Dragon Ball Z: Dynasty
Written by: Feraligreater328 and StevenBodner
Edited by: StevenBodner and SparkerLightning
A/N: By the time this comes out, Edition #1 of "Dynasty Supplemental" should be up. So, I hope you all check that out and think it's interesting. I don't want to overblow what I do here or anything, but it's nice to be able to provide additional context that I feel like would have weighed down the story in the moment. Let me know if there's any other stuff you'd like to see in that that I might be able to provide.
Also, to the gentleman who left me a several page review describing an idea for a story crossover starring Dragon Ball and Marvel 616...I don't really like Marvel. Sorry. Other than, like, certain characters in DC, I dislike American comics in general. Thanks for the suggestion though.
Finally, I hate unneeded negativity, so I'm probably going to delete the "Yifan Bao" thing tomorrow. Thank you for all of your showings of support. I might delete the Author's Note with the Metal Gear jokes as well, or I might just move it to "Supplemental" because it was funny.
Chapter 112: Turles
On the deck of the Galaxy Soldiers ship...
Bujin, freshly healed by Iryokago, emerged onto the deck of their ship to find Bido standing and waiting. Looking up to his stronger colleague, Bujin tried to start a conversation. "S-So... we are the only two left, eh? I guess Gokua and Zangya weren't up to snuff..."
Bido cracked his neck. "Be quiet. I have no time for worthless fools. If you continue to speak and ruin my mood, I will kill you. Understand, Bujin?"
Bujin yelped and flinched away. "I...I..."
Bido totally blew off his expendable ally. He took to the air and crossed his arms over his chest. He smiled wide, a bead of sweat running down the side of his face. "I can feel you, my friend. What's changed? You feel no stronger, and yet..."
In an instant, Tien sped onto the scene. He stopped just short of ramming right into Bido and glared. "You. Let's continue where we left off."
Bido laughed out loud. "Very direct, my friend! Very direct! I agree in wanting to continue so long as you're actually willing to try this time! Are you going to hold back that true power of yours again?!"
Tien opened his mouth to answer, but then the rest of the Z-Fighters all arrived in one big group. Bardock, Piccolo, Gohan, Krillin, 18, 17, and Yamcha all glared forward at Bido and Bujin, their faces making it clear that they showed up for a fight. However, in spite of several larger powers appearing, Bido continued to keep his focus trained on Tien. Tien pointed towards a nearby island with his thumb. "It's getting crowded here. Let's go settle this over there."
And then, not bothering to wait for Bido's response, Tien took off towards the nearby island. Bido chuckled and began to follow. "I had better not be disappointed this time."
Watching as Tien lead his opponent away, the rest of the Z-Fighters were all somewhat concerned. Yamcha shrugged and chuckled. "Well, I did promise Chiaotzu that I would keep an eye on Tien. So, I guess that I had better be off. Good luck, guys!"
As Yamcha took off after Tien and Bido, the rest of the Z-Fighters landed on the deck of the ship. Bujin yelped and flinched back in fear. And then, to the shock of the Galaxy Soldier, the Z-Fighters immediately ignored him and started walking into the ship. Bujin called out. "Hey! Hold on a moment! You can't just enter while I am still here!"
Bardock, Piccolo, Android 18, and Krillin all ignored the calls of their foe. Bujin called out again. "Only the scar-faced Saiyan and the Namekian have permission to enter!"
No response. Bujin snarled and thrust his hand forward, firing a blast at the Z-Fighters. "Quit ignoring me!"
The blast shot towards the back of Android 18's head, but then it collided with a green barrier. With a smirk on her face and without so much as a flinch, Android 18 continued her descent into the ship, following behind Piccolo and Bardock. Bujin was confused. "What the hell?!"
A voice called out behind Bujin, giving the imp a fright. "Attacking a lady from behind is pretty pathetic."
Bujin quickly turned and saw Android 17 sitting on a hand-rail behind him. The raven-haired Android was flippant. "I really have no reason to enter that ship, so I think I can sit out here and keep you company. You don't want people to ignore you but, don't fret...you have my undivided attention."
The Galaxy Soldier sneered. "Insolent whelp."
But then, as 17 stood from his seat, another voice spoke up. "May I stay and take part?"
Android 17 and Bujin both turned to look and they were surprised to see Gohan standing next to the opening of the ship. 17 cocked his head. "I mean...don't you want to go find someone more on your level, kid? This guy seems a little...beneath you."
Bujin growled. "How dare you?! I-"
17 waved him off. "Talking to my friend. Shut up."
Gohan smiled. "You think of me as a friend?"
17 walked over to Gohan and pat him on the shoulder. "Of course I do. You're alright, kid."
The Android sighed. "But still...don't you wanna go fight the main boss, or something? That seems more your speed."
Gohan chuckled. "Maybe~ And I don't wanna step on your toes, 17. But...I need to put something into practice before I move on to a stronger opponent and having a reliable partner would be nice while I'm trying to work out the kinks. That's okay with you, right?"
17 chuckled and took a fighting stance. "So, Android 17 and Gohan are teaming up. Has a strange appeal to it, huh?"
Gohan took a fighting stance as well. "Heck yeah, it does~"
Bujin was trembling. Veins erupted from his forehead and he snarled at his two foes. "I will make you pay dearly for underestimating me..."
Within the Galaxy Soldier's ship...
There was a slight tremble across the entire ship as the fight on the deck began. However, Bardock, Piccolo, Android 18, and Krillin all marched deeper and deeper into the ship without a moment's hesitation. Piccolo's eyes narrowed as he observed their surroundings. Every nook and hallway of the ship at lights hanging overhead, and yet only a single pathway of lights was illuminated above their head.
A path was being drawn for them to follow. Piccolo growled. "We're walking into a trap."
Bardock nodded. "No doubt about that. But we're all seasoned warriors. We should be able to fight our way through any tricks these bastards try to pull. I only sense two of them in this ship, so we have them outnumbered at least."
Piccolo nodded back. "Right. Still, we should make our movements with an air of caution..."
And then, the four warriors stepped into a massive commons area. Almost immediately, Krillin and Android 18 shared a simultaneous, wheezing cough. Piccolo and Bardock, both shocked, turned and looked to their two, confused allies. Bardock groaned and rubbed his hand over his eyes. "Shit. You've gotta be kidding me..."
"For all of your bluster, you walked into a trap rather easily."
The four warriors glared over to the source of the voice. Sitting on a nearby platform, smoking from a long, wooden pipe, was Iroykago. The old man exhaled smoke, blowing it out from the holes in the mask that covered his face. He glared down at Bardock and Piccolo and spoke. "You two may proceed. Master Bojack awaits you and your appointment with death. The other two, however, may not leave this room. For I-"
18 threw her hand up and fired a ki blast directly into Iryokago's chest, sending him crashing back into a wall. The Android put her arm down. "I've had enough of senile old men ordering me around in my life. Piss off and go to Hell."
Bardock, genuinely impressed by 18's ruthlessness, gave her a quick golf clap. And then, all four warriors continued their advance towards the massive power they felt at the heart of the ship. First Bardock exited the commons area, and then Piccolo, and then Android 18...whose lungs hitched and whose eyes immediately began to bleed. Reacting quickly to her unexpected, bloody tears, 18 kick Krillin back into the room and then leapt back in as well. The flow of blood from her tear ducts ceased and 18 wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Krillin stood with a groan, gripping his chest. "Ouch..."
18 helped him up. "Sorry. But it looks like that old man wasn't kidding when he said we couldn't leave this room..."
Standing up and dusting himself off, Iryokago cackled. "Such sharp instincts for a mere child-bearer."
The old man held up his staff, a wooden rod with a skull impaled onto the end. In the skull's right eye socket, a massive red jewel was tightly wedged. Iryokago pointed to the jewel. "This is my Shikkan. It gives me the power to control particles in the air. I used it to create a special atmosphere in this room as well as fill your lungs with a fast-acting spore that would ravage your body should you breathe in any air but the air in this special atmosphere. As I said a moment ago, only the Saiyan and the Namekian will be enjoying an audience with Master Bojack~"
Android 18 and Krillin both faced towards Iryokago. 18 was blunt. "Let me guess: the only way this power of yours will expire is if you expire, right?"
Iryokago flinched. Krillin smirked and chuckled, tightened his belt around his waist. He and Android 18 stood together, both taking a fighting stance and huddling so close that their shoulders touched. Krillin spoke. "Buddy, you've just made a big mistake..."
18 adopted a smirk as well. "Power and technical skill. Determination and beauty. You don't stand a chance~"
In the hallway outside of the commons area...
