X Chapter 8 X

A/N: Lots of exposition in this chapter. Sorry for the wait. I needed to think carefully while writing this one.

Warning: Language,

Ginge was shivering, rooted to the ground. Her face never left its stupified state. He was going to kill us... He was actually gonna do it... That look in his eyes... Images of that terrible demon's face flashed in her head. Iseber stood nearby, looking at the poor girl with a cool, emotionless glare. A breeze blew between Ginge's legs. She looked down and saw her soaked jumpsuit. Finally, the adrenaline left her and she fell to her hands and knees, bawling her eyes out.

After she got control of herself, she looked up angrily at him and started speaking with a low, vindictive tone. "You knew." She began breathing irregularly and baring her fangs. "You bastard! You knew!" Iseber shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I'll explain now." She gathered ki in her hand and aimed it at him. "Can you?! Why should I trust you?! Pin-" She choked on Pinach's name.

Iseber sat in the snow, cross-legged. "I promise you: everything that comes out of my mouth from this point is the truth." He stared sternly at her while she breathed heavily, still holding the ki in her hand. Finally, her hand lowered. He inhaled deeply. "Alright. Where to begin?" He scratched his chin until he noticed Ginge getting steadily more agitated. "To start, I wasn't actually lost. I-" Ginge interrupted, yelling. "Yeah, that much is obvious, you lying fucker!" Iseber raised his brow, irritated. "Can you at least wait til the end?"

Ginge responded with a silent, cold glare. He cleared his throat. "As I was saying: I wasn't actually lost. I was originally, but I was found by the man I call 'master'. He's a great man; a great spiritual guru and sorcerer. When he found me, I had been lost in the swamp for three days and about to die from thirst; none of the water was safe to drink. He deemed me worthy of being his student and took me to his 'home'. His 'home' was a buried stone pyramid who's tip stuck up from the ground." Her thoughts went back to the day he vanished and the stone structure she saw. She shuddered at the memory of the darkness she felt there.

Iseber could sense the disturbance in her mind. His eyes fell to the ground. "That swamp is cursed. Before I was found by my master, I encountered another man, oddly enough in front of my master's home. He was a bloodthirsty warrior bent on revenge." Her eyes widened as he continued. Revenge? "You see, saiyans came here centuries ago and annihilated his people; the people who lived on this planet." Ginge's mind raced, terrified by these revelations. "The warrior swore vengeance and convinced the planet's guardian to bind the souls of the dead to the land... My master was the guardian."

Ginge couldn't believe what she was hearing. What kind of person could do such a thing? "He only agreed to do so because of how the people of the planet were... They were evil, barbaric savages. But my master still cared for them, even if he didn't care for their vile ways. They would have wound up in hell, so he agreed to the warrior's proposal." He paused. A grim air befell them. "It was the worst mistake of his life. Their souls weren't just bound to the land; their hate and malice was as well... The swamp is dark emotion manifesting physically. My master's home is where it's most concentrated; it was the site of the binding ritual."

Iseber wiped the nervous sweat from his brow while Ginge resumed her fearful quaking. "That first night I stayed in the swamp, I was awakened by screams. I chased after them... and then they chased me... When I asked my master about them, he told me that it was vengeful spirits imitating the moment of their death. They roam the swamp, seeking to harm anyone they encounter in any way they can. Even here, out of the swamp, I can still faintly feel their presence."

He looked around, seemingly able to see things that she couldn't. Ginge was thoroughly creeped out. His steely gaze fell back on her and he continued. "Their hate, their malice: it seeps into everything on this cursed tomb of a world. Pinach-" She interrupted, guessing his next words. "Is possessed?!" He shook his head. "Not exactly… at least I don't know. Pinach is special. He's held a deep hatred in his heart all his life and…" A long pause followed. "And? And what?"

Iseber looked up from the ground to meet her gaze. "He's just different. You've heard of the legendary super saiyan, right?" She cocked her head. "Well, yeah. But... but that's just a children's fairytale!" His face became troubled. "The legend as we know it is a lie. Any saiyan can transform so long as they have the right motivation; usually grief... But Pinach... He's not just any saiyan. There's something far darker within him... He fits the old legend to a tee; deep down, he's a killing machine. Think back to when he broke Tercres' arm all those years ago, his innate hatred and brutality burned even then. If you had not walked out there when you did, he would have killed Tercres."

