Author's Note: This actually was supposed to wait until late in the month to be released. I hit a bout of incredible writer's block half way through the first chapter of A Lonely Place of Dying though, sooooo this is what is getting put out instead. (And take that as a lesson for you other writers, don't plan the middle to the end of a story and then hope the beginning just comes to you)
Standard disclaimer, I do not own Dragonball Z/GT or any of its related characters. This is purely a non-profit work, for the enjoyment of those that are kind enough to read my work.
Warning: This and later chapter's are going to get into some darker areas, so if your easily bothered don't read on. Rating is still PG-13 for violence, language, and minor implied sexuality.
Dragonball: After Earth
By Blood Wraith
Chapter 8: Resurrection
The blue moon of the Planet Erinyas had sat in desolate silence for a millennia. The occupants of the dark planet below had no desire to travel to the oxygen rich atmosphere, the nitrogen gas they breathed much more to their liking.
The brief flash of a blue star in the distance was the only sign of the explosive end to the planet Earth, so far away. The dark sky was alight then with a white flash, the ground blistering and cracking at the intense heat that was released above it as two figures appeared from nothing.
Laele couldn't see and could barely breath, she was barely conscious and didn't think to focus her ki to stop her need for air. They had been about to die; she hadn't had a way of gathering her energy quick enough to teleport. Then the sayai-jin had latched onto her, one hand covering her mouth and the other hooked onto the front of her breastplate. The moment of contact an overwhelming surge of energy had rushed into her body, disorienting her and sending her right into the teleportation she had been preparing.
Now they were hovering a few feet of above the ground of wherever they were, safe from the explosion but not each other. Medon had gotten his bearings quicker upon their arrival and took advantage of it now. He was tired and sore, and had no desire for a further prolonged battle. The golden aura around him flared to life as he released his grip on the daemonesses mouth. His other hand that had hooked into her breastplate yanking her forward into his waiting knee, the armor across her midriff cracking at the impact.
The slamming contact to her stomach caused Laele to bend over in pain as the air was knocked from her body. Medon rolled around her doubled up form, his hand slapping flat to her back between the two great raven wrings that protruded from her shoulders. Golden ki welling up between his spread fingers as the blast released into her spine, sending her slamming face first to the ground below.
New pain raged through Laele's body, as she lay prone in the dirt. She had absolutely no hope of winning this fight. He had hurt her severely back on Earth, when she had tried to fight him solo, and now he would finish her at his whim. Her wings melted back into her shoulder blades as she struggled to rise. She was almost to her feet when two tightly muscled arms snaked around her body, pinning her arms to her sides and effectively immobilizing her. She struggled against the iron grip for a moment before the man behind her shoulder directly into her ear.
"Knock it off!"
His grip tightened at the order, emitting a grunt of pain from her, the daemoness' thrashing slowly ceased though, as she turned her head to see as much of Medon as possible.
"Why? So you can kill me all the easier?"
"You'd already be dead if I planned that! I really should finish you off, just to protect myself. I won't though."
He released his grip on her then with a suddenness that sent her stumbling forward a few steps. Expecting an attack, she spun about instantly, not even a full arms length from the sayai-jin. Medon had lowered his power level before he had grabbed her. His hair was still gold but somehow softer, and the crackling trails of dancing electricity were gone.
"Why?"
Medon sighed at the question. He should have expected it from her. Her people had no mercy; they gave no quarter in battle, and thus expected none in return.
"It would be pointless. We have no clue where we are, I can't get off here myself and you're far to weak to at this point. Besides I won't want to kill anyone. That's why I spared the giant, and I wanted to destroy him.
Medon stopped then, his jaw clenching as he closed his bright green eyes and pushed down the lump in his throat. He hadn't know he was capable of so much anger until he had actual faced the daemons in battle. His behavior at the time had been contradictory to everything his parents had taught him. Kaiosamma had also warned him of letting his emotions take control, and the increased urge to fight from transforming into a Super Sayai-jin was no excuse. He had barely registered what he was doing when he fired his Kamehameha at Kale, coming aware at the last second and twisting the beam away, sparring the daemon.
The young sayai-jin's aura flickered briefly before fading away, the dim golden glow around him breaking apart as his hair fell into a disarray of soft black stands upon his head. Lavender eyes opened then to regard the daemoness.
Laele knew as he powered down if she wanted to win this fight, now was the time to attack. He was still extremely strong, but she should have the advantage. All she had to do was lunge forward and destroy the boy. Common sense screamed at her to take her chance.
Son Medon saw the indecision flicker across Laele's face. He could guess her train of thought, but he simply didn't care. He was done fighting for now. He met her eyes for several long seconds before turning his back to her and walking away. The wind had started to pick up across the moon's surface, and he wanted to find shelter. He left Laele standing there among the blistered and cracked ground, with only her thoughts to keep her company in the approaching storm.
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Tenshinhan looked up from the small bowl of food the Namekians had prepared for him. Thought capable of surviving on only water they preferred not to have to do so thus grew a number of crops, mainly various vegetables and fruits. They had carefully determines what was safe for human consumptions and give him some to eat, saying it would help him feel better faster. So he was at the moment when Goku flew overhead, causing a cloud of dust in the wake of his passing, even with the ground some thirty feet beneath him.
Even after being healed Tenshinhan had a distinct ache in his body. He wasn't sure if it was him not having a full recovery from his wounds or the simple unquestionable knowledge that his life-long friend Chaozu was dead, killed upon Earth. Letting a soft sigh, the warrior steeled himself and rose. All he could do was face the future now, so he set off after Goku to learn the reason of the sayai-jin's haste.
Goku's path took him across the expanse of the small farming village to the few houses on the west edge. Tenshinhan could see the white ki field around him vanish as the sayai-jin dropped out of view, most likely landing. Noting the area he went down Tenshinhan set off into a steady run after him. The Namekians on the street or in their homes turned only briefly to regard the three-eyed man as she rushed past them.
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The Daemon Knight, Belial glanced back at the scanners of the Acheron, the small scout ship that he and Andariel had been given for their assignment. They had left immediately after being given the orders by their leader, Azazel. Still the two had no idea where to start their search for Mephiston's missing warrior, Laele, the daemon figured this was another pointless excursion.
"Why did we get this stupid assignment anyway?"
The daemoness sitting in the pilot's seat didn't even bother to turn her yellow eyes to regard her companion. Belial always tended to complain about whatever assignment they were given, unless it involved killing something. Instead she gave a simple shrug of her shoulders, the multi-layer black plate armor she was wearing shifting with the movement, the noise of the armor the only real sign that she wore any, the steel being almost the exact same color as her ebony flesh.
Belial snarled at the lack of a response, leaning forward over the scanner again. If he were of the First Order, such as Ahriman, or even a prized pet, like Charon he wouldn't have gotten these orders. The daemons black eyes became mere slits against his red skin as he focused his energy on the elemental matrix that made up the ship's operating systems, sending the energy scanning system out even further past the small galaxy that Terra had previously occupied. He would find this missing assassin and then request a front-line assignment, and then maybe he'd get to test his mettle against one of these sayai-jins he had heard so much about.
