Chapter 8 Dragon Universe
Vegeta was still underneath his attacker's palm, actually struggling to breathe as the man grinned.
"You should have known that what you've gotten yourself into when you enter the ring." The man said, pressing down harder, pushing Vegeta even further through the ground. "I had been hoping you would put up more of a fight, but it seems that I will have to end this soon. I will gladly let you walk away with no further injuries if you simply concede." He then started to lessen the pressure, as he started to release Vegeta's face. But then, he felt his wrist get grabbed, hard.
"You have a lot of nerve, telling me to concede." Vegeta stated, as he then started to crush the man's wrist, before twisting it around as if it was no stronger than a contorted spring.
"My goodness." The announcer shouted out, taking advantage of the fact that Vegeta seemed to be more focused on other matters. "Am I seeing this right, Yajima?" The announcer asked, not even attempting to hide his disbelief.
"I'm at a loss for words, this new challenger is actually holding his own against the Wizard Saint, Jura!" Yajima exclaimed. Ignoring all the commentary, Vegeta then grabbed Jura's head before rolling sideways, in the air, before sending his face crashing to the hard ground. But Vegeta wasn't done yet, as he then grabbed Jura by the back of his head, flew up as high as he could go, before ramming it down on the ground once more, fully knocking out the Wizard Saint!
"You can never tell a Saiyan to concede, you better remember that." Vegeta said, brushing off dust from his glove.
"Hey, Vegeta!" Goku called out. Vegeta turned to look at his rival, before immediately looking away. "Wait, I thought you wanted to call quits, how come you're still here, huh?" Goku asked, teasingly.
"If it weren't for that big fool, I would be far from this place as I could be." Vegeta retorted. Goku chuckled like a hillbilly, as Vegeta then started to fly away.
"Okay, try not to get bored, Vegeta!" Goku then shouted, smiling. But then, he stopped smiling. Vegeta was not moving, there was no need for a sixth sense to tell that something was wrong. Goku then immediately flew to where Vegeta was floating, frozen as if under a trance. "What is it Vegeta?" Goku asked, troubled.
"I can't feel Beerus, or Whis nearby." Vegeta answered. "They were supposed to stay at the same place, the head of the statue, but they're not there."
"And I can't sense where they went, where the heck did they go?" Goku asked, rhetorically.
"Hey!" Before the two of them could ponder any longer, a youthful voice called out to them from below. Almost simultaneously, Vegeta and Goku turned their heads to see the same pink-haired guy from before in the mansion. "Hey, I'm talkin' to you guys!" He shouted out again.
"Hey, it's you!" Goku exclaimed, much to the confusion of Pinky, here. "You were that guy that handled all those guys by yourself at the mansion." Goku continued. "But, uh... who are those guys behind you?" he then asks. "And also, I don't think I ever got your name before. My name's Goku."
"Well, my name's Natsu, and we are all part of the Fairy Tail guild!" Natsu answered with pride. The two Saiyans then dropped down like concrete in water, sending massive amounts dust everywhere. When the dust settled, Goku and Vegeta stood tall and firm. Everyone of Fairy Tail immediately took a battle stance, readying themselves. "You two may be tough, but it's nothing compare to the full power of Fairy Tail!" Natsu shouted.
"Well then don't hold back on us, I've been having a very miserable day, thanks to this buffoon here." Vegeta said, cracking his knuckles, creating a rather foreboding sound.
"We won't be holding back so you better do as he says." Goku stated casually.
"Natsu, you better back off before you get yourself too badly injured." A gruff, yet youthful voice called out.
"We'll take these two ourselves." Another voice called out, this time sounding much more calm and smooth. Everyone turned to see two tall, well built young men. One with pale, blond, spiky hair. And the other with black hair that covered half his face.
"Perhaps we should introduce ourselves. The name's Sting, a member of Sabertooth." The blond one said.
"My name's Rogue." Said the other.
"Wait, did you say Sabertooth?" Goku asks. "Cause I fought two of your guys and frankly, those guys were kind of pushovers."
"Maybe so, but they were not Dragon Slayers," Sting said, "However, we are."
"And is that supposed to make us fear you?" Vegeta barked. "Listen kid, we've faced things that would turn you into paste with a mere gesture." Vegeta stated, growling at this point. This did nothing to faze the two Dragon Slayers. In fact, they actually seemed to get more enticed by the threat.
"Well, if that's true, then we don't have to hold back now do we?" Sting said.
"Threats are nothing if you don't have the means to back them up." Rogue said, not showing any noticeable emotion on his face. "If you've truly faced such foes then, come at us with all you've got!" The two then started running towards their target, but not before they were greeted face to face with a hard swing at their jaws. This didn't send them flying, but it very much dazed the them. Both were grabbing their jaws, grimacing in pain. But then, Sting grinned.
