Chapter 16 – The lightning and darkened clouds were now permanent in the Kai Planet's skies it so seemed. Eidolon changed it to a background that soothed a Crystallite. The humans just stared in awe. It was impressive yet frightening all in one. Pan looked into the storm and it only made her more determined. They would be leaving soon and this time they dare not fall...
"Open the floodgates and release the exhaust through the left vent high. The ship needs balanced if we are to escape this world's gravity," a crew member of Tundra's Radimera told an older engineer. They scrambled to get the ship in top repair.
"This is really it," Goten said, joining her.
"I know. And we damn well might not survive this," she replied silently.
"Better that we die trying here than how we would've died back in our time. At least here we're strong enough to make a difference. Then we were but a minor nuisance. Aidius hasn't the foggiest idea what we are capable of," Goten said. Trunks, Uub, and Bra landed with them.
"And neither do they," Trunks added. He jerked his head in Gohan's and Eidolon's direction. His lavender hair tossed from side to side as he did this. Pan felt an immense wave of affection for the demi Saiyan. It had been far too long since she had bottled herself off from the world. Trunks was noticing the change.
"They're strong. You have to admit," Goten told Trunks.
"Who?" Uub wondered.
"Those 4," Goten verified.
"Dweia, Kuja, Eidolon, and Gohan of course," Bra smirked.
"Yes. Especially Gohan and Eidolon. They're just beasts. They never stop plowing forward no matter what obstacle throws itself at them. It's amazing. Truly. They may actually be a problem," Uub stated.
"They will only hold us back. That Ultima guy on the other hand..." Trunks said.
"There is hardly anything we can do about him," Bra stated.
"Don't be so sure, little sister. Aidius' limits are similar to his it is said. And we know we have the power to bring the Dark Lord down, right? Then why can't we remove him as well? It shouldn't be all that difficult if we make a group assault. He won't go down without a fierce struggle I can vouch for that. But I think we can beat him," Trunks said.
"That is mutiny just to let you all know," Pan threw out in the open.
"Perhaps. But this is not our time. We know how they failed. We're here and we hold the advantage in power. Why not take charge and end this little war before any of them can make a foolish mistake and dies?" Goten demanded.
"I'm with him. I have gotten attached to the family I never would have been able to meet in our time. I want to save them. We have the opportunity to make this war end the right way why not take it?" Bra said.
"I guess that's that. Try not to look so worried Pan. Once this is over they shall thank us. Really. I wouldn't lie to you. You should know that by now. We will kill Aidius and that will be that," Trunks promised her. He grasped her chin and pulled her into a tight kiss. She kissed him back through instinct and nodded after they separated.
"Okay then..." she said, defeated. They turned to watch the others.
"Haaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!" Gohan yelled. Kuja was thrown back but did not falter as Gohan expected him to. Obviously Kuja rivaled his powers in nearly every way now. Dweia was just the same. Eidolon fought his sister at the height of his prowess and still she tide with him at every turn. They ceased after a final clash of thunder and landed, breathing hard.
"Yee-AAAHH!!!" They all turned to see what made the sound. Trunks, Pan, Uub, Bra, and Goten erupted into the air and gathered their combined powers. Ultima turned with Artimus to see what was afoot.
"What is this?" the great Kai wondered. They fired off a blast with impossible power. "WHAT IS THIS?!"
"Ultima Kai! Watch it!" Artimus yelled. He slung himself in the way of the beam, which climbed over him and the other Divine Kais except for Shin. They was torn to ashes as the blast continued forth. Ultima threw up all his strength and the barrier held firm against the strike.
"HHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!" they assailants cried. Their forms shifted as they climbed into Super Saiyan 3 state in unison. Ultima's barrier wavered but held.
"What are you doing?!" Gohan yelled.
"Stay out of this father! This must be done for all of your safety!" Pan yelled. Gohan hesitated.