Bardock smirked and chuckled as he watched Krillin and 18 charge at Iryokago. The older Saiyan turned his back to the room as explosions and blasts began to echo out. He and Piccolo looked to one another and then they began their own march. As they made their way further and further down the hallway, the pressure beating down on them began to grow. Soon enough, they arrived upon a large, ornate arch housing a solid steel door decorated to look like it was made of wood. The two warriors raised their hands up and each fired a blast, blowing the double doors off of their hinges and sending them crashing to the ground.
The Saiyan and the Namekian stepped into the room and craned their necks upward to see their foe looming over them. This wicked mountain of a man glowered down at the two of them and let loose a sinister chuckle. "Gentlemen. Welcome! My...do your faces fill me with fury..."
Bardock cocked his head. "Bojack, I take it?"
Bojack smirked. "Indeed. Allow me to thank you for meeting my invitation. It is not often one answers the call for their own funeral..."
Bardock cocked his head, staring at the statue of the impaled, pointy-eared gentleman behind the hulking brute. "Pretty detailed statue. I'd say we aren't the first to answer such a call."
Bojack looked behind. "Oh, him? No. We carved that grave-marker in preparation more than anything. We-"
Piccolo snapped. "Enough of this foolish babbling! We're here. We've come to meet your challenge. Now shut your mouth and prepare to die for the sins you've committed against the Earth!"
Bardock and Piccolo both took a fighting stance. The Saiyan sneered. "But feel free to explain what business you have with us as we kill you!"
Bojack laughed out loud and leapt over the railing in front of him. He landed on the ground with a harsh thud and cracked his neck. "Make no mistake, my friends...this is nothing personal against you. I don't even know your names, to be fair. It is merely who you are and what you look like that has drawn my ire..."
He looked to Bardock. "A Saiyan with your face..."
He looked to Piccolo. "A Namekian with the same nasty look in his eye..."
Bojack's smile was wide, but it was clear that he was seething. "...those factors inspire me, move me even, to commit great violence~ But...I imagine that neither of you really have a dog in that fight, eh?"
Bardock immediately proved Bojack wrong. All of the mirth draining from his voice, Bardock was blunt. "How do you bastards know Turles?"
Bojack flinched. "You...know his name? And here I thought that all Saiyans looked alike. Heh. You must forgive me. In my defense, your insignificant race was never impressive enough to draw the gaze of a warrior on my level."
The hulking brute pulled out Gokua's Ressho and swung it to the side. "So, how do you know Turles?"
Bardock sneered and sighed. "He's...my younger twin brother."
Piccolo gasped. "B-Brother? You have a brother?!"
Before Bardock could answer, a deep and psychotic laughter erupted from Bojack. The warrior pressed his hand to his stomach, one of the deep gashes across his chest splitting and leaking blood as he continued to guffaw. "My word. Isn't this just too perfect? That does make me wonder, are you somehow related to that bitter old fool, Slug?!"
Piccolo flinched back. "S-Slug?! The missing Namekian elder?! H-He's alive...?"
In response to that, Bojack laughed even harder. The towering warrior fell to one knee and continued to snort and chuckle. "Imagine the odds! Just imagine that..."
Bojack lifted his head. "I choose this planet because it is out of the way, unassuming, and easily conquered. A perfect place to lay low, recover, and regroup after the failure of my grand operation due to that meddlesome Turles...and I find direct relations to both him and his Namekian nursemaid~"
Piccolo and Bardock were both taken aback. Somehow, this massive bastard knew both Bardock's long-lost brother and the missing elder of Planet Namek. Bojack finally stopped laughing and looked to Bardock and Piccolo with a murderous gleam in his eye. "My apologies gentlemen...but I'm afraid that I might play a little rough with you both. Nothing personal!"
And then Bojack lunged at Piccolo and Bardock with Ressho drawn high.
A couple of years ago, in an unknown region of space...
Bojack went crashing back into the wall of the ship he was in, a singe mark scorched across his chest from the ki attack he had just taken. Otherwise, the Galaxy Soldier was uninjured. His face was caked with rage and fury as he tightened his fists. "Bastards! You were no more than pawns in this! Sacrificial junk meant to be destroyed! How dare the two of you and your worthless ilk live?!"
From the opposite end of the room, a wrinkled, green-skinned behemoth of a man loomed in the shadows. Despite his age showing on his posture, the fellow's frame was rock solid. He muscles bulged beneath his dark cloak and he sneered at Bojack. "You underestimate our power. A grave error. This plan was doomed to fail from the moment you took the Crushing Demon Coalition lightly."
The hulking old man thrust his hand forward and charged another blast. "And beyond that, this plan was doomed to fail the moment you took the future king of this universe lightly, you arrogant Heran fool!"
Another being made his entrance, stepping out from the shadows. "Aw Slug~ You really do care~"
This new combatant stepped into the light. He had a red eyepiece tightly wedged over his left eye. The metal frame from the piece wrapped around the side of his face and looped over his ear. The red light from the technology shined out and illuminated the person's face. He looked exactly the same as Bardock, except he lacked a scar and his messy, unkempt hair swooped in the opposite direction. His ashen, gray skin shined with a dull luster as he stepped forward and spoke to Bojack. "You brought this on yourself, you know? We could have stuck together, killed the Gods, conquered the Universe and everything~ We could have been brothers, Bojack~"
Laughter echoed from their side of the ship. The Bardock lookalike sighed. "But I suppose that megalomania and foolish excess are just the common trait of people in this Universe~"
Bojack snarled, his body crackling with red lightning. He lunged forward screaming at the top of his lungs. "TURLES!"
Turles' face was framed in shadow, only the red illumination from his eyepiece shining forward. From beneath his cloak, the Saiyan thrust a technologically-advanced, metal arm forward. He harshly thrust his palm forward and smacked it right into the center of Bojack's face. Bojack's eyes went wide as he felt a frigid, metallic feeling press onto the bridge of his nose. Turles spoke. "Sorry, Bojack, it's been fun~"
And then, like a volcano, all of Bojack's energy burst through his skin, causing the warrior's flesh to fissure as his power surged outward across every inch of his body.
On the island with Tien and Bido...
Ever the spectator, Yamcha sat atop a nearby rock and watched on as Tien and Bido began their final showdown. The three-eyed warrior and the hulking brute both studied one another with conviction. Bido smiled. "I see a change in that glare of yours. Perhaps, this time, you might end up being a fight worth remembering?"
Bido turned and glanced back at Yamcha. "Are you going to be butting in? I'd hate for you to spoil what could be a good thing."
Yamcha shrugged. "Everyone has a time and place to fight. Mine isn't really here, bud. I'm just sticking around so that I can help Tien back to the mainland once he kicks your ass."
Bido chuckled and glared back at Tien. "I am going to crush your friend into a pulp once I am finished with you."
Tien's face was calm and stoic. He crossed his arms over his chest and his power began to swell. "Yamcha could beat you in a fight. Just as I will."
And then, Tien's aura erupted from his body and he shouted. "KAIOKEN TIMES 70!"
Bido let loose a wolf-whistle of approval. "Very nice. A consistent, raging power. And yet...this still isn't wait you're hiding~"
Tien gripped his fists tight, maintaining the intense power boost with a cool edge. "Patience is a virtue. Now come."
The two warriors glared at one another once more, and then they both charged in at one another. The two of them met in the middle, clashing fist-to-fist and then locking up. Bido laughed as he felt the pressure of Tien's power pressing harshly against him. "I must say, I truly have grown to respect the warriors of this miserable planet! Truly!"
The sheer power of the two warriors shredded the ground at their feet and Bido clenched his teeth. "Doesn't mean I'm not going to beat you to death, though!"
The Galaxy Soldier moved first, thrusting his fist into Tien's jaw hard enough that the sheer force made the sweat vaporize from the surface of the three-eyed warrior's skin. Bido gripped his fists tight. "A glancing blow! Now, REVERSE IRON TIGER!"
Bido's right fist moved in reverse, backtracking on the arc it had initially took and smashing right into the side of Tien's skull. Tien stumbled to the side and Bido drew his left fist back and thrust it towards Tien's chest. "DRAGON'S FLIGHT!"
With a single palm thrust, Tien blocked Bido's punch. The warrior took the shockwave of pressure through his body, allowing it to weave from one arm to the other through his muscles, and then returned the favor with a devastating right hook to Bido's cheek. Bido stumbled and glared down at Tien. The three-eyed warrior had blood dripping down his chin from his busted lip. Bido had the same measure of injury. He smirked and wiped is face before lunging in once more. Tien lunged in as well and the two began to exchange blows back-and-forth.
Bido was significantly stronger than he was for the majority of their first encounter. The Sacred Kaio-Water had done wonders for his power level. However, Tien was also controlling his Kaioken a lot better than the prior battle. The three-eyed warrior had a cool edge about him, maintaining composure and not so much as flinching as the aftershocks of the Kaioken raged through his body. Bido punched Tien with a brutal left uppercut and then smashed him down with a right-handed hammer. He maintained the tight stance of a trained boxer and loomed over his foe. "Your ability to absorb punishment is admirable. You're one tough little bastard~"
Tien got back to his feet and wiped the blood from his lip. He reached up and began to dab away the blood from a gash on his forehead with his wristband. "Nirvana."
