"Guys, what are we doing?" Riva spoke as her eyes remained focused on the monster in front of them.
Hatchiyack was rooted in place as he stared the trio down. After his lightshow and power up, he had become a statue, studying his prey like an animal ready to pounce. Onen, Nosa, and Riva hadn't dared moved under his scrutiny.
As the time ticked on, Onen finally spoke. "I think we can take him."
"You're an idiot." Nosa fought the urge to snap at the Saiyan, and instead weighed the options of their next move. He chanced a glance to Riva to consider a plan, and that was all the opening the monster needed.
As soon as Nosa's eyes left him, Hatchiyack fired a rapid energy blast at the Yadratian. Quickly, all three dispersed from their spot, leaving an explosion to spark in their wake. As they appeared out of the danger zone, they shifted their eyes back to Hatchiyack to find him gone.
"Where did h-," Onen didn't get to finish before the bio-monster rushed in out of nowhere with a boot to the side of his head.
While the Saiyan went spearing down to the ground, Nosa found his vision filled with Hatchiyack. He hardly had a second to be surprised before a massive fist crashed into his abdomen. The impact was enough to force him to curl in on himself, leaving him wide open for another attack.
Just before Nosa could take a second punch to the face, Riva darted over with a roundhouse kick that sent Hatchiyack flying backward. But he didn't go far before halting himself and staring down the pair across from him.
In that momentary cease, Onen reappeared with a fresh bruise under his right eye and a very pissed glare at the monster.
Nosa straightened himself back up, trying to ignore the throbbing in his torso. Fighting Hatchiyack was not a good idea, and he knew it. "We should try to get off this planet, Onen."
The Saiyan merely scoffed.
The Yadratian then chanced a glance to Riva, and could see how focused she was. They were fools.
But his attempts with the two took a pause as the green glow of Hatchiyack caught their eye. One-by-one, the gems on his body began to radiate, and Nosa could feel him charging up for something.
Onen wasn't going to give him the chance, though, as he suddenly darted out for the monster. "No you don't!" he growled as he soared in with a fist prime for the attack.
The green energy gathering in Hatchiyack's gems were dashed as he dodged to the left of Onen's attack, much to the Saiyan's annoyance. But he pressed on, with a spinning heel kick and a jab to the skull and elbow to the jaw – each attack, dodged effortlessly. The Saiyan seethed as he spun with another punch, only to be stopped in his tracks as Hatchiyack rushed into him with a punishing knee to the Saiyan's stomach, followed by an axe handle to the back that sent the warrior rushing out of the air.
With a cheeky grin, Hatchiyack aimed to follow, only to be stopped as a storm of purple energy blasts struck his side. Despite the chaotic attack, he held firm and lifted his arm to somewhat block against the barrage and glare through the maelstrom to Riva, who was firing off with all her might. A growl of anger rolled from the monster before he formed a massive ball of green energy and hurled it at the Heran with enough power to cancel out her barrage attack.
A spark of panic dotted Riva's face as she narrowly dodged the blast, and she caught the slightest hint of Hatchiyack darting behind her back. Frozen in place, she chanced a glance back to the monster and was almost greeted with his fist before Nosa beat him to the punch.
The Yadratian appeared out of nowhere with a solid jab to Hatchiyack jaw, knocking the monster back a few feet. With a grunt of anger, the monster began to charge back at the duo, only to be blindsided once more with Onen, who charged up with an uppercut that completely rocked the monster. Briefly, the trio shared a look before they rushed Hatchiyack.
With Riva at the monster's left, Nosa at his right, and Onen in front of him, the warriors surrounded Hatchiyack in a wild, frenzied attack. They were a blur of kicks and punches as they stormed the creature, chasing him all across the sky as they did so. Nosa blurred in with an especially powerful kick to Hatchiyack's side, nearly snapping the monster in two, before Riva sent him rocketing higher into the sky with a dropkick, and Onen's aura expanded around him as he gave chase. In an instant, he'd soared past to meet the monster in the air with an axe handle that cracked out across the area with a resounding boom, sending Hatchiyack spearing toward the ground like a falling star.
The monster's explosive impact with the dirt below was quickly followed by a storm of energy waves from all three before they collectively raised orbs above their heads, charging them as they doubled in size. With a battle cry from the trio, they released the attacks. The orbs slammed into one another mid-air and became one as they charged downward. They caught the faintest glimpse of Hatchiyack beginning to stand in his crater before he was engulfed in the explosion of their conjoined attack.