"No! I shall not allow this to happen! I will kill you all before this world is allowed to fall!" Eidolon erupted. He blasted off at maximum strength. He spun and struck Trunks hard in the jaw. The Super Saiyan skidded across the dirt before he regained his balance. He stood all the way and erupted forth into the storming air. He clashed with Eidolon then and there.
"Haaaaahhhh!!!" Ultima roared. With Trunks missing, the barrier was allowed the strengthen and Ultima pushed the group's attack back slowly. He was gaining control.
"RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" Uub yelled as he through his maximum Majin Focus into the blast. Goten flamed into Super Saiyan 4 and the attack reversed yet again against the great legendary Kai. Ultima struggled. Shin appeared as his side and he threw his might into the grand Kai's barrier. His strength meant next to nothing at this level however but it was there to assist. Videl jumped in as well being the only other being capable of enough magical force to be of any real use in this specific situation. The barrier wavered still as Pan and Bra went Super Saiyan 4 as well.
"YAHYAHYAHYAHYAH!" Trunks bellowed as he threw off Eidolon's assault. He went Super Saiyan 4 knowing Eidolon could not match his at this level if he used his all.
"They've been hiding their true power all along..." Vegeta whispered in awe. Goku nodded at the truth.
"I don't care if you are 20 times Aidius! I will find a way to bring you down!" Eidolon yelled. Trunks attacked with unrelenting force. Eidolon blocked and countered just to stay alive. Trunks outclassed him in speed and strength. Eidolon obviously was better trained. Trunks lacked no training though Eidolon just had millennia of practice. Eidolon dodged left and right though Trunks landed enough blows to count. Eidolon faltered when Trunks sent a Burning Attack crashing right into the Crystallite's chest. Eidolon was burned to ash. Trunks watched him regenerate automatically and attacked again. Again Eidolon reformed. They repeated this process until Eidolon lacked the power to regenerate again.
"There. You lack the power to reform again. You cannot challenge me now even if I were to fight as a Super Saiyan 2," Trunks stated.
"Not true," Eidolon burned.
"Then show me what you have. I really need to be going, Crystallite," Trunks replied harshly.
"RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!" Eidolon erupted. Darkness Flame jerked around his body as he trembled in the ultimate agony. Trunks watched in wonder.
"What is he doing? There's no power left to tap! He'll kill himself!" Trunks said in disbelief.
"No! Eidolon call him back!" came Gohan's plea.
"TOO LATE! RISE SHADOW SHARD!!! CLIMB OUR OF AETHER NOW!" Eidolon yelled. His eyes burned in the fury of the Dragon within. Bahamut crashed through the Aether floodgate and rose in full size and torment. Trunks trembled as the Shadow Shard roared. The Saiyan assaulted it with rapid Burning Cannon shots, which did nothing at all.
"Halt your assault on Ultima or Bahamut will burn you into the dirt!" Eidolon yelled.
"Not a chance!" Goten yelled. They intensified their assault and Videl, Shin, and Ultima cringed as they shield shrunk and wavered further still.
"BAHAMUT CHARGE GOD BREATH CANNON TO MAXIMUM POWER!" Eidolon ordered. Bahamut erupted in all his rage and channeled his greatest power. The blast was forged within his jaws and made whole from his rage.
"You wouldn't..." Trunks said.
"SHADOW SHARD FIRE!" Eidolon yelled. Bahamut launched it with everything he had. Trunks dodged right with all his speed, saving himself just in time. Bahamut assault and the group attack clashed and Bahamut was winning with ease. Trunks appeared with them and he and Goten roared into Shadow Saiyan power. With everything they had they struggled. Bahamut was unused to any such force that could hold back his God Breath Cannon. He roared in rage and in defiance as they sustained their end of the clash.
"You cannot hold that forever, fools! We have a plan and you will not go against it! If I have to I shall Summon Starfire and add her might to this Cannon I shall! You will die unless you concede now!" Eidolon roared. Trunks heard his every word. He knew the Crystallite was not bluffing. He would eradicate them all before they could defy him and his plan.