Bido flinched. Tien pointed to the third eye in the center of his forehead. "My ability to take damage and power through it is from an ability I have called Nirvana. It is an ability granted to me by the eye on my forehead, my third eye."
Bido chuckled and tightened his stance. "I see..."
And then, Tien leapt forward and kneed Bido in the gut. Using the hulking brute as an anchor, Tien flipped himself around midair and delivered a second, devastating kick to Bido's neck that sent him crashing to the rocky ground. Tien landed on his feet and stood, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.
Bido, meanwhile, stood and cracked his neck. He snorted loud and deep and then hawked a loogie of blood and mucus into the nearby ocean. He turned and smirked. "So, it's that extra eyeball that makes you so tough, is it? You have this amazing power and yet you still refer to a worthless, lesser Kai as King?"
Tien's glare became cold. "King Kai is a valued friend and a trusted mentor. You will not take his name in vain."
Bido tightened his fists. "If you knew just how worthless your beloved Kais were, then you'd be singing a different tune~"
Tien whipped his arm forward and fired off an attack. "Dodon Ray!"
Bido leapt into the air to avoid the blast, but it immediately arched upward after him. Bido rolled his eyes and reared his fist back, thrusting it forward and smashing the Dodon Ray into nothingness. Tien responded by firing ten more in succession. Bido casually smashed away nine of them, taking the tenth to the chest and savoring the pain with a devilish hiss. He called out. "You're going to have to do better than a lightshow, my friend! Am I really going to have to pummel you with my full strength to see the best you have to offer?!"
Bido crashed to the ground like a stone, landing right in front of Tien. He launched a right-handed uppercut into Tien's gut that took the warrior off of the ground. He followed this up with a left-handed straight thrust. "TIGER HUNT!"
The fist crashed right into Tien's face and sent him flying onto his back. Tien, however, rolled through the bad landing and got back to his feet. He formed a diamond-shape with his hands and fired off his next attack. "Tri-Beam!"
The forceful ki blast shot forward and Bido charged into it with a manic smirk. He plowed through the attack with little effort and emerged from the other side smoking and with his right fist drawn. "DRAGON'S LANDING!"
The downward momentum punch crashed into the solid rock at Tien's feet and made the entire island they were fighting on crack and fissure apart. Sea water began to surge up around Tien's feet, but he was unaffected. Instead, his did a spin and kicked Bido in the side of the head, following that up with eight lightning-quick strikes to the chest and throat. Bido stumbled back, nearly capsizing and falling onto his back. But then, the Galaxy Soldier got his right foot under himself and returned with a relentless momentum. He threw his left fist forward and caught Tien in the shoulder. "TIGER'S CLUB!"
That one punch was enough to rock Tien's entire body. A shockwave of pressure smashed into him, jerking his entire shoulder back and throwing him off balance. Bido chuckled and leapt in, pulling back both fists. "RAGING PHOENIX PLUME!"
The rapid assault of ki-enhanced fists crashed into Tien's body over and over, leaving visible dents in his flesh and not letting up. Tien's entire body looked as if it were made of jelly as Bido pounded harder and harder into him, taking him off of his feet and sending him crashing backwards with one mighty right hook.
Tien groaned, getting to his feet and snarling. Even with the Nirvana his third eye gave him, he couldn't ignore the audible creak from his ribs as he stood back up. Bido cocked his head and smirked. "How's that feel? Is that eye of yours blocking out all of that pain? Huh?"
The three-eyed warrior took another deep breath and let it out. His muscles sounded like nylon rope straining and creaking just beneath his skin. While Bido was a loud bore of a warrior, it couldn't be said he didn't have the strength to back it up. In spite of the pain, however, Tien laughed. "I'd love to say that I could just shrug off the pain of your attacks...but that would be a lie. And, as much as it embarrasses me to say, it's my own fault..."
Bido snorted. "Oh really?"
Tien nodded. "Indeed. I... I unlocked this third eye of mine at a young age. My village was poor and my parents died of starvation. And yet, in that suffering, I somehow managed to attain what most would call enlightenment..."
The three-eyed warrior gripped his fist tight, picturing Master Shen and Mercenary Tao in his mind. "...and I allowed the arrogant and the vain folk of this world to help me squander it. A gift born of despair and I spent my entire, young life letting it go to waste..."
Tien took on a familiar fighting stance. "I don't regret the skills I learned in the Crane School of Martial Arts, but I struggle to live with the shame of allowing my own potential to be left to rot."
Bido took on his own stance and chuckled. "You say you let yourself be squandered...and yet you say it with such conviction~! Perhaps, you will finally show me this amazing power you have tucked away?
Tien was focused. "We're almost there. Just a bit more time to focus my spirit..."
Bido flinched and Tien rushed forward. The three-eyed warrior tipped to one side, almost as if he were doing a cartwheel, and launched into a spinning kick. "Crane Style! Arashi Guruma!"
The kick landed flush against Bido's neck and Tien used his momentum to drag the bulky warrior down, driving his face into the fractured rocks. Tien landed on his feet and spun on his right heel, thrusting his fist into Bido's gut and ripping him from the ground. Before Bido could slam back to the floor, Tien lunged in and grabbed his upside-down body into a headlock. The three-eyed warrior leapt into the air and then fell back down, slamming Bido straight onto his back from over forty feet in the air. "Crane Style! Hayabusa Otoshi!"
Bido gagged as he slammed down, blood erupting from his throat. He quickly pushed himself up, balling his fists and turning to meet a knee to the side of the head from Tien. Bido slid only slightly and then reared back his fist and punched Tien directly in the chest. Tien slid as well, blood bursting from between his clenched teeth. He snarled and roared right into Bido's face, tightening his palm as stiffly as a sheet of steel and thrusting it right into the boxer's gut. "Crane Style! Shotei!"
Bido's entire body shuddered and Tien followed that with a lightning-quick kick to the warrior's ankle. "Crane Style! Dai Senpu!"
Bido's feet were taken from under him, slipping with a slight spin. Tien went for another kick to Bido's throat, but Bido used the momentum of his spinning fall to return fire. He threw a massive, right-handed punch straight up and caught Tien under the jaw. "RISING DRAGON THUNDER!"
Tien nearly went flying back again, but he very quickly clenched his back muscles so tightly that his stance became completely rock-solid. Tien's feet didn't even leave the ground. He glared at Bido, taking a wide stance, and loosened his back muscles as he lunged forward. "CONCRETE VOLLEYBALL SPIKE!"
Tien's head shot down like a missile, smashing into Bido's mouth and causing blood to explode from his nose. As Bido bounced, Tien bent his knee and lunged after his foe. "Crane Style! Kosaho!"
Bido growled and reared his left his back. "BLOOD! RED! TIGER!"
Tien's knee and Bido's fist clashed against one another and the two of them both repelled one another back. The two of them both fell to the ground with a thud and both laid still. From his perch, Yamcha was in awe of the grit the two warriors had both displayed. "Holy crap..."
Soon enough, both Tien and Bido managed to struggle back to their feet. The two warriors were both rather beaten and bloodied, and both were very much out of breath. Bido smirked. "You are quite strong. Quite strong indeed. Only Bojack and Old Man Iryokago have ever pushed me this hard..."
Tien's heaving breaths gradually got quieter and quieter. Unlike Bido, the warrior was rapidly managing to calm and still his body, in spite of the injuries and the strain. Once his breathing had steadied, Tien took in and let out one final breath. And then, his Kaioken form completely dispersed. Bido and Yamcha both flinched at the sight of this. Bido cocked his head. "Giving up? Why?! WHY?!"
A bead of sweat ran down Yamcha's face. "T-Tien..."
Tien gripped his fists. "I mentioned the arrogant and the vain folk of the world helping me to squander my potential. Make no mistake, I am not blaming them exclusively for what I've allowed myself to become. I should have seen that the values they preached were only ever going to lead me down a dark path..."
The warrior closed his eyes, except for his third eye which stayed half-lidded. "I referred to you in a derogatory light. I said I wanted to save this for a big fish, implying that you were something less than that. I apologize for my arrogance and my looking down on you, Bido. But now that I have had a chance to focus and still my spirit, I will show you the power that I was so greedily attempting to hold on to..."
Bido chuckled. "Well then, it's nice to see you finally show some real spine. Power up and hit me with your all! And then despair as I rip that very spine out with my bare hands!"
Tien began to deeply breathe in and out. As he did, a couple of curious things began to happen. His half-lidded third eye slowly began to open more and more. And, to the shock of Bido, his muscles began to shrink and deflate. Tien's artistically sculpted body shrank more and more, his bulging muscles fading and leaving a lean, but toned body in their place. The third eye atop his head was fully open, the pupil going from dull and black to entirely focused directly onto Bido. Bido was gobsmacked. "What the hell is this? What's up with your ki?!"