The memory of that day flashed before her. She glanced over at Tercres' severed body, shuddering when she looked back to Iseber. "The darkness in this world is resonating with his hatred, awakening a monster within. And it's only going to get worse as he grows and his saiyan instincts sharpen. My master fears that the damage to his mind could be permanent." The mention of 'master' made Ginge shake off her shock. A hostile expression appeared on her face. "And what is your 'master' going to do with him?! He's the one that made him this way!"

Iseber shook his head and sighed. "He's a good person. He made an honest mistake by binding the people of this planet. He truly thought he was performing a kindness for them, not helping them drag others down to their level. Pinach needs guidance and help to control his inner demons or his power could destroy us all. He needs to find a way to make peace in his heart, to ward off darkness. And most importantly: he needs to stay away from you."

That final word shook Ginge to the core. "Me?! What did I do to cause this?!" Iseber smirked at her. "If you can't figure it out, there's no point in telling you. You wouldn't care." She mulled it over for several seconds. Her face went white. "No…"

His smirk widened to a grin and he leaned forward. "Momma Ginge has been sharing more love than she lets on." All Ginge wanted at that moment was the sweet embrace of death. Iseber hammered the final nail. "Your lips had just finished touching his, and not even a day later, they almost touched mine. You ripped out his heart and stomped on it before his eyes, laughing as you did it. Even the most hardened saiyan would say that's cold."

Her legs began visibly shaking as a tear fell down her face. Iseber stood up. "He doesn't need that in his life. You've done enough damage." Tears were steadily flowing down her cheeks. For a few moments, she wept while Iseber looked on. Finally, she cast a spiteful look at him. "What gives you room to preach? You were about to kiss me if it weren't for him coming in!" Ginge scowled while Iseber gazed at her with no emotion. He had an answer. "My mission from my master, the reason I came back: was to gauge how little it took to send him over the edge, before knocking him out and taking him. I was fully prepared to do anything except that. It's why I turned my head at the last second; I knew he was watching."

Ginge growled at him, tears still streaming down her face. "You're full of shit!" Iseber kept the same stone-cold poker-face. "Among telepathy, my master taught me how to sense power levels without the need for a device. It's how I knew he was there and it's how I knew his power far exceeded ours." Surprise crept back into her face before it caved to sadness again. She covered her face with her hands and fell to her knees. He looked down on her with a hint of pity. She's finally realized... I'm so sorry for my part in this, Pinach. I would understand if you hated me forever. She slammed her fist on the ground, cracking it and causing a small tremor. Turning away, Iseber flew off towards camp, leaving Ginge to wallow alone in the pitch black night.

Pinach tossed and turned on a stone floor. The room was very dim, lit by several braziers along the tall stone walls. Their green flames barely illuminated the massive octagon room. He was talking in his sleep. His clothing was gone from the waist up. "Mom... hnn... mom…" He rolled to his side. "Iseber... Tercres... I'm gonna... *demonic voice* RIP OFF YOUR FUCKING HEADS!" His torso shot straight up. He hyperventilated, sitting with his hands on his knees.

After a few moments, a male voice travelled to him from across the room. "Such hatred…" Pinach turned to look. The braziers flared up, lighting the room brightly. On top of a set of stone stairs sat a throne of the same material. In that throne sat the figure who brought him here. His form was still shrouded by his jet black robes. Pinach climbed to his feet, struggling. Searing pain ran up and down his body. He screamed when he saw the source. "Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!"

Wrapping around his arms, legs, and torso, ending on his neck, were licorice-black tattoos. They were shaped like circle-link chains, meeting in the middle of his chest over his heart; secured by a padlock that was gripped by an Oozaru's fist. Pinach had never seen tattoos before, so he tried rubbing them off, but to no avail. It simply burned even worse. The figure chuckled, amused by the saiyan.

Pinach snapped at him. "What did you do to me?!" The figure shifted in his throne. "I've emancipated you by putting you in chains." Pinach looked at his chain tattoos, then back to the figure. "You're gonna pay for this...*demonic voice* YOU'LL PAY!" The devil's amber eyes appeared. Its muscles started to inflate.

The figure lifted his hand at the morphing devil. A rune from an unknown lexicon began to glow in his palm. The once black tattoos on the devil began to glow white-hot. Terrible screams erupted from the demon's mouth. It fell to its knees and began to shrink. After a few more moments, Pinach stood in its place. He breathed heavy, sweating bullets. The floor beneath him soon became drenched.