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The Namekian warrior, Hammer, glanced up as the ki flaring form of Son Goku dropped to the ground right before him. Excitement was stamped obviously on the face of the sayai-jin, who gave a brief nod and smile to Hammer in regards to the warrior's expression of inquiry, one of his green brows raised. As Goku passed by him into the small house that Bra, Pan, and Trunks slept in, Hammer only gave a slight shrug and a chuckle. He had been hearing stories of these warriors from his fellows since he had been born. They had always termed them unique. That had been an understatement.
Goku stepped into the small house, stopping right inside the doorway to let his eyes adjust to the dim light. As soon as they did he was able to make out the three sleeping forms of his companions. He really didn't want to wake them but this news was just too big to hold back. Trunks and Bra could be told later though they needed rest. His granddaughter would want to know immediately however, and it would probably help her sleep.
Kneeling down next to her Goku put his hand on her shoulder, giving the young woman a soft shake to wake her up. Pan's face had been scrunched up in a scowl in the midst of a dream, and she came awake with a start. Goku barely managed to snap his other hand up from the ground to catch her on-coming fist.
"Whoa there, it's just a dream Pan. You're with friends, relax."
With a soft sigh Pan slowly came into a sitting position. Giving her grandfather a soft smile in the way of an apology for accidentally lashing out at him, she ran her small hand through her short black hair. She had been having a nightmare; dark shadows had been engulfing her friends and family. After a moment of orientating herself she looked up to Goku, wondering why he had woken her and was now kneeling there with a huge grin on his face. Despite all the blows to the head he had taken in the last battle, she didn't think he was that far gone to see anything that was currently happening as worth smiling about.
Goku let Pan wake up, not saying anything as of yet, when a scowl began to form across her face at his expression he figured he better talk before she got angry.
"Medon is alive."
"What?! How?! Where is he?!"
Pan came fully awake at those three simple words, grabbing hold of Goku's muscled arms and yanking him forward. She found it hard to believe, she had seen her brother on the dying Earth as they had teleported away. It was her only hope though.
"I don't know where he is or how he managed to get off Earth, but I did feel his energy. He's dropped his ki now though, so I can no longer sense him wherever he is beyond a dull sensation in a particular direction, but I know it is him. If he raises his power again and there aren't any distortions around him, I'll use Instantaneous Movement to go get him."
The demi-sayai-jin sat there a moment in shock, then smiled and wrapped Goku in a strong hug. Her brother was alive! Goku patted her softly on the back as she fell into a mixture of crying and laughing in his arms. The two of them sat there for many minutes before she quieted and her breathing became slow and regular. Goku tilted his head back to look at her and realized the truth of him. Emotionally exhausted she had fallen back asleep, but this time a smile was obvious on her tear-streaked face.
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His master had been at work for two days straight. Charon had sat by silently while his lord, the daemon magistrate, Mephiston, had worked his alchemy upon his newest prizes. Even now Mephiston was pouring a thick black liquid into a vat that would send it into the four tubes he had been concentrating on. Beyond the orders that when the time came he was to eliminate Son Goku, his master had not spoken to him since. In fact, Mephiston had not spoken to anyone. Giving only small chuckles and mumblings to himself in the time since he had begun his work, his glowing red eyes never leaving his tasks.
Inside one of the tubes, the captured Ubuu jerked and opened his mouth in a silent scream as the long needles that had been slid into his arms injected the thick black liquid into his body. With a low laugh Mephiston leaned near the tube holding the captive warrior, tapping a long taloned finger against the glass, as one would with a pet fish. Ubuu went limp a few seconds later, the potent mixture doing it's horrible work and moving through his veins, twisting his mind and body.
The task he had been working on had been quite a challenge, even for the experienced daemon lord. This one had been the test subject, he wanted to find a way to allow him full access to his power but to supplement his will. It was not easy. The way the Earth Warriors used their ki was an extension of their will, and thus he had to allow Ubuu access to his base personality to give him full combat potential. It had taken him non-stop working but the alchemical mixture he had made worked in all respects like a form of drug. It twisted the victim's perceptions, thus making them think that they were doing exactly what they wanted. It also increased their power a bit, as if they were on a permanent adrenalin rush. Despite his relatively low power, Ubuu had been the hardest because of his current state of life. The others would be much easier and he couldn't wait for the moment to unleash them on the cursed Sayai-jin who had resisted him and taken his moment of glory.
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Laele gave a soft yawn and looked across the small fire they had constructed to the young man sleeping in the nook of two rocks. They had been on the moon for two days so far without any sign of rescue. After he had left her, the daemoness had gone in pursuit of Medon and given a promise of peace. She knew he had been right, their battle really was pointless, even more so now that they were stranded.
So they had remained together for the last two days. Things had been relatively unproductive; all they had found on the moon was basic plant life and a bit of water. Laele had left the edible plants they had found for Medon, she was able to go for two months without eating, and the odd sounds his stomach had been making non-stop, though amusing initially got on ones nerves quickly, though they had shared the water.
That had been the previous evening. He had slept most of the day today so as to not have to concentrate on the growling in his belly. She wasn't sure if that meant he was really that trusting or he was just confident he'd feel any increase in her power if she meant to attack him. From the time they had spent talking though she suspected it was a mixture of both, but mainly the former. The more the young sayai-jin had relaxed, the more he had begun to act more like himself and drop the hard shell he had formed around himself for the battle. She had found herself genuinely liking Medon, and regretting more and more that she hadn't given a more vocal dispute to their task upon Earth. He had been a bit cold to her initially but not unkind, and in the past days he had spoken to her in an actual casual manner, as he would someone he met at school. To an extent he probably just needed the company, but she could also see the hope in the depths of his lavender eyes. If he could make her see himself and his people as something more, then maybe it would be possible to convince the other daemons. She hadn't told him, but she knew it was a hollow dream.
With a soft sigh the daemoness rubbed her eyes, pushing a few thick red stands of hair from her face. She knew rationally she had no choice; she had done as she was raised to do, and she would have been killed otherwise. Seeing one of her enemies up close though, as a living being and not just another spot of resistance, was wearing thin on her. For not the first time in her life she wondered who it was she was meant to be, a daemon assassin, or a member of a peaceful race that was long extinct.
She was just going to pull her knees up and try to go to sleep when the ship entered into the atmosphere. Blue eyes went to the incoming vessel trying to recognize it. She hoped it was someone for the sayai-jin but knew better even as it came down to land a few hundred yards away. The markings of the Daemon Knighthood were clearly visible upon its' hull. They were here for her, and would kill Medon. Springing to her feet she dashed to his side, roughly shaking the young man to wake him from his deep sleep. She only hoped he'd have time to hide and she could get them to leave before they knew he was here, then at least his own friends could come get him. For the first time in years, Laele, thought she had a friend, and she didn't want to lose them.
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Belial came down the ramp from the Acheron onto the surface of the blue moon, strapped on the great war gauntlets he preferred to use in combat. He had put on a lighter suit of the black armor the knights wore, one more similar to Andariel's. They had scanned the surface before landing and were well aware of the sayai-jin's presence on the planet, and from what he knew they tended to be faster then they were strong. He was indeed looking forward to this.
Andariel came down behind her partner, the thin plates of her armor shifting easily with her graceful movements. She thought Belial was being a bit reckless coming down to fight with the sayai-jin and take Laele back, but she couldn't fault him. The last few days had been incredibly dull within the confines of the ship, with little amusement except each other, and they had explored those forms of fun on several past campaigns. Despite his protests she had still send work to Azazel that they had found the assassin and would begin recovery immediately but there would most likely be a spot of resistance. He had authorized elimination however, so she figured that anyway it was done didn't matter.
