Dragon Ball Next Generation
The Grey Saga.
Part 2: The Sacrifice
Chapter 8
I made my way to my room, fighting nausea and hysterics. I slammed the door, and collapsed on the bed I had been given. I wasn't strong enough to do this! I could feel the place, it's deep evil, I could feel it's sadistic occupants. Every moment I stayed there I could feel it corrupt my soul. I wouldn't be able to survive another day in that place.
Stop it!
What is one corrupt soul compared to the billions Garlic will take?
I wasn't sure which part of me asked that question, but I found truth in it. Who was I, one person, compared to the entire populous of Earth? If I was nothing compared to them, what about the others in the castle? Kill a few, to save billions. That's what it boiled down to. What about me? Would I sacrifice even my soul to save them? Would I do it for one?
For her, yes.
But she is gone.
Then do the same for the rest.
The tears stopped. I stood up, breathing deeply. To save the world, I would have to kill again. That was truth. It save the world, I would have to be accepted by them, to gain information on Garlic. That was truth. I would have to become them. I would really have to become like them, not just act like them, or I wouldn't survive. That was truth.
I could still feel them, and it still sickened me. I reached out, absorbing the emotions, the pain, the evil, and hardened myself to it. I would not be overcome by emotion again.
I stayed in my room the rest of the morning, meditating on the truths I had found, and trying to gain better control over my emotions. Finally, I was summoned by another of Turmeric's servants, who was calling me to lunch.
I was the first to arrive. Almost immediately after I sat down, a woman came in with my meal. I had to force myself to eat, even though I wasn't hungry. I would need my strength for the days to come.
Soon, Turmeric and the other three demons entered. They sat down and were immediately brought their meals as well. After a few moments of silence, Turmeric spoke.
"I understand you visited the Chambers today." He said. I nodded, not looking up.
"I also heard you killed one of them." He said, motioning to the door leading to the main hall.
"He looked at me in a way I didn't like." I responded nonchalantly, my mouth full of noodles. Immediately, I knew it had been a terrible answer, but I hadn't prepared myself. I swallowed, and looked at Turmeric.
"I'm sending them a message." I said, working it out in my brain milliseconds before I said it. "Even though I'm young, I have abilities they don't have. That is why I'm the Champion. I have worked my entire life for these abilities, all for one purpose. Compared to that purpose, they mean nothing to me. If they live or die has no meaning in my life."
"What about me, Champion. Does my life have meaning to you?" He asked. It was probably a trap, so I thought carefully.
"Of course." I said. "For one, you are not like those weaklings. I know that if you wished, you could kill me this instant, as you did that woman." I said, motioning to my food. As soon as I said it, my stomach did a flip- flop. That possibility had never occurred to me until that second. "You are also helping me achieve my life's goal, Turmeric-sama."
The red demon smiled, and returned to his meal. Talbot walked in a few minutes later, but Orlok was missing. Probably sleeping.
"Turmeric-sama, I would like to know how you plan to resurrect Garlic Jr. from his prison." I stated.
"I doubt much of it would make sense to you." He said casually. "Most of it is just spells and incantations."
"I see." I said, nodding. Damn. "Do you at least no what time, or where, it will take place?"
"I do not." He said. "We will be sent a sign when the time comes." He said it hastily, I didn't believe him. I decided not to press it further. But, unless he suspected something, why would he withhold that information. I realized that he might suspect something, although perhaps not my true purpose. I would have much more cautious.
***
I shut my eyes, and began to concentrate. I could feel no other presence near me. Good. I turned the corner, and walked towards two large wooden doors. They were the entrance to Turmeric's wing. If I could get in there, then I might be able to find out more about Garlic.
I reached the doors, and halted. Something felt wrong about them. Not in there touch, but I could sense something. I concentrated, and realized that I could feel Turmeric's ki in the doors. It was a barrier. But, it didn't seem to be strong enough to keep someone else from opening the doors, so why was it there? I concentrated harder. For a few moments, I felt nothing, but then I sensed a trail coming from the door leading through the rest of the castle. It was probably connected to Turmeric. He had cast a spell on the door that would alert him if anyone tried to enter.