Tien opened his mouth and a cloud of steam erupted from his throat, melding with the air around him and creating a thin, almost transparent cloud of mist. Tien spoke in a calm tone. "Enlightenment Pathways: Vairocana."
The warrior opened his eyes and stared at Bido with a true sense of fierce purpose. "State of Sunyatta."
On the deck with Android 17, Gohan, and Bujin...
Gohan and Android 17 both hovered in the airspace around the deck of the ship, both of them giving it their all and firing away at the various warped objects that Bujin tossed their way. As a bizarre crescent-shaped construct composed of seawater and underwater rock whipped past Android 17, the Android returned fire with an attack of his own. "Electro Eclispe Ball!"
The crackling energy sphere shot downward and Bujin sneered. "Try again, fool!"
Suddenly, a shadow appeared between Bujin and the attack. 17 flinched and, when the smoke cleared, gasped at what he saw. Standing in front of Bujin was Android 17, this version's eyes being replaced by unnerving, reflective mirrors. 17 sneered. "Oh, what the hell is this?!"
Gohan hovered next to him. "Sorry. I forgot to mention that this guy can create mirror clones with those psychic powers of his."
Android 17 raised an eyebrow. "Psychic powers, huh?"
Bujin smirked. "Indeed! The psychic powers that only a warrior as splendid as I could hope to gain access to! Psychic powers that make pitiful fools like you quiver in your boots!"
Android 17 had a plain expression on his face, cocking his head and shooting Bujin a sideways look. "Hm?"
Bujin clenched his fists tight. "Doubt me all you want, fool! I will show you!"
The little imp let loose a shrill screech and, in a flash, mirror-clone versions of Gohan, Bardock, Krillin, Tien, Piccolo, Android 18, and Yamcha all appeared around Bujin. Bujin chuckled. "Heh. Heh. Heh~ Let's see you take on your entire group, all at once! I can sense your foolish allies and their current power levels all at once! And I am able to replicate them flawlessly!"
17 adopted an incredulous look. He glared down at the mirror-clones, at Tien's specifically, and then he glanced over his shoulder at the island where Tien was fighting. "Riiiiiiight..."
Bujin snarled. "Fool! You will pay a dear price for doubting my power!"
Both the Krillin and Yamcha mirror-clones took on a familiar stance and wordlessly fired their Kamehamehas directly at Gohan. Meanwhile, the mirror-clones of 17 and 18 both fired a Power Blitz right at 17. With a flick of his wrist, 17 threw up an energy barrier that harmlessly blocked and dispersed the attacks aimed at him. Gohan, meanwhile, dispelled the two Kamehameha waves with a pair of quickly thrown ki blasts. A Destructo-Disc came flying right at Gohan, but 17 formed a barrier in front of the boy to delay the Disc long enough for him to dodge out of the way.
As Gohan ascended higher up, 17 threw up another barrier to block the oncoming assault of the Bardock, Piccolo, and Tien mirror-clones rushing at him. He glanced down at the three, writhing against his barrier, and rubbed his stroked his chin. "Hm..."
He watched their imprecise, jerky movements and appeared to be considering something. But then, to his surprise, the Krillin and Yamcha mirror-clones came rushing at him from behind. 17 leapt over both of their punches, watching the more fluid motions of them compared to the other three, and cocked his head to the side again. "Hm..."
As 17 regarded those five, the mirror-clones of Android 17, Android 18, and Gohan all rushed after the real Gohan. The various ki blasts that the two clone Androids fired off pinged off of Gohan's skin and, while they left no major injury, they certainly didn't tickle. Gohan groaned and tried his best to focus as he flew in circles. "At least these things are easy to lead on. Maybe I can concentrate a bit better on using the Devilmite Beam..."
Gohan tried to charge the beam, but then a ki beam from the mirror-clone Android 18 sliced through his cheek. Gohan groaned in pain. "Ow...there has to be a better way to utilize this move than through this darned beam..."
The blood went streaking down Gohan's face and dripped harmlessly into the ocean. Meanwhile, the mirror-clone of Gohan displayed a similar injury. Unlike Gohan, this clone felt no pain from the wound on its cheek and continued on unabated. Gohan, too focused on the Devilmite Beam, did not even notice the injury on his doppelganger's face.
A bit below, however, Android 17 held the mirror-clone copies of Piccolo and Krillin in a tight headlock. He looked up and observed the identical injuries on Gohan and Mirror-Gohan and cocked his head. "Hm..."
As the mirror clones pounded on the energy barrier holding them at bay, Android 17 watched as his own mirror-clone chased Gohan. The Mirror-17 reached out with his right hand and grabbed a handful of the boy's hair, breaking his concentration and making him howl in pain. Android 17 released his grip on the mirror-clones of Piccolo and Krillin and sent them both flying with a ki blast each. And then, without any hesitation, he grabbed his right index finger and wrenched it out of socket. 17 slightly flinched in pain and watched the right hand of his mirror-clone. At the same time he broke his finger, the Mirror-17's finger broke in the exact same way, allowing Gohan to worm his way out of the grip of the mirror-clone.
Android 17 pushed his finger back into socket and cocked his head. "Hm..."
As he did, the various mirror-clones trying to attack him all converged in. 17 rolled his eyes and threw up a spherical barrier. The mirror-clones harmlessly crashed into the impenetrable shield and began to beat on it with their fists. 17 looked around at his various attackers. Mirror-Piccolo was punching the barrier. Mirror-Krillin was punching the barrier. Mirror-Yamcha was punching the barrier. Mirror-Tien, still quite muscular-looking, was punching the barrier. And Mirror-Bardock, distinctly not a Super Saiyan, was punching the barrier. Android 17 cocked his head. "Hm..."
Reaching into his pocket, Android 17 pulled out his cell phone and looked in his contacts. At the same time, as Mirror-Yamcha went to punch the barrier again, 17 opened a small hole and allowed the left fist to pass through, closing the barrier around it and keeping it trapped. Mirror-Yamcha went to fire a blast, but 17 shut that down with a barrier-encased high five. "Calm down, bud. Gimme a sec. Making a phone call..."
17 pressed the call button and the phone rang. After a few moments, the person on the other end picked up. "Yamcha here! Kinda busy right now! No time for telemarketers!"
Android 17 sighed. "Yamcha, it's me."
Yamcha sounded surprised. "17? You remembered my number?"
17 nodded. "Yeah. Of course, I did. Now, not to be a bother, need a favor."
Yamcha responded. "I'm a bit busy right now but...sure. What's up?"
17 gripped the Mirror-Clone Yamcha's left wrist tight. "Break your left index finger for me."
Yamcha sounded dumbfounded. "Uh..."
17 was blunt. "Come on, man. Be cool. I'll buy you a month's worth of diapers for your new kid if you help me out and break your left index finger, okay?"
Yamcha went silent, thinking it over. And then, he responded. "Deal. But you'd better not backtrack on me."
17 smirked. "I won't."
It took a moment, but then a snap rang out and Yamcha yelped in pain. "Th-There...did that help...?"
17 looked down at Mirror-Yamcha's index finger and saw it was perfectly intact. And then, just to make sure, he checked the opposite hand and found similar results. "Yelp. Thanks, Yamcha~"
Yamcha spoke again. "And, you're gonna keep your promise, right?"
17 shook his head. "Nah. Not buying you a month of diapers..."
Yamcha gasped. "What the hell, man? Wh-"
17 interrupted. "I inherited half of a diamond mine a month ago. I'll buy you a year's worth of diapers~"
Yamcha was taken aback. "Oh. Th-That's so generous. Thanks, bud."
A brief pause. "...you inherited a-"
17 hung up the phone and then, with a burst of power, he made his barrier explode outward. All of the mirror-clones went flying back and 17 sighed, rolling up his sleeves. "Okay, so most of the questions I had are answered, but what do I do with those answers...?"
Recovering quicker than 17 thought it would, the mirror-clone of Piccolo pressed its fingers to its forehead and fired a Special Beam Cannon right at the distracted Android. 17 turned just in time to see that the attack was right on top of him and tried to raise his hand. 'Dammit! Not quick enough!'
But then, moving faster than the untrained eye could follow, Gohan crashed in and knocked away the Special Beam Cannon. The boy's power burst out and, when the light died down, Gohan had returned to his normal Super Saiyan form. 17 nodded. "Ah, you did that thing you used to kick Cell's ass."
Gohan nodded. "Super Saiyan 2. I'm trying to be careful about using it in this fight..."
17 nodded. "That's probably smart."
Gohan and 17 stood back-to-back as they were surrounded by the eight, mirror clones. Gohan spoke up. "So, I've been hearing you hm to yourself. You're trying to figure these guys out too, right?"
