier of fear.
I have to escape! Saishi thought, her breaths quickened. He's dangerous- wha.. what does he want from me? Her skin crawled, her heart throbbed and her vision fell into darkness. He has to end this- I can't let Towa find me again. She squinted her eyes as tears filled the rim of her eyes.
"Saishi," Broly repeated, kneeling before her. "Listen- just breathe." He tucked the sash into the folds hanging over her shoulders, securing the sash like a cloth worn around her body. "Right now, you're broken- you're scared; you have no dignity or shame left in you." His eyes shifted from the spikes sprouted from her head, to her arms and the scars on her face. With one hand, he ran his hand over the spikes over her head, then his eyes noticed the faint scars against the raw skin of her neck. He traced her scars as Saishi remained frozen in place.
She was more damaged than he intially thought.
Saishi winced as the Saiyan traced her scars. As much as she mustured the strength to flee, her legs failed to budge. Just what did he want from her?
"Kill him…" Karu whispered from within Saishi's mind. "Take his powers as your own, then we can pursue Towa and make her pay."
Saishi closed ber eyes. She shook her head slowly, trying to fall back from Broly's reach.
"Why?" Saishi's voice cracked as her breaths escaped her dry lips. "I-" A sharp creak from her ribs forced Saishi to remain silent. She wheezed, then blood left her lips. She doubled over, vomiting blood. Her eyes quivered as the lights from her eyes flickered, diminishing as every second passed by.
"Stay quiet." Broly observed her as she hung her head before him. "You lost a lot of blood, and you will die at this rate." He drew his hand to her chin and lifted her gaze to meet his.
The rims of her mismatched eyes were filled with tears.
Broly traced his hand over her damp face, rubbing away her crimson tears with his thumb. Those tears… how he hated hearing that sound.
Crying. That constant memory of that sound; weak, helpless, that racket- a memory he could never forget. A blade, cold and sharp, stabbing into his abdomen just moments after regaining consciousness from his slumber as a new-born.
Broly's dark gaze fell back onto her. He brushed his hand over her head, observing her silence. This submissive state, this was the only time to challenge her thoughts, to dismantle her thoughts one by one- and to ultimately influence her.
"You need to get patched up," Broly continued, drawing closer to her, "you don't want the enemy to take advantage of your wounds." He drew her into his arms and lifted her crippled form. "It's futile trying to escape."
"...Broly." Saishi whispered, the side of her head rested against his chest. "W... why?" Her weak and mismatched gaze fell onto the golden piece hanging from his neck. She closed her damp eyes, trapped with no where else to escape.
Those Demons; now that they know where Saishi was, they'll return with something much bigger, something much more terrible than today. Karu's constant whispers continued to fester with those thoughts, slowly driving Saishi insane.
Broly stood in the open silence of the shallow waters, swaying his tail- a key trait of the Saiyans. He observed the silent girl. His eyes shifted towards the crown, leaving a ripple in the shallow waters. He raised his palm at the crown and blasted the crown to pieces with a ki blast.
However, a sudden weight of fatigue and pain washed over Broly. Now aware of his extremely weakened state, he staggered- though he refused to show any signs of weakness. With an inward snarl, he forced himself to stand, forcing himself to remain conscious. As he regained his balance again, he opened his weak eyes, panting heavily.
As he shook his head to clear his fatigue, he felt something wrapped firmly against his right arm.
Broly glanced to his arm. A scaly tail wrapped around one of his bands, not in a manner to squeeze and constrict, but with a firm grip. His gaze followed the tail, soon realising it belonged to Saishi. He shifted his gaze to her face, realising she avoided his gaze as she curled into herself. However, the spikes on her head and arms pointed away from him, as though she intentionally exposed her vulnerability.
Even if she did not speak a word, Broly was aware of her plea. He refused, even if the opportunity was presented right before him.
"Saishi," Broly spoke lowly, his hand traced the scars on her throat. His hand froze at the sight of a black mark engraved on the right side of her shoulders. He assumed the mark meant something, maybe a tag that those two strangers used to find her. Nevermind, she can explain all of that once she recovered. "Your words have consequences." Broly continued. "I'm sure you know by now that you can't take those words back against someone like me." He warned, observing her silent state.
Saishi drew into herself, trying to shut out his words.
"Your life no longer belongs to my father, or anyone else."
Saishi snapped open her quivering, mismatched eyes, fearful of what Broly meant by those words.
"Your life belongs to me now." Broly continued, drawing his hand away from her throat. "And all I ask from you is to stay true to your words." His voice softened, aware of her silent fear.
Saishi squinted her eyes shut. Her hands twitched, her nails sharpening as Karu whispered constantly. She drew into herself more firmly, concealing her demonic growth as her negative emotions fed Karu. As much as she tried to shut out Karu's words, Karu's prowess seeped into her physical form, forcing her body to shift unwillingly.
"You? Belonging to him?" Karu sneered from within Saishi's mind, "Foolish mortal!You're entire being belongs to me!" Karu laughed, showing her fangs as her eyes blazed a glaring crimson.
Saishi covered her head, shutting out all the mental and physical agony she experienced simultaneously from Broly and Karu.
And she fell. Falling into what Towa deemed her as a nightmarish creature, a powerful tool used only for destruction.
With a blaze of black and crimson lightning, Saishi wrested herself free from Broly's grasp.
"I've had enough!" Saishi bared her fangs at the Saiyan before her. She shook her head, then dug her sharp nails into her scalp, forcing Karu's whispers to the dark corners of her mind. "If you won't end this, then I'll force your hand against me!" Saishi opened her eyes, glaring at Broly through the shroud of black lightning.
Karu forced herself back into Saishi's conscious.
"FOOLISH MORTAL!' Karu roared as her wrath surged into Saishi's physical body, "NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU REJECT MY BEING, YOU WILL NEVER BE RID OF ME!" Karu's prowess soon overwhelmed Saishi, tearing apart her mind, her memories, her identity of who she was.
The weight of Karu's negative aura crushed Saishi within, drowning her in the dark abyss. Saishi collapsed onto her knees, gripping her head as the black and red ki consumed her, burning her mind and body.
"NO!" Saishi screamed up at the red sky, her aura lashed out around her, unable to restrain Karu's malice from leaking out. "Not again- not again!" She gripped her head again, feeling another sharp pain from her skull. "I'm not a monster- I'm not a monster!" She repeated to herself, shaking her head as her eyes trembled violently.
That crushing atmosphere just by that ki alone, Broly witnessed Saishi's pleas and grotesque growth. That sight reminded him of the fundamental principle of ki control; her body could not hold that power, her body was collapsing under a power that did not belong to her.
The Saiyan smirked with a gleam in his eyes.
