Chapter 2: First one's a doozy

When we last saw Goku Black/Zamasu, he had ended up in a world entirely unfamiliar to him. Plagued by disturbing visions and a terrible illness, he encounters a man known only as Zasalamel who claims to have played something of a part in bringing the god here. How his powers have been diminished and how he ended up here is still unknown however. But Black intends to get to the bottom of this. No matter how many people he must go through!

"…Son Goku, eh?"

"Is there a problem?" Black asked, raising an eyebrow as Zasalamel looked the Saiyan imposter up and down. "No, I suppose not but allow me to just say that I have the slightest hunch that you're NOT who you say you are. Your soul feels different than the body it inhabits…" The man murmured before starting forward, ushering Black to follow. As the two men marched through the waterlogged forest floor with the water reaching up to the top of Black's boots. Looking down in sheer disgust at the filth ridden water staining his attire, he silently bemoaned that he could no longer fly either. Hence his impromptu crash in whatever an 'India' was.

"Are we close to reaching our destination yet?" Black asked, the impatience as clear as day on every word that escaped past his lips. Zasalamel nodded and pointed to a clearing in the distance. Shoving past Zasalamel to get a better look, Black felt an inkling of home take ahold upon seeing what laid before the two men. Corpses laid piled atop each other, their weapons scattered, some having succumbed to rust while others had simply been broken. In the center of the death was a billowing multi-colored tear in what seemed to be reality itself. Similar in fact to the rift that had brought Black to the past where he had sparred briefly with Goku.

"That rift…" Black started before Zasalamel smirked and placed a hand atop Black's shoulder to cut him off. "It's all starting to become somewhat clear to you isn't it? That is an astral fissure. It exists as a rip in time and space caused by the Evil Seed."

Shaking the hand off and stepping closer, Black felt his headache growing stronger. It was almost as if he was connected to this 'astral fissure' in some way. Was it because he had traveled through time as well like Trunks? That sinner's actions were causing trouble for him even now! "What…Is the Evil Seed?"

"Put simply, it's the manifestation of evil collected within the wicked sword known as Soul Edge spread outwards across the world. Those unfortunate enough to be too weak willed to resist its temptations will often become malfested-corrupted warriors who can neither tell friend from foe and simply wish to kill. It seems that coming here like you have has left you afflicted." Black wasn't going to pretend he cared about what happened to this world. If it was going to turn to chaos then that was just dandy. Mortals ruined everything after all, why would this world be any different.

But that mention of an evil sword, that had to be the one he'd seen in his visions.

"Afflicted? Afflicted how, will I turn into one of these 'Malfested' as you put it? How do I stop it?" Black wanted answers and he wanted them now. The time for niceties was quickly ending. Flaring his energy, ripples were sent along the water and Zasalamel's cloak was billowing from the wind Black was kicking up with his intimidation technique. "You face a greater risk I'm afraid. Most Malfested lose themselves within the corruption. Who they were, whom and what they loved, until they eventually become mindless monsters that exist only to slaughter and garner more souls to feed Soul Edge. But given the symptoms that you're giving off, your case is more severe. You face not death of the body but death of the soul."

Black could feel his heart drop into his chest at that little revelation. He had claimed this body as his own and even murdered Goku who had been forcibly swapped into his old, original Kaioshin body so he'd be the only genuine 'Goku' around. Yet the mind that resided inside was that of the tenth universe's Zamasu. If this 'Evil Seed' somehow managed to harm the soul within…

"What then? What can I do to stop it!?" Black yelled, losing his cool as Zasalamel calmly gestured to the Astral Fissure behind Black. "Absorb the fissure and it'll close, and you'll take the energy stored within it. It will subside and the pain ailing you will cease, for the moment."

His rage gave way to confusion as he turned to face the fissure. It seemed almost exactly like the rift Trunks's time machine had caused. Reaching towards it, Black felt an energy lurking within it.

"GRRRAAAAH!"

Jumping back, Black nearly avoided what would have been his decapitation as a katana lashed out through the fissure. The owner of said blade stepped through the fissure, his eyes blood red and his muscles engorged like that of a herculean beast. Softly rubbing at his neck, Black looked over his shoulder at Zasalamel.

"Every astral fissure will be guarded by a Malfested. You didn't think that your task would be so easy as to simply walk up to one, did you? Even the strongest of fighters can be twisted to serve Soul Edge's whims. You'll just have to defeat them to get what you want."