"Hey, what was that thing about turning me into paste with a gesture again?" Sting asked. Goku then threw multiple jabs at Sting. All of which, Sting was able to block. Rogue was dodging Vegeta's punches and kicks, Vegeta was starting to get very frustrated. But then, Rogue appears from behind, hand drawn back, emitting a strange, dark energy.
"SHADOW DRAGON SLASH!" Rogue shouted. Vegeta turned to face his attacker before dodging quickly out of the way, but not before having to narrowly avoid a swipe from a very different attack. "Damn it, Gajeel, stay out of this fight!" Rogue exclaimed. Gajeel simply grinned.
"Why should I? I've been waiting to take a crack at this guy for a while now." Gajeel stated, before taking another swipe at Vegeta. Back with Goku and Sting, Goku was avoiding a white laser-like beam, shot from Sting's mouth. The Beam then curved and twisted as it looped around back to Goku. But this time, Goku didn't dodge. He put out his hand, aiming his palm at the beam, catching it before it exploded in front of him. But Sting knew better than to let his guard down at the first big bang, as Goku was still very much standing and very much unscathed as the smoke cleared.
"You should get a faster move, that laser was almost too easy to dodge." Goku said, before seeing another person flying towards him with a flaming fist ready to land on his face. It connected, pressing against Goku's face, as the flames grew. Goku was then pushed back, as Natsu screamed, "FIRE DRAGON WING ATTACK!" His hands emitted a trail of flames roughly shaped like dragon wings. Goku quickly recovered, landing on his feet. But then, Sting jumps right in front of him, before blasting a giant blast of energy, pushing Goku back!
"Thanks for the help, Natsu." Sting said.
"Don't mention it." Natsu shouted. When the smoke cleared, Goku was crossing his arms, shielding his face. His forearms were actually still smoking from the attack, and Goku took notice of this. Shaking his arms to rid himself of the smoke from the small burn, yelping slightly while doing so.
"Oh man, that was a good tactic." Goku then said. "Say, come to think of it, I think I remember you now, Sting." Sting grew confused at first, but then he grinned, adding a few chuckles in there as well.
"So you must have seen me when Natsu was tearing up my guild, were ya?" Sting asked. Goku chuckled.
"Yeah, you're the guy that was going to fight Natsu before your boss, I'm guessing, stopped you." Goku stated. "And if I'm completely honest, you were the one I was actually more excited to face.
"Well, I'm glad you noticed but that's not gonna stop me from using my White Dragon Slayer magic!" Sting yelled out, before charging at Goku with Natsu tailing right behind him. Rogue and Gajeel were both slashing at Vegeta, Rogue with a shadowy hand, and Gajeel with a saw-like blade on his arm. Or more accurately, a saw-like blade that was his arm.
"What's the matter, huh?" Gajeel asked, "The two of us too much for ya?" When Gajeel said those words, Vegeta leaped high in the air, before crashing down, landing a blow on Gajeel's cheek. Then, Rogue appeared, directly behind Vegeta, but not before Vegeta swung behind him. But instead of flying back, or even wincing for that matter, Vegeta's arm fazed through Rogue's body, as if it were nothing more than smoke.
"What the hell?" Vegeta shouted, as he continued attempting to hit Rogue, with no avail.
"It is futile for one to catch a shadow," Rogue stated, "But a shadow has no trouble catching it's prey." Vegeta, growing ever more frustrated, started blasting Ki blasts, all of which fazed through Rogue. Before Vegeta could charge at Rogue, he felt a sharp pain at the back of his head, as he nearly lost his footing. When he turned around, he saw that a red-haired woman, wearing a Japanese style clothing and wielding a single sword.
"I am your opponent now," She declared, before dashing at Vegeta, with her sword ready to swing. Goku was dodging and blocking all the punches Natsu and Sting were throwing at him. But then, he heard the sounds of crackling lightning, and it was heading straight towards him! Goku immediately jumped up, narrowly avoiding a blast of pure lightning, destroying the ground below him. Goku then eyed his attacker, seeing a large, built man with bright blond hair, and distinct scar shaped like a bolt of lightning on his right eye.
"Natsu, now!" The man shouted, and almost immediately, Natsu used both his fists to send Goku tumbling and spinning down to the ground, "Thanks, Laxus!" Natsu shouted. But it wasn't over yet for Goku, as he was immediately hit in the chest by Sting as he stood up. But this move was different. Goku immediately felt his body go numb. He was petrified!
"Whoa, what is this, why can't I move?" Goku then asked, sounding more curious than terrified. When he looked down, he saw that there was this strange, white circle on his chest, the same area when Sting had hit him.
"It's called the White Dragon Talon," Sting said, "It's infused with Holy magic, you see that stigma on your chest? That's what's keeping you petrified!"