"And you would kill me?!" Pan demanded outright.
"Indeed! And Bra, Trunks, the Majin, and Goten as well!" Eidolon yelled, his face in dire promise. She recoiled in surprise.
"Increase the blasts! He is bluffing! He cannot Summon Gohan's Gaidin in any light," Goten yelled.
"DON'T TEST ME!" Eidolon warned gravely. And they did.
"HHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" they cried and threw forth all that they had. Ultima hovered, watching as the young Supreme Dark-Kai handle the situation. Gohan faltered to the great Kai's dismay. He hoped that Gohan would set aside the fact one of the enemies was his future daughter. But no. He still had much to learn. Eidolon however held the true spirit of a Kai.
"I warned you! Starfire rise out of Aether and show them your wrath nooooow!" Eidolon yelled. Then came another cry of a dragon. This one was much more pure and serene though the terrific power that followed would make any fool tremble.
"He can actually do it... He can wield Starfire..." Pan whispered in fear.
"STARFIRE! GOD SLASH CRUSHER!" Eidolon commanded. Starfire roared. The blast formed in her jaws and swelled to impossible proportions.
"No!" Videl cried. "Gohan it is your Dragon! Stop her now before Pan gets slaughtered!"
"Eidolon is the Dark-God of Dragons! He rules them all! There is little I can do," he growled. She hit him though not hard enough to cause real damage. She was crying now for reasons he could understand. He rose away from her with a firm look upon his face.
"Starfire halt now!" Gohan ordered at once. The beast stopped her blast from gaining more power and allowed it to fade. She turned to stand with her true master.
"What are you doing?" Eidolon demanded.
"They don't need to die," Gohan replied firmly. Eidolon narrowed his eyes.
"Who said I was going to kill them?!" he demanded. Then his gaze turned toward Videl. Understanding dawned upon him then and there.
"I was not to kill your future daughter. That would be a waste. She has potential as deep as Gohan's. And..." Eidolon halted. He realized something to himself that he didn't know existed himself. Or actually something he refused to admit until now.
"What?" Videl demanded.
"Bahamut cease your blast and fall into Aether!" Eidolon yelled. The Shadow Shard raged. Trunks and his group ended their assault as the Shadow Shard turned. He swatted Eidolon with tremendous force. The Dark-God blasted through entire mountain ranges at a time and then felt the heat built as he neared the center of the Kai Planet and ultimately, its core. He shielded himself from the heat as he passed through and then realized the force of too much. He could not stop. He blasted through other side of the planet, barely conscious. His body regenerated automatically. He ached all over. He just survived a strike from the Shadow Shard. No other has ever been able to claim the same except Aidius himself. Eidolon flashed back to where he left the others through Instantaneous Movement. Bahamut was stormed against the others. Shin, Videl, Dweia, Kuja, and Tundra had a shield thrown up. Krillin and the rest backed away slowly, unsure their power would be enough to do anything other than get in the way.
"BAHAMUT!" Eidolon roared. The Shadow Shard jerked and turned. Eidolon hovered a few feet from the beast. Bahamut narrowed his Burning Eyes of Hell.
"He's disobeying his master..." Shin said.
"Yes. I knew he eventually would. But I had thought Eidolon had a tighter grip than this and the deterioration of his link through the Awakening would hold up longer," Ultima Kai said gravely. Bahamut roared and swiped with his right claws. Eidolon accessed a power he had not had to use often. The Speed of Dragons which enhanced his own speed dramatically. He dodged the blows once and again. Bahamut's rage grew as his failed to hit his target. He halted and looked confused when he decided his next tactic.