Could I block it somehow? No, he would sense that. Damn it. I stood there for a few minutes, trying to come up with a solution, but nothing came. Reluctantly, I turned away from the door, and walked down the dark hallway. Then, I sensed another presence near me. It was alone. An idea crept into my mind. I couldn't keep myself from smiling. I had found a way in.
I found the man walking alone from the Chambers, his cloak stained with blood. That would make what I was going to do easier. I pulled up the hood of my cloak, and walked toward him. His eyes followed me as I neared him, my cloak distinguishing me for who I was.
"Hey, Champion, going to..." He stopped as I rushed toward him and smacked his temple. The man slumped to the ground, unconscious. I slung him over my shoulder, and made my way back to the charmed doors.
Hesitantly, I opened them, watching for any other spell for intruders. Nothing happened. The doors lead to a tall stairwell, which I took. At the top was a single door. I entered, dropping the man as I looked around. All around me were shelves of books. Could they all be magic books? I turned to the nearest one, and grabbed one. It was written in a language I didn't understand, and so I put it back. I looked around, and saw a table against the farthest wall. I walked toward it when I felt a presence moving up the stairwell. Turmeric.
I grabbed the unconscious man, and held him up by one hand. I slapped him, trying to make him wake up. Nothing. Damn! I didn't want to use my ki, Turmeric might sense it, but I had to. I made a small ball, and aimed for his foot. I let it loose. It hit his foot and exploded. The man woke up, startled.
I needed someplace to hide. There was another room! I ran toward the door, opened it, and closed it, leaving a small crack to see through. I lowered my ki as far as it would go. I wasn't sure if Turmeric could sense ki, but I didn't want to risk it.
The door flung open, with Turmeric standing at it's opening.
"What are you doing here!?" He demanded. The man shrank back in fear.
"Please, master!" He begged, "It wasn't me..."
He never got to finish his sentence. Turmeric raised his arms. I could feel his ki growing, then moving from him into the stone beneath the man. He screamed as the stone seemed to come alive, and it rose up and came down on him, crushing him.
I covered my ears in attempt to block out the sounds of the man's bones shattering, and his organs squishing. Turmeric stepped past the body, stopping at the table. I opened the door a little further to see what he was doing. He was searching through the papers on the table, probably to make sure nothing was stolen. He let out a sigh, and walked toward the door. He stopped before exiting, glancing around the room once more. His gaze shifted to where I was hiding, and he stared at the spot for a moment. Then he turned and went out the door, shutting it behind him.
I let out a sigh of relief. My decoy had worked. I waited until I could sense Turmeric leave the stairwell before moving again. As soon as I opened the door, I realized I had another problem.
You cannot die like the man did without making a mess. And Turmeric had made one. Blood pooled around the corpse, running from it to the edges of the room. If I walked in it, I would leave tracks, and Turmeric would know I had been there. I would have to risk flying, just enough to get me over the blood.
I raised my ki, little by little, until I had just enough to levitate myself an inch off the ground. I rose off the ground, and floated towards the table. Praying, I looked at the papers. I grinned in spite of myself.
There, in what I hoped was Turmeric's spidery handwriting, was the information I needed. I read it all, committing it to memory. Where the dark army was going to appear, what was necessary to bring back Garlic Jr., and when it was going...
"Holy shit!" I exclaimed. It was going to happen...
***
"Today." I said. It had been three days sense I first entered the castle, and I had made numerous trips to Turmeric's study. On my way out, I had found a small window halfway up the staircase that I had used to sneak back in.
"No shit." Jack said, a little breathlessly. I nodded.
"That's right. I suggest you leave." I told him. Jack shook his head.
"Nope. Sorry, but I'm staying."
