It was a dark and gloomy night. A man ran threw cobblestone streets with only the dim white light of the moon to guide him. The man wore brown clothing that was little better than rags. A look of fright was on his face.
The man looked about thirty or so years in age. His long unkempt brown hair went down to his shoulders.
A shadow passed above the man, who briefly looked above. When he saw nothing he continued running forward threw the streets of the city.
Suddenly with a rush of air three figures landed in front of the man. All three were dressed like wealthy aristocrats.
One had white hair that went down to his shoulders, and a snow-white Victorian suit to match. The man wore white gloves on both hands. The white haired man smiled at the frightened man they had been chasing, baring noticeable fangs.
The second of the three was dressed totally in black. He had a black mustache and a top hat. The man's right eye was covered by a glass monocle. He carried a long black cane which had a stylized metal wolf for a headpiece.
The third of the three figures was a woman. She too was dressed in aristocratic looking clothing. Her outfit was a very expensive looking Victorian era dress with white trimmings. She carried a red parasol which she held over her shoulder. The woman had pale skin and blonde hair. She looked about thirty-something in age.
"Did you really think you could escape us cattle?" The woman said, her red lips twisting into a wicked smile.
"No please..I don't want to die!" The frightened man yelled.
The man in white sneered before speaking in a voice that subtly sounded like a serpent.
"How many mortals actually embrace their ultimate destiny?" The white clothed man said.
"You should be honored." The man in black said.
The woman in red then walked over to the frightened man, who only grew yet more frightened as she approached.
"Please no!" The man begged, tears streaming down his right cheek.
"What's the matter? I'm only going to give you a kiss." The red lady said, placing her lips over the man's neck.
The Z-Fighters arrived in another area in the city. Immediately after arriving Goten looked upwards to see a large gothic clocktower in the distance. He immediately was reminded of Malistar's words.
"Defeat me before the last bell tolls..."
"Val." Goten said sadly
"Whats wrong Goten? Don't worry man we will save her." Trunks said, patting his friend on the back.
Goten's white uniform seemed to glow from the moonlight that fell from above Trunks noticed.
"What kind of world did we arrive in this time?" Bardock asked.
Gohan looked around at the black gothic-style Victorian buildings. He could see smoke rising from rooftops in the distance.
"Looks like a city from the industrial age on Earth." Gohan said.
"With a bit of transylvania thrown in." Goten remarked darkly.
Suddenly the group all heard a blood-curdling scream.
"What the heck was that?" Bardock asked, not liking the sound of that one bit.
"It came from nearby." Gohan said as he turned his head to look in the direction of the scream.
"Lets move." Vegeta said.
As one the group ran into the shadows of the city. Just as with the last three demon worlds, the ability to fly was apparently sealed. None of the Z-Fighters liked it, but for now they had no choice but to play the demon king's game.
As the Z-Fighters approached after passing threw the shadows of the city streets, they realized they were not alone.
The black clothed man with the wolf cane and top hat turned his attention in the direction of Z-Fighters and spoke.
His voice sounded wise but hinted at a much deeper malevolence.
"We seem to have intruders." The man said.
"Nightshade you are certain?" The white clothed man said.
"Have I ever been wrong on such things Acacia?" Nightshade, the man in black asked.
"It appears then that the Z-Fighters have arrived. They managed to defeat Vanterus, that is most impressive." Acacia, the man in white said.
The woman in red let the man in rags fall to the ground. The man had two red puncture marks on his neck.
"I suppose we should report to the master then?" The woman in red asked.
"There is no need Lotus, the master already knows." Nightshade said
"Here they come." Acacia said, pointing a white-gloved finger in the direction of the Z-Fighters, who were quickly approaching.
Goten was the first to notice the three. He was also the first to notice the dead man lying on the ground near them.
"What did you do to that man?" Goten asked, visibly disturbed and angry.
"I fed on his blood." Lotus said bluntly, baring her fangs for split second.
"Ah the fabled Z-Fighters. We have been expecting you." Acacia said.
"Allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Duke Nightshade, also known as the iron wolf." Nightshade said.