Onen offered a triumphant laughed as he watched the lightshow while Riva watched on with a cocky smirk, but as the two seemed to celebrate, Nosa moved right in front of them once more with an expression far from joy. "This is our last chance! Let's go!" he pleaded.
"What are you talking about? There's no way he could've survived that," Riva spoke with a look of confusion.
"And even if he could, we can take the bastard. We've got this!" Onen demanded, brow furrowing in frustration as he looked upon the Yadratian.
Nosa could only shake his head. "Even Cooler knows when he's outmatched," he griped as he turned away from Onen and floated closer to Riva, grabbing a hold of her hand as he pleaded again. "If you trust me at all, you will leave with me. Now!"
Riva's stubbornness faded as she met Nosa's resolve, and only then could she see true worry in his eyes. She glanced over to Onen just as Hatchiyack's eerie green glow began to bath the area once more. "I think we should -,"
The Heran's words died in her throat as Hatchiyack suddenly darted out of the smoke below and appeared before the trio in an instant, all of his gems gleaming with his green energy.
Before her or the others could even make a move, Hatchiyack's fist were darting out like pistons. Moving his arms in a blur, the monster managed to send an innumerable amount of punches over the trio before him. All the warriors could do was yield to his might as their bodies contorted with each impact, and they were left wide open as he finally slammed each of them out of the sky, leaving them to spear into the ground below.
A moment passed as the dirt and debris of their crashes wafted away, and Nosa was the first to pull himself from his hole. His body was a mess of bruises and cuts, and the armor wrapping around his torso was shattered in the back. Still, in spite of his weariness, he managed to look across the open field to where Riva lied, unmoving.
Let Onen have his damn fight. We're getting out of here, he thought as he dragged himself up and began stumbling to the woman.
Long before he could reach her, though, Hatchiyack had appeared right in front of him.
Stopped dead in his tracks, Nosa barred his teeth at the monster as Hatchiyack loomed over him with his creepy yellow eyes. Casually, the monster folded his arms and offered a cocky smirk as he took one step forward, forcing Nosa to take one step back. Step after step the monster pressed Nosa away from Riva while all the Yadratian could do was glower in return.
And then, Hatchiyack dodged to the side all of a sudden, just as Onen charged into the place, his attempt at a sneak attack failing miserably. Time seemed to slow to a crawl just as Nosa and Onen locked eyes in that fleeting moment. Nosa saw what was happening just before the Saiyan could feel it. Deftly, Hatchiyack dodged to the side of Onen before turning with a punishing kick to the Saiyan's side, so much power behind the attack that the remains of Onen's armor was sent splintering out into all directions. In an instant, Onen smacked across the ground with enough might to carve a trench several meters long. At the end of it, the Saiyan laid, eyes completely glazed over as he rested.
"Dammit!" Nosa yelled out as he watched the Saiyan's helpless body.
"If only he'd listened to you," Raichi's voice suddenly dropped down upon them, calling Nosa's attention back to his platform where he'd reappeared. Casually, the good doctor looked upon the scene with a sick, amused smile on his face. "Don't beat yourself up over it, though. Saiyan's tend to have trouble with impulse control, and all they really know is death and destruction. Even in the bitter end, they hold on to that warrior resolve. How pitiful?"
The doctor offered a dry laugh as he raked his eyes from Nosa to where Onen lay. "We'll find some use with that impulsive energy in our new world. And we'll find some use with you as well, Nosa. You seem to have a very practical mind. You'll make an excellent Tuffle."
"Fuck you!" the Yadratian barked, his tone only serving to amuse Raichi more. "I'd rather die than have anything to do with you!"
"You don't really have a choice in the matter." Raichi turned to Hatchiyack then, and gave a gentle nod in the Yadratian's direction.
Nosa followed the cue and turned to the monster before him, who seemed eager to do his master's bidding as he began walking toward Nosa once more. The Yadratian stepped away again, fear urging him away. But Hatchiyack took only a few steps before being stopped by an invisible force. Curiously, Nosa watched as the monster seemed to look down at its own body in confusion. Just then, the energy net cast around him came to life with its signature purple glow.
"You damned witch!" Raichi yelled out, as he watched his monster drop to one knee. Hatchiyack offered a pained grunt as he had his power ripped from him.
As the energy binds zapped the monster's strength, Nosa looked around it to Riva, who looked one breeze away from toppling over. "Get out of here!" she yelled out, desperately as she kept both hands extended to pin the monster down. "I will not have another comrade die on me out here! Leave, now!"