"What! If you stay, and I fight, you could be killed!" I exclaimed. What was he thinking?
"I've already told you why I'm here." He said. "If I leave now, then that year of hell will be for nothing."
"But, what if we fail, and Garlic Jr. is released!?" I had to make him understand.
"From what you told me, it doesn't make much difference what I do if that happens." He said. "I'd be killed no matter where I am." I shook my head.
"Fine." I said reluctantly, "You can stay. Just make sure you're prepared." Jack smiled.
"I'm prepared." He said, trailing off, as if he meant something more by it.
"What do..." I stopped. I sensed a presence coming toward the castle. Fast. I smiled.
"What's up?" Jack asked, taken by surprise by my sudden change of emotion.
"A friend's coming." I said. "Listen, what ever happens, stay out of this. Remember, you don't know anything about me or Garlic." Jack nodded. "You should leave now."
Moments after Jack disappeared down the hallway, one of Turmeric's servants came running toward me.
"Champion! Master Turmeric is summoning you, immediately!" He yelled across the hallway. I nodded, and followed him. We neared the great doors of the castle when Turmeric and his disciples intercepted us.
"Turmeric-sama," I said, "There is a powerful being coming towards us."
"Yes, my brethren already sensed him." He stated. "Now we will see if you are worthy to be a disciple of Master Garlic." I nodded, and followed them outside the castle.
I saw a figure in the horizon, enveloped in ki, coming for us. Under the shade of my hood, I smiled. Soon, the figure was close enough to distinguish his features. It was Xander. He was dressed in a night black gi, probably weighted.
"Turmeric!" He yelled, floating about a hundred feet above us. "I gave you time, but you have chosen to remain here! You have chosen death!"
"Things are a little different then when you last attacked!" Turmeric yelled back. "We have a new Champion now. Spar Kain, of the Crane School!" With that, I stepped foreword, shedding my cloak. I was still dressed in the Crane School uniform.
Xander floated toward me, and I assumed a defensive position. He stopped, about a hundred feet away, floating a few feet off the ground. He was waiting.
Impatient, I took the offensive. Raising my ki, I rush Xander. I raised my fist and swung at Xander's head. He dodged within a fraction of an inch, and belted me in the gut. I sunk to my knees in pain and surprise. What the hell was he doing? I spat. If he wanted a real fight, I'd give it to him.
Raising my ki slowly, I attacked. He dodged each attack, waiting until I left myself blatantly open to counter. My ki was now over his, but still he evaded my attacks, seemingly untouchable to me.
I realized then whom I was fighting. Even if it was just a show, this was the man who even Kargo had difficulties beating. A man whose entire life had been dedicated solely to the attainment of strength and skill. Compared to my single year of being a martial artist, I didn't stand a chance, even if I was triple his strength.
I leapt backwards, landing about fifty feet from my opponent. He was standing perfectly still, showing no sign of fatigue. I, on the other hand, was already breathing heavily. I remembered what Mr. Popo had taught me. I was wasting too much energy in my attacks. I needed to limit my movements, or I would tire out far too quickly.
I was now at a little over half my full strength, where as Xander, who had barely even bothered to raise his ki, was probably only use a hundredth. He always took the defensive. That meant that he could watch me, and wait until I made a mistake to attack. It meant I had to be more patient.
I assumed a defensive stance, eyeing Xander, who had yet to even take any kind of a position. For a few moments, which seemed endless to me, we just stared at each other, waiting. Then I heard a noise behind me. I looked back, seeing that Turmeric, his disciples, and some of the members of the cult were watching us.
Suddenly, there was an intense pain in my cheek, and I was sent sailing into the air. Stupid! I had given Xander the opening he was waiting for. At least now he had taken the offensive.
I hit the ground, jumping back up as soon as I made contact. There! Xander was behind me. I spun around, my arms up to block. He kicked at my head. Milliseconds before contact, I ducked, sweeping his other leg. He caught himself, and pushed back, but not before I aimed another kick for his head. I caught him in the cheek, sending him into the ground. I pounced on him, attacking for all I was worth.
