Hey again! It's Ditto! I know I said I'd limit myself to one chapters per day off but I talked to a very close person who encouraged me to push on and plus I also think I'd take forever if I did only chapter per each day off, more so if you count in vacation days and holidays where I'm not gonna want to work.

The last chapter concluded with Black learning of his potential fate: becoming a mindless raging beast that lives only to serve Soul Edge and to kill and murder. The latter of which he's all too familiar with but he's not so fond of doing it for anyone other than himself! Zasalamel explained that he can stave off the infection by closing Astral Fissures-rips in space and time caused by the Evil Seed-and after nearly dying while claiming the first, Zaslamel departed but not before leaving Black with an important gift.

The spirit scales will dictate according to Zasalamel whether or not Black's soul will remain strong enough to fight off Soul Edge's influence as he sets out on his quest to close the Astral Fissures and destroy Soul Edge and hopefully return home.

Black wasn't impressed. Still believing that once he had his power back, he'd destroy Soul Edge and this world's mortals along with it as a crime for believing that they could do what they've done to a god like himself. Thus the scales started to dip ever so slightly towards chaos. Will Black continue to fall? Or will Maxi the pirate set him straight? Find out on this chapter of The Blackest Heart!

Chapter 3: Shiver me timbers, shiver my soul

Trees were carved into like a Thanksgiving turkey as Maxi continued to back up and sidestep the incoming swipes from his half-awake/half-asleep opponent. The nightmare Black had shaken him from his slumber but not completely as was shown. As far as he was concerned, Maxi was another Malfested that had come on behalf of Soul Edge to try and take him in his sleep.

"Coward! For a wicked sword, you truly believe that you could stop me by going after me in my sleep? A dirty tactic but one that'll fail all the same! Awake or asleep, I will always be your better!" Black screeched as Maxi backflipped away from a swipe that would have almost certainly disemboweled him had he not moved and drew his nunchucks.

"Okay freak-o I was really hoping I wasn't going to have to do this. But you've just about forced my hand and plus you're really doing a number on the local flora and that's just not okay." Charging in, he knocked aside Black's blade with the left chuck before cracking him upside the head with the other.

Black stumbled but Maxi wasn't done yet. Whipping the back end of the nunchuck down, he caught Black on the back of the head. Much to Maxi's surprise and consternation however, Black didn't fall. By this point Black was very much awake and his headache had returned, though not because of his infection but rather getting clubbed multiple times by a nunchuck master. "Enough!" Black shouted before throwing an energy blast down near Maxi's feet to force the pirate to give him some breathing room.

"Yikes! The hell did you just do, magic or something?!" Maxi exclaimed, bewildered by the explosive black sphere that just seemed to emit out of this guy's palm. "Are you cool now? Because, uh, I'm not putting mine away until you put away…whatever that hand thing is." Maxi didn't quite understand how Black had turned his hand into a blade but he probably chalked it up to more magic nonsense.

"Filthy mortal, you think that just because you got two lucky hits in, you can call it quits on your terms? I'd fight you to the end if I didn't have bigger concerns! In fact once this 'Soul Edge' business is dealt with, I might come back and murder you and all those you care about, you arrogant pig!"

Of course, that was all Black's inner thoughts. On the outside, he glared daggers at Maxi but lowered his blade and let the energy vanish from around his hand. "Who are you?"

"Maxi, leader of a band of pirates. We just kind of stopped here for repairs and I saw you sleeping here and you just sort of attacked me. What? Have a bad dream or something?" Maxi also mumbled something like 'so not getting an apology huh?' under his breath but Black let it slide. He wasn't going to apologize to a mortal come hell or high water. "If we're asking names then since you attacked me, it's only fair I get one in return, right?"

Tch, a mere mortal like this wouldn't be able to comprehend the beauty, the godliness that radiated off his true name. So he'd go with the one he'd used to introduce himself to Zasalamel and the one he'd claimed after he butchered the real deal's family and him.

"Son Goku."

"Well, wish we could have met on better terms, Goku but you win some you lose some. It's dangerous out here so why not come by our ship? I mean, if you're not gonna freak out and attack us anymore that is. I'm not putting my mates in any danger if I don't have to." Black found Maxi's casual nature and seeming ability to quickly forgive past transgressions to remind him of the kindness Trunks showed to those pathetic survivors he herded away from the buildings and cities that Black destroyed.

It was naïve and on top of it all, stupid.

If Black desired, he could simply kill them in all their sleep. Slit throats, stabs through the chest, covering their mouth and gutting them-wait. That actually DID sound like a appealing idea! Doing his best to hide the ill intentions he had planned behind a well-meaning enough smile, Black nodded. "You won't have to worry about me, I could use somewhere to rest my body and my head." Pretending to make jokes and be friendly with the mortals he despised so much made him ill but if he couldn't fly then getting around on foot would only get him so far. This group said they were pirates so all he had to do was murder them, take their map and plot a course for the nearest astral fissures.