Saishi drew into herself as much as she could, trying to retain her human form. She covered her face, her skin cracked as the right side of her face was encased with black, diamond-like scales. Her skin crawled with a fine layer of scales as a low growl left her lips. She focused on her breaths, trying to hold down whatever control she had left of her 'human' form.
Broly approached her crouching form, inspecting her through the black and heavy lightning.
"So this is what you turn into." Broly spoke, shifting his gaze from her concealed face, to the crimson and black horns sprouted from her head, to her black wings and tail. Though she retained her humanoid form, he knew she suppressed her power, refusing to reveal what she truly was under that human husk. With kindled eyes, he spoke, "Show me what you are." He raised his hand out to her, aware the black lightning surrounding Saishi could burn him.
"...This is… not… me…" Saishi growled lowly, struggling to form words as her form shifted. She covered her mouth behind her claw-like hands. She opened her glaring, crimson eyes. "Please, keep… your distance… from me… Broly…" she crept away from his reach and averted her gaze from him.
Broly observed her withdrawn form. "Following orders was never my strength," he remarked. He reached out to her, forcing his hand through the heavy and fierce ki acting as a barrier around Saishi.
As soon as Broly's hand was a few inches from her head, Saishi snapped her head at his hand and slashed her claw at him with a snarl, forcing Broly to retreat. However, the saliva dripping from her fangs indicated her hunger to the Saiyan. Saishi covered her mouth and concealed her face again, trying to repress Karu's hunger, and also disgusted at her feral behaviour.
Broly blinked as he stood several metres away from her, his tail swaying behind him. "Hnn?" He tilted his head to one side. "You're hungry?" Broly noticed, raising his brow. "You should have said sooner." He rested his hands on his waist and relaxed his stance. "Stay here for a bit." He turned away from her. "Don't go off and 'accidentally' kill anyone." He laughed to himself.
After twenty minutes, Broly returned and landed before Saishi, who remained withdrawn.
"As long as I'm not the prey, I'm assuming you can eat this." Broly spoke, raising a raw stack of meat to Saishi.
Saishi twisted her head slowly at Broly, snarling lowly as her crimson eyes peered through the gaps of her fingers. "For the love… of Kami…" Saishi growled, drawing away from the Saiyan, "stay… away from me…" she raised her wing, acting as a barrier against Broly.
Broly lowered the stake to the ground before him and observed her current form. He recalled the pale man, namely his cold and unreadable prowess, and cruel treatment towards Saishi. Now that he thought about it, it was possible Saishi was a tool to that man, and that power Saishi hid was only for that man to command and use- like a puppet.
Broly laughed inwardly to himself and shook his head. Life was a weird thing.
"I can sit here all day you know." Broly spoke, resting on one knee. "I've dealt with all sorts of wild beasts as a kid. I have a good idea what options you have right now." He squinted his eyes shut, "You know, the Saiyans have a feral side too." He smirked and looked to her again.
Saishi continued to watch him. She betrayed him, yet he allowed her to live. Why? She drew her claws to the ground and crept towards the Saiyan. The black lightning shrouding her faded, revealing her inhuman form clearer.
A demonic dragon-hybrid of some sort.
"Broly…" Saishi spoke lowly, crouching before Broly by a few metres like some grotesque chimera. "What… am I… to you?" She bowed her head, her wings slumped to her sides as she closed her eyes. From her wrist, several muscle fibres grew out. The end of the fibres dug into the raw meat in front of her, absorbing the nutrients to recover.
"Does that really matter?" Broly replied, resting his chin against his hand. "Whatever you are; a beast, a human, a- whatever, that doesn't matter to me." He squinted his eyes, "you are the only one who knows what you truly are, not me." He raised his hand out to her. "But if you insist, you are Saishi, a proud Earthling survivor." He raised his voice, his dark and mellow gaze fixed on her.
The sound of her own name…
From Saishi's mind, Karu roared out in fury, angered at the Saiyan for uttering Saishi's name. However, the magic binding Karu to Saishi's physical vessel chained the Demon and dragged her back into the deepest depths of Saishi's mind once more, hushing her roars into silence.
Saishi raised her head, meeting Broly with her weak gaze. As she raised her hand out to him, she drifted to her side, her eyes rolling to the back of her head, losing her state of consciousness momentarily. Her form shifted once more; her claws and inhuman features retracted, reverting Saishi back to her human form once more.
Saishi rested soundly against the ground, her small and human form numb from the pain. She opened her lavender eyes, her gaze blurred from the pain and fatigue. "What… happened?" Saishi muttered weakly, her soft eyes falling onto Broly crouching in front of her. Her fingers twitched, unable to muster the strength to move.
That hostility and violence… it was gone from her.
Broly remained quiet for a few moments. He inspected her visible scars once more, those scars reminding him of some grievously injured animal. He reached his hands out to her, though he pulled his hands back for a moment, he reached out to her again and lifted her small form. He brushed his hand over her head. "That's not important now." Broly spoke softly, his dark and mellow eyes observed her weak and vulnerable state. "Recover your strength first, then we can talk. Understood?"
Saishi remained silent in his grasp, trying to understand what took place. Yet his firm and warm grasp… she didn't understand why but, she drifted to sleep, exhausted to worry about anything. "Yes, Broly." Saishi replied quietly, closing her eyes and rested her head against his chest, hearing the sound of his slow heart. She let herself fall asleep in his sturdy grasp, closing off her mind to the thoughts that would have otherwise keep her awake at night.
This flaw, Saishi was glad to have stumbled into one flaw in Towa's expansive list of magics. She was glad death was not the answer to rid herself from one of Towa's magical tags.
Broly observed her, though a faint warmth radiated from him.
For once, something was his to keep.
He soared into the blue sky in a burst of green, heading towards the hazy, navy mountains ahead. Right now, Saishi recovering her strength was important- and that Shamoian bug better be there.
But most impirtantly, he hoped she can begin to understand who he truly was.
From the far ends of the desolate wasteland, a blond warrior stood, watching the land with his amber eyes. Behind him stood two of his squad members.
"So, it really does look like Lord Frieza has left some monkeys." He said, clicking his green scouter, "let's take care of this." He raised his hand up to his head, "for the Cold empire!"
"Yes Captain!" The duo behind him replied, one perched on a boulder whilst the other stood tall.
They vanished into the breeze, leaving nothing behind.
Planet Earth - Wastelands
In the depths of the fierce battle, the arctic winds howled high up in the grey skies. Two specs of light sparked across the sky, colour the white lands scarlet and purple.
"HAH!" Raditz yelled, his fist striking Slug's raised arms. With a gritted teeth, Raditz swung his foot, yet he missed Slug's torso. A glint of orange caught the corner of Raditz's eyes. He retreated, evading a zooming, dual purple ball of ki orbiting Slug's form.