"You were the ringmaster at Vanterus carnival weren't you!" Goten asked, pointing an accusing finger.
"Guilty as charged." Nightshade said, bowing gracefully.
"I am Acacia of the white rose." Acacia said, also bowing gracefully.
"And I am Lotus, also called the red death." Lotus said.
"Together we are known as the Blud Brigade, Malistar's greatest warriors." Nightshade said.
"Just get me some garlic or a couple of wooden stakes and I'll take care of these three clowns." Vegeta said with his trademark smirk.
"How confident of you. I'm afraid such weaknesses do not apply to us here." Acacia said with a toothy smile.
"And why would that be?" Vegeta asked, crossing his arms over his black-clothed chest.
"Because this is the demon world, where those of our kind are at their strongest." Lotus said.
Nightshade looked briefly up at the huge clocktower in the distance. Noticing the time was exactly 8:30, he turned back towards the Z-fighters.
"I would love to fight you here, but the time draws near for the ceremony of the master's new bride. If you wish to fight us, or save the love of your life Goten..go to the Clock tower. There you will find all three of us in addition to our master." Nightshade said
"Farewell for now." Lotus said with a toothy smile before all three members of the Blud Brigade became vapors which flew up into the sky towards the Clocktower.
"Time to go after them. I am not losing Valese." Goten said with both worry and determination in his tone.
"I know exactly how you feel Goten. Lets hope you have more luck saving your beloved than I did saving mine." Goku thought sadly.
Meanwhile, high atop the Clock Tower on a stone balcony, evil eyes stared down at the slowly approaching Z-Fighters.
Count Malistar held a fancy-looking glass of fine wine in his right hand as he looked over his domain. A twisted smile appeared on the king's face.
"Yes come Goten. Come and try to stop what I have planned. You just may find Valese is not the girl you once knew." Malistar said with a smile on his lips.
Nightshade appeared from behind Malistar on the balcony, and then bowed out of reverence for his master.
"Nightshade, make certain your Blud Brigade delays the Z-Fighters until the clock strikes midnight. I have a show planned for our guests. It will be the final act in our play." Malistar said with his rich romanian accent.
"At once master. Each of us will guard a floor on the clocktower." Nightshade said.
"See that you don't fail me. I want Goten to arrive alive before midnight, you can do whatever you want with the others." Malistar said, then took a sip from his glass of red wine.
Meanwhile the Z-Fighters ran as fast as they could threw the grim city streets, the moon silently shining down upon them. Soon they found themselves in front of the tall structure. As the bell chimed nine times Goten stopped and turned to the others.
"This is my battle. Malistar said that I only have until midnight to save Valese. I don't want anyone helping me." Goten said, gazing first at his brother and father, then at Trunks.
"Goten you know you can't possibly win if you fight alone. Let me help you. With fusion we would" Trunks said, but was interupted by Goten.
"Fusion? Fusion! Are you freaking kidding me Trunks?" Goten said, staring with rage at Trunks.
"I just thought Gotenks would easily." Trunks said, but was once again interrupted by Goten.
"You used me Trunks. Because of you I rotted in a Gentech dungeon for days. I will never forget how I was just a tool for you in your scheme of personal revenge. Fusion Trunks? Never again. At least not with you." Goten said, a furious expression on his face.
Majuub laughed, when Goten gave him a dark look, he stopped laughing though.
Goten turned towards the huge black doors of the clocktower, and forced them open with little effort.
"You cannot allow the past to dictate how you treat others, especially not here Goten." Nouva said, crossing his arms.
"Sorry Nouva..but I need to know that I can fight without help. I need to be able to protect the woman I love with my own two hands. I have to do this alone." Goten said flatly..and then walked into the darkness of the clocktower.
As Goten walked inside he could immediately feel a dark presence. Goten narrowed his eyes, then clutched his hands into fists. Goten yelled as his hair turned gold, then grew down to his waist.
Goten flew upwards to the roof of the tower.