Oh? Well, then in that case Black knew exactly what to do. The water around his person began to ripple once again. "Heh, if that's so then hear me well, you deranged mortal. I know not of this Soul Edge and I care not for it or this world in general. It could fall to Hell itself for all I care. But the second you swung that blade with the intent to kill? You sealed your fate.."

The malfested warrior simply gritted his teeth and roared at Black, unimpressed or more likely simply not comprehending what the god had to tell him. His only instincts were to fight and kill, rinse and repeat! Something Black could get behind but he'd be nobody's muscle, certainly not that of a mere sword created and corrupted by mortals! Reaching past the pain, Black felt an inkling of his old power lurking within him. "Hm, before I couldn't even fire an energy blast large enough to demolish that forest. But now I feel somewhat like my old self. Still not strong enough to tear this world asunder but enough to defend myself."

"You face a god, cretin! Prepare yourself!" Holding his left hand outwards, Black formed a razor sharp 'energy blade' around the extremity and motioned for the Malfested to come at him however it desired. Zasalamel stayed where he was. This was Goku's fight as far as he was concerned. Though Black's proclamation of being a god did raise an eyebrow…

"GRRRRRRR!"

Charging through the water, wild swings were taken with the katana all of them hitting nothing but air. Black couldn't have been more amused. He was reminded of how futilely Trunks attempted to slash at him with that little sword of his. Such a pathetic effort and of course it never worked! Clashing his energy blade against the Malfested's katana, Black looked the possessed warrior face to face.

"It's almost sad, you know. You're so out of your league and you don't even know it. That's what happens when you-gack!" Black was abruptly cut off as the Malfested grew tired of the weapon clash and decided to break it up the only way he saw how. By slamming his fist right into Black's stomach. The blow was enough to rip Black straight out of the water and slam him against a nearby tree trunk.

Sliding down it, Black clutched at his stomach. So not only had his powers been tampered with but his durability as well. No mere mortal could have gotten such a powerful blow on him like that. Black had seen enough, there was to be no more playing around. As the Malfested approached with his sword raised, once he drew close enough to Black, the muscles in his arms tensed up as he swung the blade down and-

*SHUNK*

The katana was left hanging above Black's head by little more than a few inches. The reason it had stopped it's descent? All one need do is take a look at the energy blade(and by extension Black's hand) coming out through his opponent's back. A trail of blood ran down his mouth and Black smiled but there was no compassion in this normally warm gesture. It was nothing but snide derision for a race he considered to be absolutely beneath him.

"I'd say you fought well but it wouldn't do well to lie to a dead man would it?" As Black went to pull his hand free however, the Malfested's eyes lit up once more and the grip on his sword tightened. Black could slice him in half from the stomach upwards but that'd take too much time and the sword was already so close! "Damn it!" He exclaimed, kicking himself for not making sure this beast was dead!

The blade would never reach Black's head however. It fell from the Malfested's hands and fell into the water with an audible splash. Looking up, Black would see the tip of Zasalamel's scythe digging into the skull of the warrior. It's eyes having gone dim, Zasalamel ripped his weapon free and let the body fall onto it's back in the water. "You like to listen to yourself far too much." Zasalamel quipped but Black had no thanks for a mere mortal. He could have handled that himself if he hadn't interfered. Dissipating the energy blade, Black exhaled. It seemed energy blasts wouldn't do him much good here, but he had a feeling his energy blade would come in handy…

"Let's just get this over with…" Black growled as he reached into the astral fissure once more (after giving the Malfested's corpse a kick in the head as he passed by it) and closed his eyes and focused. He could feel it growing smaller and smaller and his headache subsiding in turn. But at the same, those visions came storming back. But this time Black knew what to pin his anger and situation upon. That sword, that damned blade had somehow caused all of this!

He failed to understand how a mere tool could affect him, a godly being, to such a degree but he endeavored to find out. By the end of this nightmare, he'd have this world crushed under his heel. The Zero Mortal Plan could wait just a while longer. Once he felt the astral fissure dissipate, he pulled his hand back and sighed.

"How do I stop this for good? I will not be made a puppet to a sword's whims, but I do not wish to linger in this world any longer than I have to."

"Simple, close as many as astral fissures as you can to stave off the sword's will and to stop it? You must cut it off at the source. Find Soul Edge and destroy it." Zasalamel stated as though it were as easy as one two three. "Oh? Is that all?" Black scoffed and started off. "If you've said everything you've needed to say then we're done here. I will find whoever wields this Soul Edge and make them regret toying with a being such as myself."