Damn it. Raditz thought, scowling at a grinning Slug. No matter how many times I hit him, he just knows where I'll hit and blocks. As he observed Slug, the right side of his cheek trickled with blood. With the back of his hand, Raditz rubbed the blood off and continued to scowl at Slug.
As Raditz raised both his hands out to Slug, the twin balls of ki orbiting Slug raced towards Raditz. With no time to change tactics, Raditz fired a dual blast of ki.
With a defeaning explosion, the chilly air was obscured with scorching smoke.
Whip!
"Ngh!" Raditz winced, his right leg numb. He glanced to his leg; a green, outstretched hand gripped his aankle. As Raditz raised his hand at the hand, the hand dragged him flipping the wild-haired Saiyan upside down.
"What did I tell you?" Slug jeered, grinning in the bounded Raditz's face. "I just have to blink and your head will roll."
A static of scarlet ki erupted from both of Raditz's hand. "Eat this, Slug face!" Raditz yelled as his hands zapped with scarlet lightning.
"Again?" Slug raised his brow at Raditz. "You're annoyingly persistent." Saiyans… what else did the foul Namekian expect?
Raditz fired the double beam at Slug, one beam aimed at Slug's face, and the other at the hand grasping his leg.
With another explosion, the grey sky was blinded once more.
"Don't underestimate a Saiyan." Raditz panted as Slug's burnt and bloody hand slipped from his bruised ankle. Raditz dived down towards the icy land, using the mist as cover. At least he shouldn't be able to use his other arm now.
From the clearing mist, Slug hovered with one missing arm.
"Oh look, I've been disarmed." Slug waved his remaining arm as several orbs of ki orbited his form. "What should I do?" He rolled his eyes, sarcastically calling for help.
"Eat this!" Raditz yelled, firing another scarlet, static ball of ki at Slug as he continued to descend into the white land.
"You shouldn't be too hasty with that!" Slug fired two balls of ki at Raditz's incoming ki blast.
The area went up in smoke.
Whish!
As Slug twisted his head to his right, a fist flew towards him and struck him square in the face. As he fell backwards, Slug snapped open his eyes to meet with a pair of two, dark eyes scowling back at him. In retaliation, Slug blinked.
Blood sprayed in the air.
"Damn it!" Raditz screamed as blood sprayed from a narrow gash on his shoulder. He landed on a high rock formation and crouched, slapping his hand over his bleeding shoulder. His blood splattered against the colourless ground, solidifying on the freezing earth.
"A powerful strike, but that's not enough to stop me." Slug grinned, towering over the wild-haired Saiyan. Slug raised his shoulder of his missing arm. "HAH!" He yelled, bursting forth a tangle of muscle fibres from his shoulder and replacing the arm he lost. "Now it's time to dispose you." He cracked his knuckles with a twisted grin.
Slug faced his palm down at Raditz, his fingers all outstretched.
Damn it. Raditz thought as cold sweat seeped from his brow. Kaioken, if only I had the energy- or the Great Ape, I could have taken him down with ease! He scrunched his face. If I knew he had the ability to regenerate his arm! Grgh! Why didn't the geezer tell me this? Raditz hung his head.
"Uncle!"
"Taiyoken!"
Raditz snapped his head, seeing nothing but a bright light illuminating the skies. He threw his arms up, trying to defend his eyes from the harsh light.
"No!" Slug yelled, covering his eyes. "Fools!" He shook his head, blinded by the harsh light.
Now it was time for the heroes to group!
Gohan gripped Raditz by the arm, guiding his uncle as a buzz grew louder in the chilly air above.
Slug snapped open his dark and sore eyes, seeing nothing but a disk of ki racing towards him. He gritted his fangs. That move again?
"Okome, now!" Gohan yelled, supporting Raditz as they got to safety.
Okome lunged towards Slug from the icy land below. She raised her hands behind herself, then thrusted the palms of her hands towards Slug. The frost covering the icy land burst up like spikes and shot towards Slug.
What? Slug thought as a row of icicles flew towards him. Is that one out of her mind? A grin crept on his lips. Very well. It'll make all of this easier.
"No! Don't do it!" Raditz yelled, raising his hand towards Okome. Damn it! She's running straight into his trap. He thought as he panted, his body weighed by fatigue. However, Gohan placed his hand on Raditz's wrist, which Raditz noticed the boy shaking his head side to side.
Slug observed the icicle spikes darting towards him as Okome skated towards him. His eyes flicked to the ki disks dashing towards him.
"Now!" Krillin yelled, clenching his pale fists.
"You're mine!" Slug laughed, lunging out at Okome with his outstretched arm.
No mistakes! Okome thought, gritting her teeth tight. Unlike Nappa, I'll have to stick to defence. Offense isn't an option! With a sudden change in direction, Okome retreated back into the hundreds of icicle spikes. Her eyes remained firm on Slug, anticipating his next action.
"What?" Slug widened his eyes. Rows of ice raced towards him as Okome's form vanished from sight like a trail of mist.
Blood sprayed in the freezing air. A gash ripped through Slug's yellow battle suit, tainting it crimson. He plummeted towards the icy ground and crashed against the frosty, stone ground.
From the numerous spears of ice, Okome descended towards Slug with Krillin. Though not perfect, Okome created a clone of herself by manipulating the moisture in the air- but not for long.
"Did we get him?" Okome spoke, landing besides the tall, laying Namekian. She floated on the surface of the icy water, her feet just brushing the surface.
Slug's body remained still. His yellow battle suit fluttered in the icy winds.
Okome observed his still body for any signs that Slug was alive. She held her hand close to her chest as a thick vapour left her lips. Her heart thumped against the bony cages of her ribs. Yet he gut warned her something was not right.
Witnessing a twitch of Slug's fingers, Krillin widened his eyes.
"Get out of there!" Krillin yelled at Okome.
With a snap of his black eyes, Slug's gaze fixated on Okome. "Surprise!" Slug sneered as a spark of purple light raced towards Okome.
Shit! Okome thought, her navy eyes trembled.
The arctic land erupted into a hue of scarlet, disintegrating the stone ground to nothing.
"Krillin! Okome!" Gohan yelled, gripping tighter onto Raditz's arm. However, Raditz cautioned Gohan to stay back.
Two small forms raced out from the swirling whirlwind of dust.
"Behind you!" Krillin yelled, pointing at the outstretched hand racing towards Okome. As the monk raced towards Okome, a beam of ki struck him in the chest. "Hrgh!" Krillin grunted as the impact of the beam hurled him away from Okome. Why could he never race to his ally's aid? It frustrated the monk.
"Krillin!" Okome called out as Krillin plummeted towards the white world below. As she raced after him, a glint of green caught the corner of her vision. Her navy eyes snapped wider at the outstretched hand just seconds away from grabbing her face. With a firm strike, Okome ducked, evading Slug's hand. She rammed her fist into Slug's wrist, diverting his hand further away from her.