"Don't worry Vel..I will save you." Goten said
As the others walked into the tower a short time after Goten, Trunks looked upwards in the direction he had felt Goten fly in.
"How long is Goten going to be angry at me?" Trunks asked out loud.
"As long as that pain you caused him is still there, he will feel resentful of you. Give him time." Vegeta said.
Suddenly the group could hear something in the tower. Gohan was going to power up an energy blast, when he saw what looked like an old man in brown rags with two small dirt-covered children.
"Careful I almost blasted you." Gohan said.
"You would probably be doing us a favor." The old man said.
"Your human?" Gohan asked
"We did see humans earlier, and in the previous demon world Gohan." Bardock said calmly.
"Of coarse. This entire vast city is populated by humans. Many of us are little better than rats. We live in the streets, we have no way to raise our status. We either die in the streets to those with a violent nature, or we are lucky enough to die of old age. Then theres the third option." The Old man said darkly before continuing to speak.
"The vampires feed on everyone, but they prefer us the most." The old man said.
"That is horrible. Why?" Gohan asked.
"Because that is the way the city always has been. The rich live nice lives..it is said some even become vampires themselves. Everyone below them lives in constant fear." The old man said.
"Wasn't this world supposed to be where Garlic Jr and his father came from? I find that hard to believe seeing the way this place looks." Gohan said.
"You speak of the Makyans? The Makyan's demonic realm is said to stretch outside the borders of the city. That knowledge is what keeps us from trying to escape." The old man said.
"We should get going. Despite what the kid said, I don't think Goten really wants to be facing a demon king alone." Bardock said.
"Stay safe." Gohan said to the old man. The group then began to climb the enormous spiral staircase that led to the next floor of the tower.
Moments later, the group arrived at a round chamber. Images of wonderfully drawn humans in a style reminscient of the sistine chapel covered the room. The images were pleasant, full of angels and white, puffy looking clouds.
The man in white stood in the far end of the room. Acacia pointed at the group and smiled, briefly revealing his fangs.
"If you wish to ascend further, one of you will need to stay and fight me." Acacia said with a voice that reeked of deceit and treachery.
"I'll fight you. I haven't had any action sense coming to the Demon World, so this is long overdue." Majuub said with a dark smile.
The reincarnate cracked his knuckles and then crossed his arms.
"Uub are you sure about this?" Goku asked his old student.
"I can handle myself Goku. If you have time to show me concern, you have time to reach Goten." Uub said coldly to his former teacher.
Goku looked with concern at Uub but said nothing.
"Very well. You will stay here, the rest of you can proceed." Acacia said.
"Goodluck Uub." Goku said.
"Tell your brother not to die Gohan." Majuub said, ignoring Goku.
"Will do." Gohan said flatly as the others continued to ascend the ladder.
"Yet another person I failed." Goku said quietly as the group proceded to climb the ladder once again.
"You did not fail him Kakorot. What is happening to him and the choices he makes are entirely out of anyone's control." Vegeta said
"We all have our inner demons to conquer. For some of us that is literal." Bardock said.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Trunks said, sensing a dark energy welling up from inside Uub as the group approached the third floor above.
Meanwhile..below.
Majuub stepped forward and then got into a fighting stance.
"Interesting. Your soul is very close to near complete darkness. Yet a shred of light remains, fighting for its existence within you." Acacia said, gazing on Majuub.
"You seem to know alot about me just by looking at me." Majuub said, gazing at Acacia, who crossed his white clothed arms.
"Yes. You seek to know who you truly are, what your true nature is. I can liberate you from such confusion." Acacia said.
"I'm not fool enough to trust you." Majuub said.
"Then I suppose it will be violence after all then?" Acacia said with a fanged smile.
The figures depicted on the walls, ceiling, and floor seemed to move in ancipation of the battle to come.
"I'm going to make you dead." Majuub said darkly with a smile on his face.
Acacia rushed forward with an inhuman shriek, his hands twisting into claws as he approached.
Majuub slammed his right fist into Acacia's stomach, causing the pale vampire to double over in pain.