17 nodded. "Yeah. And I think I'm pretty close to a definitive conclusion..."
Meanwhile, seeing his mirror-clones surround his foes, Bujin enjoyed a hearty laugh. The little imp chortled and called out. "Now you're surrounded, you fools! Surrounded by the loyal puppets of the greatest Esper ever to live! My power is unassailable! You will all die before my might!"
Bujin smirked. The Galaxy Soldier folded in both of his thumbs and then pressed all eight fingers to the red jewel embedded into his forehead. "Hear my incantation, my slaves! You are stronger in this close proximity! Work together to crush these bastards!"
It took a moment, but all eight mirror-clones eventually shuddered in response. Gohan and 17 both took note of that. And then, Bujin removed his hands from his forehead and extended his arms outward. Immediately after he did, reality began to warp once more. Physical structures began to twist and curl as Bujin's power spread out! He cackled. "NOW! PREPARE TO DIE!"
The mirror-clones all rushed in and began to try and pummel their two foes. Gohan and 17, both ready and waiting, were eager to fight back as their foes piled on top of them. And so, a massive melee broke out. Each of the mirror-clones fired off the signature techniques of their counterparts: Mirror-Krillin used the Scatter Bullet, Mirror-Yamcha used the Spirit Ball, Mirror-Tien used the Tri-Beam, and Mirror-Piccolo used the Special Beam Cannon.
Dodging past all of the oncoming attacks, Gohan called out to 17. "So, what did you learn?"
17 smirked. "This guy is pretty easy to read, all things considered!"
Mirror-18 fired the Power Blitz, Mirror-17 fired the Electro Eclipse Ball, Mirror-Gohan fired the Masenko, and Mirror-Bardock fired the Riot Javelin. 17 dodged past the attacks and rushed in, striking each mirror-clone and sending them flying back. "But, here's the basics. These things aren't perfect copies. And they certainly aren't based off of whatever the hell this guy says he's sensing. You can feel what's going on with Tien right now, so you know that."
Gohan dodged past a flying spear made of rock and sea water. He nodded. "Yeah. That's why the mirror-clone of my grandpa isn't Super Saiyan and why my clone didn't go Super Saiyan when I did. They aren't altering their shape based off of what he senses..."
17 blocked a strike from Mirror-18. "It's based off of what he can see and what he can manipulate. He's trying to make us believe that his power is greater than what it really is. He's trying to bluff us to make us lose focus and fight sloppy."
Gohan kicked Mirror-Krillin aside and fired a one-handed Masenko into Mirror-Bardock's chest. "Furthermore, the movements of these things become less fluid and precise when he has to focus on multiple places at once. So, I'd wager that his psychic power is only completely effective when he can focus it around a certain space."
17 caught a punch from his own mirror-clone and slapped it across the face. "I'll wager you one better, kid..."
Gohan caught a punch from Mirror-Yamcha. "Huh?"
17 smirked and hammerfisted his clone on top of the head. At that moment, he flooded so much electricity into Mirror-17 that the clone was unable to keep form. The electricity exploded out and took the clone with it. At that moment, 17 turned and glanced back at Bujin, his theory being immediately confirmed. Bujin was attempting to maintain composure, but his body was unable to resist the urge to twitch and shudder. 17 chuckled. "Yeah, just like I thought...this guy isn't a psychic at all~"
Gohan flinched. "Huh?"
17 rubbed his finger under his nose. "Way back when, before the Saiyans arrived on Earth and everything changed, ol' Gero was actually pretty terrified of one of Goku's pals. Care to guess who that might be?"
Gohan kicked Mirror-Tien away. "No idea, honestly. Was it...Tien?"
17 shook his head. "Close. Actually...it was Chiaotzu."
Gohan was visibly surprised. "Uh..."
17 turned to his partner. "Chiaotzu isn't here, dude. It's okay to admit that that's a surprising choice."
Gohan scratched his head. "Y-Yeah...Chiaotzu wouldn't have been my...fifth...guess..."
17 nodded. "But yeah. Gero was terrified of the little guy. Kinda for the same reason he made sure to collect General Blue's corpse after Mercenary Tao whacked him. Gero was obsessed with psychic powers. I have more shit in my head about Chiaotzu than I do about, like, Yamcha and Yajirobe put together. So, not to brag...I can pretty much pick out a real psychic from a fake psychic in a snap~"
The raven-haired Android pointed to Bujin. "And that sneaky little bastard has been lying his ass off since we started fighting him~"
Gohan nodded. "O-Okay...so, what is he doing then?"
17 smiled. "I think I have an idea of what's really going on. And Gohan, let's just say...he's in for a shock~"
Gohan looked to 17. "You have a plan to catch him off-guard? That's good. Maybe I can focus and launch my Devilmite Beam if you distract him..."
17 chuckled. "Well, I suppose I could distract him for you..."
The raven-haired Android's eyes opened and exploded with sparking electricity. His hair began to ripple with electric currents. 17 began to power up, more and more electricity coming off of him as he did. "...but I meant that he was in for a shock a little more literally than that~"
Within the ship, with 18, Krillin, and Iryokago...
Leaping out of the way of two ki blasts, Iryokago landed atop a nearby table and chortled. "So, brats, how are you feeling? The atmosphere of this room slows the growth of the fungal spores I have introduced into your lungs, but it does not prevent the growth. Can you feel your lungs filling? Is your chest heavy?"
The elder tapped his staff onto the table beneath his feet. "I would surmise that you have about ten minutes before you expire~"
Krillin took a fighting stance. "Don't act so cocky! You're way weaker than me and 18 both. That's pretty obvious from the off!"
Iryokago snorted and waved his staff around, causing an air current to begin circling around his body. "Come and get me then."
Krillin grunted and leaped forward with his fist drawn. "Hiyah!"
Watching as he rushed in, however, 18 gave pause. Her attention shifted from Krillin to Iryokago and, for just a moment, she saw something shimmering in the air around the old man. 18 shouted. "Krillin! Stop!"
But it was too late. Krillin threw his punch at Iryokago. And, in that instant, the shimmering dust filling the air around him all gathered into one spot and formed a massive, shining wall between himself and Krillin. Krillin's fist smashed against the wall and his knuckles exploded with blood. Krillin cringed, crying out in pain, and was left defenseless as the shimmering shield crashed into him like a truck.
18 rushed in and tended to her ailing love, grabbing his injured hand and gently gripping it. Krillin's knuckles were utterly shattered. She glared up at Iryokago and shouted. "What the hell was that?!"
Iryokago sighed. "Children can be so short-sighted. That, fools, was my Gommanaji. It is called Shikkan. With it, I am capable of controlling the wind currents as well as factors that I introduce to into the wind currents..."
18 was confused. "Gommanaji?"
Iryokago waved his staff, the red jewel imbedded into it glowing bright red. "I believe in teaching through observation. So, perhaps an example is in order..."
The shimmering wall in front of Iryokago rapidly dispersed and the wind within the room began to shift. Iryokago chuckled. "The shield that crushed your lover's hand was made of compressed carbon, or diamond dust, if you will. Using my Shikkan, I am able to compress this dust into various different forms. Shields for defense...or..."
Android 18 looked up above and gasped in shock. The diamond dust was being formed into a much different shape than the shield that had injured Krillin. It was forming into hundreds of shimmering needles floating all around. Iryokago clicked his tongue. "Now, I introduce a high-speed air current...and..."
18 reacted quickly, throwing herself over Krillin and then throwing up an energy barrier for good measure. The diamond needles above were sent shooting down with the force of a sonic boom and they immediately pierced through the barrier like it was nothing. The needles rained down and stuck deep into 18's back, puncturing through her and drawing a pained groan from the Android. 18 sneered. "Damn it..."
Krillin yelped. "18!"
The monk reached up to try and pull the needles from 18's back, but they all quickly crumbled and turned back into dust in the wind. Krillin clenched his teeth and glared over at Iryokago. Iryokago lazily waved around his Shikkan. "So, what ever shall you two do? You're on a very real timer before your breath involuntarily ceases and you are faced with a perfect offense and defense. Do you beg for your lives now?"
Krillin stood, placing a gentle hand onto 18's back. "Screw you! There's no such thing as a perfect strategy! And neither of us are going to beg a guy like you for our lives! Right, 18?"
18 pushed herself up and glared at Iryokago. Krillin's words had put a smile on her face. "Damn straight. I didn't train for these past few months just to be beaten into submission by another smug old man. This guy pisses me off as much as Gero did."
The battle couple took their fighting stance and Krillin spoke up. "Divide and conquer, 18!"
As Krillin ran towards Iryokago once more, 18 smirked. She knew what Krillin was angling for. She thrust her hands forward and fired off two blasts. "Double-Barreled Star Magnum!"