Xander blocked all my attacks, grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his knee.
"It's time." He whispered, as I tried to regain some of my senses on the ground.
He leapt up, and I followed him into the air. He spun around, so that he was silhouetted by the late-morning sun. When raising studying the information in Gero's computer, the people who raised Xander had a multitude of techniques to teach their Perfect Weapon. They chose to ones that would either have to most strategic advantages, or would be most destructive. As a result, Xander learned many of the real Crane Schools techniques, including the kikoho and the.
"Taiyoken!" Xander screamed, his fingers spread at his eyes. I knew what was coming, but even so, it was still blinding. My retinas burned under my eyelids. Below, I could here those watching screaming in agony as they were blinded. I smiled.
I felt a strong hand grasp my wrist. Xander.
"Let's go!" He said hastily, yanking me along. I was recovering my sight, and twisted my wrist to make him let go. I followed him, until the castle was just at the horizon.
"What the hell were you doing!?" I screamed at him when we landed. Xander let out a muffled "humph".
"You made such a terrible showing at the Budoukia that I decided to teach you a couple things." He said.
"What do you mean!?" I yelled.
"You almost lost to someone nearly a quarter of your strength!" He yelled back. "If you keep fighting like that, you will die." He said flatly. He was right. I sunk to the ground, a mix of emotions overcoming me. I had left the castle, even for a few brief moments, and that joy mixed with the extreme disappointment I felt for myself.
"Anyway," Xander started, "Dende's been watching you here. From what he's told me, you've redeemed yourself just by surviving in that place." I shook my head. In my eyes, surviving in a place like that wasn't any kind of redemption. It was a corruption of my soul. But, now I was free!
I began to laugh, as I hadn't done for a long time. As I hadn't done for an eternity. Tears rolled down my face as I laughed until my diaphragm felt like I had just undergone one of Kargo's training sessions.
"What kind of information did you get?" Xander asked, as my laughter subsided. I looked up at him, wiping my eyes. He looked down at me, pity in his eyes. Xander pitied me? I shook my head slightly. Now wasn't the time to think about that.
"There are four points where the Dark Army will come. Each one hundred miles from here, north, south, east and west." I said, pointing towards the directions as I named them.
"What about Garlic himself?" Xander asked.
"It's happening tonight." I said. Xander nodded.
"It seems to be a fairly simple process, as long as the conditions are right." I said. "But, there is a key."
"Do you know what it is?"
"No." I shook my head. "I haven't been able to find it."
"With this key, could someone other then Turmeric bring back Garlic Jr.?" Xander asked.
"Yes."
"Then we have two options." Xander said. "One, you and I go back, destroy the castle, and hopefully the key with it. Or, you go back, try to find the key, and destroy it. The rest of us would go to the four points and try to stop the Dark Army if you fail."
It could be finished right now... Yes, with Xander, they wouldn't stand a chance. I could go back, and we would obliterate that Hell on Earth. It would be finished.
But would it? What if the key survived, and the whole thing repeats it's self three hundred years from now? No, I needed a definite finish; I needed to know that it could never happen again. For that, I would need the key. Besides, I had started this by myself. Something inside of my, perhaps my Saiya-jin pride showing it's self for the first time, wouldn't let Xander or anyone else finish it for me.
"I'm going back." I said. Xander smiled.
"Dende thought you might." He said. "He said it was what your ancestors would do." A brief flash of anger went through me. Again, I was being compared to my ancestors. When would they learn I was my own person?
"Here." Xander said, fling a small satchel to me. I caught it.
"Thanks." I said, putting it under my gi, out of sight. I raised my arm, ki glowing in my palm. I aimed at the ground and let go. The explosion left a deep crater in the earth, and hopefully was seen by those at the castle. Now, Xander was "dead".
I nodded to Xander, and began to walk back towards the castle.