Majuub then brought his left fist foreward as an uppercut, slamming Acacia in the jaw. The pale vampire staggered backwards afew steps before attacking in rage.
Acacia sliced the air with his claws, creating claw-shaped beams of light which streaked towards Uub. Uub ducked and side-stepped to avoid the attacks, then he smiled and pointed his right hand towards Acacia.
Uub fired a series of reddish-pink energy in Acacia's direction. The pale vampire managed somehow to dodge every blast with inhuman speed.
"You fight with such savagery, but you lack real experience." Acacia said
Uub charged forward and sent a series of punches in Acacia's direction, all of which the vampire easily dodged using his amazing speed.
"I can easily destroy this fool Uub. Let me handle him" The voice of Super Buu said in Uub's mind.
"Ah, I can tell your mind is uncertain. You are not sure you can defeat me aren't you?" Acacia said with a fanged smile.
"Someone like you is nothing to me." Majuub said, then cupped his hands in a familiar stance.
"Ah your teacher's favorite technique. I was certain you had abandoned its use." Acacia said, crossing his arms and showing his overconfidence threw his smug smile.
Majuub ignored the vampire, allowing the red energies in his palms to envelop his hands.
To Acacia's surprise, Majuub struck at him not with a Kamehameha Wave but with a melee attack he did not recognize. Acacia was struck in the chest by Uub's dark-energy engulfed fist, but managed to avoid the second fist by once again using his great speed to sidestep the attack.
"My turn." Acacia said with a cruel smile.
Acacia moved forward quicker than Majuub could follow and landed three quick punches to Uub's jaw, stomach and face. Uub quickly doubled over in pain, then coughed up blood.
"Ah blood, how delicious. By showing such you should realize your power is nothing compared to mine mortal." Acacia said with a cruel smile.
"Maybe..maybe I'm not a match for you.." Majuub said with a pained voice.
Meanwhile, as Gohan, Bardock, Nouva, Vegeta, Goku and Trunks reached the third floor..
The group stood in yet another round room. This one was decorated much like the last. However the art seemed to have a darker feel to it. The figures had cruel expressions, dark hair, and almost white skin. The sky looked almost red, and the clouds were nearly black.
In the back of the room was an aristocratic woman, obviously the second member of the Blud Brigade, Lotus.
Meanwhile..below..
"Maybe your right..I can't beat you." Uub said as a dark red and black aura materialized around him.
"Yes..Yes Uub..let me handle him."
Uub smiled a twisted smile as the whites in his eyes turned black, and his pupils turned red.
"But I know someone who can." Uub said, then he lowered his head.
"What is this dark power? It feels...like emptyness." Acacia said, the vampire's voice betraying fright for the first time.
"What your feeling is the power of the Maijin. The black well of power that is the source of my power and the essence of our being." Super Buu said from inside Uub's body.
Even Acacia, a creature of darkness and evil, was intimidated by the sheer malevolence in the deep voice speaking to him.
"I will not be frightened. Prepare to die mortal!" Acacia said, then fired a series of white energy blasts at the Maijin, who simply blocked each with his arm.
Acacia then leapt forward, launching punch after punch at the Super-Buu controlled Majuub. Majuub easily blocked each attack, then smiled a sinister smile.
"I heard vampires don't like garlic. Is this true?" Super Buu said, pointing Majuub's right hand in Acacia's direction.
"I will crush you!" Acacia said with a voice full of both fear and anger.
Acacia beared his fangs, then pointed his left hand at Majuub. Tiny pinpricks of energy formed in Acacia's hand.
Majuub merely laughed manically at his opponent.
Acacia formed a ball of dark light in his left hand.
"Take this...Twilight Breaker!" Acacia said, throwing his attack in Majuub's direction.
Majuub simply yelled, and his black and red aura flared outwards, reflecting Acacia's own attack right back at him.
The vampire screamed in pain as his body was ravaged by his own attack, but while injured, was not out of the game just yet.
"You didn't answer my question." Super Buu asked using Majuub's body.
"Garlic only effects us outside the demon world you mortal fool." Acacia said as he prepared to once again attack.