However, Slug's arm looped around Okome, rapidly closed in on her.
Shit! Okome thought as Slug's arm coiled around her throat like a snake, and slowly squeezed the passage of oxygen to her lungs. She dug her nails into Slug's cold arm, clawing to be freed from his grip.
Slug grinned, revealing his fangs. As Okome collected the freezing moisture and formed a dagger in one hand, Slug tugged Okome by the throat, dragging her tiny body in the air like some capture animal. Okome coughed, choking as the ice dagger shattered into dust in her hand.
"Deceive me would you?" Slug spoke, drawing Okome's face close to his. He watched her eyes flickering with little light. "It's time to end this." He squinted his dark eyes, amused at Okome's tough spirit.
However, a smirk twitched on Okome's lips.
"You deceived… yourself…" Okome wheezed, her nails dug into Slug's wrist, "a******.".
Slug furrowed his brows, angered at Okome's smug behaviour.
"Hey! Green Man! Over here!"
As Slug snappes his attention to the sound of a husky voice, a black can rolled towards the Namekian's feet. Slug turned his attention to the can. What's this? Slug thought, his grin dropped.
A hiss of murky fog spewed from the can, blinding Slug's field of vision. Four bullets zipped past Slug, swirling with the fog with a mix of red. As Slug inhaled and exhaled once more, his eyes soon stung, and his lungs soon burned.
"Gck!" Slug coughed, as though his lungs were set on fire. "Damn you imbleciles!" Slug yelled, gripping his face as his eyes teared up uncontrollably. He hurled Okome away from himself and focused on his wild breaths.
As Slug was distracted, Gohan raced after Okome and caught her. With a quiet landing, Gohan raced away from Slug, supporting Okome with one hand under her arm.
"My uncle says to fall back." Gohan whispered to Okome as Okome limped next to him. "We can't beat Slug at the moment, not when we're at a disadvantage."
Olome looked to her right hand, curling her fingers. As ice formed in her palm, the ice shattered into particles. Great… this wasn't good at all. "Yeah," Okome looked to Gohan, "I can't hold him down at the moment either, not when my ki is weak."
As Okome and Gohan regrouped with Raditz, Launch raced past Slug on a one-wheeled motorcycle, making sure the young duo escaped. Once clear, Launch raced away from the battle site, with an injured Krillin hanging over the seat behind her.
"Oh boy, I didn't expect you to bail me out." Krillin chuckled as he squinted his eyes. I just hope I don't get shot by her… Krillin thought as he opened his eyes and met with a focused Launch.
"Oh hush it!" Launch spoke with with a raspy voice, hiding her care behind her mean demeanor- and behind her face mask. She twisted the handles of the bike as the icy winds whipped through her curly, blond hair. "Your friend with the rapunzel hair said we should retreat. So we better hustle or that green guy is gonna catch us." From her back pocket, she pulled out a capsule holding a pistol.
"That isn't going to work on someone like him!" Krillin warned, gripping onto the leather seat of the motor cycle. That time during the World Martial Arts Tournament, regenerating lost limbs was one of Piccolo's main skill. Heck, since Piccolo and Slug look alike, who said they couldn't have the same abilities? It's best to have something to counter than to be sorry. "Remember when-"
-"That regeneration stuff," Launch took aim, "hey, take the wheel would ya." She drew her fingers over her concealed face, removing the mask covering her lips and nose. Krillin flew up to the front of the motorbike whilst Launch shuffled to the back. "About that, I'm pretty sure that's gonna take some time to do. So there'll be enough time for your buddies to get away from here."
"Right." Krillin said, flicking his eyes left and right as the murky fog of red hung in the airs.
After Launch fired several rounds of bullets, if wasn't long until Krillin's throat began to burn.
"What's loaded in that thing?" Krillin asked, pulling his navy, under-shirt over his nose and mouth like a mask.
"Some red and hot chilli powder," Launch replied, holding her pistol closed to one of her eyes, "the nasty kind that'll make anyone cry like a big baby."
"What happen to metal bullets? Or rubber? Heck even that bazooka you had."
Launch reamind quiet for a moment, her gaze shifted to the grey clouds above.
"I can't have the cops chasing you guys everywhere." Launch sighed as she relaxed against the leather seat. "And I don't want to upset your buds, especially Tien." A slight smile shifted on her lips ar the mention of Tien's name. "Those cop fellas don't have a chance against weird freaks like them." Her smile vanished, "We better catch up with them."
As Krillin and Launch rode off into the murky fog, Slug's scarred eye squinted up at the motorbike fade off into the distance. He slowly rose up to his feet and cracked his neck. He shifted his gaze to the sky, observing the inky, steel clouds blocking out the sun's golden rays. A grin grew on his lips.
Only a few more hours until the world fell into absolute darkness.
Planet Earth - Hospital
Dark. Only a flicker of orange light reached out towards the silent hallways, painting the white hallways with splatters of crimson and littered with still and burnt bodies.
A beep. A click. And yet another beep... echoed from the only room brimming with life- and then a cry from the deep abyss of a Saiyan's stomach echoed through the silent building.
With squinted eyes, and a pouting face, Goku stared up at the grey, tiled ceiling above. "Hey, Chi," Goku spoke, bounded to his prison by the endless arms of steel, "I'm really starving." He wiggled his head, adjusting his position to see his wife seated besides him on the ground.
"Sorry Goku," Chichi replied, leaning against the foot of the bed as the power pole rested between her bruised palms. She turned her head to Goku, her tired eyes gleaming with determination. "There's nothing at the moment. Those barbarians raided the hospital." She sighed and slumped her shoulders. "Our best bet at the moment is waiting for Bulma; I mean, she might have a capsule full of food somewhere." Her eyes softened.
The children, her son Gohan and his friend Okome… Chichi hoped they were safe. The thought of Gohan fighting against those brutes, Chichi's heart ached at the thought of a child, her son, hurt and killed by those monsters.
Goku caught Chichi's anxious gaze. He knew how much she worried over their allies' health. Gohan… Goku was sure he was alright. After all, Gohan had the blood of a warrior within him, something Goku refused to ignore.
Yet, Gohan had a gentle heart.
Oolong sat at the window ledge, observing Goku. "Yeah," Oolong spoke, crossing his arms over his chest. "Unless those freaks threatened Bulma into submission."
"I highly doubt that." Puar interjected, hovering besides Oolong. "Bulma's really smart."
"She's one fine, feisty woman I tell you that." Roshi added as he gripped onto his staff as his frail body rested against what's left of the wooden chair. "Bulma will fight anyone to get it her way."
"She's too much of a hot head." Yajirobe remarked, running a cloth over his sword as he stood at the burnt, metal door. "Her coy attitude got her into trouble too many times. She got turned into a carrot, what else can you say?"
"Speaking of food," Chichi chimed in, "we could make a stew. Canned food anyone?"