Iryokago motioned his Shikkan through the air and formed the diamond shield to block 18's attack. In that instant, Krillin rushed behind the old man and thrust his palms forward. "Kamehameha!"
The beam shot from Krillin's hands and made it about a foot away. But Iryokago chuckled regardless. "Foolish brat."
The Kamehameha never got close to Iryokago. It crashed into the airspace around his back and, suddenly, a massive cloud began to glow bright red. The cloud burst in a massive explosion, engulfing Krillin and sending him smashing back into a wall. Iryokago, not missing a beat, leapt up and rushed towards 18. The old man smashed his diamond shield into her and sent her crashing into the wall as well. Iryokago landed atop a different table and tapped his fist against his back. "How idiotic. Thinking that mere diamond would be my only method of defense. I have also stored several pockets of explosive powder all around this room that I might call to defend my blindspots at will. You might think my back is exposed, but any amount of ki colliding those clouds will only serve to provide you another taste of defeat."
18 stood again and cracked her neck. "So what? Now that we know, such a pathetic trick is easy to avoid. We'll just have to beat you into submission!"
Iryokago raised his finger, wagging it back and forth. "Tut-tut. You make that sound like an easy feat, but do you two really have the time? Hm?"
Krillin gripped his fist. "Don't talk down to us, we-"
Blood-erupted from Krillin's throat and he fell to his knees, wheezing and gripping his neck. Android 18 flinched back and, to her own consternation, a trickle of blood leaked out from between her lips as well. Iryokago was smug. "I could genuinely just vacate the safe atmosphere from this room and watch you both suffocate~ But, I'm the type of person who likes to give his lessers a fighting chance...and Bojack isn't the only one who needs to act out his frustrations..."
Iryokago shuddered with fury. "I am so full of hatred for the failure of this, my life's work, that I could scream..."
Krillin and Android 18 didn't care. The two of them looked to one another and immediately charged in again. Silently, the two had come to an agreement that they needed to get their attack patterns just right if they wanted to win this one. Iryokago's skill was formidable, but he was still just a feeble-bodied old man. If they could get in one solid hit, they would have him!
18 leapt into the air and rained down a furious axe-kick. Iryokago waved his staff upward and formed the diamond shield, not even flinching as the force of 18's strike made it buckle. As 18 lead the charge, Krillin went for the less obvious approach. Falling to his back, the monk slid on the ground between Iryokago's legs and tried to deliver an uppercut. Iryokago responded to this by leaping just out of Krillin's range, stomping on the monk's face for good measure before rushing away.
As 18 and Krillin gave chase, Iryokago sent a wind current shooting their way and fired another volley of diamond needles at the two of them. 18 and Krillin both charged a ki blast and fired them towards the needles, only for the invisible, explosive powder cloud to set off in a fiery display. Iryokago cackled. "Fools! Have you already forgotten about-"
18 came shooting through the smoke like a bullet, singed but otherwise unharmed. Clinging to her back was Krillin, with a satisfied grin on his face. "Sorry about that! You might be able to throw me off with some explosions and whatnot, but 18 is a much more durable breed than I am!"
The Android reared her fist back. "Now die, geezer!"
She threw her fist forward, only for it to meet Iryokago's diamond shield once more. Iryokago sneered behind the mask covering his face. "Damn..."
At that moment, Krillin launched an attack of his own. "Multi-Form!"
Three Krillins emerged from behind 18 and took to the air. Iryokago snarled, his diamond dust was being used mostly to hold off 18. He only had a little bit left at his disposal. Using his Shikkan, Iryokago launched three diamond needles high into the air and shot them each through the Krillins' foreheads. All three Krillins fell back, but all of them merely faded away. Iryokago gasped. And then, seeing something out of the corner of his eye, he turned to see that Krillin was right next to him. The monk smirked and drew his fist back for a punch, only for Iryokago to quickly react by slamming his staff onto the ground. Metal grinding against metal created a spark and the small cloud of explosive powder surrounding Krillin and Iryokago went off.
The two warriors were thrown back by the weak explosion. Iryokago landed on his feet, as did Krillin. Krillin smirked. "You seem a bit worried, buddy. That was pretty risky, to set off an explosion like that..."
18 was cold and clinical. "You can't keep this up forever. We might be on a timer, but it's more than enough time to finish you off and find a way to get rid of these damned spores in our lungs."
Iryokago snarled. "You dare to look down upon me?!"
18 was blunt. "Of course, we look down on you. You're a bunch of weakling thugs that came to our planet looking to cause trouble. If you didn't want to deal with this, you should have picked another planet to try and invade."
Iryokago gripped his staff tight. "No, you have no comprehension of what the stakes of my grand machination were. You do not get to look down upon me, woman! Bojack ad Bido...they were the cornerstones. My ultimate weapons to execute and rid this universe of the incompetent and useless pretender that presides over it..."
Krillin cocked his head. "Incompetent and useless...?"
Iryokago snapped. "The pretender to the throne! Shin! The Pretender Kai! The one that has taken all of the grand institutions of our universe and turned them into a laughingstock with his incompetence and inability! My perfect plan to execute that worthless fool was set to succeed...and then Bojack brought in that meddler and we were forced to retreat to this hideous little dungheap of a planet! I... I have spent too long on these machinations to be the subject of ridicule for a couple of backwater whelps!"
Krillin shrugged. "L-Look man...you sound angry, but we really don't know what you're talking about. What does any of this have to do with the Earth?!"
18 narrowed her eyes. "Ignore him. He's just mindlessly ranting. Gero always did that sort of thing when it came to Goku. Let's just beat him senseless and end this!"
The Android charged towards her foe. Iryokago snarled and set off another explosion using the powder he placed into the air. The explosion went off, but 18 was able to power through it. She charged and tried again and again to strike Iryokago, only for the geezer to redirect her strikes with high-pressure wind currents. 18 punched again and again and again, but wasn't able to even come close to hitting Iryokago.
Iryokago continued to rage and lament. "Curse the luck of it all! And curse Bojack's arrogance! Thanks to that one, foolish move...thanks to bringing that bastard Saiyan into our business...we're pariahs within our own race! We can't return home; our kinsmen would kill us on sight all for the sake of a being that has taken the loyalty of Hera for granted! And, worst off, that Saiyan crippled Bojack! So now we're forced to cower on a nothing world like this!"
18 tried to kick Iryokago, but the wind deflected that as well. "Will you quit ranting?! It's annoying!"
Iryokago shouted back. "I care not for your tone, woman!"
And then, with a flick of his staff, the geezer sent a storm of diamond needles flying directly into 18. 18 quickly crossed her arms over her face and took the full brunt of the attack, needles piercing into her flesh and making blood trickle down her arms. Iryokago spun his Shikkan in his hand, using it to direct all of the diamond dust into a crescent-shape. "Let's see you withstand this! Shimmering Crescent Mo-"
A massive ki blast came shooting from across the room at Iryokago's back. The sheer size of the blast was enough that, when it hit the cloud of explosive powder behind Iryokago, it caused a massive explosion that sent the feeble old man shooting forward. 18 uncrossed her arms with a smirk and lunged forward, catching Iryokago with a clothesline right across the face.
The sheer force of 18's blow was enough to make Iryokago's entire body ragdoll. He went flying back and soon came face-to-face with the source of the initial assault. Krillin hovered over Iryokago with a smile on his face and wagged his finger back at the smug old man. "A friend of mine has this fun little habit...he always likes to sucker punch people that break out in longwinded rants when they're supposed to be fighting~"
And then, with a backflipping spin, Krillin thrust his foot into Iryokago's chest and made him smash harshly into the ground. Iryokago landed with a loud crunch, every bone in his feeble old body crumbling, and then he laid still, the mask that once covered his face flying off and clattering off to the side.
Krillin and 18 regrouped and marched over to their foe, eager to interrogate him for the cure to the spores filling their lungs. As they stood over him, though, the two warriors let loose a dire gasp of shock and horror. Iryokago's face was not a pretty sight to look at, being covered in deep, moldy wrinkles, faded tattoos, and otherwise looking almost skeletal in appearance. Deep within his sunken eye sockets, two red glimmers barely shined out. But, within those red glimmers, Krillin and 18 could feel so much burning hatred. 18 sneered. "Gross. How old are you, you pathetic geezer?!"
Iryokago let loose a low chuckle. "It might surprise you...but I am slightly over six-million years old..."
18's eyes went wide. Krillin yelped in shock. "Wh-What?!"
Iryokago sounded to be in a great deal of pain. He chuckled. "The People of Hera...are the mortal servants to the Gods of Creation. We can die of mortal injuries, but we...are quite the long-lived species. We can survive so long as we have the will to push our bodies on..."
The old man coughed up blood, but then his toothless grin smiled wide. "AND MY WILL HAS YET TO BE BROKEN!"