"Thankyou. One last thing..the being that is about to kill you..isn't mortal." Super Buu said, forming a smile on Majuub's face.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Acacia asked.
"I'm hungry." Majuub said, sending a spiraling pink beam of energy streaking out of his right hand.
Acacia placed his arms in front of himself to guard against the attack, but screamed in pain when the attack struck him.
Acacia found his body painfully transforming into a smaller, two-diamensional shape. As Acacia uttered one last scream of agony, he fell to the floor...as a bar of white chocolate.
Majuub stepped over and picked up the candy he had just created from the body of his opponent.
"This one will increase our power." Super Buu thought.
"Your not seriously going to absorb him are you? We have no idea what that will do to me." Majuub said.
"Lets find out." Super Buu thought as he lowered the bar of chocolate into Majuub's mouth.
As Majuub chewed the vampire chocolate he found his mind once again in control of his body.
But he soon wished he hadn't regained control as spasms of pain engulfed his entire body as his defeated opponent began to be absorbed.
Majuub's skin became a shade lighter in color, and Majuub found himself slightly taller. Majuub smiled, then began to laugh manically in his own voice.
On the floor above, Goku felt the change in his student immediately.
"Oh no. Uub..what you just did pushed your soul much closer to evil. It was bad before..but this..this is much worse." Goku thought.
"Just as with my friend below...one of you will have to stay here and fight me if the rest of you are to precede to the next floor." Lotus said in a sexy, seductive sounding voice.
"I'll fight you." Nouva said, stepping forward.
"Interesting. Does the rest of your team have a problem with that?" Lotus said, staring briefly at Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Bardock and Trunks.
"Good luck Nouva..stay alive alright?" Goku asked
Nouva smiled with his large pink lips and gave his friend a thumbs-up with one of his golden reptilian hands.
The other Z-Fighters then proceeded to climb to the fourth level of the tower, leaving Nouva Shenron to deal with the feminine wiles of Lotus.
Once the group reached the fourth floor, they noticed a remarkable change in the decorations. The sistine-chapel-style artwork was replaced with drawings of countless demons of various colors.
A dark man stood at the far end of the room. Bardock narrowed his eyes as soon as the group stood after getting off the ladder.
"Welcome. Now I'm sure you know the rules by now. One of you will be my opponent, the rest of you can precede to the fifth floor, where young Goten is confronting Malistair." The dark man said.
A brief flash of lightning from outside the tower briefly illuminated the dark man, revealing the monocled, top-hat wearing form of Nightshade.
"Nightshade..I'll be your opponent." Bardock said, placing his right fist into his left palm and smiling confidently.
"Good, good..then by all means, the rest of you continue upwards." Nightshade said, then gazed at Bardock and smiled.
On the third floor, Lotus screamed as she and Nouva were engulfed in a sphere of fire which covered the entire room.
"This isn't fair.." Lotus yelled
"Normally I'd fight you in a long and drawn out battle. However you are a creature of irredeemable evil. This cleansing flame is justice." Nouva said with a smile as Lotus' body was completely incinerated.
As the flames died down Nouva turned his attention to the ladder behind him, only to see Majuub climb up.
Nouva narrowed his eyes at Majuub.
"You going up or not?" Majuub asked.
"Yes of coarse." Nouva said, narrowing his eyes as he placed himself on the ladder and began climbing.
On the fourth floor, Bardock ceased yelling, having completed his transformation to Super Saiyan Three. His golden aura lit the entire dark room.
"This form should make short work of you." Bardock said as he began forming energy in his right hand.
"How can you defeat an opponent you know nothing about Bardock? You form that Riot Javelin thinking I'm on the same level as you..or even below you. Are you certain that is the case?" Nightshade said with a slight smile.
"We are about to find out." Bardock said
"Riot Javelin!" Bardock yelled, throwing his energy attack in Nightshade's direction.
Nightshade did not even bother to dodge the energy attack. He simply held his cane in the path of the attack. When the Riot Javelin struck the cane, it fizzled into nothingness.