Nosa crossed the distance between them in an instant. "Come with me. You don't have to do this!" he begged.
Riva offered him a bitter smile. "But I do."
Nosa's eyes were pulled from the woman as an eerie green glow bathed the area once more. A mere moment ago, Hatchiyack had nearly crumbled under Riva's binds, but now – as energy gathered in his gems once again – slowly the monster rose back to his feet, leaving the binds to snap and slowly fall from his body.
The Yadratian opened his mouth to try pleading to the woman again, but he was silenced as Riva suddenly launched him across the area with one her kiais. Through his tumultuous tumble, Nosa managed to land with some grace. He looked back across the area to Riva.
With Hatchiyack's glowing frame looming behind her, Riva turned to Nosa with a sad smile. "This isn't your fight. Go and live for them," she said before turning back to the monster with a flip of her hair.
Nosa yelled out one more time for Riva to stop, but the woman had already charged Hatchiyack. A blinding green flash bathed the area, forcing the Yadratian to close his eyes. He took a long sigh before he re-opened them. When he did, he looked out over Arcos City and an empty feeling settled in his gut all at once that brought him to his knees. He slammed a fist into the roof on which he stood as he screamed out in anger.
Cooler dodged left, then right, before leaping back and being startled once he'd leapt into the wall.
The tyrant wasn't given much time to be shocked before Ledgic's boot snapped across his face, sending him rolling in the dirt. The crowd was sure to make their joy known at Cooler's predicament, making his frustration with the situation grow that much more tiring. Gingerly, Cooler tried to push himself back to his feet as he began another of his damned wheezing fits.
Damn this poison and these spineless weaklings that would hide behind it, he seethed to himself.
Cooler wasn't given the time to stand before a firm grasp was suddenly wrapped around his tail. In an instant, the tyrant was brought into the air before being harshly ushered back onto the ground. He was given the slightest moment to glare down his body to Ledgic, and then he was back in the air and meeting the ground again and again and again.
On the final slam, though, Cooler managed to claw some soil with his pronged feet before raking it up to Ledgic's face. The crowd booed the move as he heard Ledgic offer a curse and release his grip. Cooler could care less, though, as he spun on his hands and charged the man. Tackling him to the ground, Cooler straddled Ledgic before wrapping his hands around his throat and desperately squeezing.
"Just die!" he hissed through barred teeth.
Ledgic offered a moment of struggle before his lips turned into a mischievous smile. He managed to flutter his eyes open against the dirt as he locked eyes with Cooler. Ledgic lifted his hands and pressed them on either side of Cooler's forearms. With an ease that made Cooler's blood boil, Ledgic applied just enough pressure to break Cooler's hold on his throat before launching the prince off of him with a solid palm strike to the chest.
While Cooler rolled in the dirt, nursing his lungs and gasping for air, Ledgic rose to the cheers of the people and the amused clap of Don Kee.
"Don Kee, if you will allow it, I'd like to spice this up some," the warrior decreed from the pit, earning a quirked brow from the don. Before Kee could infer, Ledgic lifted one hand and instantly materialized a sword, the act earning another cheer from the crowd.
Cooler rose to his feet just in time to catch the overjoyed look of Kee before he nodded his head in agreement. With a satisfied smirk, Ledgic tossed the weapon over to Cooler, who managed to narrowly catch it and look along its length in bewilderment. He'd fought sword-wielding enemies before, but he'd never used one.
"It really is very simple to use, your highness." Ledgic offered a chuckle as Cooler glared at him, and casually spun around another sword that he'd materialized.
"I will mount your corpse on my cruiser," Cooler seethed as he took the sword by both hands and charged.
Cooler swung with all the might and grace of an inept child while Ledgic met him beat for beat like the pro that he certainly was. The two-handed technique of the tyrant's was a stark contrast to Ledgic's one-handed maneuvers. The two practically danced around the pit as Ledgic led them, dodging Cooler's charges effortlessly and lashing out with a properly timed slice here and there.
By the end of their bout, blood was trickling from nearly every appendage on Cooler's body as the slices were numerous. Another charge by the tyrant was answered with an effortless dodge, leaving him open as Ledgic slashed at the back of the leg, forcing Cooler to take a knee and drop his sword.
"I think that's my match," said Ledgic as he appeared at Cooler's backside.
The tyrant was breathing heavily as he watched the dirt and his sword de-materialize. He tried to force himself back up, but was forced back to his knees with Ledgic's hand on his shoulder.