The Grey Saga.
Part 2: The Sacrifice
Chapter 8
I made my way to my room, fighting nausea and hysterics. I slammed the door, and collapsed on the bed I had been given. I wasn't strong enough to do this! I could feel the place, it's deep evil, I could feel it's sadistic occupants. Every moment I stayed there I could feel it corrupt my soul. I wouldn't be able to survive another day in that place.
Stop it!
What is one corrupt soul compared to the billions Garlic will take?
I wasn't sure which part of me asked that question, but I found truth in it. Who was I, one person, compared to the entire populous of Earth? If I was nothing compared to them, what about the others in the castle? Kill a few, to save billions. That's what it boiled down to. What about me? Would I sacrifice even my soul to save them? Would I do it for one?
For her, yes.
But she is gone.
Then do the same for the rest.
The tears stopped. I stood up, breathing deeply. To save the world, I would have to kill again. That was truth. It save the world, I would have to be accepted by them, to gain information on Garlic. That was truth. I would have to become them. I would really have to become like them, not just act like them, or I wouldn't survive. That was truth.
I could still feel them, and it still sickened me. I reached out, absorbing the emotions, the pain, the evil, and hardened myself to it. I would not be overcome by emotion again.
I stayed in my room the rest of the morning, meditating on the truths I had found, and trying to gain better control over my emotions. Finally, I was summoned by another of Turmeric's servants, who was calling me to lunch.
I was the first to arrive. Almost immediately after I sat down, a woman came in with my meal. I had to force myself to eat, even though I wasn't hungry. I would need my strength for the days to come.
Soon, Turmeric and the other three demons entered. They sat down and were immediately brought their meals as well. After a few moments of silence, Turmeric spoke.
"I understand you visited the Chambers today." He said. I nodded, not looking up.
"I also heard you killed one of them." He said, motioning to the door leading to the main hall.
"He looked at me in a way I didn't like." I responded nonchalantly, my mouth full of noodles. Immediately, I knew it had been a terrible answer, but I hadn't prepared myself. I swallowed, and looked at Turmeric.
"I'm sending them a message." I said, working it out in my brain milliseconds before I said it. "Even though I'm young, I have abilities they don't have. That is why I'm the Champion. I have worked my entire life for these abilities, all for one purpose. Compared to that purpose, they mean nothing to me. If they live or die has no meaning in my life."
"What about me, Champion. Does my life have meaning to you?" He asked. It was probably a trap, so I thought carefully.
"Of course." I said. "For one, you are not like those weaklings. I know that if you wished, you could kill me this instant, as you did that woman." I said, motioning to my food. As soon as I said it, my stomach did a flip- flop. That possibility had never occurred to me until that second. "You are also helping me achieve my life's goal, Turmeric-sama."
The red demon smiled, and returned to his meal. Talbot walked in a few minutes later, but Orlok was missing. Probably sleeping.
"Turmeric-sama, I would like to know how you plan to resurrect Garlic Jr. from his prison." I stated.
"I doubt much of it would make sense to you." He said casually. "Most of it is just spells and incantations."
"I see." I said, nodding. Damn. "Do you at least no what time, or where, it will take place?"
"I do not." He said. "We will be sent a sign when the time comes." He said it hastily, I didn't believe him. I decided not to press it further. But, unless he suspected something, why would he withhold that information. I realized that he might suspect something, although perhaps not my true purpose. I would have much more cautious.
***
I shut my eyes, and began to concentrate. I could feel no other presence near me. Good. I turned the corner, and walked towards two large wooden doors. They were the entrance to Turmeric's wing. If I could get in there, then I might be able to find out more about Garlic.
I reached the doors, and halted. Something felt wrong about them. Not in there touch, but I could sense something. I concentrated, and realized that I could feel Turmeric's ki in the doors. It was a barrier. But, it didn't seem to be strong enough to keep someone else from opening the doors, so why was it there? I concentrated harder. For a few moments, I felt nothing, but then I sensed a trail coming from the door leading through the rest of the castle. It was probably connected to Turmeric. He had cast a spell on the door that would alert him if anyone tried to enter.