"Yuck." Goku pouted, puffing out his cheeks. "Isn't there any ramen? That's the good stuff." His onyx eyes gleamed.
"Nope sonny," Roshi chuckled weakly as he drew his index finger and thumb over his white moustache. "Everything's completely cleared out. They've raided the food stock."
"They're trying to starve us," Yajirobe drew his katana back in its sheath. "By doing that, they'll force us to surrender easier. In Goku's case, no food equals no strength."
"No way!" Goku raised his voice. "Starving a person of food is not the way to go." He puffed his cheeks out again, "How low do these guys gotta go just to win? I mean, 'maybe' we could solve something over some nice and warm ramen." Goku smiled, thinking fondly of Chichi's home made cuisine.
"Goku…" Chichi prolonged her voice as she tapped one end of the Power pole against the metal ground. "Don't get so carried away."
"But Chi..." Goku dipped his eyebrows up as his dark pupils widened, similar to a small child wanting something. "You know I can't do anything when I'm starving."
"What if I told you you're not allowed to fight- well not in that condition any way?" Chichi crossed her arms, aware of Goku's implication to fight. "As much as I hold reservations for your brother, let him handle it from here." She tilted her head to one side, "though I don't trust him just yet, this would be a good time for him to show if he can be trusted or not."
"Perhaps." Roshi's shades glinted with a reflection of the nearby candle light. "If Tien, and the likes of Piccolo, can reform, who said Raditz could not?"
Everyone in the room fell silent. Raditz… they weren't sure if they could fully trust a man who betrayed his own blood and ran away like a coward. Who knows when Raditz could seize the next opportunity to kill everyone and repeat the same atrocities-
-No. Goku refused to believe it, not when he challenged Raditz in Otherworld. Raditz… the circumstances he suffered through crafted him into that brute- yet his cowardice… Goku questioned why Raditz faltered. That fear, Goku wasn't too sure why Raditz fled when he was out matched. He was a Saiyan warrior who should take pride in fighting such powerful adversaries. Maybe, just maybe he developed that fear. Goku could only assume Raditz's time serving under Frieza and Vegeta mentally broke him- surrendering himself into that fear and crafted him into a coward to avoid such torture.
And that fear… oh how Raditz believed he was a failure in their father's eyes for restoring to those cowardly tactics.
"In the words of our father, as a little brat he used to remind me that a true Saiyan warrior is a fierce warrior who is loyal to his allies and will never abandon them- and also fight until his last breath. I used to remember believing those words."
And Goku remembered those sad and hurt eyes. Raditz… to think he used to be a naive child like him. Yet Raditz laughed off those words, as though the truth never wounded him.
"Kakarot, I may not hold the same values as you, but I ask of you, do look after the allies you've acquainted on Earth. I can see they will go Hell and back to cover for you."
Yet, Goku was confused at Raditz's final words for that night.
"Our father must be so proud in having a son like you."
The Earth-raised Saiyan could only ponder on those words. Why did Raditz say those words? He could only assume Raditz's time in death affected him. As Goku continued to think, an elder's voice caught his attention.
-"Goku! Hello? Anybody down there?"
"Hold on, I'm getting a weird voice in my head." Goku spoke as he shifted his gaze up at the dark ceiling.
"It's probably the medication." Yajirobe retorted, after gulping down water from his pouch. He rubbed his damp lips, "so it's better you don't do some Drunken Fist stuff.
Roshi chuckled in the background at Yajirobe's remark.
"Don't tell me you already forgot about me!" The elder's voice yelled, echoing in the minds of everyone in the same room where Goku was imprisioned in.
"Oh… its's you King Kai!" Goku chuckled as he squinted his eyes shut. "What's up?"
"Besides the fact that I'm hanging around with, you know… dead people, you need to hear some urgent news. It's about Raditz and the others."
As King Kai adjusted his shades, Yamcha, Tien and Chiaotzu stood behind the elder and observed him. King Kai cleared his throat and ignored their presence. He waved his hand, summoning a hammer and letting it drop on Yamcha's foot. However, Chiaotzu budged the hammer away with telekinesis, diverting the danger to Yamcha. With that, King Kai whistled, summoning a small and speedy cricket.
As for Goku and the group on Earth, Goku caught Chichi's anxious gaze. "Relax Chi." Goku smiled up to his wife. "This is another teacher who taught me while I was dead. He's a good friend."
"Where ever you go, even after death, you somehow manage to find the excuse to fight." Chichi sighed, rubbing her temples.
"No one seems to understand the danger of the situation." King Kai continued, standing on the green grass of his little planet. He gazed up at the peachy sky, two forms flew past.
Yamcha weilded a hammer and raced after a speedy cricket; Gregory.
King Kai continued to rant, "Frieza and his race, Majin Buu, the Saiyans themselves, the galactic pirate, the Super Namekians, the South Galaxy vanishing... and I'm only one Kai! Oh, and I'll say it again, THE SAIYANS AGAIN- ahem." He flicked his eyes to a lonesome tree, witnessing Piccolo hovering in the air in a meditative stance. "Now," King Kai flicked his attention over to the small building in the middle of the small planet. From the building, Tien watched Yamcha sternly as the little Chiaotzu cheered the former bandit on. "Raditz-"
"Oh, wow! They sound so strong!" Goku thought, gleaming up at the ceiling. "Can I-"
"-You heard nothing Goku!" King Kai yelled down at the grass below, his antennae twitched. "Nothing! Just focus at the matters at hand now."
"Awww…" Goku's brows dipped up.
"Now, about the whole situation." King Kai covered his lips with one hand, "Raditz and your allies just barely avoided death- by the skin of their teeth. And that's not even the worst part."
"Come on King Kai, I'm pretty sure Raditz was playing with his opponent." Goku chuckled, tilting his head to one side. "That's how he was in the first fight between me and Piccolo."
"But this time he wasn't."
King Kai turned his attention the Piccolo, who rested his back against the tree.
"Raditz knows very little about the Namekians," Picccolo continued as he watched the Kai from the shadows of the tree. "I'm assuming you only told him of the history of the Namekians and not their prowess." Piccolo's lips crept a grin. "That's a bad battle strategy."
"Well," King Kai adjusted his black shades, "That's like saying you only knew the Saiyan's weakness," he pointed his index finger to Piccolo, "mind you grabbing their tail makes them lose all feeling in their bodies." He drew his hand to his chin. "However, you ignored the possibility that some Saiyans may have developed an immunity to it- and the consequences as a result of that ignorance explains why you're here in Otherworld." He drew both his hands behind himself and hobbled towards his small, dome house. "Your actions defines a bad battle strategy, even worse than your previous incarnation."