"You really don't know when to quit, do you?" the warrior spoke as he brought his sword over Cooler's other shoulder and turned it up so that the blade was resting against the prince's throat.
They both found their eyes looking upward as Don Kee stood and stepped forward, the crowd once again growing silent as they waited for their leader's address.
While Kee prepared, Ledgic spoke once more. "I've heard a lot about you Arcosians - supposedly next to impossible to kill. Your brother even enslaved and then eradicated the Saiyan race. But with you, Cooler, I'm just not impressed."
"You expected more from a poisoned man? No wonder you work for Don Kee. You're an idiot just like the rest of them," Cooler spat.
That earned a chuckle from the warrior. "Maybe so, but he pays me handsomely. Drove his planet to poverty just to protect them from the big bad Arcosians, and didn't even let me do my job. But see, Cooler, you can only enjoy the desert for so long, and I have this feeling that you probably own many planets; so many so, that you could spare a hired sword a few in exchange for your life. Well, the planets and a few millions, too. I'm certain that isn't much to ask."
Kee lifted his hand and aimed his thumb to the side, ready to turn upward to spare Cooler's life or down to bring it to an end. As Cooler waited for the inevitable, feeling the cold of sword pressed against his throat in the sweltering heat, he pondered over Ledgic's words. His life for a few planets and money wasn't unreasonable. Plus, the second that he was back to full health, he'd just repay the sell sword with a Supernova.
But, there was another side of him, a side that didn't want to give that lower-life form the briefest of time to say that he'd ever saved Cooler's life. Cooler was a high leader of the PTO, prince of Arcos, and one of the strongest beings in the universe. He would not give these bastards the satisfaction of his plea. That's what Frieza would've done. It's what his father would've done. And he is not either of them!
"I am Cooler, not your fucking cash cow," he seethed, feeling as much as hearing the chuckle that Ledgic offered in response as he pressed the sword harder against his flesh.
"So be it, your highness."
Just then, Don Kee's thumb turned down and the crowd went wild. Ledgic's arm immediately began to pull away and drag the sword through Cooler's skin, but just as he did so, Cooler's hands slapped up to stop Ledgic and hold the warrior in place with an extreme firmness.
As Ledgic tried to fight through Cooler's impressive grip, the tyrant found vision after vision rushing through his mind. His brother, his father, his mother, and even his squadron – everything he'd ever lost or put in jeopardy just to end up there. He'd clawed his way to this point through years of ridicule and disdain from his father, vying to be stronger and better in every way than Frieza.
This is not how my story ends.
He felt his nails pierce Ledgic's skin as his grip grew in intensity, and could hear the man's pained grunts from behind him as he tried to yank free from Cooler.
But one last vision came to Cooler as he was brought to deaths doorstep, and that was Goku. He hated the Saiyan and couldn't wait until the day he'd die by Cooler's hand, but in a strange twist he also admired his strength. Frieza was a spoiled brat, born with most of the power that he had, but Goku had to train relentlessly for his. He was a warrior through and through, and if Cooler should ever die, the only hands that he'd ever allow himself to fall to were Goku's. Not a planet of cowards that would poison the food that he ate.
"I'm not going to die today…" Cooler finally spoke once again, shocking Ledgic as his aura suddenly flared. The violet energy roiled around like a destructive whirlwind that ripped Ledgic from the ground and had him flailing in the air with only Cooler's grip holding him place.
The tyrant summoned the power to stand, and with a flash of his eyes, the sword at his throat was shattered. Cooler slowly turned so that he and Ledgic were eye to eye. "…but you are," he spoke with a voice several octaves deeper than usual.
The area was suddenly made alive with a flashing violet light. From within the maelstrom in the pit, Ledgic was sent flying into the distance while the whirlwind grew ever-more violent. Many of the audience were whipped up in the storm and carried away while others held on for dear life. Even Don Kee was doing all he could to keep from being whisked away as his covered stand suddenly had its roof ripped off.
When the lightshow finally died out and the winds drew back in their ferocity, all eyes turned to the pit once more as a single cyclone spun up the dirt and within the confines of the wicked wind floated Cooler in his fifth form, looking just like the monster that they'd all made him to be.
As Cooler and Don Kee locked eyes, the tyrant lifted one hand and leveled a pointed thumb in the same fashion that Kee had. It was the ruler's turn to stare on helplessly as Cooler turned the thumb down and two arcs of energy rushed out from Cooler's body striking the surrounding audience and blowing searing holes clean through the structure.
While people cried out in horror and black smoke filled the scene, Kee could only look on in awe before Cooler darted out of the area in the blink of an eye.
