The Chosen One
Chapter Forty-Five
"Heeeeeeeyyy sports fans!" the sports newscaster shouted. "It's time for the highlights of the week! First, there's a new world record! Say hello to the man who can hold more weight on his shoulders than any other person alive! It's MR. SATAN!"
Ox-King sighed. "Why is he even in the sports highlights, anyway? Besides, that's a joke compared to what Gohan can do!"
Chi-chi walked by, and upon seeing who was on television, groaned. Ever since Hercule Satan had taken credit for defeating Cell, she had held him in contempt. The only way she would be willing to forgive him is if he confessed and told the world who really killed Cell.
Suddenly, during the middle of one of Mr. Satan's trademark yells, the screen went on the fritz. "What in the world?" Chi-chi wondered aloud. "This TV is barely three months old, and it hasn't done this before! What's wrong?"
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Master Roshi stood on the stoop of his house, staring out toward the ocean. Even though his eyes were hidden by a pair of large, red-rimmed sunglasses, it was easy to tell that he had a stern expression on his face.
Tortoise emerged from the water and shuffled up to his old friend. "Master Roshi, what's the matter?"
"Far away, I can sense two powers," Master Roshi replied. "These powers are like nothing the universe has ever felt before, though. Nobody in the long, long history of the universe could have ever had this much strength."
"Is it Gohan?" Tortoise asked.
"One of them is, yes," the old hermit responded. "This time, though, it's no scuffle. Feels like Gohan is confronting destiny. However, there's something else I'm worried about."
"What's that, Master?" the sea turtle asked.
"I can no longer sense either Krillin or Yamcha," Roshi answered. "I fear they've been killed. I think Gohan may be all alone in hostile territory, now."
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Dr. Briefs emerged from his workshop and looked out into the distance. "Something doesn't seem right, Kitty," he said to the small black creature on his shoulder. "I could tell there was an electrical disturbance from my workshop. I don't know what it could be."
-45-
Mr. Popo rushed out of the building atop the lookout. "Dende!" He found the young Namekian standing on the edge of the lookout.
"So you feel it, too, Mr. Popo?" Dende asked. "Well, at any rate, all we can do is put our trust in Gohan."
"I hate to say it, but I agree," came a voice from the side.
Dende looked over. "Korin? You came up?"
"Well, I wanted some more space," Korin responded. "Plus, the energy that Gohan and his opponent are putting out is giving me goose bumps. Besides, I didn't want to share the stress with Mr. Fat-and-Loud."
"Hey, I heard that!" came a voice from the side. Yajirobe then emerged and climbed onto the floor.
"You're not worried in the least, are you?" Korin said to him.
"Of course not!" Yajirobe replied. "Out of sight, out of mind!" Korin sighed.
-45-
King Kai frowned. "Well, it seems that both Gohan and Rekhas are finally getting serious," he commented.
Goku sat down on the ground next to his former instructor. "Yeah. I can feel it, too. The energy put out by their swords . . . it's just eerie."
-45-
Gohan thrust his sword straight at Rekhas, but the Roxian deflected the jab with his own sword. Gohan then whipped Testament around and swung it right at his opponent's head, but Rekhas again brought Ifrit up to block it. Repeatedly, Gohan attacked by swinging horizontally, swinging vertically, stabbing, anything he could think of with the blade, but Rekhas was able to either block or dodge every strike.
Gohan jumped back. He's more skilled than I thought.
"Is that all you can do, boy?" Rekhas said. "And here I was, expecting a challenge . . ."
"Oh, you'll get your challenge," Gohan replied. "Believe me."
"We'll see about that!" Rekhas shouted as he leaped at Gohan. Rekhas attacked with a wide horizontal swing aimed at Gohan's neck, but Gohan ducked. Rekhas then tried a vertical slash, but Gohan raised Testament up to deflect the blow. Rekhas began attacking left and right with Ifrit, but Gohan showed not even the slightest trouble in blocking or dodging his opponent's attacks.
Now it was Rekhas's turn to jump back. "Well, it seems I've underestimated you," he stated.
"Like I said," Gohan replied, "I'll give you a challenge if you want it." However, he did not move from his current spot.
"What are you waiting for?" Rekhas asked.
"Just thinking, that's all," Gohan responded.
Rekhas scowled. "Well, think about THIS!" He charged forward and brought Ifrit down at Gohan.
Gohan grinned. He raised Testament up in the air to block the strike, ducked in, and landed a solid punch to Rekhas's gut. Rekhas curled up, clutching his stomach, while Gohan brought Testament down. However, Rekhas moved to the right, and Gohan only succeeded in slicing off the corner of Rekhas's shoulder plate.
Rekhas relaxed his muscles. "Clever. Very clever. But too bad, since you won't be able to do it again!" Rekhas then launched himself at Gohan. The young half-Saiyan, however, opted not to use his blade to block. Instead, he lifted his fist up to shoulder level and closed his eyes.
Rekhas laughed. "Giving up so soon? Come on!"