Piccolo's grin shifted into gritted fangs. Demon King Piccolo, also recognised as Piccolo Daimo, Piccolo's previous incarnation created great chaos and fear. For the one who was responsible for killing several of Goku's comrades, and also nearly completed his conquest for world domination, Piccolo very well knew there were individuals who will hold him accountable for those evil deeds. Whatever Piccolo's past incarnation did, the Namekian refused to let the Kai get under his skin.
Sensing the tension in the air, Yamcha halted with a hammer resting over his shoulder. "Did Piccolo get burned?" Yamcha mentioned, turning his attention to the Kai as Gregory whizzed besides King Kai.
"Yamcha," Tien spoke, shifting his gaze to the former bandit, "don't provoke him. The last thing we need to do is to start a needless fight on a Kai's planet. Have some respect."
Yamcha shifted his gaze to his rival briefly. He sighed as Tien's stern gaze remained fixed on him. He landed with a silent crunch besides Tien before meeting Piccolo's darl gaze.
"And you, Yamcha?" Piccolo raised his brow at Yamcha. "Don't forget you lost to a Saibaman because you got too cocky." He grinned, showing his fangs at the former bandit. "I; on the other hand, lost to that Saiyan brute."
"Why you-" As Yamcha raised his fist at Piccolo, Tien raised his hand at Yamcha, indicating Yamcha to back off. Yamcha crossed his arms over his chest and mutterd under his breath.
"Get too cocky and you're bound to make a fatal mistake." Tien intervened, his gaze shifted to Piccolo. "You should know that better than anyone else."
As Piccolo was about to speak, King Kai hobbled between Tien and Piccolo.
"Alright guys, calm down." King Kai spoke as he held his hands up at the four fighters. "You're all dead, that's the main point." He turned his head to the golden clouds above. "Now," the Kai spoke telepathically, "about Raditz and your allies, they had no option but to retreat for now. From what Slug has displayed, we need to have a solid battle strategy to defeat him for good." He adjusted his shades. "From my assumptions, Slug confirms the myth of such Namekians." He sighed, slumping his shoulders. "Slug has been toying with everyone, and I'm sure he's yet to show off his trump card." He drew his hand to his lips, "You must all be extremely careful the next time you face him."
Back on Earth, Goku tilted his head at a thought. "King Kai," Goku chirped, "I know that Slug has that weird regrowing arm thing- I mean, he's green and he kinda looks like Piccolo."
Piccolo arched his brows at Goku's remark. "Yes, I'm green and I'm so evil." Piccolo laughed with heavy sarcasm. He gazed up at the golden sky, not bothered to deal with Goku's stroke of genius.
"He won't hear you." King Kai twitched his antennae. "You'll have to touch my back in order to send your message to person or group."
"Guess that makes you a telephone," Yamcha chuckled as he nudged King Kai with his elbow, "am I right?"
"I suppose…" King Kai prolonged his voice as he rubbed his chin, not sure what Yamcha meant by that. He gazed back up at the golden skies. "Let me simplify the process and expand my telepathy, I don't want all of yous jumping on my back." He adjusted his shades and his antennas twitched. "Goku," the Kai continued, "Raditz is in good health, as well as everyone else. But," he pointed his index finger at a thought, "you guys need a strategy to take down Slug for good. I'll trust you all with that."
"Kai of the North," Roshi called, resting his chin on his staff. "What is there to know of the Super Namekians? Would it be advisable to use Piccolo as a reference?" He gestured his hand in a circular motion.
"Hmm…" the Kai hummed at the Turtle Hermit's words, "Piccolo doesn't seem to be a Super Namekian." King Kai mentioned, rubbing his chubby chin as he shifted his gaze to the silent Namekian. "Hey, you don't mind helping us out right?" He turned his head to Piccolo.
"Goku should know." Piccolo crossed his arms over his chest, flicking his head away from the Kai. "He's the only one who fought against and besides me."
"This isn't the time to sulk." Yamcha called out Piccolo, raising his fist at the Namekian. "Our buds down their are in a pickle and you're just being such a hardass about it."
Piccolo shifted his sharp gaze at Yamcha, warning the former bandit to back off. Tien placed his hand on Yamcha's fist and shook his head.
"Piccolo," Tien spoke, walking in front of Yamcha, "I agree with Yamcha. As much as we don't see eye to eye at the moment, Earth will cease to exist if Slug gains domination over it." He shook his head briefly, "I don't know if you value Earth as your home, but I'm sure that Gohan and Okome do, and you 'know' them better than everyone else here."
Goku tilted his head to one side, confused at what Tien implied. As he opened his mouth, Chichi pulled the blanket over Goku's head, not having the energy to deal work Goku's questions.
Piccolo turned his back on Tien, Yamcha and the dead warriors. The young duo; Gohan and Okome… to think they would be the ones to make him question his morals and philosophies. If Earth fell into Slug's hands, Piccolo could never forgive himself if they died.
No… he was only reincarnated as a legacy to rule Earth. Earth was only his to rule, not by some other evil Namekian!
Piccolo curled his fingers into his palms as his arms remained crossed over his chest. Just why was he conflicted over his core values? No… what were his core values? The Namekian wasn't too sure, yet his conscious leaned towards ensuring the safety of Earth.
"I'm willing to cooperate, but," Piccolo spoke as he turned his head back to the group, "don't think for a second that I'll continue to aid you." He furrowed his brows.
Yamcha smirked at Tien and Chiaotzu, to which Tien sighed silently through his nose. Chiaotzu chuckled quietly.
"Well, I don't know Piccolo..." Goku continued, wiggling his head out from the blanket, "you used weighted clothing, you have stretchy arms, oh!" Goku's eyes widened, "You turn into a giant!" He raised his voice. After a second, he furrowed his brows, "and he also killed me with a beam just to kill Raditz." His voice dipped with annoyance, "I guess you got happy taking that cheap shot, eh?"
Piccolo sighed silently through his nose at Goku's remarks. Goku truly was something else. "Is that all you remember?" Piccolo squinting one of his eyes. "I reversed a Mafuba, the Demon Containment Wave, with little effort!" He raised his voice.
"Oh yes, Mutaito Sensei's prized technique." Roshi mumbled, rubbing his prickly, white moustache. His Sensei… the smile on his face, the sudden memory saddened the Turtle Hermit. He shifted his gaze to the window and watched the grey and freezing world outside.
What would his Sensei do in this scenario?
Meanwhile, Goku and Piccolo bantered in the background.
"I've stopped your son when he rampaged in the Great Ape form by destroying up the moon," Piccolo continued, clenching a fist, "twice."
"Ozaru." King Kai interjected, adjusting his shades. "That form is also known as the Ozaru, or Great Ape- but let's not cause a war over those things since everyone should know what they are."
"Even the 'Super Warriors'?" Yamcha snickered as he rested his hands on the hammer with a smirk, "or even Big Green." He squinted his eyes at Piccolo.
