Cooler gazed at the green sphere before him, a small smile playing on his lips. It was amusing, the creatures bellow could sense him—even with his Ki surprised—yet they rushed around like headless chickens—instead of doing the smart thing: running away.
If they had chosen to do so before he could get close enough to the planet, they could have evacuated the would. The Yardrats could have done so easily enough, sure the second he sensed them disappearing Cooler would have rushed in capturing a few. But that still would have been the smart thing to do.
But now?
Raising his hand a barrier of psychic energy encased the planet. The barrier prevented even Ki from escaping. To the Yardrats, it must have seemed as if the rest of the universe suddenly went dark.
To be cut off from something that must have become ever so natural to them, I can only imagine how frightened they must be, Cooler mussed. A cruel smile emerging on his reptilian face.
Appearing on the surface of the planet his energy no longer restrained—at least how much he had access to in his first form—the Yardarts froze. Every pair of eyes that could—stared at him in pure unadulterated dread.
Escape was no longer possible—as loath as they would have been to abandon their planet—the option was always there at the back of their minds. The option to escape, no matter the danger. Cooler could imagine it always gave them a sense of peace a weak most races with their power never have. One that they themselves probably never realised about until it was cruelly snatched from them.
He could taste the fear they exuded, and his very instincts responded: screaming at him—to play, to ever so slowly break his pray until nothing was left. But Cooler was here on business so he pushed them aside no matter how averse he was to the idea.
"People of Yardrat," Cooler said his voice reaching every inch of the planet. "Take me to your leaders." Raising from his pod Cooler looked at the Yardratian people his eyes meeting each of theirs one by one. "Or I'll curve a bloody path through your planet until they show themselves."
"That won't be necessary lord Cooler," A voice said from behind him.
Cooler didn't bother turning, already having sensed the Yardratian when he arrived. "Good," He smiled. "Now, teach me...everything."
Holding out a hand the Yardratian approached it, and with that, the two of them vanished reappearing in a rather larger room.
The Yardratian was larger than the others, several times taller and wider than the rest of his race. His energy had certain completeness to it—Cooler couldn't place it, but it felt—refined in a way.
And he wanted it.
The teaching process was relatively simple—yet it would take centuries for someone to learn without the proper guidance.
Spirit Control required a completely different way of circulating your energy. The speed at which it crossed through the body, where it went, how it went there. It was a bunch of little steps that built up to something great drastically increasing the user's energy manipulation abilities.
"I'm surprised you were willing to teach me, so...quickly. It usually takes more convincing before a race is willing to share their techniques."
Pybara the Yardrat elder shifts a little at the comment. "Yes, others may not be aware of you, my Lord. But we Yardrats can sense energy far more efficiently than most—as you can attest to now." Shifting about even more he continued. "We have been able to sense your growth of some time now—along with your...exploits."
"Is that so." Cooler hummed. "In that case, you should now I'm a—sort of man—of my word. It's quite useful being one after all."
Smiling awkwardly Pybara agreed. "Yes, you are a man of your word. Even if it's not for the most honourable of purposes, still a good quality to have."
"Then you know I'll leave peacefully if I get everything I want," Cooler said. A smile gracing his lips. "So tell me...how did your species manage to transport an entire world through the universes"
The elder froze, with shaking hands he took a sip of tea. "I-I don't know what you mean."
"I know this planet wasn't always here. Star charts confirm it. Nor was there any record of your race anywhere until 500 years ago."
Plus they were in the universal survival tournament fighting for another universe, add in everything else and it paints an interesting picture. And a terrible revelation. He couldn't simply leave the universe and become part of one of the higher-ranked ones. In all likely hood, Zeno would erase everything from universe 7, including what originated from it. Running away wouldn't help. But the knowledge to travel through the universes' would still be useful, after all, it never hurt to cut down on the competition.
Leaning in ever so slightly. "What's the matter, Pybara? You seem to be shaking." His smile grew by the second. "Don't tell me, you're holding back..."
The elder breathed before letting out a long breath, his shaking stopped and calm replaced it. "Forgive me, children," He said. "But I can not allow this, monsters evil to spread even further."
"Oh, I see...Teaching me Spirt Control is fine. After all, let's be honest the universe is fucked already." Coolers hands wrapped around the elders neck. "What can stop me? The gods? Please...as if they'd move to stop a mortal. But the other universes? No. No, there still virgins now aren't they, pure from my grubby little hands. Can you imagine all those worlds—so many new techniques, all for my taking!"
"W-We'll never t-tell you, monster!"
"You don't have to. Thank you for teaching me, truly. Memories—well there just not the same as a good teacher." Pybara went still, horrible realisation coming through before grim determination engulfed his mind. "Killing yourself won't help. Not that I'd allow it—mind you. It was over the moment my hands wrapped around you. For what it's worth, you have quite a strong mind, elder."
The screaming began quickly after, stealing a lifetime of memories wasn't easy after all. "Don't worry the pain will pass soon, and the ever freeing release of brain death is will be upon you." Cooler said, "You know elder, I've always wondered does someone who's brain dead stay that way, even in the afterlife. Truly I must thank you—you generous soul you. Giving me both the means and the chance to finally find out. Thank you."
Cooler released the barrier around the planet before tracking the elder's Ki.
Well, what do you know, you do stay brain dead in the afterlife.
It was good to know. Truth death was so rare in the dragon ball universe after all.
"Lord Cooler," A transmission from his pod's built-in communicator said. "Lord Cooler, do you hear me."
"I do. What is it, Little Minion?
"Sire, please you must come quickly. The Aso have hit several of our worlds. The fools have only grown more arrogant with your absence, sire."
Well duty never ends for an evil overlord. Good. Everyone needs hobbies.