Besides, if Belial had trouble maybe she would get herself some exercise. She was weaker then the male daemon but since she preferred to attack from the rear while he was occupying them anyway. Yes, maybe this outing wouldn't be as completely boring as she assumed.
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Medon was yawning and rubbing his eyes, coming awake far to slowly for Laele's liking.
"You have to get up and hide! They're here and will kill you! Please."
She was shaking him as she spoke trying to get him to pay attention to her and now to slowly coming awake. With a small frown Medon reached up and removed her hands from his shoulders, rising to his feet.
"There is no where to go. I was asleep, it isn't like my ki would be hard to detect when I'm not trying to repress it. You stay here, that way they won't try to do anything to you if I lose."
As he turned away, she grabbed hold of his arm again spinning him around to face her. He was actually surprised at the expression her face, it was one of panic, even more so then when he had initiated battle on Earth.
"You don't understand. These are Daemon Knights. Each of them is stronger then Zilvra and I put together, even those of the Third Order. There are two of them out there you can't win. Don't go, run, I'll tell them you took me prisoner and I was waiting for my chance to escape, and we should leave you here to die. Then your friends can come get you."
Medon only smiled at her and gave her hand a light pat before he pulled it off his arm. He had fallen into the same hole she had, had seen his enemy as individuals and not just those to destroy. He knew the evil ones who had killed his parents and friends were already dead, and that others had a chance at redemption. He hoped maybe he could talk to these two that were coming, and if not, he already knew running wasn't an option.
"I hope you can meet my sister someday, you two are actually a lot alike, I think you'd get along."
It was a simple statement but carried more weight in what it meant. He had forgiven her at least, and wanted her to know, no matter the outcome of the next few minutes. Then he lifted lightly off the ground and flew towards the oncoming knights.
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Belial watched the form rise out from behind some rocks in the distance and fly towards them. He gave a snort of contempt as the sayai-jin came into view. He was built, but quite short, and his power was nowhere near the level that Azazel had said this race possessed.
"Well looks like it maybe another disappointing day Andariel."
"Maybe, but if when win, we can at least have a bit of a celebration so it isn't a complete waste."
Belial gave a lewd smile back over his shoulder at his companion then turned back to wait for the boy to land. He would actually give him a chance; it was so much more satisfying when they thought they could actually win.
As soon as Medon landed he knew there would be no talking to these two. The energies pouring off them was darker then any he had faced on Earth, and the expressions on their faces were indicative of their bloodlust. Still he would at least make an effort, it would at least give credence to Laele's story of being a captive, and if he seemed to want to talk he'd have kept her alive.
"I take it you're here for your companion. I've been trying to explain to her about the universe you've come to conquer and the great people that live in it. I'd be happy to tell you as well, it maybe possible for everyone to simply work together and no need for this mistaken battle."
Andariel nearly fell over laughing as Medon's words. Belial only smirked and shook his head slowly, beginning to slowly walk towards the demi-sayai-jin.
"Seems our intelligence was right on one thing. These sayai-jin aren't that smart at all. I guess ignorance is bliss though, he probably won't even know he's dead until after it's happened."
He was almost to Medon, planning to simply walk up and break the young man's neck. The unexpected golden flash from in front of him blinded him for a split second. That was all that was needed for the battle to be joined.
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Laele crouched behind the rock pile watching the beginning of the fight begin to unfold. Her keen ears had made out the brief exchange of words before Belial had gotten into arms reach. Seeing his attempt at diplomacy failed, Medon had became sheathed in golden flames and sparking electrical trails. The initial flaring of the transformation had momentarily blinded the two knights, and Medon had taken that opportunity to attack.
His foot had snapped forward, the tip of it sliding across the hard ground and cracking and tearing up the stones as it came forward. His kick had landed hard into Belial's stomach, causing the daemon knight to lurch forward in surprise, Medon had followed up with a uppercut that had launched the knight backward to fly pass Andariel.
It was a good start, but she knew it was only due to the surprise. The two would quickly become organized, and the sayai-jin would perish, and she had no idea what she could do to stop it.
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Andariel twisted to the side, turning her face to watch Belial hurtle by her. She resisted the urge to laugh as he bounced a few times and rose back to his feet with a snarl of rage. He had been overconfident, which she couldn't blame him for giving what the boy's power had been, but it was still amusing to watch him humbled.
Belial kicked off the ground flying back in at Medon who stood calmly before him waiting for the daemons return. He should have paid more attention to the briefing, though he would certainly have a few words with Andariel about not reminding him about this races ability to transform themselves afterwards.
Waiting for Belial's charge, Medon tried to quell the genuine fear he felt rising in his stomach. This one was much stronger then him even now, and the other one was only slightly less. To drop either one he'd have to land more hits then they did, and he wasn't sure if that was possible. Lack of sleep and food also had him a bit weak. This wasn't the best situation he had been in.
With a growl, Medon pushed all his cares and fears away. They wouldn't help him win. His golden aura flared as Belial reached him, powerful legs sending him into a backwards spring as the daemon knight chopped his hand down in an attempt to crush the sayai-jin, Belial's fist burying itself in the ground and causing the entire area to shake with the force of the impact.
Even as Medon considered his attack options Belial had yanked his hand free and dashed back in, causing the boy to leap to the side to avoid the second blow. He wasn't as lucky for the third though, already in mid-jump, when Belial reversed his momentum and swung about in a strong backhand the war gauntlets crackling with energy struck Medon firmly in the ribs, launching him across the terrain.
As soon as he hit the ground, despite the daze the impact had left over him, Medon kicked off the dirt and rolled forward. The act saved his life, as Belial's fist smashed into the ground where he had been a split second before. The daemon was unbelievable fast and strong. The single blow had done more damage then all the hits he had taken on Earth, he felt one of his ribs floating free cleanly broken. Medon came back to his feet spinning around and firing a golden bolt of ki at his attacker. Belial's armored hand came across swatting the energy attack away as he continued to advance. This would be more challenge then he thought but not much. He stopped short before he reached Medon, his eyes glowing and twin beams of elemental energy lancing out towards the sayai-jin.
Medon swatted one of the two beams away and dodged the other, taking to the air, the block having left his palm numbed and slightly burned. He felt the bottom of his boots superheat as a hurled energy ball from the daemon knight just missed him. He had little hopes of beating his one, much less both in a fair fight. Still he had a plan that might even the odds.
Medon flew low over Andariel, hoping to clear the daemoness before she could react, Belial in fast pursuit. He almost made it, but her ebony hands snapped up her fist crushing into his abdomen as her other hand grabbed his boot. She spun a complete circuit and smashed him into a rock a few feet away, crushing the small boulder into dust.
Belial landed between Andariel and the sayai-jin, watching him slowly rise to his feet. He was moving slower now and blood was visible on his mouth, most likely brought forth from the blow to the stomach that his partner had landed.
"Ready to lay down and die yet?"
Medon gritted his teeth, pushing way the burning pain in his body. He wasn't use to the injuries; he had taken so very few in his previous fights. Flattening his palm he began to focus his ki, preparing the shape he wanted it to take as he slowly came to his knees. When he had one foot planted under him, he pushed off it, spinning around and hurling the ki construct at Belial, less then a foot away.