"Great! Sorry about hitting you so hard by the by but can't take any half-measures these days. People are getting crazy, man. Turning into monsters and all that noise, sheesh. It's at times like these I value life out on the open seas. Don't gotta worry about all that. Just making sure your crew's safe and well and knowing where to go."

"Monsters, yes…" Black remembered his first encounter with the 'monsters' Maxi spoke of. Normally disposing of such a creature would have been a mere trifle of Black's immense power. But diluted as it was, the creature nearly overpowered him, and it took that Zaslamel to kill him. Not that Black would ever admit he needed his help.

"You know, Maxi was it, I'm looking for monsters. You wouldn't happen to know where any might be would you?" Maxi snorted in derision. "After the sleepwalking fight you kicked off back there? I'd say you qualify as one!" He exclaimed with a laugh before nudging Black in the shoulder and Black pleasantly smiled back.

"So, now on top of thinking we're buddy buddy, he believes he can casually lay his hands upon me. Such insolence! Gods were not created to be touched by creatures that are beneath them! To do is to prove that you are a sinner!"

"Yes, indeed."

"Well, actually funny story now that you mention it. I'm looking for them too. They're actually hiring in a nearby village for people to hunt down the monsters. Quick way to make cash that's for sure." Black's eyes lit up at that. So he could use this idiot and his crew to lead him to the Malfested and by extension the Astral Fissures.

As the two headed to the impromptu campsite Maxi had set up while the rest of his crew worked on the ship, Maxi patted down a spot for Black to sit down beside him. Black frowned but to keep up appearances relented and took a seat. Even if it felt a touch demeaning for a god to share a seat with a mortal.

"So, Goku what's your story? Why are you hunting the monsters? Cash?"

Black hadn't expected Maxi or anyone really to question his motives. He wasn't really up for explaining either. But given the personality this man had presented so far, Black knew he'd only be setting himself up for further annoyance if he declined to answer now. "No, I have no need of money. Whatever I have to acquire, I can take it as I wish, by force if need be. I'm hunting these creatures because with them comes astral fissures, the only thing preventing me from turning into one of them myself."

…That was a tad ominous and Maxi quietly scooted a bit away. "Not gonna act like I know what you're talking about with Astro Fishies or whatever, but I think I get the gist. You're afraid of turning into one of those things. It's just how it's been happening. An average person that everyone in the community knew to be nice goes to sleep, wakes up the next day as a monster and goes on a killing spree. Gruesome stuff."

Before Black could speak any further, Maxi rose to his feet and gestured out to his boat. "But don't you worry yourself, Goku. Once we get some cash in our pockets-I mean legit, we can loot whenever want but right now I wanna pay for a nice home cooked meal-we'll find these fissure things and get you the help you need. We fought briefly but I can tell you know your stuff." Watching the sun starting to set in the distance, Maxi laid down and folded his arms behind his head.

"Hey, since I woke you up and all you should probably get some sleep. We'll wake up bright and early in the morning and go to town and see about the job. Just, uh, make sure not to attack me in my sleep. You may be able to fight when you're half awake but not this guy."

With that Maxi was out like a light, snores and all. Having stayed quiet and let Maxi do all the talking, Black looked out in the distance towards the ship. He assumed most of the crew had either gone to sleep or were relaxing within the ship. Since he had the element of surprise on his side, he could sneak in, supply quick stabs to the jugular vein or chest and take the ship for himself.

Rising to his feet, the energy blade glowed around Black's left hand as he raised it above his head, poised to strike down and decapitate Maxi as he slept. Just as the pirate had joked. Although their fight had been short, and Black hadn't put his all into it, he had still been somewhat shown up by a measly mortal of all things and one that reminded him of not only Trunks but the 'real' Goku as well with tat personality of his. Such a disgusting trait.

But…he just couldn't bring himself to do it. Letting the blade fade away, Black sat back down. Even if he did kill Maxi and his crew, if the ones he killed were the ones without the map, all that one crew member would need to do is throw the map into the ocean to render it illegible or simply tear it apart, ruining Black's plans entirely. There was also the slight worry of them overpowering him. Most of all however, Black wanted Maxi to see him at his full potential. To realize the mistake he'd made by laying his hands upon a god. Yes, the thought of smiting Maxi brought warmth to Black's cold heart.

As he laid down to resume his own sleep, the scales slightly tipped back in favor of order.

So that's the third chapter! It's getting pretty late here so I'll just keep things nice and short. Black's decided to spare Maxi and his men and use them as means to an end! But going off the scale's shift, is that the only reason why Black has decided to spare them or has an inkling of Goku's trait of wanting to keep around strong fighters shined through Black's otherwise holier than thou personality?

In the next chapter, it's going to be Trunks/DBSuper oriented with small dabs of Goku Black here and there. Hope you've been enjoying this so far and have a good night/good morning! 3