Could I block it somehow? No, he would sense that. Damn it. I stood there for a few minutes, trying to come up with a solution, but nothing came. Reluctantly, I turned away from the door, and walked down the dark hallway. Then, I sensed another presence near me. It was alone. An idea crept into my mind. I couldn't keep myself from smiling. I had found a way in.
I found the man walking alone from the Chambers, his cloak stained with blood. That would make what I was going to do easier. I pulled up the hood of my cloak, and walked toward him. His eyes followed me as I neared him, my cloak distinguishing me for who I was.
"Hey, Champion, going to..." He stopped as I rushed toward him and smacked his temple. The man slumped to the ground, unconscious. I slung him over my shoulder, and made my way back to the charmed doors.
Hesitantly, I opened them, watching for any other spell for intruders. Nothing happened. The doors lead to a tall stairwell, which I took. At the top was a single door. I entered, dropping the man as I looked around. All around me were shelves of books. Could they all be magic books? I turned to the nearest one, and grabbed one. It was written in a language I didn't understand, and so I put it back. I looked around, and saw a table against the farthest wall. I walked toward it when I felt a presence moving up the stairwell. Turmeric.
I grabbed the unconscious man, and held him up by one hand. I slapped him, trying to make him wake up. Nothing. Damn! I didn't want to use my ki, Turmeric might sense it, but I had to. I made a small ball, and aimed for his foot. I let it loose. It hit his foot and exploded. The man woke up, startled.
I needed someplace to hide. There was another room! I ran toward the door, opened it, and closed it, leaving a small crack to see through. I lowered my ki as far as it would go. I wasn't sure if Turmeric could sense ki, but I didn't want to risk it.
The door flung open, with Turmeric standing at it's opening.
"What are you doing here!?" He demanded. The man shrank back in fear.
"Please, master!" He begged, "It wasn't me..."
He never got to finish his sentence. Turmeric raised his arms. I could feel his ki growing, then moving from him into the stone beneath the man. He screamed as the stone seemed to come alive, and it rose up and came down on him, crushing him.
I covered my ears in attempt to block out the sounds of the man's bones shattering, and his organs squishing. Turmeric stepped past the body, stopping at the table. I opened the door a little further to see what he was doing. He was searching through the papers on the table, probably to make sure nothing was stolen. He let out a sigh, and walked toward the door. He stopped before exiting, glancing around the room once more. His gaze shifted to where I was hiding, and he stared at the spot for a moment. Then he turned and went out the door, shutting it behind him.
I let out a sigh of relief. My decoy had worked. I waited until I could sense Turmeric leave the stairwell before moving again. As soon as I opened the door, I realized I had another problem.
You cannot die like the man did without making a mess. And Turmeric had made one. Blood pooled around the corpse, running from it to the edges of the room. If I walked in it, I would leave tracks, and Turmeric would know I had been there. I would have to risk flying, just enough to get me over the blood.
I raised my ki, little by little, until I had just enough to levitate myself an inch off the ground. I rose off the ground, and floated towards the table. Praying, I looked at the papers. I grinned in spite of myself.
There, in what I hoped was Turmeric's spidery handwriting, was the information I needed. I read it all, committing it to memory. Where the dark army was going to appear, what was necessary to bring back Garlic Jr., and when it was going...
"Holy shit!" I exclaimed. It was going to happen...
***
"Today." I said. It had been three days sense I first entered the castle, and I had made numerous trips to Turmeric's study. On my way out, I had found a small window halfway up the staircase that I had used to sneak back in.
"No shit." Jack said, a little breathlessly. I nodded.
"That's right. I suggest you leave." I told him. Jack shook his head.
"Nope. Sorry, but I'm staying."