"Kienzan!"
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Laele stood up when she saw Medon smashed into the rock. Part of her hoped he would stay down and maybe they would still just leave him. The stubborn young man had refused to give up though and he had taken his feet again. He had then spun about launching what she assumed would be a useless attack.
The spinning energy disc he had tossed moved almost faster then she could see. She did clearly see Belial rotate his entire body to the side, though a trail of black blood did appear on the ground below as the energy cutter sliced through his side, shearing the black armor.
He had not been Medon's target though, the somewhat slower and only half paying attention Andariel, behind Belial was. She just had time to turn around and see the oncoming doom before the kienzan struck her. It slowed only briefly before slicing through the fine black skin of her throat and rocketing into the distance where it exploded as it hit the ground.
Laele could only watch in astonishment, as was Belial, as the daemoness headless body toppled over, her head bouncing besides it, mouth and eyes still wide in surprise.
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Medon didn't even have time to smile as Belial spun about with a backhand blow that tore a patch of skin clear from his cheek.
"You bastard!"
The words didn't even register on the sayai-jin who was now in flight across the landscape again. Belial had put all his strength and rage into the blow, and Medon was almost senseless. He had gotten one of them though, and had a plan now for Belial, if he could reorient himself in time to put it into effect.
He didn't have time to consider his plan anymore as he was slammed to the ground again, Belial appearing above him and coming down with a two fisted hammer punched that stopped his flight and sent him straight down. The felt the cold metal of the war gauntlets time and time again as the daemon knights fists crashed into his face, chest, and stomach. He wasn't sure if he was standing or lying down after a few seconds had passed, the only sight the blood that had run into his eyes.
Belial had Medon off the ground, one gauntleted hand wrapped tightly aroundt he sayai-jin's throat. The other was held back, fingers extended to deliver the killing blow. This whelp had killed Andariel, his partner. It was unfathomable. With a growl, Belial started to bring his hand forward, then a burning pain spread from his lower back, causing him to drop Medon in shock. Patting at the stop where an energy attack had obviously hit him, Belial turned around.
Laele stood a few feet away, both her hands extended from the launching of her most powerful energy blast. It had barely injured Belial but it had caused him to drop Medon. She didn't know what to do now though, the angry daemon knights attention fully on her.
"You traitorous little bitch!"
Belial opened his palm to fire a beam of elemental cold at her that would kill her on the spot. To hell with his orders, Laele had betrayed them and Andariel was dead. He'd kill these two then go butchered the rest of them. His hand was roughly jerked upward as the energy left his palm though, the bluish white beam streaking off into the sky.
Astonishment on both their faces Laele and Belial both looked to Medon who had someone gotten to his feet and grabbed hold of the knight's hand yanking it upward. His legs were unsteady and blood mattered his face. Laele winced as she saw the piece of skin that had torn off his cheek, what she assumed was bone showing through. Her gaze snapped back to the two as a whole though as Medon spoke, his voice was barely a whisper, and Belial had no clue what the meaning behind it was.
"Kaio-Ken times two."
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Son Goku, Hammer, and Tenshinhan had been in discussion over various plans they could put into effect when Medon returned, the Namekian and the human warrior having heard the news when Goku exited the house two days previous, when they felt the energy flaring.
The sayai-jin came to his feet, instantly trying to get a firm lock on the ki source that he knew was his grandson. He felt it keenly but the distortion nearby was strong. He would be able to make the teleport but he needed a few minutes to lock onto it. Tenshinhan had to remember to breath as he watched Goku's frown fiercely and tightly shut his eyes, trying to get a keen lock onto Medon's ki. He desperately hoped they'd manage to save the boy.
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Laele was blown clear off her feet from the amber energy aura that roared up around Medon as he activated the Kaio-Ken technique. The headless corpse some distance off skidded across the ground as the energy waves pulsed over it.
The daemon knight, Belial, was not so lucky. Medon had a death grip on his arm and no intention of letting god. The daemon felt his red skin blister as the aura flickered across his flesh. Mere heat wouldn't stop him though, he would kill this one, and drawing back his free hand he threw a hard punch at Medon's face. Medon simply jerked his head to the side, the blow missing. He did the same for the next dozen, emerald eyes never leaving the knight. As Belial roared in anger and threw another blow, the sayai-jin attacked.
He let go of Belial's fist and ducked under the upraised arm, even as the punch from the other hand sailed by the top of his head, causing his golden hair to sway as if from a great wind. Then he was directly in front of Belial, his feet setting firmly as he turned to face him. His fist came up, slamming in hard against the black daemon armor across the knight's stomach. The metal yielded and cracked apart, the fist continuing on into red flesh that also couldn't stop the force of the blow. Medon had thrown everything he could into that punch, the very act of going into the Kaio-Ken at a higher level in his injured state throwing waves of agony through his body, he wouldn't get anymore then one.
Pushing herself up on her hands to the side, Laele clearly saw the amber flaming fist of Medon emerge from Belial's back between his shoulder blades. She watched is a mixture of horror and fascination as the still alive daemon knight grabbed hold of Medon's face, seeking to crush the sayai-jin. Medon simply tightened the muscles in his impaling arm and finished the upward motion, tearing through armor, muscle, and bone, his arm tore free out of the top of Belial's body next to his neck, a jet of black blood squirting forth of the daemon fell backward, his upper torso literally split in half.
The amber aura around him broke apart as soon as Belial fell. Medon falling right out of Kaio-Ken and Super Sayai-jin Stage Two, and collapsing to his knees, he was hurt more then he thought and the increased energy burning through his limbs hadn't helped.
Laele was quickly to her feet, going to his side to see what aid she could give. Then the black energy flash appeared between the two of them, a single figure stepping out of the dimensional gate onto the moon. A commander never left his troops unmonitored. Medon looked up into the blue glowing eyes of Azazel.
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The soldiers and officers aboard the Leviathan cowered in their quarters or stations. The laughter of their lord and master, Mephiston, had echoed up from his lab a few minutes previously and had no ceased since. Something had pleased him greatly.
Again in his human guise, the magistrate, finally managed to hold in his mirth at his success. These four were now ready. He had more plans in mind then simply destroying the sayai-jin, plans of conquest in his home realm as well. If the success the sayai-jin had enjoyed so far in stopping the dominance of their home dimension were any sign of the abilities as a whole, these warriors would come in quite handy.
Off to the side, the Death Knight, Charon finally saw fit to speak. Wanting to know his masters motives and make sure his plan was sound.
"Your eminence. Of the four you chose, three were...are dead. Will they be able to serve you effectively?"
Mephiston only turned to regard his minion with a grim smile, his confidence was complete, he had worked to hard for this to fail.
"Of course. I simply trapped their spirits; their will is mine as are their bodies. You will kill Son Goku so there is no mistake there, but the others I will crush their spirits and see them in hopelessness before they did. The living one, Ubuu, I believe he is called, and the three undead warriors will serve me well."
The magistrate cackled again, and looked over his four new creations. He would certainly have to be present when the Earth-born Sayai-jins faced their newest enemies. The best way to kill a daemon was with another daemon, so he had figured, the best way to kill a sayai-jin, was with another sayai-jin.
"Isn't that right my pets?"