Frost strolled into the PTO's hanger with an anxious pace as the small bag around her arm jostled with her every step. Cautiously, she took in her surroundings. The open area was one of several at the HQ. In any one, you'd see most of the same – a few scattered pallets, a small fleet of cruisers, a couple dozen spacepods, and some repairmen stations. On any given day, they'd usually be highly staffed. However, with a bit of bribery, this particular hanger was conveniently empty and the round-the-clock video monitoring should be turned off.
When it was clear that the coast was clear, her anxiousness melted to the utmost confidence as she strolled up to the spacepod waiting for her. One click of a button and the door slowly crept open. A soft hum could be heard from the pod as the equipment began initializing. Frost took her tablet out of the bag and bent over to enter some coordinates in to the navigation. After receiving an acknowledgement of the set destination, Frost paused to toy with the device, scowling at the stationary location of the Crusher Corps. It had been over a week since they landed and she hadn't heard a word.
"You're leaving again." Frost nearly leapt out of her skin as she whipped around to Sheer, who was studying her through sad eyes.
"Why are you sneaking up on me?"
"You started acting weird – like you always do just before you go on another trip," he said and folded his arms. "This time you didn't tell me about it. Why?"
Frost sighed. "I don't need you to cover for me this time. Father has left the planet, and he is unlikely to ask about me anyway. He's too busy fretting over Frieza. Besides, you didn't exactly hold the last secret too well." Frost turned away and tossed her bag inside of the pod, missing the annoyance that flashed over her brother's face.
"You shouldn't keep doing this, Frost. You're going to get yourself in trouble," Sheer pleaded. "Father keeps us on the planet for a reason. We're not safe out there on our own."
Frost rolled her eyes and turned to her brother once more. She stepped closer and noted the concerned look on his face. "Father doesn't always know best, little brother," she said and put her hands on shoulders to give a comforting squeeze. "I am planning something that's going to change our lives for the better, but I can't get it done without leaving."
"What could make our lives any better? We're royalty and our people love us."
That's not enough, she wanted to say, but instead pulled her brother in for a hug. "Everything will make more sense with time. Just trust me, Sheer," she whispered to him before pulling him away. Though he nodded in agreement to her words, the concern on his face spoke differently. The innocence in her brother never ceased to amaze her. How he could belong to their family was dumbfounding.
Frost turned back to her pod and reached inside to pull out the tablet. She did a bit of tapping on the screen before handing it over to Sheer. "So you won't worry so much," she said as she placed it in his hand. Displayed was the signal for her pod as well as a galactic map of her travel route. "You'll know where I am at all times."
The smile that stretched across Sheer's face made her pull him in for another hug.
When they broke away, Frost said her final goodbyes before getting into her pod. As the pod levitated and slowly docked out of the hanger, she offered a final wave to her brother before the hum of the engine in the pod roared and it zipped out from the HQ, through the gates of Arcos's dome, and right out into space.
Sheer wouldn't understand what she'd be bringing back to Arcos – not initially anyway. With time, though, he'd see that what she was doing was for the best, for all of them.
Ledgic hacked up a small puff of sand as he pulled himself from the grainy dirt. With a curse, he stood and proceeded to dust off a layer of sand that had covered him from the impact.
"Damned poison must've started wearing off," he griped before arming himself with a dangerous smile. "I could use a good fight."
Confidence oozing from him, Ledgic prepared to take flight. Before he could, though, the area suddenly became alive with a mini sandstorm. The warrior stumbled through the onslaught of wind and sand washing over him before it all finally calmed to show Cooler, who had rocketed in out of nowhere.
The new form had Ledgic intrigued. "I think I like this look more," he offered with a smirk.
Cooler allowed his bone mask to retract, showing his own smirk. "You won't for long."
Without another word, the frost demon crossed the distance between the two and sent Legdic soaring into the air with an uppercut. He didn't waste a moment giving chase. His right hand began surging with energy as he rushed in. Borrowing from Salza, Cooler aimed to end this bout instantly by cutting Ledgic in half, but that plan was dashed as the tyrant rushed through an afterimage.
Cooler paused in shock, and quickly turned just in time to meet Ledgic's blade with his energized hand. The two weapons clashed with a sound reminiscent to steel on steel. The hired sword yanked back his blade and swung twice more – meeting Cooler's hand time and time – before he materialized a second sword and blindsided the frost demon with a slash across his chest.