"NO WAY!" Eidolon yelled. The God Breath Cannon formed with great speed and the Shadow Shard launched it. Gohan was unsure what to do. His Gaidin had never slipped from his control. But then again his Gaidin was nowhere near as powerful as Bahamut. This was obvious. Eidolon dodged constantly. His speed was faltering the longer he was forced to move. Gohan could sense this. He knew Eidolon was be too slow to dodge anything soon enough. Then he was hit. He was driven deep into the earth and it took him some time to get back up.
"Do something already," Kuja yelled at Ultima.
"And what might you have in mind?" the great Kai demanded with a thoughtful yet grim expression.
"Like stopping him for one! Before he destroys everything!" Videl yelled.
"Maybe we pushed this too far," Trunks admitted. He and the others landed.
"You forced him to Summon his Gaidin. Now the only one who can stop it is the very one who may die soon," Ultima stated. Eidolon was thrashed about relentlessly. There was literally nothing he could do. After regenerating what he was sure his final time, Starfire stepped in. She blocked the final blow and Bahamut turned on her. They clashed against Gohan and Eidolon's ordered.
"The portal to Aether! It's open," Videl pointed.
"We noticed. But for what? Obviously neither Gaidin intends to return..." Shin added.
"No look!" Dweia objected. Starfire fell back into Aether and Bahamut was left alone. Eidolon forced himself to stand again in pure defiance.
"RETURN TO YOUR WORLD NOW!" he ordered. Bahamut roared in defiance. But he did not attack. It was as though the grand beast was actually waited for something. And it was obviously waiting for Eidolon to say or do whatever it was he wanted done. Eidolon unfortunately had no idea what this could have been. He was standing at death's door without a clue to what the Gaidin wanted. Bahamut roared again and Eidolon was nearly thrown off of his feet. He struggled to hold his footing as the gigantic beast bellowed yet again.
"He wants something," Shin said, landing beside Eidolon. Gohan, Videl, Dweia, Kuja, and Ultima joined him as well.
"What is it you want, Shadow Shard! Well?!" Eidolon demanded. The beast looked down at him expectantly. It had to be the oddest thing the Crystallites and Gohan had ever seen.
"I... think he wishes to play," Dweia chuckled.
"Play?! What on Earth gave you that idea?! He's Bahamut: The Lord of Dragons! He doesn't play!" Eidolon replied. The Shadow Shard roared, letting the Dark-Kai know just how wrong he was.
"He's been locked away for far too long. He's grown bored," Ultima translated.
"I can understand him well enough, thanks!" Eidolon stated. And then he took off. Bahamut blazed off after him. Gohan allowed Starfire to rise and join in. He joined Eidolon in trying to entertain their Gaidins. It had to be the most comical thing they had even seen. Ultima turned to see the Divine Kais regenerating. His expression grew serious.
"How bizarre is that? Those 2 playing with Dragons that could annihilate them in but a breath," Dweia laughed.
"We are going. It will take time to follow us. Stall them. Trust us. This if for the best," Trunk said. Pan and Bra nodded. They turned and joined their energies. The portal formed beneath them and they dropped into a Time Shaft. The portal closed after their ship exploded suddenly.
"What the?!" Krillin demanded. Tein and Yamcha stopped sparring to see what was going on exactly. Eidolon and Gohan returned, their Gaidins finally at rest.
"They struck the ship before falling into some sort of Time Shaft," Videl said. "It was a weak one. It could have only taken them some place in the present."
"Yes but to any distance. They sacrificed the ability to rise across time to span themselves across a further distance. They have headed straight for Aidius. They should be there now," Ultima informed them gravely. His aura rose, lavender and fierce. Eidolon couldn't help but wonder how he was so powerful yet claimed to be dying slowly. He was a Kai of ancient years this was true. But with his mastery over time, Eidolon and even Gohan had thought he could stop aging all together. They were obviously wrong. Or so they believe.
"Here," Videl offered. She twisted magic, ki, and Darkness and forged a Crystal Orb. It gleamed alight and showed Aidius rising from a dark throne that was outlined in Tagin, the most Darkness-infested substance known to the Kais.