"What the?" Bardock said
"The energy from your attack has returned to the nothingness it came from. Just as you mortals will one day die and return to the dust." Nightshade said.
Bardock ignored his opponent, and flew forward. However, everyone of the hundred or so punches he sent Nightshade's way fazed threw the dark man as though he were a hologram and not completely there.
Bardock stood in surprise.
"Think of this little meeting as a shadow of things to come. We will meet again Bardock." Nightshade said, the image of Azrael briefly flashing behind him as lightning briefly illuminated the room. As soon as the lightning's light faded, the dark man was gone.
Goten stood at the top of the tower. Despite the constant rain which poured down from above, the full moon still could be seen, illuminating the tower and the entire city in its pale light.
Goten heard a scream, and immediately turned his attention to a young girl tied by her arms to a large golden bell.
"Valese!" Goten yelled. Concern built in Goten seeing his beloved in such as state.
A cloud of black bats flew down from somewhere above, merging in front of the large clock. The figure was a charismatic man with long straight white hair, a youthful..if pale face, red cape and black Victorian era aristocratic clothing with red trimmings. On his back, the king of the fourth demon world had two red batlike wings.
Malistar crossed his arms over his chest before speaking in his rich accent.
"Not bad Goten. You and your friends managed to defeat Dabura, Zaragoth and Vanterus and get all the way to my tower before your time was out. You may now take Valese and go if you wish." Malistar said, then sliced the rope holding Valese' arms.
Valese immediately began to drop to the ground.
Goten moved quickly and caught his beloved in his arms. Goten noticed Valese was wearing a red dress and she looked abit paler than he remembered.
"Valese its going to be ok, I'm here." Goten said with a warm smile.
Valese opened her eyes and smiled. It was then that Goten noticed the two puncture marks on her neck.
Goten gently lowered Valese to the ground and looked up at Malistar, narrowing his eyes.
"What have you done to her?" Goten said with barely restrained anger.
"Oh? I gave her something you could never give her. The ability to live in eternal matrimony. Come my darling, to the man you truly love." Malistar said, gesturing Valese towards him with his right hand.
Valese smiled and flew up into the air to float besides Malistar.
"You said you wouldn't do this until after time expired!" Goten said as the ground around him began to crack.
"Actually, the timer was the same as the other demon lords. Defeat me before time runs out, or Earth is permanently destroyed. You only assumed I could be trusted when it came to your beloved." Malistar said with a wicked smile.
"Malis..STAR!" Goten yelled in rage as a golden aura appeared around him and his hair changed to become spiky and blonde.
"Are you angry? Don't be. Valese is happy with me, you should be happy for her Goten. Just ask her. No? Then I will for you." Malistar turned his face towards Valese, who simply stared back at him.
"Valese, are you under my spell or do you truly prefer me over Goten?" Malistar asked with a gentle tone.
"I wish only to remain by your side my count...for eternity. That is my one and only wish." Valese said.
"But Valese..what about our love? What us?" Goten asked as he could not believe what he was hearing.
Valese turned her attention to Goten and smiled at him. It was not the warm smile he remembered from her.
"I was a sheltered girl. I knew nothing of the world around me. You claimed to love me Goten...but you never were honest about those amazing powers you had. Malistar has opened my eyes." Valese said.
"No..Malistar has corrupted you. Malistar..undo whatever you did to her..or I'll." Goten said with a dark tone as blue bolts of bio-electricity joined his already impressive golden aura.
"Or you'll what? I'm well aware of what your capable of Goten. Even with that fancy training you underwent your limit is Super Saiyan Three. I also know your not like your brother is, a person who draws strength from his rage. I'm afraid without those qualities you will never defeat me, and that is only if I decided to fight you myself." Malistar said with a sinister grin.
Just then, Goku, Gohan, Trunks and Vegeta arrived from below.
Goten felt extreme rage, but also extreme sorrow. He wasn't sure what he should be feeling.
As his fists trembled, Goten let out a scream of agony, causing the entire city to quake from the sheer amount of power.