The attack drawing blood, Cooler yanked back with a snarl before being put on the defense. He armed his other hand with energy and began meeting Ledgic blow for blow once again. Their dance in the sky was brought to a close when the frost demon suddenly managed to grasp both blades in his hands, halting Ledgic and leaving him wide open for a powerful kick to the chest. The boot managed to send the hired sword flying across the sky with his swords still comfortably in Cooler's hands.
But as Ledgic flew back, the man had a wicked smile on his face.
Cooler quickly realized why as the swords in his hands began flashing with light. Before he could be rid of them, he was wrapped in their explosion. After a moment, Cooler's body dropped from the leftover smoke, leaving him to float down to the ground in a momentary daze. However, he wasn't given long to tarry.
Ledgic rushed in out of nowhere and speared the tyrant from the air, crashing them both violently into a sand dune below. Within the crater they had formed, Ledgic stood above Cooler and formed a giant spear before aiming right down at Cooler chest. The tyrant narrowly dodged the spear, rolling to the side at the last possible second.
Ledgic lifted the spear again and readied to stab again, but was suddenly thrown off balance by Cooler's tail. Before the mercenary could regain his footing, Cooler managed to launch him out of the crater with a kiai. As Ledgic was launched out, though, he threw the spear back at Cooler and managed to catch him in the shoulder.
Cooler hissed in pain as the weapon collided, but was quick to yank it back out. He sent it into the air just before it could explode around him.
"Damn this poison," he groaned between a ragged gasp for breath. He cautioned a glance at his gaping wound before snarling in anger. He was fighting far from his best, and the more time he spent in his fifth form wasn't doing him any favors. "I need to end this quick."
The frost demon immediately launched out of the crater and into the air to chase down Ledgic. He found the mercenary boldly standing in the sand below him, this time armed with a bow and arrow. Cooler's aura roared around him as he dived for his foe like a rocket. As he rushed down, he was forced to dodge left, then right, as arrows shot up for him.
At the ground, Ledgic's hands were a blur as he formed arrow after arrow, launching them up to Cooler at lightning speeds. As the tyrant sped down on him at the last second, Ledgic's bow and arrow warped away in favor of a huge shield. He braced for impact and Cooler struck with his massive pronged feet. Ledgic's defense held, but the power behind the crash sent the two warriors across the open desert, carving a deep trench as they went.
With a snarl, Cooler did a flip off of Ledgic's shield before lunging back at the man. The merc dissolved his shield and met the tyrant head on, dodging a jab for his skull before slamming an elbow strike into the bleeding wound in Cooler's shoulder. The Arcosian stumbled from the impact and Ledgic took advantage, striking out with two kicks that rocked Cooler further. Armed with a dangerous smile, Ledgic materialized a blade and swung for Cooler's neck, only to have the tyrant launch himself back at the last possible second – catching the slightest nick on his neck.
Cooler lifted a hand and pressed it against his neck before pulling away and noting the blood that had been drawn. He glowered across to Ledgic, who had formed another sword and was standing casually and armed with a dangerous smirk.
"You're big and strong, but awful slow," Ledgic mused.
And wounded, Cooler thought, casting a quick glance down to the gashes on his body; He looked back over to Ledgic and then allowed a smirk to tug at his lips. "You're right. So, why don't we do things my way?"
Ledgic quirked a hairless brow, but caught on quickly as Cooler lifted a palm and launched a column of orange energy. Deftly, the mercenary dodged the attack, only to be blindsided as Cooler practically appeared out of thin air right in front of him. The tyrant offered Ledgic a devastating roundhouse kick that sent him flying across the landscape. The merc didn't go too far, though, before flipping out of his perilous flight and looking back over to his opponent, only to quickly have to dodge left and leave the death beam to spear into the sand behind him.
Ledgic moved again and again, dodging the deadly beams before he began meeting them with his blades – slashing them apart with ease. With a snarl of anger, he charged Cooler. As he went, he kept dodging and negating the onslaught of beams until he was right upon Cooler. He swiped his blades for the Arcosian, only to have Cooler disappear right before his eyes.
"What the hell?" Ledgic hissed and began whipping his head around in search of Cooler. "Fight me, coward!"
"I am."
Ledgic turned in the direction of the disembodied voice, only to quickly form his shield once again as another wave of burning, orange energy crashed against him. Once again, the mercenary was sent flying across the desert, but this time, with a flare of his aura, he forced the energy wave aside with a swing of his shield.
Annoyance written all over his face, Ledgic located Cooler lazily hovering just above the sand far across the area. "I can do that, too!" he barked before aiming a palm forward, and releasing a massive wave of red energy to the tyrant.