"What! If you stay, and I fight, you could be killed!" I exclaimed. What was he thinking?
"I've already told you why I'm here." He said. "If I leave now, then that year of hell will be for nothing."
"But, what if we fail, and Garlic Jr. is released!?" I had to make him understand.
"From what you told me, it doesn't make much difference what I do if that happens." He said. "I'd be killed no matter where I am." I shook my head.
"Fine." I said reluctantly, "You can stay. Just make sure you're prepared." Jack smiled.
"I'm prepared." He said, trailing off, as if he meant something more by it.
"What do..." I stopped. I sensed a presence coming toward the castle. Fast. I smiled.
"What's up?" Jack asked, taken by surprise by my sudden change of emotion.
"A friend's coming." I said. "Listen, what ever happens, stay out of this. Remember, you don't know anything about me or Garlic." Jack nodded. "You should leave now."
Moments after Jack disappeared down the hallway, one of Turmeric's servants came running toward me.
"Champion! Master Turmeric is summoning you, immediately!" He yelled across the hallway. I nodded, and followed him. We neared the great doors of the castle when Turmeric and his disciples intercepted us.
"Turmeric-sama," I said, "There is a powerful being coming towards us."
"Yes, my brethren already sensed him." He stated. "Now we will see if you are worthy to be a disciple of Master Garlic." I nodded, and followed them outside the castle.
I saw a figure in the horizon, enveloped in ki, coming for us. Under the shade of my hood, I smiled. Soon, the figure was close enough to distinguish his features. It was Xander. He was dressed in a night black gi, probably weighted.
"Turmeric!" He yelled, floating about a hundred feet above us. "I gave you time, but you have chosen to remain here! You have chosen death!"
"Things are a little different then when you last attacked!" Turmeric yelled back. "We have a new Champion now. Spar Kain, of the Crane School!" With that, I stepped foreword, shedding my cloak. I was still dressed in the Crane School uniform.
Xander floated toward me, and I assumed a defensive position. He stopped, about a hundred feet away, floating a few feet off the ground. He was waiting.
Impatient, I took the offensive. Raising my ki, I rush Xander. I raised my fist and swung at Xander's head. He dodged within a fraction of an inch, and belted me in the gut. I sunk to my knees in pain and surprise. What the hell was he doing? I spat. If he wanted a real fight, I'd give it to him.
Raising my ki slowly, I attacked. He dodged each attack, waiting until I left myself blatantly open to counter. My ki was now over his, but still he evaded my attacks, seemingly untouchable to me.
I realized then whom I was fighting. Even if it was just a show, this was the man who even Kargo had difficulties beating. A man whose entire life had been dedicated solely to the attainment of strength and skill. Compared to my single year of being a martial artist, I didn't stand a chance, even if I was triple his strength.
I leapt backwards, landing about fifty feet from my opponent. He was standing perfectly still, showing no sign of fatigue. I, on the other hand, was already breathing heavily. I remembered what Mr. Popo had taught me. I was wasting too much energy in my attacks. I needed to limit my movements, or I would tire out far too quickly.
I was now at a little over half my full strength, where as Xander, who had barely even bothered to raise his ki, was probably only use a hundredth. He always took the defensive. That meant that he could watch me, and wait until I made a mistake to attack. It meant I had to be more patient.
I assumed a defensive stance, eyeing Xander, who had yet to even take any kind of a position. For a few moments, which seemed endless to me, we just stared at each other, waiting. Then I heard a noise behind me. I looked back, seeing that Turmeric, his disciples, and some of the members of the cult were watching us.
Suddenly, there was an intense pain in my cheek, and I was sent sailing into the air. Stupid! I had given Xander the opening he was waiting for. At least now he had taken the offensive.
I hit the ground, jumping back up as soon as I made contact. There! Xander was behind me. I spun around, my arms up to block. He kicked at my head. Milliseconds before contact, I ducked, sweeping his other leg. He caught himself, and pushed back, but not before I aimed another kick for his head. I caught him in the cheek, sending him into the ground. I pounced on him, attacking for all I was worth.