Moving his broken arms through pure determination and nothing more, Iryokago grabbed his Shikkan and the flask of Sacred Kaio-Water he had stored away. He smashed the bottle against the skull on his staff and cackled as the liquid sank in. "Drinking this blessing...the naïve strategy of wet-behind-the-ears brats! The best and most effective strategy for something like this is inhalation~!"
The jaw to Shikkan popped open and vapor began to spew forth from it. Iryokago opened his mouth wide and began to inhale, sucking all of the Sacred Kaio-Water vapor in. Krillin and 18 both recoiled in shock as Iryokago's gaunt, withered form began to shift. Not only were his wound from the prior battle healing, not only was his skin turning green and his hair red, but his muscles were exploding and filling his body back out. The years were melting away from Iryokago and he stood tall, young once more.
The former geezer ripped the headdress from his head and tossed it aside, allowing his new mane of blood red hair to sway back and forth. "HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO BE YOUNG ONCE MORE! I HEARD THIS WATER WAS AMAZING, BUT I NEVER EXPECTED THIS!"
Krillin shuddered in horror as Iryokago's power continued to rise and swell. He shook his head. "W-We can't handle this. G-Goku! Where's Goku?! We need Go-"
Android 18's voice called out. "Hey."
Krillin turned and gasped in surprise. 18 was standing there, a calm look on her face. Her hand was outstretched towards Krillin and she had an expectant look in her eye. Krillin was dumbfounded. 18's voice was totally serious. "Why do we need Goku?"
Krillin stammered. "B-Because this guy is..."
18 spoke up. "He's strong. So what? I know that I'll be okay because I have you here. Because I know with my entire heart that I can count on you. You...know that the reverse is true too, right?"
Krillin fell silent. 18 was speaking genuinely. "You know that you're safe as long as I'm here with you, right?"
The monk was at a loss. He remembered back to all of those moments with 18. How she saved him from Imperfect Cell, despite the risks. How she showed up at the Cell Games, in spite of not being fully recovered, to provide assistance. How she showed up when all seemed lost and fought Zangya with everything she had. Krillin gritted his teeth tight. And then, with no hesitation, he reached out and squeezed her hand tight. "With you at my side...I'd walk right into the flames of Hell and come out unscathed, my...my l..."
18 smiled, able to understand what Krillin meant to say and squeezing his hand just as tightly. And then, the blonde Android smirked. "Such a perfect choice of words. That's why I love you. You always know the right thing to say~"
And then, to Krillin's surprise, steam began to rise from 18's skin. The monk and Iryokago both watched in confusion as 18's body became hotter and hotter. So hot that the air around her began to distort and waver. To Krillin, the hand he was holding only felt a bit warm...and yet the metal of the floor was melting beneath 18's feet.
The Android looked up, flames erupting from her scalp and making her hair resemble and out-of-control, white flame. "Let's heat things up and burn this place to the ground!"
Back with Bardock, Piccolo, and Bojack...
Laying in a battered, broken heap, Piccolo and Bardock were both utterly floored by just how strong their opponent had turned out to be. Bardock was laid out on the ground with a massive slash wound across his chest, his Super Saiyan power diminished down to a mere, golden glow. Piccolo, meanwhile, was struggling to push himself up with only one arm and one leg.
As his opponents struggled, Bojack simply sat on a nearby railing, watching as the mixture of red and purple blood from his foes sank into the metal of Gokua's former weapon and the piece of the blade that Bardock broke off rapidly grew back. "Gokua was a damned idiot. He was granted, at birth no less, a powerful magic such as this and he squandered it because he wanted to play swordfighter..."
Piccolo snarled. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Bojack looked down at Piccolo out of the corner of his eye. "I suppose I could explain. Upon birth, we Herans offer up a drop of our blood to be fashioned into a special jewel, a Gommanaji. These Gommanaji follow us through our lives and allow us to fashion our latent power into a useful skill. Old Man Iryokago has his Shikkan, which lets him control the contents of the very air around him. Bido has his Donteki Gaisho, which allows him to turn his focus and strong emotions directly into force..."
Bojack tapped the red jewel embedded into the hilt of Gokua's sword. "And here we have Gokua's Ressho. Not this cheap blade, but the jewel attached to it. He simply used it as a way to increase the strength of the iron in this toothpick...but it actually allowed him to siphon the metals of out anything and put them to use. As you can see, the Gommanaji persists in its method even after its foolish owner has been killed. It sucks in the iron from your blood to repair the blade~"
Bardock snarled as he stood, his beaten and lacerated form a bit shaky after the utter thrashing he had just received. "Riveting. But who asked?!"
Piccolo got back up and regenerated his missing arm and leg. Bojack chuckled. "You two have spirit. I will give you that. But you don't seem to realize how fruitless your attempts are. My Gommanaji is unbeatable! You are doomed to fall here!"
Bardock wiped the blood from his face and spat. "If your silly little power is so unbeatable, then how did my crippled younger twin kick your ass all the way to this backwater little mudball?"
The smile faded from Bojack's face, replaced by a furious look of anger. Bardock and Piccolo, seeing an opening, both roared and their power erupted out. And then, the two of them charged back in for another round with Bojack!
The tag team assault by Bardock and Piccolo began once again in earnest. The Saiyan landed a massive punch on Bojack's cheek while Piccolo rushed in and smashed his knee directly into the warrior's gut. Bojack smirked, his body crackling with red aura. The Heran's body swelled and, to the shock of Bardock and Piccolo, the various scars across his body split and fissured open. Bojack looked annoyed, wincing in pain as jets of compressed energy shot out from the wounds across his body. That look of annoyance quickly faded and Bojack smiled once more. With a massive roar, the Galaxy Soldier sent out a burst of power than blasted Bardock and Piccolo back into the wall.
The two warriors struggled to recover back to their feet. Before they could so much as stand, Bojack was already on top of them. With his massive hands, he reached down and grabbed Piccolo by the sides of the head, gripping his ears tightly and ripping him off of the ground. Bojack jerked the Namekian around, flinging him like a ragdoll into various structures. Piccolo cried out in pain as he was slammed into various railings, monitors, and walls.
Bardock got back to his feet and called out. "Hang on, Piccolo!"
Bojack smiled wide. He turned to face Bardock as he charged in and heaved Piccolo's limp form into the Saiyan, smashing them both into the ground with a forceful thud. Bardock and Piccolo both bounced into the air, Bojack rushing in and planting his foot into Bardock's chest. The Saiyan was harshly stomped into the ground and plunged deep into the metal floor. Bojack pressed down harder. "Yes! There we have it! I love the sound of splintering ribs~!"
Bardock gurgled in agony, fighting and pounding his fist into Bojack's boot to no avail. Bojack started to press down even harder, but then he was suddenly surrounded by a swarm of errant ki blasts. "Huh?"
Piccolo called out. "HELLZONE GRENADE!"
As the smoke clouded up around Bojack, Piccolo rushed in and shoved the hulking brute off of Bardock's chest. Quickly, the Namekian grabbed his fellow warrior and pulled him out of harm's way. Bardock coughed and sputtered as he regained his bearings. "Thanks, Piccolo, I appreciate...but that attack didn't do shit..."
Piccolo snapped back at Bardock. "I AM AWARE!"
The dust cleared and Bojack laughed as he marched forward. "At least you are aware of your pathetic limitations. So, should I take that as an admission of surrender?"
Bardock roared out and responded with a savage rushing kick to Bojack's gut. Bojack easily withstood the attack with little more than a grunt. Piccolo joined in on the attack as well, attempting a snap kick to the side of Bojack's head. Bojack absorbed that attack as well, red aura once again crackling off of his body and causing bursts of compressed ki to shoot from the various scars across his body. And then, with a fraction of his strength, Bojack reached up and grabbed Piccolo by the ankle. He whipped the Namekian around and then harshly snapped Piccolo's back over his knee.
Bojack charged a ki blast to blow Piccolo's head off, but Bardock rushed back in with a furious punch to the center of Bojack's face. The hulking Heran didn't even flinch, simply slapping Bardock to the ground and heaving Piccolo into the ceiling. Piccolo crashed hard into it, sticking into an indent in the shape of his own body.
Not giving even a moment of relief, Bojack rushed towards Bardock and went for a kick. But then, to the Galaxy Soldier's surprise, Piccolo's arm stretched down from above and grabbed his wild mane of hair. Bojack was stopped in his tracks and left wide open to an attack. Bardock was eager to take that advantage, standing up and drawing his fist back. "Stealing your move, Totepo.."
Bardock thrust his arm forward. "BOULDER BLOW!"
The punch hit its mark, slamming dead center into Bojack's chest. The sheer, tightened force of the attack sent shudders through Bojack's body, but he seemed to enjoy that. His smile widened and deepened as, once again, red aura sparked off of his body and jets of power shot from his various scars. Bojack snorted. "Are you not grasping it, yet?"