Zasalamel knew it'd be futile to try and stop Black but he couldn't let him go without this. "Hold on a sec, Goku. Take this." Reaching inside his cloak, Zaslamel pulled out an item and tossed it towards Black who caught it without leaving looking back. If it was some kind of weapon or explosive, then he'd make sure that Zaslamel paid in full. Black had grown tired of his attitude anyhow.

But it didn't seem to be a weapon of any kind. Rather it looked to be scale. "Why have you given me this?" This time being the one to turn his back to Black, Zasalamel started to head off back the way he came. "It is known as a spirit scale. It will change depending upon your actions. Actions leaning towards order will help protect your soul from corruption and Soul Edge's influence. Actions leaning towards chaos will weaken your soul and allow corruption to seep in easier. It's entirely your choice which one ends up claiming dominance."

With that explanation given, Zaslamael vanished into the night. Leaving Black alone with his thoughts and his new scale. "Tch, that fool believes a mere scale can judge a god? I know what I do is right, I've walked the righteous path since I started on my crusade against mortals. The fact that it is a man-made tool that has afflicted me so only proves my point further. Mortals should be expunged and perhaps once I gain my power back, this world will be the first to experience that…."

Unaware to Black, the side representing chaos dipped slightly…

Wading through the foliage and water, Black was relieved to finally find some dry land. With his power as it was, he knew it'd be somewhat dangerous to lay like this out in the open. Animals could take his sleeping as a signal to attack and robbers and bandits could do the same. But he refused to march any further in this his boots off and laying them beside the tree he decided he'd rest his back upon, Black sat his scale beside him and folded his arms across his chest. No matter what obstacles got in his way, he would overcome them. No malfested or even Soul Edge itself could stop him, he was Goku Black, the dark savior! A smug smile of superiority appeared on Black's face as he slowly fell into a deep slumber…

Nearby however, a certain motley crew of pirates were making a stop for repairs.

"Oi, Captain Maxi! Do you really wanna stop? I figure the old girl can keep on going for a couple more days, maybe even a week in the shape she's in!"

"Nah, better to just stop and see what we can do. If it gets worse while we're out at sea, we're goners. Better to work on it and grab some supplies while we're at it." Maxi remarked as he clambered off the side of his ship once it reached shore and landed upon the dock with a grin.

So, this was India huh? He'd heard stories from plenty of travelers and explorer but hearing about a place always paled to going there and seeing it for yourself-Wait, was…was someone sleeping here? Had he and his crew accidently stumbled upon another encampment? Making his way over to the prone Black to see if the noise his crew had been making was stirring him awake, Maxi sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

"Whoa, uh, sorry about all that noise! Didn't really know anybody else was gonna be nearby y'know? Our ship's been needing a bit of repairs and-" Maxi quickly stepped back as Black hopped to his feet and lashed out with his energy blade at the ready. "The hell man, what's your issue!?"

Black had indeed heard Maxi's crew but figured slaughtering them wasn't worth it now. As he tried to sleep however, a nightmare had happened, with Soul Edge seemingly looming over him, it's eye burrowing it's gaze into his very soul. That was enough to startle him awake-well somewhat at least-and lash out at the closest person. Which just so happened to be Maxi…

Will Maxi make it out of this and explain himself? Will Black be able to keep himself free of Soul Edge's control and eventually regain his full power? Stay tuned!

Okay, so that was chapter 2! I originally thought two chapters on my days off would work but decided that I run a bigger risk of burning myself out if I try to force myself through multiple chapters in a day if I ain't feeling it. My shifts are pretty short and my days off are pretty frequent, so I think if I stay consistent and do post at least one chapter ever day off? It'll be smooth sailing from here on out.

Also, for anybody who might be confused as to how Black's powers have been tampered with, in universe it's basically a complication/side effect of the illness that's plaguing Black's body(and soul!) It's dulled his power to peak human rather than super human/planet buster levels. He can still summon his energy blade and will be using it quite frequently in fights given Soul Calibur's love of weapon using fighters. But he isn't going to be blowing up moons or even cities yet.

The fourth chapter will take the spotlight away from Black and put it on Trunks so stay tuned for that as well! He's going to be training as hard as he can to defeat Black once and for all!