Staring sightlessly ahead, Vegeta, Gohan, Goten, and Ubuu had no response. Their resurrection was not something of a heavenly miracle but more like a gift form hell itself.
Standard disclaimer, I do not own Dragonball Z/GT or any of its related characters. This is purely a non-profit work, for the enjoyment of those that are kind enough to read my work.
Warning: This and later chapter's are going to get into some darker areas, so if your easily bothered don't read on. Rating is still PG-13 for violence, language, and minor implied sexuality.
Dragonball: After Earth
By Blood Wraith
Chapter 8: Resurrection
The blue moon of the Planet Erinyas had sat in desolate silence for a millennia. The occupants of the dark planet below had no desire to travel to the oxygen rich atmosphere, the nitrogen gas they breathed much more to their liking.
The brief flash of a blue star in the distance was the only sign of the explosive end to the planet Earth, so far away. The dark sky was alight then with a white flash, the ground blistering and cracking at the intense heat that was released above it as two figures appeared from nothing.
Laele couldn't see and could barely breath, she was barely conscious and didn't think to focus her ki to stop her need for air. They had been about to die; she hadn't had a way of gathering her energy quick enough to teleport. Then the sayai-jin had latched onto her, one hand covering her mouth and the other hooked onto the front of her breastplate. The moment of contact an overwhelming surge of energy had rushed into her body, disorienting her and sending her right into the teleportation she had been preparing.
Now they were hovering a few feet of above the ground of wherever they were, safe from the explosion but not each other. Medon had gotten his bearings quicker upon their arrival and took advantage of it now. He was tired and sore, and had no desire for a further prolonged battle. The golden aura around him flared to life as he released his grip on the daemonesses mouth. His other hand that had hooked into her breastplate yanking her forward into his waiting knee, the armor across her midriff cracking at the impact.
The slamming contact to her stomach caused Laele to bend over in pain as the air was knocked from her body. Medon rolled around her doubled up form, his hand slapping flat to her back between the two great raven wrings that protruded from her shoulders. Golden ki welling up between his spread fingers as the blast released into her spine, sending her slamming face first to the ground below.
New pain raged through Laele's body, as she lay prone in the dirt. She had absolutely no hope of winning this fight. He had hurt her severely back on Earth, when she had tried to fight him solo, and now he would finish her at his whim. Her wings melted back into her shoulder blades as she struggled to rise. She was almost to her feet when two tightly muscled arms snaked around her body, pinning her arms to her sides and effectively immobilizing her. She struggled against the iron grip for a moment before the man behind her shoulder directly into her ear.
"Knock it off!"
His grip tightened at the order, emitting a grunt of pain from her, the daemoness' thrashing slowly ceased though, as she turned her head to see as much of Medon as possible.
"Why? So you can kill me all the easier?"
"You'd already be dead if I planned that! I really should finish you off, just to protect myself. I won't though."
He released his grip on her then with a suddenness that sent her stumbling forward a few steps. Expecting an attack, she spun about instantly, not even a full arms length from the sayai-jin. Medon had lowered his power level before he had grabbed her. His hair was still gold but somehow softer, and the crackling trails of dancing electricity were gone.
"Why?"
Medon sighed at the question. He should have expected it from her. Her people had no mercy; they gave no quarter in battle, and thus expected none in return.
"It would be pointless. We have no clue where we are, I can't get off here myself and you're far to weak to at this point. Besides I won't want to kill anyone. That's why I spared the giant, and I wanted to destroy him.
Medon stopped then, his jaw clenching as he closed his bright green eyes and pushed down the lump in his throat. He hadn't know he was capable of so much anger until he had actual faced the daemons in battle. His behavior at the time had been contradictory to everything his parents had taught him. Kaiosamma had also warned him of letting his emotions take control, and the increased urge to fight from transforming into a Super Sayai-jin was no excuse. He had barely registered what he was doing when he fired his Kamehameha at Kale, coming aware at the last second and twisting the beam away, sparring the daemon.
The young sayai-jin's aura flickered briefly before fading away, the dim golden glow around him breaking apart as his hair fell into a disarray of soft black stands upon his head. Lavender eyes opened then to regard the daemoness.
Laele knew as he powered down if she wanted to win this fight, now was the time to attack. He was still extremely strong, but she should have the advantage. All she had to do was lunge forward and destroy the boy. Common sense screamed at her to take her chance.
Son Medon saw the indecision flicker across Laele's face. He could guess her train of thought, but he simply didn't care. He was done fighting for now. He met her eyes for several long seconds before turning his back to her and walking away. The wind had started to pick up across the moon's surface, and he wanted to find shelter. He left Laele standing there among the blistered and cracked ground, with only her thoughts to keep her company in the approaching storm.
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Tenshinhan looked up from the small bowl of food the Namekians had prepared for him. Thought capable of surviving on only water they preferred not to have to do so thus grew a number of crops, mainly various vegetables and fruits. They had carefully determines what was safe for human consumptions and give him some to eat, saying it would help him feel better faster. So he was at the moment when Goku flew overhead, causing a cloud of dust in the wake of his passing, even with the ground some thirty feet beneath him.
Even after being healed Tenshinhan had a distinct ache in his body. He wasn't sure if it was him not having a full recovery from his wounds or the simple unquestionable knowledge that his life-long friend Chaozu was dead, killed upon Earth. Letting a soft sigh, the warrior steeled himself and rose. All he could do was face the future now, so he set off after Goku to learn the reason of the sayai-jin's haste.
Goku's path took him across the expanse of the small farming village to the few houses on the west edge. Tenshinhan could see the white ki field around him vanish as the sayai-jin dropped out of view, most likely landing. Noting the area he went down Tenshinhan set off into a steady run after him. The Namekians on the street or in their homes turned only briefly to regard the three-eyed man as she rushed past them.
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The Daemon Knight, Belial glanced back at the scanners of the Acheron, the small scout ship that he and Andariel had been given for their assignment. They had left immediately after being given the orders by their leader, Azazel. Still the two had no idea where to start their search for Mephiston's missing warrior, Laele, the daemon figured this was another pointless excursion.
"Why did we get this stupid assignment anyway?"
The daemoness sitting in the pilot's seat didn't even bother to turn her yellow eyes to regard her companion. Belial always tended to complain about whatever assignment they were given, unless it involved killing something. Instead she gave a simple shrug of her shoulders, the multi-layer black plate armor she was wearing shifting with the movement, the noise of the armor the only real sign that she wore any, the steel being almost the exact same color as her ebony flesh.
Belial snarled at the lack of a response, leaning forward over the scanner again. If he were of the First Order, such as Ahriman, or even a prized pet, like Charon he wouldn't have gotten these orders. The daemons black eyes became mere slits against his red skin as he focused his energy on the elemental matrix that made up the ship's operating systems, sending the energy scanning system out even further past the small galaxy that Terra had previously occupied. He would find this missing assassin and then request a front-line assignment, and then maybe he'd get to test his mettle against one of these sayai-jins he had heard so much about.
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The Namekian warrior, Hammer, glanced up as the ki flaring form of Son Goku dropped to the ground right before him. Excitement was stamped obviously on the face of the sayai-jin, who gave a brief nod and smile to Hammer in regards to the warrior's expression of inquiry, one of his green brows raised. As Goku passed by him into the small house that Bra, Pan, and Trunks slept in, Hammer only gave a slight shrug and a chuckle. He had been hearing stories of these warriors from his fellows since he had been born. They had always termed them unique. That had been an understatement.