Bardock gasped. Bojack chuckled. "Let me make things more apparent..."
Bojack's skin and eyes both began to glow with a sickening red light. "Once again, I must give credit to you both for trying. I suppose that the combination of Saiyan and Namekian grit is one that works no matter which two you mix! But..."
In a flash, Bojack vanished. But then, he reappeared right behind Bardock and kicked him harshly in the back. Bardock went flying up to the roof and smashed into Piccolo, bringing them both back down to the floor in a heap. As the two stood back up, Bojack was right on top of them again. He slammed his fists into their guts and heaved them both off of the ground. Bojack smashed both of the warriors together, lifting them high above his head before smashing them through the floor. Bardock and Piccolo both cried out in pain, only for Bojack to leap up and stomp onto the both of them. The warriors were driven even deeper into the ground and Bojack leapt up again, this time landing onto the two with his knees.
Bojack leapt up once more, intending to crush Bardock and Piccolo like cockroaches with his next stomp. However, Bardock and Piccolo were well-prepared this time. As Bojack fell back down towards them both, Bardock and Piccolo each fired a massive ki blast into the air and hit Bojack dead-on. The attacks pushed the massive warrior back into the air and smashed him into the ceiling. Not wanting to let him recover, Piccolo and Bardock both stood and began to fire a massive ki blast barrage up at Bojack. Bardock snarled. "If physical strikes won't work, ki has to! Let's blast this bastard to ashes!"
Piccolo sneered. "This isn't working either! I can feel his energy, Bardock! It's not going down! It's...it's rising!"
"Well, at least you have brains in that head of yours..."
Rushing down from the ceiling, utterly unaffected by the ki blasts smashing harmlessly against him, Bojack fell down towards his foes and sent them both flying with a devastating cross-chop. He lunged after Bardock, grabbing the soaring Saiyan by the ankle and swinging him around through the air like a bullrope. Bojack chuckled. "You might have more gusto that Turles, but that guy must have gotten all the brains when you were born! Compared to him, you barely qualify as a sentient lifeform!"
Bojack threw Bardock into the air, catching him by the head and starting to squeeze. "But, still, you're a lot tougher and more respectable than that backstabbing coward! He's off who-knows-where enjoying his carefree life while you, his older brother, are taking his punishment~"
The hulking Heran squeezed Bardock's head even tighter. "Admit it. You wish he would have just stayed dead, right? Wasn't he so much better as a memory than a problem?!"
Bardock kneed Bojack in the face. "Shut your damn mouth!"
Bojack released Bardock and, in retaliation for his venomous words, the Saiyan tossed a massive ki blast right into Bojack's face. Bojack stumbled back as Bardock raggedly gasped for breath. Bardock smirked. "How'd that one taste, you-"
Bardock flinched back. "Wh-What the hell...?"
Just as with the physical attacks from before, the ki blast to Bojack's face made his red aura surge. Jets of compressed ki welled up and erupted from within Bojack's body. The hulking brute stood triumphant. "What were you saying? You paused in the middle of your boast~"
Piccolo leapt over to Bardock, taking a fighting stance. "This is what I was trying to tell you! It's not just physical attacks that are helping to increase his strength. All of our attacks are!"
Bardock sneered. "Well, ain't that just perfect. Hitting him only makes him stronger..."
Piccolo nodded. "Indeed. Which is why we don't need to approach this in the sloppy way we have been. This bastard is going to require a finer approach."
Bojack chuckled. "You sound just like Slug. Constantly offering advice and trying to get your less patient counterpart to behave. Is it the Namekian spirit to act as a nanny to a fool?"
Bardock was pissed. He gripped his fists. "You keep going on and on, but you aren't saying anything of note! Tell us about Turles, goddammit!"
Bojack cocked his head. "So impatient. I was going to tell you about your brother as the life left your body. So, I'll take this as a sign that you want me to kill you more quickly."
Bardock snarled and rushed in, forming a massive Rebellion's Edge on his hand. Piccolo charged in after him. "Dammit, Bardock! We just talked about this!"
Seeing his foe rush in with a bladed weapon, Bojack frowned and whipped out Ressho, using the former sword of Gokua to block Bardock's attack. Bardock continued the pressure against Bojack, and motioned for Piccolo to keep back with his free hand. "I heard you, Piccolo. I'm not just rushing in out of anger. I wanted to test something..."
Piccolo flinched. Bardock smirked. "He's let us hit him with full force all the times prior to this, but I come at him with an edged weapon and he's suddenly on the defense. I guess that power of his only really works with blunt-force injuries...am I right, Bojack?"
The Namekian's look of confusion instantly changed to one of confidence. Piccolo immediately caught on to what Bardock was planning and began to plot out his own attacks accordingly. Bojack looked at the smug smirks on his opponents' faces and snarled. "Oh, those looks...I REALLY WANT TO SLAUGHTER YOU BASTARDS NOW!"
Deflecting Bardock backwards, Bojack raised his hands into the air. "Let's see you try your little plots when you're blown to bits! GRAND SMASHER!"
Bardock and Piccolo both leapt back, avoiding contact with Bojack's attack. The ball of energy hit the floor and exploded into a massive column that shot high into the air. Once the smoke cleared, Bardock and Piccolo both took fighting stances. That showing of power was enough to remind them that they needed to be on their toes. They might have found a weakness, but this guy was still way too strong for comfort.
Stepping through the smoke, Bojack faced his two opponents with a look of annoyance on his face. "Forgive me, gentlemen. A warrior such as myself should not lose his cool so easily."
Bardock rolled his eyes. "Warrior, yeah..."
Piccolo sneered. "You're a mad dog barely maintaining his own sanity..."
Bojack shrugged. "No, no. I agree. That was unbecoming. So, perhaps, I could at least fill you in on the last little bit you haven't figured out about me. Just so we're all on the same page..."
The Galaxy Soldier cleared his throat. "The name of my Gommanaji is Kanzenna Zetsumetsu. The way it worked for the longest time was that I had my red jewels embedded into a pair of wrist gauntlets. Foes would attempt to strike me, the gauntlets would absorb the strike, and it would be converted into raw energy that I could turn into personal stamina, add to my own pool of strength, or simply expel in the form of an energy blast."
Bojack chuckled. "Old Man Iryokago used to refer to it as The Invincible Power. He would always spin these epic yarns about my executing the current, worthless God in charge of this Universe and then leading our people to become the new Gods in his place. And, with my younger brother Bido at my back, my invincible power was even more so..."
Piccolo grunted. "What you're saying makes no sense. Where are these gauntlets that you speak of?!"
Bojack glanced down at his bare wrists and chuckled. "Such an eye for detail. Well...for that, my Namekian friend, you have Turles to thank~"
Bardock flinched back. "Wh-What?!"
Bojack let loose a low, sinister chuckle. "Oh yes..."
And then, he reached up and pulled his jacket aside, revealing a massive, cross-shaped scar on his chest. Right over his heart. "That brother of yours is an average warrior...but a brilliant scientist~! When he suggested that I implant my Gommanaji directly into my heart to take full advantage of Kanzenna Zetsumetsu's power, it was a revelation~! I jumped at the opportunity! Rather than simply focus on making my opponents strike those miserable gauntlets, Turles came up with the brilliant suggestion that I convert my body to be one, giant gauntlet!"
Bojack sighed. "Or, as you put it...hitting me only makes me stronger~"
The warrior released his jacket and looked down at his reflection in Ressho's blade. He frowned at the sight of his scarred face. "It's too bad I didn't see that Saiyan rat for what he turned out to be. I would have snapped his neck the moment he did his damn job, if that were the case..."
Piccolo turned to Bardock. "What the hell?! Your brother is intelligent enough to do something like that? Even smarter Saiyans like Vegeta never seemed to be that thoroughly intelligent..."
Bardock blew his partner off, instead glaring directly at Bojack. The Saiyan gripped his fist tight as he raised it towards his foe. "You and your idiot underlings are going to learn real quick that threatening my little brother is a good way to find an early grave! You aren't so tough, bastard! You've drank that water just like everyone else, but that doesn't make you unkillable!"
Bojack flinched. But then, he chuckled. "Oh...oh, my friend, you are making quite the assumption~"
Bardock snapped back. "Assumption, my ass! You're just as strong as Cell was in his Super Perfect form! And he had to absorb the lifeforce of millions to achieve that! It's obvious that you must have drank that same water all of your underlings did to prepare for this fight!"
Bojack snorted. "You mean..."
He reached into a satchel at his waist and pulled out a flask of the Sacred Kaio-Water. "This water?"
Bardock fell silent. Piccolo's eyes went wide. Bojack smirked. "I don't know who this Cell is. Nor do I care. All I can say to you fools is this: not a drop of this water has ever touched my lips~"