"That is what Radimere is made of," Eidolon noted.
"Not quite. Radimere only contains Darkness. This substance radiates it like the sun spews off light," Kuja corrected.
"There! They had just arrived!" Shin pointed.
)( War-Ship Aidius 1 – Main Bridge )(
"Who the hell are you?" Aidius demanded. He rose from the throne and glared down at them. His expression was all but afury.
"We are here to do Ultima Kai a small favor," Bra said sweetly with a grin.
"And what might that be, stupid girl?" Aidius demanded.
"Nothing too big. He seems to want you dead. So in order to fix this little dispute, we're going to accomplish just that," Goten laughed.
"And you weaklings think you can take me down? ME OF ALL PEOPLE?" Aidius wondered.
"Yes. Why? You lack confidence in our abilities?" Uub asked with a mocking innocence.
"Forgive me for my rudeness. I tend to be that way with people who enjoy forecasting my death. Perhaps I shall make you back up these claims," Aidius smiled.
"Oh we will. And your death is certain. See, we owe no loyalties to anyone in this time. We're from much further into the future, you see. Ultima Kai is long dead from where we're from. You took care of that yourself. So to prevent a long a costly war, we've taken it upon ourselves to end it in a much less time and resource consuming way," Uub replied.
"And how are you going to do that?" Aidius asked.
"By doing what we promised. We kill you, problem over. We aren't fooled. We know all your children died in the Earth forces' last assault. You are all that remains. You and what little troops you have managed to salvage," Pan stated
"You are so ignorant I can't stand looking at you. My 2 topmost generals: Argarrin and Widgaron are equal me when they combined their might. So in order to break my force you have to defeat 2 beings of my strength. I don't think you can claim to do half the deed," Aidius chuckled. His aura rose slowly and they sensed his incredible power soar. They realized then that is was not going to be as easy as they expected. Ultima was only 80 percent what they detected now. The old Kai really was dying. He was not a false claim designed to have them not object to his getting involved in their war like they were led to believe.
"You still think you can back up your pathetic claim? By all means show me what I should fear," Aidius yelled.
"Haaaahhh..." the group hummed as one as they rose in the heights of power. They ascended to Super Saiyan and then to Super Saiyan 2 with ease. Uub merely focused his Majin power. The Saiyans rose into Super Saiyan 3 and Aidius still looked unworried. Many of the guards that lingered around the bridge held expression of the opposite. They knew not to test a Saiyan or a Crystallite. And here were 5 such beings. They flamed into Super Saiyan 4 and still their powers rose. Aidius narrowed his eyes then.
"Still your power increases. Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps you shall be the ones to strike me down. I doubt this with every fiber of my being. Let us get on with the battle, Mortal fools," Aidius laughed.
"Haaaaa-AAAAHHH..." they yelled louder now they their powers were nearing their zeniths. They was a sudden eruption of light as they ascended into Shadow Saiyan power. Another flash erupted as Uub reached a new form of his own. A hovered their, a Majestic Majin.
"You fused with Fat Buu?" Trunks asked him.
"Yes. It was his idea. With his power working with my own, we're even more powerful than any 2 of you combined," Uub replied. He said as a simple fact. Aidius streaked forth suddenly. Trunks dodged right and launched a series of blasts at medium power. Pan rose straight up and formed a Mosanko strike. She launched the strike with Bra's Final Flash at once. Aidius formed a shield and held off both strikes. Trunks hammered away at the other side of the newly risen barrier. Uub gathered his Majin Focus and forged a beam of pure concentrated magic. The barrier shattered and Aidius vanished into a dozens orbs of light. Uub spun to see the Dark Lord reform above him. Aidius backhanded the warrior once and watched as he skidded across the deck which was protected by force fields.
"He's powerful beyond words," Goten breathed.