The masked man's speech echoed through the room and down the many hallways connected. "A terrible power…" Pinach looked up at him, barely staying conscious. "Young man, I beseech you to rest. There's no use getting angry." Pinach spat in his direction. "Fuck you…" He collapsed, still conscious on the floor. With his head rendered immobilized and stuck looking to the side, he could hear the figure stepping down the steps and over toward him. Pinach wiggled as hard as he could, trying to get anything to move.

To his surprise, he was picked up off the ground by what seemed to be a cushion of air. The figure was telekinetically lifting Pinach. He walked down a pitch black hallway and Pinach followed, suspended in air. After a ten minute walk down the labyrinth of hallways, serenaded by Pinach's grunting, they reached a small doorway that led to an equally unimpressive room. On wooden shelves attached to the walls were candles that gloomily lit the room. A flat stone shelf jutted out from the back wall; it was covered with hay.

The figure walked in. Pinach followed. He beckoned his hand and Pinach was softly placed on the 'bed'. Pinach started flopping around like a fish the moment he touched the stone. "Let me go, asshole! I want out of here!" Without a word, the masked man snapped his fingers and Pinach was rendered completely paralyzed aside from his mouth. "What are you doing?! No! Get away from me! Arggggggggggggh!" The figure's hand touched his head and his eyes rolled back into his head.

"Oh my... Your life has been filled with hardship. A saiyan more alone than most... So lonely…"

Images of a male and female saiyan appeared in the masked man's mind.

"I see. These people must be his parents... Your father... She never told him... She... She lived a hard life as well…Shame..."

The saiyan army academy came into view. He could see all of Pinach's instructors and peers.

"Such a 'spartan' culture. A man was only worth how much power he could wield. It certainly did no good for him, preventing him from expressing himself... His low-class status and pedigree made him an outcast, further darkening his heart…"

Memories of Pinach's friendship with Iseber flashed by.

"Ah, yes. My pupil. Such a good natured young man. It seems their friendship was a dim light in his heart; it kept his primal power from bubbling to the surface... Sad that the friendship has been broken." He shook his head. "I'm so sorry for the both of you, but it was necessary to remedy this."

The events before Pinach's transformation played out.

"Hmm... This female, she was the one standing with Iseber... I see... So that's what triggered the descent into madness... Young love can be fleeting and fickle, but betrayal cuts just as deep on any day."

He saw through the devil's perspective during its rampage.

"And yet... Oh my…" He could feel something within Pinach. A pulsing, hellish, orange light in the dark. The man gasped. "This... It wasn't even…" He paused, beginning to shake. "I-if that girl hadn't shown herself and called to him…"

Looking at the devil once more, the masked man saw an ethereal feathered headdress surrounding its head. His voice became grim. "Pachun."

The figure removed his hand from the sleeping Pinach's head. Shakily stepping backwards a few steps, he turned around and strutted out. That power can't be allowed to surface again or he could become too powerful to stop. Pachun, you fool. Don't you realize what could happen if that boy's power is fully unleashed? The sound of his shoes clacking against the ground faded as he walked away down the dark hall.

Pinach awoke on the stone bed. He sat up and was immediately attacked by the searing pain from his fresh tattoos, as well as a splitting headache. His wincing only caused more pain; no position was comfortable. Fed up, he jumped to his feet. Oddly, this seemed to ease his pain. He looked across the room and noticed a tray of food sitting on a shelf with lit candles. He walked over to it. On the tray was a spread of cheese, bread, and pork-like meat. A knife stood, stuck in the meat with a note attached.

He took a whiff of the food. It didn't smell drugged, so he took a giant bite of bread while reading the note. Pinach, I know it's hard to trust me given the circumstances. But I truly want to help you. You have a darkness inside you. It threatens to destroy everything you hold dear. Even if that doesn't include Ginge or Iseber anymore, think of the others, think of Arti. You still care about them. Don't let your misgivings toward those two hurt the people you care about. In any case, I won't force you to do anything. You're free to leave at any time, but I implore you to think hard before making that decision. Come speak to me. If you take a left and keep walking until you see the green lights, you'll find me in my throne room. Don't turn down any other paths; there's terrible dangers at the end of most.