Piccolo glared at the former bandit. Because of his power, rings of pebbles and dust levitated around Yamcha.
"Please, stop it the both of yous." King Kai warned with a sharp tone, his antennaes twitched. No wonder he refused to allow mortals to train under him, they always seemed to have the habit of arguing amongst themselves.
"Was I dead?" Goku tilted his head with a raised brow. "I don't remember Gohan turning into a Great Ape."
"... yes." Piccolo sighed, resting his back against the wooden tree. "But I guess that's all you know about me."
"Hm." King Kai hummed as he shifted his gaze to Piccolo. "I see you don't seem to know much of your own race, considering the fact you were raised on Earth." King Kai observed the silent, green Demon. "I don't blame you for your lack of knowledge on your own race."
"I don't need your pity." Piccolo raised his voice and scowled at the Kai. His sharp tone caused Yamcha to halt, which the momentum of the hammer in his hand flew out of his grasp. With a frustrated sigh, Yamcha shifted his annoyed gaze at Piccolo, resting his hand on his hip.
Gregory snickered in the background, to which Tien covered his face and shook his head. As for Chiaotzu, he caught the hammer with his telekinetic prowess.
"Ahem, moving on," The Kai continued, "the Namekians were known for their unusual skills and talents." King Kai glanced away from Piccolo to the dead, Earthling warriors. "But I'll get straight to the point. I've already explained this already to Raditz and Goku when you guys were taking a hike on Snake way." King Kai hobbled over to his deck chair. "So keep your ears peeled for this little history lesson."
"We wouldn't have taken that long if Yamcha didn't waste his time speaking to Princess Snake." Tien muttered under his breath with a blank face.
"M..me?" Yamcha stuttered, blinking as he pointed to himself. "Come on man, I'm sure you found her cute." He nudged his elbow against Tien's shoulder. "Oh wait," he squinted his eyes, "you're with Laun-"
Tien poked Yamcha forcefully in the hip, causing Yamcha to gasp and collapse on his knees.
"Speaking of Hebi Hime," King Kai mentioned, rubbing his chin, "she had a thing for strong, Saiyan men." He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "I wonder how Yemma took it."
"Seriously?" Yamcha exclaimed, his eyes widened at the revelation. "With who? Goku?"
"His brother."
Yamcha, Tien and Chiaotzu all exchanged a glance. Yamcha chuckled and rubbed his head as Tien sighed silently through his nose again. Piccolo squinted his eyes, assuming they spoke of 'that' mushy stuff.
Back on Earth, everyone took cover as Chichi fumed in anger. Goku hid under the blankets as Chichi glared at him.
"I guess being a Saiyan means you become a chick magnet." Yamcha chortled, resting his fists on his hips. Yet deep inside, Yamcha hated that assumption.
"Just be glad we managed to escaped her jaws." Tien patted Yamcha on the shoulders. "If Chiaotzu didn't bail you out, we could have been snake food."
"Yeah…" Yamcha prolonged his voice at the thought of a massive, teal serpent.
King Kai slumped his shoulders. Just what troubles did these guys get themselves into? He cleared his throat and began to speak about the Namekian history. After half an hour, he concluded his lecture.
-"and that's how you were able to make clothes for Gohan out of thin air." King Kai continued, explaining to the warriors on Earth, and in Otherworld, of the Namekians. "As for one last thing; on the topic of the Super Nameks, Slug indeed is one. He was able to push Raditz away with ease... until Okome came with reinforcements. But," he adjusted his shades, "that's a sign for all of yous not to fight Slug on his own. His senses are top notch; Raditz failed to scratch him." King Kai rubbed his chin. "The Namekians are such great listeners due to their ears. Kami was able to hear everything going down on Earth from the Lookout."
"So, we'll have to distract him to stop him from hearing." Goku asked, his brows dipped up. "How? Screaming?"
"Or making the most annoying sound in existence." King Kai added, looking up at the golden skies, "What's the most annoying sound to a Namekian." He shifted his gaze to Piccolo.
"Whistling." Piccolo answered, hovering in a meditative stance.
A high pitch tune left the King Kai lips. Piccolo stumbled from his meditation and clasped his pointed ears.
"Okay!" Piccolo grunted, in visible agony as he knelt on the emerald grass.
"I had to make sure you were telling the truth." King Kai replied, resring his hands behind himself. "You know, King Yemma only allowed you of all people to train here because of your deeds, so don't throw that all away now."
"Yeah, even I don't understand how someone as evil as him was allowed to stay here." Yamcha questioned, crossing and resting his arms over the end of the hammer. "Unless you're telling me his deeds got reset to zero when he got reincarnated?"
"... reincarnation and that incarnation stuff is a 'really' complicated concept to break down and judge." King Kai replied, looking to Yamcha. "That stuff is only something for the Kais, and those ruling the gates to Otherworld and Hell, have full control over. So asking someone like me won't do you guys any good." The Kai chuckled as he shifted his gaze away from the former bandit.
Piccolo squinted his eyes, suspicious at King Kai's words. It made the Namekian ponder of that concept and how those who rule Otherworld, and the higher realms, judge souls of the dead. If a soul got reincarnated, Piccolo assumed that the previous incarnation cannot be brought back, because their soul is still technically alive- but as another individual. Yet… he questioned that very fact. His previous incarnation committed such atrocities, yet here he was in Otherworld training under a Kai.
Something didn't settle right with Piccolo of that fact.
"What's the only biggest bad thing I've done?" Piccolo questioned, rising up to his feet. "Because I'll make one thing clear," He pointed at Yamcha, "the Saiyans; you don't understand how formidable they are- excluding Goku."
"But-" Goku chirped.
-"Compared to the likes of Vegeta and Nappa, even Raditz, they were sent to kill and annihilate every single organism on a planet." Piccolo ignored Goku. "Along with that Great ape form, they could pull it all off under a single night. Now," Piccolo pointing his thumb to himself. "Explain any thing that I did that could rival their sheer, evil power?"
"You mean you now or your previous incarnation?" Tien asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Piccolo narrowed his eyes on the monk, frustrated and annoyed at their constant reminders.
"You stopped an ape." Chiaotzu diverted the conversation as he hovered besides Tien. "Even if that doesn't qualify as evil, you still held your own." He chirped, trying to defuse the tension in the air. "If not that, swallowing your pride and teaming up with Goku when Raditz invaded Earth shows how powerful your character is."
Piccolo paused and glanced to Chiaotzu. His character… just what exactly did Tien's long time ally meant by that? He closed his eyes briefly and sighed.
"But that power, and character alone, is not enough to stop a deadly threat similar to Nappa or Vegeta." Piccolo shook his head side to side. "Think about it, if their only weakness is something they built immunity against, what other option do you honestly have to defeat them?"
"The defense-piercing-beam thing you have?" Goku mentioned, squinting his eyes at the thought.