Goku stepped into the small house, stopping right inside the doorway to let his eyes adjust to the dim light. As soon as they did he was able to make out the three sleeping forms of his companions. He really didn't want to wake them but this news was just too big to hold back. Trunks and Bra could be told later though they needed rest. His granddaughter would want to know immediately however, and it would probably help her sleep.
Kneeling down next to her Goku put his hand on her shoulder, giving the young woman a soft shake to wake her up. Pan's face had been scrunched up in a scowl in the midst of a dream, and she came awake with a start. Goku barely managed to snap his other hand up from the ground to catch her on-coming fist.
"Whoa there, it's just a dream Pan. You're with friends, relax."
With a soft sigh Pan slowly came into a sitting position. Giving her grandfather a soft smile in the way of an apology for accidentally lashing out at him, she ran her small hand through her short black hair. She had been having a nightmare; dark shadows had been engulfing her friends and family. After a moment of orientating herself she looked up to Goku, wondering why he had woken her and was now kneeling there with a huge grin on his face. Despite all the blows to the head he had taken in the last battle, she didn't think he was that far gone to see anything that was currently happening as worth smiling about.
Goku let Pan wake up, not saying anything as of yet, when a scowl began to form across her face at his expression he figured he better talk before she got angry.
"Medon is alive."
"What?! How?! Where is he?!"
Pan came fully awake at those three simple words, grabbing hold of Goku's muscled arms and yanking him forward. She found it hard to believe, she had seen her brother on the dying Earth as they had teleported away. It was her only hope though.
"I don't know where he is or how he managed to get off Earth, but I did feel his energy. He's dropped his ki now though, so I can no longer sense him wherever he is beyond a dull sensation in a particular direction, but I know it is him. If he raises his power again and there aren't any distortions around him, I'll use Instantaneous Movement to go get him."
The demi-sayai-jin sat there a moment in shock, then smiled and wrapped Goku in a strong hug. Her brother was alive! Goku patted her softly on the back as she fell into a mixture of crying and laughing in his arms. The two of them sat there for many minutes before she quieted and her breathing became slow and regular. Goku tilted his head back to look at her and realized the truth of him. Emotionally exhausted she had fallen back asleep, but this time a smile was obvious on her tear-streaked face.
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His master had been at work for two days straight. Charon had sat by silently while his lord, the daemon magistrate, Mephiston, had worked his alchemy upon his newest prizes. Even now Mephiston was pouring a thick black liquid into a vat that would send it into the four tubes he had been concentrating on. Beyond the orders that when the time came he was to eliminate Son Goku, his master had not spoken to him since. In fact, Mephiston had not spoken to anyone. Giving only small chuckles and mumblings to himself in the time since he had begun his work, his glowing red eyes never leaving his tasks.
Inside one of the tubes, the captured Ubuu jerked and opened his mouth in a silent scream as the long needles that had been slid into his arms injected the thick black liquid into his body. With a low laugh Mephiston leaned near the tube holding the captive warrior, tapping a long taloned finger against the glass, as one would with a pet fish. Ubuu went limp a few seconds later, the potent mixture doing it's horrible work and moving through his veins, twisting his mind and body.
The task he had been working on had been quite a challenge, even for the experienced daemon lord. This one had been the test subject, he wanted to find a way to allow him full access to his power but to supplement his will. It was not easy. The way the Earth Warriors used their ki was an extension of their will, and thus he had to allow Ubuu access to his base personality to give him full combat potential. It had taken him non-stop working but the alchemical mixture he had made worked in all respects like a form of drug. It twisted the victim's perceptions, thus making them think that they were doing exactly what they wanted. It also increased their power a bit, as if they were on a permanent adrenalin rush. Despite his relatively low power, Ubuu had been the hardest because of his current state of life. The others would be much easier and he couldn't wait for the moment to unleash them on the cursed Sayai-jin who had resisted him and taken his moment of glory.
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Laele gave a soft yawn and looked across the small fire they had constructed to the young man sleeping in the nook of two rocks. They had been on the moon for two days so far without any sign of rescue. After he had left her, the daemoness had gone in pursuit of Medon and given a promise of peace. She knew he had been right, their battle really was pointless, even more so now that they were stranded.
So they had remained together for the last two days. Things had been relatively unproductive; all they had found on the moon was basic plant life and a bit of water. Laele had left the edible plants they had found for Medon, she was able to go for two months without eating, and the odd sounds his stomach had been making non-stop, though amusing initially got on ones nerves quickly, though they had shared the water.
That had been the previous evening. He had slept most of the day today so as to not have to concentrate on the growling in his belly. She wasn't sure if that meant he was really that trusting or he was just confident he'd feel any increase in her power if she meant to attack him. From the time they had spent talking though she suspected it was a mixture of both, but mainly the former. The more the young sayai-jin had relaxed, the more he had begun to act more like himself and drop the hard shell he had formed around himself for the battle. She had found herself genuinely liking Medon, and regretting more and more that she hadn't given a more vocal dispute to their task upon Earth. He had been a bit cold to her initially but not unkind, and in the past days he had spoken to her in an actual casual manner, as he would someone he met at school. To an extent he probably just needed the company, but she could also see the hope in the depths of his lavender eyes. If he could make her see himself and his people as something more, then maybe it would be possible to convince the other daemons. She hadn't told him, but she knew it was a hollow dream.
With a soft sigh the daemoness rubbed her eyes, pushing a few thick red stands of hair from her face. She knew rationally she had no choice; she had done as she was raised to do, and she would have been killed otherwise. Seeing one of her enemies up close though, as a living being and not just another spot of resistance, was wearing thin on her. For not the first time in her life she wondered who it was she was meant to be, a daemon assassin, or a member of a peaceful race that was long extinct.
She was just going to pull her knees up and try to go to sleep when the ship entered into the atmosphere. Blue eyes went to the incoming vessel trying to recognize it. She hoped it was someone for the sayai-jin but knew better even as it came down to land a few hundred yards away. The markings of the Daemon Knighthood were clearly visible upon its' hull. They were here for her, and would kill Medon. Springing to her feet she dashed to his side, roughly shaking the young man to wake him from his deep sleep. She only hoped he'd have time to hide and she could get them to leave before they knew he was here, then at least his own friends could come get him. For the first time in years, Laele, thought she had a friend, and she didn't want to lose them.
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Belial came down the ramp from the Acheron onto the surface of the blue moon, strapped on the great war gauntlets he preferred to use in combat. He had put on a lighter suit of the black armor the knights wore, one more similar to Andariel's. They had scanned the surface before landing and were well aware of the sayai-jin's presence on the planet, and from what he knew they tended to be faster then they were strong. He was indeed looking forward to this.
Andariel came down behind her partner, the thin plates of her armor shifting easily with her graceful movements. She thought Belial was being a bit reckless coming down to fight with the sayai-jin and take Laele back, but she couldn't fault him. The last few days had been incredibly dull within the confines of the ship, with little amusement except each other, and they had explored those forms of fun on several past campaigns. Despite his protests she had still send work to Azazel that they had found the assassin and would begin recovery immediately but there would most likely be a spot of resistance. He had authorized elimination however, so she figured that anyway it was done didn't matter.