"Yes. But his energy cannot last forever. He has a limit. He can just hide it, that's all. Let's go!" Uub yelled. Trunks and Pan clashed with the Dark Lord directly in hand-to-hand combat. Aidius was weaker physically than he was magically but he was still far more powerful than any 3 of them combined including Uub amongst those 3. Aidius countered nearly everything they threw he way and twisted magic to trick and deceive them. Causing them to strike out at nothing but air or to dodge attacks that didn't really exist. He was causing them to waste their energy. Uub flashed into sight from the Dark Lords right and Goten came in on the left. They took over hand-to-hand fighting as Bra, Pan, and trunks gathered more power still for a group strike. They formed a Burning Final Flash, a cross between there 2 most powerful attacks (Final Flash and Burning Cannon.) He bomb formed but their launched in as a beam instead. Uub and Goten shied away as the strike hammered into Aidius' hastily risen shield. Goten and Uub added their might and the shield shrank back a foot or 3. Aidius was now aware that these fighters as a group had actually became a threat. He gathered much more of his collective power and expanded his shield. Their strike fell back slowly.
"More energy! Come on!" Trunks coaxed. They poured even more into the strike and the shield fell back once more. The tidal clash was even once more.
Then Aidius shot a ray of power from the shield and it came in too fast to see. Bra grasped as her chest, her heart pierced suddenly. She drew her final breath and fell.
"No way! Look at the Dark One!" Videl gasped.
"Yes. He is actually showing strain. He cannot easily hold off their collective might. Perhaps they stand a chance after all," Shin said.
"You are wrong," Dweia, Eidolon, and Kuja said as one. They each nodded at the other in agreement.
"Right. With I was linked to Aidius when he captured me, I sensed into his well of power. This is nearly half actually. He's saving his a little over 70 percent of his best. He is reserving the bulk of his power in case Ultima Kai ambushes him," Dweia said.
"She's got a point. Maybe if he all go there now, we can end this," Yamcha pointed out.
"It is too risky. No. You will remain here. I will go," Ultima declared.
"What do you mean? Why not wait with us?" Artimus wondered.
"Because delaying is no longer an option. I am failing with each passing day. My energy is as low as 80 perhaps 70 percent. Now is the only time I will stand any chance. Aidius has found a way to last longer in this realm. He has found a way to endure. I can withstand this life only a few hundred millennia more before I fail all together. Better I stop putting off what perhaps should have occurred eons ago," Ultima replied. He went to gathered power when Videl stopped him. She summoned up her own source of magic and created the Time Shaft for him.
"To at least conserve your strength," she told him. He nodded.
"Before I go, I will say this. I will die this day. Whether or not I take Aidius with me is unknown. I want each of you to Summon your Legendary Weapons," Ultima ordered. Videl Summoned the Blade of Heart, Empathy's Edge. Gohan forged the Blade of Spirit, the Omega Force. Shin formed the Blade of Might, the Guardian Force. Alast the most powerful of the 4 came. Eidolon forged the Blade of Blight, the Darkest Hour.
"What is this about, Elder?" Shin wondered.
"These are the Weapons I created long ago to store a equal portion of the Ultima Weapon. Within each of the wielders exists a portion of my original might. You 4 must find a way to recovered that power. There will be one challenge after Ultima. The Final War. And this will be needed to win," Ultima said.
"Why not just tell us how to do it?!" Gohan demanded to everyone's surprise. Ultima Kai smiled weakly.
"Simply because I do not know. The way to recover the power is different for each person the powers exists within. Each of you have a tie in some way to the Kai Line, my Kai Line. This is how it is possible for you to Summon and use these Blades. You must discover how the release that potential. Until the next time, my young friends," Ultima said at that. He dropped through the portal and was gone.
A/N – Sorry that only took me like a year but like usually, I had many pressing things I had to accomplish with me just acquiring a job recently and the like. I will be able to update faster. Until the next. Please R&R!