"You forgot how long that takes to charge up." Piccolo scowled at Goku's answer.
"Good grief!" King Kai yelled. "Can we focus on the task at hand rather than taking every opportunity to jab each other?"
"... yes King Kai." Goku, and his allies, replied. Piccolo scoffed and turned his attention away from the group.
"Good." King Kai replied, calming his voice. "Back to Raditz, now that we know what a Super Namekian hates, I'll keep an eye out for Slug's whereabouts and motives. In the mean time Goku, try to plan something. I'll get back to you so that you can both talk amongst each other. Understood?"
"Yes King Kai!" Goku replied with a beaming smile. Once Silence filled the dim room, Goku sighed. "Well then," his onyx eyes sparked with determination. "Let's figure something out before Raditz gets over here."
"So," Roshi spoke, hobbling over to Goku's bed. "What's the plan, sonny?" He stood beside Goku as all eyes fell on him.
The realm of the Kai's - King Kai planet
King Kai covered his mouth, clearing his throat. He gazed back up at the drifting, golden clouds. Goku… to think he was a mortal who constantly broke his limits. To think such a mortal was capable of reaching such heights.
"You all need to train hard if you want to get to Goku's level." King Kai mentioned, looking over to the Earthling warriors. "I was the one who taught him the Kaioken, and the Spirit Bomb- or as some people may call it; the Genkidama."
"Man, I still have to catch that little bugger don't I?" Yamcha groaned, rubbing his shoulder as the hammer laid at his feet. "Hey, Tien, why don't you take a shot?"
"Sure," Tien gripped the hammer. "I'll probably get him quicker than you." He taunted the former bandit with a smirk.
"Is that a challenge?" Yamcha drew his finger on his nose, raising his chin at the monk with a squinted eye.
"It's not about 'getting' quicker." King Kai clarified, raising his hand out to Yamcha, Tien and Chiaotzu. "It's about controlling your speed, agility, and timing; including your ki output for power." He lowered his hand. "The Kaioken was specifically made to give you a burst in speed and power, but," he wiggled his finger side to side, "it also drains your ki, leaving you wide open when the Kaioken wears off."
"So chasing that cricket is only teaching us to adapt to our speed, our power and reaction time, or predicting the opponent's moves?" Yamcha rubbed his unruly, black hair.
"If you paid attention earlier, you would have gotten the gist of the whole exercise." Tien rested the hammer over his shoulder with one arm. "I'm surprised King Yemma allowed you to train with us." Tien laughed, winding up his rival.
"Hey!" Yamcha exclaimed, holding his fist at Tien. A red vein pulsed on the side of his head, aware of Tien's taunts. "I'm not letting Goku beat me. If Krillin can keep up with him, so can I! I'm a student of that old guy, so I'm not letting Krillin and Goku best me!"
"Come on guys," Chiaotzu chuckled weakly, lowering his hands at the duo. "Let's focus on our training. Bickering over who's better isn't going to solve anything." He looked to Yamcha, who turned his head away from Tien as he fumed at his taunts. "And besides, we can still help Goku by training here in Otherworld. Learning the Kaioken would be really useful."
"Indeed it would be." King Kai hobbled over to the white chair besides his home. "From my memory, Earthlings don't have anything else to back themselves up against all these other races out there in space." King Kai laid on his deck chair and gazed up at the drifting clouds above. "Saiyans turn into Great apes... or Ozarus, I don't remember Earthlings having anything close to taking down an ape of that scale, or a power up to match that."
"Puar turned into a pair of scissors." Yamcha mentioned, raising his hand up at King Kai. "That's pretty good."
"True, but how about power wise?"
"Then we'll just have to take on the Great ape ourselves, right?" Yamcha twitched a smile.
"Giants aren't easy to take down, you know. I'm sure you all remember Piccolo's fight with Goku?"
"Oh boy," Yamcha chuckled, glancing to Tien. "At least Goku played it smart by abusing this height, right?"
Tien nodded, agreeing with Yamcha.
"Forget about giants," Piccolo intervened, snapping his head at the trio, "right now, you should all focus on catching that overgrown cricket."
"My name's Gregory!" A shrill echoed from the far end of the small planet.
"What makes you think that you can boss us around like that?" Yamcha answered back at Piccolo, placing one hand on his hip. "I don't see you training since we got here; and catching him isn't a breeze either." He pointed his finger at Piccolo. "So what makes you think this will be a breeze?"
Piccolo rested his feet against the grass with a crunch and stood tall. "I'll show you that you're not focusing hard enough, especially someone like you who lacks discipline." Piccolo retorted as he met Yamcha's burning gaze.
"Hey, I've worked pretty hard for each martial arts tournament." Yamcha pointed his thumb to himself.
"Yeah, if working hard means losing the quarter finals for each one." Piccolo sneered, raising one of his hands close to his face. A poof of smoke left his fingers, materialisimg a hammer. "Let me demonstrate how easy this training from a Kai really is."
"You can't loosen up a teeny bit here can you?" King Kai sighed, twisting his head at Piccolo. "Hey! Gregory! You better play your best game, Piccolo's not fooling around."
Gregory nodded. With a burst of light, he vanished. Piccolo's eyes glanced from the small house, to the tree, to the car. However, sight should never be the only factor when finding and capturing the target.
"He was playing all of us?" Yamcha exclaimed, arching his eyebrows up.
"Did you just notice?" Tien retorted, sitting down on the grass.
"Of course." King Kai looked over to Yamcha. "After Goku's training, Gregory had no choice but to make it difficult for anyone training under me to learn the Kaioken and Spirit Bomb. So he trained-"
-"Got him."
King Kai glanced to Piccolo, who loomed over Gregory. The small, tanned insect laid on the grass, cross-eyed and muttering nonsense.
"Hard training?" Piccolo scoffed, holding the hammer in his hand up. The hammer poofed into smoke. "Sure."
"Good grief you're an extremely dull guy." King Kai retorted, turning away from Piccolo. "Back on track, I'd better locate Raditz. You guys can do what you want- just no unnecessary fighting, alright?" He looked over his shoulder to Piccolo. He shifted his gaze to the Earthling warriors.
"I'll return to my own training." Piccolo turned away from the Kai and walked over to the tree with his arms crossed. He gazed up at the sky from the shade of the tree. He then closed his eyes, his mind drifting to them.
Those kids; Gohan and Okome… why did his thoughts always return to them? Their happiness, their kindness, their determination, why did he always remember them?
Piccolo opened his eyes once more, watching the golden clouds drift by. No, they should be alright. They had each other. As long as they continued to hone and expand on the basics, they should be alright.
As time passed, those who remained in Otherworld continued to train; until the day they returned to the living realm. For now, everything was left up to their allies on Earth- even if one was a former enemy.
Until next time ^_^