Besides, if Belial had trouble maybe she would get herself some exercise. She was weaker then the male daemon but since she preferred to attack from the rear while he was occupying them anyway. Yes, maybe this outing wouldn't be as completely boring as she assumed.
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Medon was yawning and rubbing his eyes, coming awake far to slowly for Laele's liking.
"You have to get up and hide! They're here and will kill you! Please."
She was shaking him as she spoke trying to get him to pay attention to her and now to slowly coming awake. With a small frown Medon reached up and removed her hands from his shoulders, rising to his feet.
"There is no where to go. I was asleep, it isn't like my ki would be hard to detect when I'm not trying to repress it. You stay here, that way they won't try to do anything to you if I lose."
As he turned away, she grabbed hold of his arm again spinning him around to face her. He was actually surprised at the expression her face, it was one of panic, even more so then when he had initiated battle on Earth.
"You don't understand. These are Daemon Knights. Each of them is stronger then Zilvra and I put together, even those of the Third Order. There are two of them out there you can't win. Don't go, run, I'll tell them you took me prisoner and I was waiting for my chance to escape, and we should leave you here to die. Then your friends can come get you."
Medon only smiled at her and gave her hand a light pat before he pulled it off his arm. He had fallen into the same hole she had, had seen his enemy as individuals and not just those to destroy. He knew the evil ones who had killed his parents and friends were already dead, and that others had a chance at redemption. He hoped maybe he could talk to these two that were coming, and if not, he already knew running wasn't an option.
"I hope you can meet my sister someday, you two are actually a lot alike, I think you'd get along."
It was a simple statement but carried more weight in what it meant. He had forgiven her at least, and wanted her to know, no matter the outcome of the next few minutes. Then he lifted lightly off the ground and flew towards the oncoming knights.
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Belial watched the form rise out from behind some rocks in the distance and fly towards them. He gave a snort of contempt as the sayai-jin came into view. He was built, but quite short, and his power was nowhere near the level that Azazel had said this race possessed.
"Well looks like it maybe another disappointing day Andariel."
"Maybe, but if when win, we can at least have a bit of a celebration so it isn't a complete waste."
Belial gave a lewd smile back over his shoulder at his companion then turned back to wait for the boy to land. He would actually give him a chance; it was so much more satisfying when they thought they could actually win.
As soon as Medon landed he knew there would be no talking to these two. The energies pouring off them was darker then any he had faced on Earth, and the expressions on their faces were indicative of their bloodlust. Still he would at least make an effort, it would at least give credence to Laele's story of being a captive, and if he seemed to want to talk he'd have kept her alive.
"I take it you're here for your companion. I've been trying to explain to her about the universe you've come to conquer and the great people that live in it. I'd be happy to tell you as well, it maybe possible for everyone to simply work together and no need for this mistaken battle."
Andariel nearly fell over laughing as Medon's words. Belial only smirked and shook his head slowly, beginning to slowly walk towards the demi-sayai-jin.
"Seems our intelligence was right on one thing. These sayai-jin aren't that smart at all. I guess ignorance is bliss though, he probably won't even know he's dead until after it's happened."
He was almost to Medon, planning to simply walk up and break the young man's neck. The unexpected golden flash from in front of him blinded him for a split second. That was all that was needed for the battle to be joined.
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Laele crouched behind the rock pile watching the beginning of the fight begin to unfold. Her keen ears had made out the brief exchange of words before Belial had gotten into arms reach. Seeing his attempt at diplomacy failed, Medon had became sheathed in golden flames and sparking electrical trails. The initial flaring of the transformation had momentarily blinded the two knights, and Medon had taken that opportunity to attack.
His foot had snapped forward, the tip of it sliding across the hard ground and cracking and tearing up the stones as it came forward. His kick had landed hard into Belial's stomach, causing the daemon knight to lurch forward in surprise, Medon had followed up with a uppercut that had launched the knight backward to fly pass Andariel.
It was a good start, but she knew it was only due to the surprise. The two would quickly become organized, and the sayai-jin would perish, and she had no idea what she could do to stop it.
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Andariel twisted to the side, turning her face to watch Belial hurtle by her. She resisted the urge to laugh as he bounced a few times and rose back to his feet with a snarl of rage. He had been overconfident, which she couldn't blame him for giving what the boy's power had been, but it was still amusing to watch him humbled.
Belial kicked off the ground flying back in at Medon who stood calmly before him waiting for the daemons return. He should have paid more attention to the briefing, though he would certainly have a few words with Andariel about not reminding him about this races ability to transform themselves afterwards.
Waiting for Belial's charge, Medon tried to quell the genuine fear he felt rising in his stomach. This one was much stronger then him even now, and the other one was only slightly less. To drop either one he'd have to land more hits then they did, and he wasn't sure if that was possible. Lack of sleep and food also had him a bit weak. This wasn't the best situation he had been in.
With a growl, Medon pushed all his cares and fears away. They wouldn't help him win. His golden aura flared as Belial reached him, powerful legs sending him into a backwards spring as the daemon knight chopped his hand down in an attempt to crush the sayai-jin, Belial's fist burying itself in the ground and causing the entire area to shake with the force of the impact.
Even as Medon considered his attack options Belial had yanked his hand free and dashed back in, causing the boy to leap to the side to avoid the second blow. He wasn't as lucky for the third though, already in mid-jump, when Belial reversed his momentum and swung about in a strong backhand the war gauntlets crackling with energy struck Medon firmly in the ribs, launching him across the terrain.
As soon as he hit the ground, despite the daze the impact had left over him, Medon kicked off the dirt and rolled forward. The act saved his life, as Belial's fist smashed into the ground where he had been a split second before. The daemon was unbelievable fast and strong. The single blow had done more damage then all the hits he had taken on Earth, he felt one of his ribs floating free cleanly broken. Medon came back to his feet spinning around and firing a golden bolt of ki at his attacker. Belial's armored hand came across swatting the energy attack away as he continued to advance. This would be more challenge then he thought but not much. He stopped short before he reached Medon, his eyes glowing and twin beams of elemental energy lancing out towards the sayai-jin.
Medon swatted one of the two beams away and dodged the other, taking to the air, the block having left his palm numbed and slightly burned. He felt the bottom of his boots superheat as a hurled energy ball from the daemon knight just missed him. He had little hopes of beating his one, much less both in a fair fight. Still he had a plan that might even the odds.
Medon flew low over Andariel, hoping to clear the daemoness before she could react, Belial in fast pursuit. He almost made it, but her ebony hands snapped up her fist crushing into his abdomen as her other hand grabbed his boot. She spun a complete circuit and smashed him into a rock a few feet away, crushing the small boulder into dust.
Belial landed between Andariel and the sayai-jin, watching him slowly rise to his feet. He was moving slower now and blood was visible on his mouth, most likely brought forth from the blow to the stomach that his partner had landed.
"Ready to lay down and die yet?"
Medon gritted his teeth, pushing way the burning pain in his body. He wasn't use to the injuries; he had taken so very few in his previous fights. Flattening his palm he began to focus his ki, preparing the shape he wanted it to take as he slowly came to his knees. When he had one foot planted under him, he pushed off it, spinning around and hurling the ki construct at Belial, less then a foot away.
"Kienzan!"