In the wake of the chaotic blast, Ledgic smirked as his energy seemed to wash over Cooler and carry him away. But his joy was short lived, as Cooler appeared directly at his side. Ledgic didn't have a moment to be shocked before the tyrant's knee shot into his abdomen, forcing him to double over. Cooler proceeded to hammer two punishing blows to the merc's skull before Ledgic was able to strike back with a kick Cooler's shoulder, pushing them apart just long enough for him to form his spear and rush in for a strike.
The merc had the weapon poised to go right through Cooler's chest, but just before contact, the tyrant's aura sparked with a furious blaze. Ledgic's own aura roared to life as well, as he tried to press through Cooler's defense, but he quickly realized the gap in their power.
As if towering over Ledgic, Cooler's red eyes suddenly flashed brilliantly, his telekinesis taking a hold of the mercenary and launching him into the sky with ease. While Ledgic flipped through the air in a daze, Cooler wasted no time lifting a single finger above his head, a massive Supernova forming instantly.
By the time Ledgic had reclaimed his senses, the huge orb was already careening towards him. Desperately, the mercenary tried to meet the ball head on, slamming both hands into it to try and halt its progress. Though the supernova carried him back for several meters, Ledgic managed to summon enough of his strength to pause the massive energy ball. He even smiled at the power he now wielded right before him.
"Let's see how he likes having his own energy thrown back at him," he spoke confidently, only to go rigid as he suddenly took note of the hulking figure behind him.
"We're done."
Ledgic looked back just in time to see Cooler's energy-wrapped hand swing down at his neck.
Kee coughed desperately as he trudged through the sand, stumbling as he went. Around him, his people ran – women and children screaming in terror as they all stampeded out of the crumbling ruin of the pit. Smoke mixed with sand in the air as winds carried a haze over them all.
When he lost his footing, the don fell to his knees. He paused before getting back up, paused to take in the horror around him. It all felt so familiar. He thought he could deliver his people from this terror, but he feared that he might've delivered them to it.
"Come on, Don! We'll get you to safety. The military is on their way."
Kee looked up to the extended hand in front of him. Sheela and Gale watched him in return, his most dedicated servants. He sighed before taking the hand and trying to will himself onward.
But the trio had hardly taken three good steps before they came to a chilling halt to watch as the decapitated head of Ledgic rolled across the sand to them. Their eyes slid from the ground to watch as Cooler hovered through the haze of smoke. His fifth form made the tyrant look all the more demonic as he looked down upon them through his pupil-less eyes.
"This could've been avoided," Cooler spoke as he lowered onto the ground.
Gale and Sheela moved to block the frost demon from Don Kee, removing the guns at their hips and pointing it right at the monster's head. "Get back!" they both demanded.
Cooler's eyes flashed and the guns were ripped from the servants' hands. Moving on either side of the frost demon, the weapons slowly contorted until they'd been made into two perfect, palm-sized spheres. Cooler lifted a hand and casually flicked a finger forward, directing the spheres away from him like bullets. In an instant, they crossed the gap toward the trio and took Gale and Sheela right off their feet as the balls buried into their skulls.
Kee turned to look in horror as his servants lied unmoving at either side of his body. And then he turned his gaze back on Cooler, watching the tyrant with the most venomous of glares. "You are a monster!" he hissed. "Just like your father – no doubt like the rest of your people!"
"You don't know my people, but I know yours." Cooler suddenly flared his aura, releasing a mighty gust of wind. The gust carried away the haze surrounding them, and brought into view the dozens of people still fleeing from the area. They had all paused in their run to look upon where Kee and Cooler stood. In the distance, military vehicles charged through the sand, whipping up their own dust storm in their wake.
Kee looked around at the people that he'd led for so many years, the people he tried his best to protect and do right by. And then he looked back at Cooler, who had one energy-wrapped hand held out before him.
"They're the kind of people that cheer as a poisoned man gets cut down in the dirt for their amusement."
Kee tried to scream for the frost demon to stop, but as he did, Cooler opened his palm and a god-awful explosion rung out all around them. Purple columns of searing energy erupted from the ground, blasting out in all directions and leaving Kee and Cooler perfectly nestled in the center of the destruction. When the energy died out, the don realized that he'd fallen to the sand once more, slumping down as the defeat weighed on him. All around them was charred earth. The people were erased – any sign of their existence gone.