"If you're counting on me giving up," Gohan muttered, "you're sadly mistaken." Suddenly, his eyes snapped open and he thrust his fist forward. "Light Ray!"
A sphere of light emerged from Gohan's hand and floated in front of him. The sphere sat there for a moment, doing nothing. Then, the sphere of light started blasting out rays of light in a cone-like pattern. Rekhas came to a halt just as the rays hit. Each ray of light left a stinging welt where it made contact with the Roxian's body. Finally, the rays stopped and the sphere dissolved.
Rekhas floated in the air, in obvious pain. "Unbelievable . . . the boy is also a light mage? I never would have thought to encounter one in real life . . ."
Gohan frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Light mages are extremely rare," Rekhas said. "Just as rare are the dark mages. Most mages follow the traditional elements." The welts all over the Roxian's body faded away. "And you gave me enough time to heal myself!"
Gohan clenched his teeth. How could I have fallen for that? Piccolo's done it enough that I'd know that trick! However, at the same time, Gohan had been allowed some time to think. Well, there's one thing I can do that he can't! He held his sword out in front of him, with the point of the blade facing Rekhas. As he did so, he could feel the energy accumulating in the blade. The grooves along the blade began to glow, and Gohan yelled, "Tear Blast!"
A beam of pure energy burst forth from the blade of Testament and flew at Rekhas. However . . .
"Tear Blast!"
Another beam emerged, this one from Ifrit. The two beams collided in midair and exploded, canceling each other out.
Gohan's eyes were wide with shock. "What? How . . . how could you do that?"
Rekhas laughed. "Seems that someone doesn't know everything about his opponent. I, on the other hand, knew from the beginning about Testament's Tear Blast ability. However, Ifrit also has the Tear Blast! Also, Ifrit's Tear Blast is more powerful than Testament's Tear Blast! You were lucky that you caught me off guard, otherwise you'd be in a world of hurt!"
This is ridiculous! He can match me not only move for move in swordplay, but he can surpass me with his sword's ability! Gohan was running out of options, and quickly. He had used up all of his surprise maneuvers, and without them, Rekhas had the upper hand. Then, Gohan heard a voice.
Not yet. You are not out of options just yet.
Gohan looked around the room to find who spoke. It took him a moment to realize what was happening. It's the spirit of my ancestor within the sword! Gohan heard no other voice after that, but he saw a flashback.
-45-
Gohan pointed Testament at Cell. "Tear Blast!" A beam of energy came from the blade and shot at Cell, but Cell jumped up to avoid it. Gohan tried another Tear Blast, but Cell evaded that one also. Cell managed to evade every Tear Blast that Gohan used.
"This isn't working!" Gohan said to himself. "If only I could fire at a faster rate . . ." Then, Gohan saw an image in his head that showed him what to do. He focused his energy into the sword, pointed it at Cell, and shouted, "Ray Disaster!" This time, the blast emerged more quickly and hit Cell dead on. Then, a second blast was fired, even before the first blast had dissipated. The attack engulfed Cell, and destroyed every last cell of his being.
-45-
Realization dawned upon Gohan. I completely forgot! Once again, he held Testament out in front of him. Like before, the grooves in the blade began to glow.
Rekhas laughed. "You're a fool! You're trying that again?" Rekhas held Ifrit in a similar manner, and the grooves began to glow in his blade as well.
"Oh, this is different," Gohan replied. "RAY DISASTER!"
A beam fired from Gohan's sword. Rekhas laughed. "The only difference here is the name! TEAR BLAST!"
Again, the two attacks collided. Then, more energy burst forth from Testament, which gave the attack enough energy to send both attacks flying at Rekhas.
"WHAT?" Rekhas yelled. "HOW?"
Gohan maintained his stance. Soon enough, the blast hit Rekhas, and the Roxian emperor began to scream in agony. Gohan noticed something drop, but paid it no mind.
"YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF ME!" Rekhas screamed. Then, there was silence, and Gohan could no longer sense his opponent's presence. However, the blast did not stop. It flew downward at an angle, and made impact with the surface of the planet. The surface began to quake violently, and Gohan's eyes widened.
"Oh, no! That blast is going to destroy the entire planet!" Gohan blasted a hole in the castle wall and flew out. He flew as fast as he could toward the location of the ship as the Roxian imperial castle collapsed behind him. He came upon the ship and flew in. He made his way to the bridge and got behind the pilot's controls. He punched in the launching sequence, and the ship took off.
Once outside the atmosphere, Gohan looked out the window at the planet Roxia. Rays of light began shooting out of the planet's surface, and massive cracks formed in the crust. The planet seemed to inflate, then exploded in a burst of light. The ship reached super-luminous velocity quickly, and Gohan leaned back in the chair, drifting off to sleep.
-45-
NOTE: I apologize for the slowness in updating. I have been very busy as of late and have had very little free time.
One more thing: This is not the last chapter. Stick around, since there's more to come.