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Laele stood up when she saw Medon smashed into the rock. Part of her hoped he would stay down and maybe they would still just leave him. The stubborn young man had refused to give up though and he had taken his feet again. He had then spun about launching what she assumed would be a useless attack.
The spinning energy disc he had tossed moved almost faster then she could see. She did clearly see Belial rotate his entire body to the side, though a trail of black blood did appear on the ground below as the energy cutter sliced through his side, shearing the black armor.
He had not been Medon's target though, the somewhat slower and only half paying attention Andariel, behind Belial was. She just had time to turn around and see the oncoming doom before the kienzan struck her. It slowed only briefly before slicing through the fine black skin of her throat and rocketing into the distance where it exploded as it hit the ground.
Laele could only watch in astonishment, as was Belial, as the daemoness headless body toppled over, her head bouncing besides it, mouth and eyes still wide in surprise.
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Medon didn't even have time to smile as Belial spun about with a backhand blow that tore a patch of skin clear from his cheek.
"You bastard!"
The words didn't even register on the sayai-jin who was now in flight across the landscape again. Belial had put all his strength and rage into the blow, and Medon was almost senseless. He had gotten one of them though, and had a plan now for Belial, if he could reorient himself in time to put it into effect.
He didn't have time to consider his plan anymore as he was slammed to the ground again, Belial appearing above him and coming down with a two fisted hammer punched that stopped his flight and sent him straight down. The felt the cold metal of the war gauntlets time and time again as the daemon knights fists crashed into his face, chest, and stomach. He wasn't sure if he was standing or lying down after a few seconds had passed, the only sight the blood that had run into his eyes.
Belial had Medon off the ground, one gauntleted hand wrapped tightly aroundt he sayai-jin's throat. The other was held back, fingers extended to deliver the killing blow. This whelp had killed Andariel, his partner. It was unfathomable. With a growl, Belial started to bring his hand forward, then a burning pain spread from his lower back, causing him to drop Medon in shock. Patting at the stop where an energy attack had obviously hit him, Belial turned around.
Laele stood a few feet away, both her hands extended from the launching of her most powerful energy blast. It had barely injured Belial but it had caused him to drop Medon. She didn't know what to do now though, the angry daemon knights attention fully on her.
"You traitorous little bitch!"
Belial opened his palm to fire a beam of elemental cold at her that would kill her on the spot. To hell with his orders, Laele had betrayed them and Andariel was dead. He'd kill these two then go butchered the rest of them. His hand was roughly jerked upward as the energy left his palm though, the bluish white beam streaking off into the sky.
Astonishment on both their faces Laele and Belial both looked to Medon who had someone gotten to his feet and grabbed hold of the knight's hand yanking it upward. His legs were unsteady and blood mattered his face. Laele winced as she saw the piece of skin that had torn off his cheek, what she assumed was bone showing through. Her gaze snapped back to the two as a whole though as Medon spoke, his voice was barely a whisper, and Belial had no clue what the meaning behind it was.
"Kaio-Ken times two."
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Son Goku, Hammer, and Tenshinhan had been in discussion over various plans they could put into effect when Medon returned, the Namekian and the human warrior having heard the news when Goku exited the house two days previous, when they felt the energy flaring.
The sayai-jin came to his feet, instantly trying to get a firm lock on the ki source that he knew was his grandson. He felt it keenly but the distortion nearby was strong. He would be able to make the teleport but he needed a few minutes to lock onto it. Tenshinhan had to remember to breath as he watched Goku's frown fiercely and tightly shut his eyes, trying to get a keen lock onto Medon's ki. He desperately hoped they'd manage to save the boy.
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Laele was blown clear off her feet from the amber energy aura that roared up around Medon as he activated the Kaio-Ken technique. The headless corpse some distance off skidded across the ground as the energy waves pulsed over it.
The daemon knight, Belial, was not so lucky. Medon had a death grip on his arm and no intention of letting god. The daemon felt his red skin blister as the aura flickered across his flesh. Mere heat wouldn't stop him though, he would kill this one, and drawing back his free hand he threw a hard punch at Medon's face. Medon simply jerked his head to the side, the blow missing. He did the same for the next dozen, emerald eyes never leaving the knight. As Belial roared in anger and threw another blow, the sayai-jin attacked.
He let go of Belial's fist and ducked under the upraised arm, even as the punch from the other hand sailed by the top of his head, causing his golden hair to sway as if from a great wind. Then he was directly in front of Belial, his feet setting firmly as he turned to face him. His fist came up, slamming in hard against the black daemon armor across the knight's stomach. The metal yielded and cracked apart, the fist continuing on into red flesh that also couldn't stop the force of the blow. Medon had thrown everything he could into that punch, the very act of going into the Kaio-Ken at a higher level in his injured state throwing waves of agony through his body, he wouldn't get anymore then one.
Pushing herself up on her hands to the side, Laele clearly saw the amber flaming fist of Medon emerge from Belial's back between his shoulder blades. She watched is a mixture of horror and fascination as the still alive daemon knight grabbed hold of Medon's face, seeking to crush the sayai-jin. Medon simply tightened the muscles in his impaling arm and finished the upward motion, tearing through armor, muscle, and bone, his arm tore free out of the top of Belial's body next to his neck, a jet of black blood squirting forth of the daemon fell backward, his upper torso literally split in half.
The amber aura around him broke apart as soon as Belial fell. Medon falling right out of Kaio-Ken and Super Sayai-jin Stage Two, and collapsing to his knees, he was hurt more then he thought and the increased energy burning through his limbs hadn't helped.
Laele was quickly to her feet, going to his side to see what aid she could give. Then the black energy flash appeared between the two of them, a single figure stepping out of the dimensional gate onto the moon. A commander never left his troops unmonitored. Medon looked up into the blue glowing eyes of Azazel.
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The soldiers and officers aboard the Leviathan cowered in their quarters or stations. The laughter of their lord and master, Mephiston, had echoed up from his lab a few minutes previously and had no ceased since. Something had pleased him greatly.
Again in his human guise, the magistrate, finally managed to hold in his mirth at his success. These four were now ready. He had more plans in mind then simply destroying the sayai-jin, plans of conquest in his home realm as well. If the success the sayai-jin had enjoyed so far in stopping the dominance of their home dimension were any sign of the abilities as a whole, these warriors would come in quite handy.
Off to the side, the Death Knight, Charon finally saw fit to speak. Wanting to know his masters motives and make sure his plan was sound.
"Your eminence. Of the four you chose, three were...are dead. Will they be able to serve you effectively?"
Mephiston only turned to regard his minion with a grim smile, his confidence was complete, he had worked to hard for this to fail.
"Of course. I simply trapped their spirits; their will is mine as are their bodies. You will kill Son Goku so there is no mistake there, but the others I will crush their spirits and see them in hopelessness before they did. The living one, Ubuu, I believe he is called, and the three undead warriors will serve me well."
The magistrate cackled again, and looked over his four new creations. He would certainly have to be present when the Earth-born Sayai-jins faced their newest enemies. The best way to kill a daemon was with another daemon, so he had figured, the best way to kill a sayai-jin, was with another sayai-jin.
"Isn't that right my pets?"
Staring sightlessly ahead, Vegeta, Gohan, Goten, and Ubuu had no response. Their resurrection was not something of a heavenly miracle but more like a gift form hell itself.