Pinach folded the note and stuck it in his pants. He stood there for a long time looking at the floor, thinking. Finally, his gaze elevated to the wooden door and he opened it, stepping out. He took a left down the dark stone hall.

After several minutes of walking in pitch black, Pinach saw a faint green light at the end of the hall. He walked for another minute before entering the same octagonal room he had originally been. To his right, on top of the steps, sat the masked man on his throne of stone. He welcomed Pinach with a hearty, inviting voice. "Come in! Come in! I want to hear your decision! I hope you make the right choice!" Pinach didn't even let a second pass before answering. "I want out of here, you son of a bitch!"

The figure held his finger up, pausing. He wasn't sure what to say to that. "Let's go! You told me I was free to leave!" The figure sighed and stood up. He walked down the steps and over to Pinach, who glared with hostility. He stopped right in front of him. "Ok. You're right. I did say you can leave, and you can. But before you do, let me show you something." Pinach's brow raised in suspicion. "Show me what?" The man held out his black clad hand as if for a handshake. "Take my hand. I will show you what's inside your heart."

Pinach eyed the hand, then eyed the man. He squinted. "I promise, nothing terrible is going to happen. You might feel a little burning, but that's it." Pinach was distrustful of his offer. But after a time, he relented. I swear to otherworld, if he puts a curse on me or some shit I will- His thoughts were completely cut off when he grasped the man's hand. Lying prick! This hurts so goddamn much! But he couldn't break away. His tattoos glowed a bright white and his body convulsed. "Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!"

It felt like someone had wrapped metal cables around his body and lit them on fire. He was trapped, grasping the figure's hand for several seconds. When the agony ended, his hand finally let go. He fell to his knees, gasping for air. A dark purple aura surrounded him. Pinach held out his arms and looked at it. Falling from him, it collected on the floor as a pool of pitch black liquid. "CURSE YOU CONCH, YOU TRAITOR!" The liquid was screaming at them. Pinach looked on in horror while the masked man aimed his hand at the puddle of vile liquid. "I was never on your side, Pachun. Your vile quest for vengeance against the innocent is over!" The masked man unleashed a small but intense wave of golden ki that vaporized the puddle as it screamed. "Finally, rest in peace."

Pinach backed away. "What the fuck was that?!" The man didn't respond. He hung his head low, as if upset. After a minute, he inhaled deeply and responded to Pinach. "My friend... My ex-friend... He was killed by Iseber in self-defense." Pinach's eyes widened. "Not long after he died, his soul found you and attached to you. It's been with you for years, trying to draw out the darkness in you." Pinach blinked, shaking his head. "I-I don't get it. Why? How?"

"He held a deep hatred for your people, the saiyans. They took his away, so he swore vengeance against any saiyan he met, innocent or not. He wanted to use the dark power within you to kill your kin." Pinach looked down, sullen. "You're different from any other saiyan. Saiyans are naturally tuned for battle, but you... your being takes it to a level beyond. Your power is exactly as told in your people's legend of the super saiyan; an all-powerful bloodthirsty killer, born for war." Pinach looked back up, shocked by his words. "The super saiyan? That's just a myth…"

The figure carried on. "Yes and no. Generally, any saiyan is capable of transforming into a form known as 'super saiyan'. But you have a special power. It's not the super saiyan form of legend, but it's something remarkable... and terrifying. It's why you must stay here for awhile. You must train your mind to resist giving in to dark urges. If you walk out of here today: the next time your power surfaces could be the end of everything and everyone you care about."

Pinach stared at the cold stone floor. A few moments of silence passed. He looked up at the black clad figure, a hint of mistrust still on his face. "Fine, I'll stay. But on one condition." The figure cocked his head. "And what is that?" Pinach squinted. "I want to know who you are and I want to know how you know all this shit."

The figure stood silent for a moment. Finally, he reached up to his shadowy hood and pulled it down. A wrinkly green head bearing no hair was revealed. His face was rigid with long antennae sticking out from the forehead. Long pointy ears framed his face. His expression was that of a man worn down after many long years. "My name is Conch and I am a namekian; a race who's homeworld lies far from this one... As for how I know 'shit', it's too long a tale to tell standing up. Come with me. We'll recount it over a cup of tea…"

The namekian turned and walked down one of the many dark, eerie hallways. With a slight hesitation, the saiyan followed, disappearing into the black.