Xander blocked all my attacks, grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his knee.
"It's time." He whispered, as I tried to regain some of my senses on the ground.
He leapt up, and I followed him into the air. He spun around, so that he was silhouetted by the late-morning sun. When raising studying the information in Gero's computer, the people who raised Xander had a multitude of techniques to teach their Perfect Weapon. They chose to ones that would either have to most strategic advantages, or would be most destructive. As a result, Xander learned many of the real Crane Schools techniques, including the kikoho and the.
"Taiyoken!" Xander screamed, his fingers spread at his eyes. I knew what was coming, but even so, it was still blinding. My retinas burned under my eyelids. Below, I could here those watching screaming in agony as they were blinded. I smiled.
I felt a strong hand grasp my wrist. Xander.
"Let's go!" He said hastily, yanking me along. I was recovering my sight, and twisted my wrist to make him let go. I followed him, until the castle was just at the horizon.
"What the hell were you doing!?" I screamed at him when we landed. Xander let out a muffled "humph".
"You made such a terrible showing at the Budoukia that I decided to teach you a couple things." He said.
"What do you mean!?" I yelled.
"You almost lost to someone nearly a quarter of your strength!" He yelled back. "If you keep fighting like that, you will die." He said flatly. He was right. I sunk to the ground, a mix of emotions overcoming me. I had left the castle, even for a few brief moments, and that joy mixed with the extreme disappointment I felt for myself.
"Anyway," Xander started, "Dende's been watching you here. From what he's told me, you've redeemed yourself just by surviving in that place." I shook my head. In my eyes, surviving in a place like that wasn't any kind of redemption. It was a corruption of my soul. But, now I was free!
I began to laugh, as I hadn't done for a long time. As I hadn't done for an eternity. Tears rolled down my face as I laughed until my diaphragm felt like I had just undergone one of Kargo's training sessions.
"What kind of information did you get?" Xander asked, as my laughter subsided. I looked up at him, wiping my eyes. He looked down at me, pity in his eyes. Xander pitied me? I shook my head slightly. Now wasn't the time to think about that.
"There are four points where the Dark Army will come. Each one hundred miles from here, north, south, east and west." I said, pointing towards the directions as I named them.
"What about Garlic himself?" Xander asked.
"It's happening tonight." I said. Xander nodded.
"It seems to be a fairly simple process, as long as the conditions are right." I said. "But, there is a key."
"Do you know what it is?"
"No." I shook my head. "I haven't been able to find it."
"With this key, could someone other then Turmeric bring back Garlic Jr.?" Xander asked.
"Yes."
"Then we have two options." Xander said. "One, you and I go back, destroy the castle, and hopefully the key with it. Or, you go back, try to find the key, and destroy it. The rest of us would go to the four points and try to stop the Dark Army if you fail."
It could be finished right now... Yes, with Xander, they wouldn't stand a chance. I could go back, and we would obliterate that Hell on Earth. It would be finished.
But would it? What if the key survived, and the whole thing repeats it's self three hundred years from now? No, I needed a definite finish; I needed to know that it could never happen again. For that, I would need the key. Besides, I had started this by myself. Something inside of my, perhaps my Saiya-jin pride showing it's self for the first time, wouldn't let Xander or anyone else finish it for me.
"I'm going back." I said. Xander smiled.
"Dende thought you might." He said. "He said it was what your ancestors would do." A brief flash of anger went through me. Again, I was being compared to my ancestors. When would they learn I was my own person?
"Here." Xander said, fling a small satchel to me. I caught it.
"Thanks." I said, putting it under my gi, out of sight. I raised my arm, ki glowing in my palm. I aimed at the ground and let go. The explosion left a deep crater in the earth, and hopefully was seen by those at the castle. Now, Xander was "dead".
I nodded to Xander, and began to walk back towards the castle.