"Whoa, really!?" Goku exclaimed, "Oh man, you really are impressive, Sting. You'd be a awesome sparring partner!" Goku said, having some trouble speaking, even though the petrifaction didn't reach his mouth.
"Now here's where the fun begins." Sting said, grinning. "Everyone, NOW!" He shouted. And as he did, Natsu, Laxus, and Sting all charged at Goku, with their attacks ready and aimed at Goku's face! Back with Vegeta, he was still trying to physically hit Rogue, again with no avail. He also had to avoid the red-head's attacks, as well as Gajeel's saw-like Iron Dragon Sword. And his frustration was growing, in fact it was skyrocketing! And eventually, he reached the limit of his patience.
"A Shadow Dragon will always catch its prey." Rogue stated, before zipping behing Vegeta again. He then extended his arm, ready to attack Vegeta, but Vegeta wasn't slow, and this time, Rogue's hand was caught by Vegeta! Rogue was stunned, What, how? Rogue thought. He couldn't even touch me before! But Rogue's thoughts were interrupted by a chuckle from Vegeta.
"Oh, I see. This form is ethereal on its own, but turns physical the moment you strike." Vegeta stated. Vegeta then looked up from the ground, and glared hard into Rogue's eyes. "Now, allow me give you a little lesson!" Vegeta yelled as he then threw Rogue straight towards Gajeel. Luckily for Rogue and Gajeel, he managed to stop his momentum before landing on his feet. "Never sacrifice a killing stroke for a little speech!" Vegeta stated. Gajeel and the red-head arrived to when Rogue was.
"We should take him all at once." The woman said. "That way, if he counters one of us, the others will get a chance to strike."
"Hell no, Erza, I'm taking him now!" Gajeel exclaimed, before immediately charging straight at Vegeta.
"Gajeel, wait!" Rogue shouted. But Rogue's warning fell to deaf ears, as Gajeel then yelled, "IRON DRAGON ROAR!" before firing a massive tornado from his mouth, releasing tiny shards of sharp metal, all of which, are capable of shredding a massive stone building to nothing! But Vegeta didn't budge. Instead, Vegeta raised his palm, creating a small ball of Ki energy in front of it. The tornado of metal was coming in hot, but Vegeta only smirked.
"BIG BANG..." Vegeta yelled, as the ball of energy grew bigger. "ATTACK!" He then let out as he unleashed a large ball of energy, slicing through the metal tornado, and heading straight towards Gajeel! Gajeel could do nothing, as the attack was too fast for him to dodge, and it was too powerful for him to push back. All he could do was take the hit, sending him back towards a wall, rendering him out of the match! Rogue and Erza could do nothing but stand in shock. Goku on the other hand, was still having trouble with his paralysis, as Natsu, Sting, and Laxus were still charging straight towards him. But then Goku smirked. And all three of them noticed. But before they could do anything about it, Goku let out a massive roar, surprising the three of them. Goku continued to scream as he was then surrounded by a white aura. Dust and sand went flying around, before larger rocks started to float around him.
"What the hell is he doing?" Sting exclaimed.
"He must be charging up something fierce with that kind of scream!" Laxus said. Before any more speculation could be done, Natsu dashed forward, with a flaming fist at the ready.
"I'm not standing around while he's here charging up, come on, guys, let's take him!" He shouts. But before he can even reach his target, Goku again lets out a massive roar, this time cracking the ground below him, sending massive chunks in the air, pushing Natsu a far distance.
"NATSU!" Laxus exclaimed, before glancing back at Goku. "What the hell kind of power is that?" Laxus demanded, but then noticed something about Goku, Sting noticed it as well. Goku was no longer paralyzed, his posture was calm and his face had plaster a smirk of victory. And there was no stigma on his chest.
"Wait, what happened to the stigma?!" Sting demanded. Goku simply chuckled.
"I simply powered up to the point where your stigma couldn't handle it anymore, all through I have to admit, that was a sound strategy." Goku stated, his voice had lost its innocent goofiness, replaced by a voice of high confidence. "Keep me paralyzed while you three pummel me senseless. It honestly would have worked if I did nothing."
"But that's impossible, no one is strong enough to break through the stigma's magic!" Sting growled.
"How 'bout I tell you something, Sting." Goku said. Before he vanished, appearing behind Sting.
"What the-" Sting exclaimed, before Goku swung his right arm, striking Sting at his jaw, sending him flying. But Goku wasn't done yet.
"Never be satisfied with your current strength," Goku stated, pummeling Sting while keeping him in the air. "Always know that there is someone stronger than you, and always know that your limits will always be breakable!" Goku roared as he then slammed Sting into the ground, cracking the ground below him. "And that is a hard-learned truth of any world, never forget it, Sting."
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