"Don't weep," Cooler said as he appeared right above Kee, looming over the man like a titan. "Ruling isn't for us all." He pointed one finger at Kee's skull, a glint of energy forming at the tip.
"A time will come when everything that you have ever cared about will be removed from this universe just before you're erased right alongside it. That is the only ending monsters like you deserve."
Cooler scoffed before firing the death beam right through Kee's skull. The don fell over onto the ground, perfectly aligned next to his servants. His eyes lingered on them a moment longer than it should have before Cooler took in a deep breath. On exhale, his body flashed before dissolving back to his fourth form.
"There's more work to be done," he said between shaky breaths and looked around at the carnage he'd caused. What was left of the planet's citizens surely wouldn't be happy with him. And he still needed a spacepod.
But, as the frost demon began walking forward, he stumbled and then collapsed onto the sand. His wheezing had come back with more force than he'd ever felt before. He desperately tried to urge himself to take in more air, but his wheezing kindly turned to gasps. He rolled onto his back and clutched onto his chest as he stared into the sky above. The constriction on his lungs only seemed to grow worst, though.
As Cooler's vision began to fade, he desperately tried to focus on his breathing, but all he could think of was his father. The king's words kept buzzing in his mind until he closed his eyes and didn't open again.
When Cooler opened his eyes again, he found himself drifting in a black void. He tried to speak, only to find his words absent. He tried to scream and found the same result. He tried to think and even his own inner monologue wouldn't offer voice. Cooler could only move – throwing around his arms, legs, and tail. He could turnover and he could flip over, but to what purpose?
Was he coming? Was he going? He didn't know.
The unknown began to make him panic. He thrashed around in an attempt to fight the void, but the more he fought, the more tired he felt. Eventually, he stopped fighting and allowed himself to wallow in it. He dared to even take comfort in it. He closed his eyes, embracing the void until he opened them again to find himself floating in what could only be a PTO healing chamber.
Looking through the blue healing fluid, Cooler made note of the various devices attached to him before looking to the window. He was slightly startled to see a bird-like creature staring in on him. The PTO soldier was startled as well before he began pressing buttons to turn off the chamber.
Cooler was freed, allowed to take a brief shower and had the severe – yet no longer gaping – wound in his shoulder bandaged up. After all that, he found himself seated on the side of an examination table while the bird doctor made some notes in his device. Through their conversation, Cooler learned that King Cold had departed Arcos in search of his sons. En route, their scanners had picked up on two massive power levels on Cold Planet 493. They had decided to check it out and a search party had discovered Cooler's body out in the desert. Not knowing how long he'd been there or the circumstances by which he ended up there, they had placed him in a healing chamber, where he had been for the past 48 hours.
"I can't believe I was out for two days," Cooler said.
"You were in bad shape, my lord," the doctor mused. "You had lost a considerable amount of blood and appeared to be suffering from some kind of respiratory distress. I think it's actually remarkable that you were still alive."
Cooler scowled. He didn't want to have a close call with his life associated with a planet like Imecka. "What became of the planet after you departed?"
"Your father wanted answers, and there wasn't anyone that could provide them. I'm sure you can imagine what came next."
If only I'd gotten the chance, he thought. That was one planet he would've loved to watch explode.
The doctor continued, "Your wounds are almost entirely healed, aside from that one in your shoulder. I imagine another 8 hours could patch that up and I can provide sedatives so you can sleep through the process."
Cooler was shaking his head before the creature finished. "I won't be going back in there." He hopped off of the examination table and stretched his arm, wincing just a bit at the pain in his shoulder. He'd manage through it once he began training again. "It is good to know that I'm nearly back to peak form. So, how did you go about treating the poison? I imagine it couldn't have all been fixed in a chamber."
The doctor looked perplexed. "Poison? I had no idea you had been poisoned, Lord Cooler."
"You made note of my respiratory distress before putting me in the chamber and you just said that I was nearly back to full health. Doesn't that mean that my distress has been cured?" Cooler demanded
"No, my lord, I could only provide a drug as intervention. I had assumed it was a one-off event since you seem perfectly fine now. Please, do tell me more about it." The doctor reclaimed his seat at the examination table and urged Cooler to return to it as well.
A flash of annoyance pulsed in the monarch, but he bit back the desire to lash out. His willingness to be done with those wheezing fits overruled most anything at the moment. However, before he could join the doctor once more, a smothering energy struck Cooler's mind, running a chill up his spine. He turned to the door of the sick bay just as it opened. In the frame of the door, King Cold's hulking figure loomed with his eyes fixed solely on Cooler.
"Come with me."