"Whats going on?" Trunks asked, nervously adjusting his orange scarf.
"I'm not sure but I think we should simply observe for now." Goku suggested, the moonlight seemingly causing his blue combat gai to glow.
"I've never felt this much emotional pain from Goten before." Gohan said.
"If he was you, he could turn that emotion into strength..but I'm afraid Goten isn't like you Gohan. He is even less of a fighter than you are." Vegeta said calmly.
"If only he allowed me to help him. Doesn't he realize he isn't alone in this?" Trunks asked.
Trunks looked on as Goten ascended upwards into his limit, his hair growing down to his waist and his eyebrows disapearing.
Goten growled, then flew upwards at Malistar. Malistar did not seem threatened by Goten's transformed state.
Just as Goten was about to strike Malistar with his right fist, Valese appeared in front of him.
"Valese get out of my way!" Goten yelled
"I will defend my Count to the death!" Valese said.
"You don't have it in you to destroy the one you love Goten. But guess what? I have no problems using her as a shield if it means defeating you." Malistar said, then held his right hand out, red energy gathering in his palm.
Goten wasn't sure what he should do. He could attack, but that would only harm Valese. He could allow Malistar to strike him, but if he died he would be failing his family and friends.
"I'm sorry Valese. Please forgive me." Goten said
"Double Kamehameha!" Goten yelled, placing his palms together and then separating them as he fired twin beams of white energy in Malistar's direction.
Both beams flew towards Malistar, but Valese took both for her fel master. Valese screamed in pain as Goten's attacks ripped at her form.
"Valese!" Goten yelled, concern overcoming his battle instincts.
"Your guard is down. Crimson Scourge!" Malistar yelled, forming a whip composed of red electricity in his right hand and swinging it at Goten.
Goten, to overcome with guilt and sorrow to notice, was struck by the attack, which heavily injured his right arm.
Goten screamed in agony, dropping to one knee and holding his arm with his left hand. Blood poured from the wound.
Nouva Shenron, Bardock and Majuub by this time had joined the others.
Nouva crossed his golden arms over his golden chest.
"Goten I know I trained you for situations such as this. Remember what you've learned." Nouva thought.
The blood from Goten's arm wound stained the right leg of Goten's otherwise snow-white uniform. Goten ripped part of the fabric from his right sleeve off and tied it around the wound on his right arm, making a makeshift-bandage.
"I won't allow you to defeat me using such underhanded tactics." Goten said as he fought to control the many emotions raging threwout his form.
"Oh? Well unless you can strike down the woman you love..you won't be able to back that claim." Malistar said.
Goten rocketed into the air, aiming a hard right punch for Malistar's head. When he saw Valese about to fly in front of Malistar to shield him, and gritted his teeth and fired a low-powered energy blast in her direction. Valese was forced into the ground, and Goten managed to slam Malistar in the face with a hard right punch.
Building off his momentum, Goten swung his left leg around and slammed Malistar hard in the chest with a hard kick. The vampire lord flew backwards somewhat, but was not overly harmed.
"You surprise me Goten. I did not think you had it in you." Malistar said, once again forming red energy in his right hand.
"There is alot about me you don't know." Goten said, quickly dodging Malistar's Crimson Scourge attack by flying upwards.
"Crimson Scourge!" Malistar yelled, forming a second red energy whip in his left hand. Goten dodged one Crimson Scourge, only to be forced into the side of a nearby brick building by the second.
Before Malistar could descend upon him, Goten rushed forward like a golden comet, his right fist aimed for the vampire lord's gut.
Malistar however simply smiled as his body separated into dozens of black bats, only to reform behind Goten.
Goten slowly turned around as Malistar pointed before his palms towards him.
"Darkness Wing!" Malistar yelled, unleashing swarms of black bats in Goten's direction.
In seconds the swarm of black engulfed Goten's shining Super Saiyan Three form.
"Why is Goten having trouble with this guy? He held his own against Super Buu when he had both myself and Kakorot absorbed." Vegeta remarked as the group watched the battle.
"Buu was only toying with him. With two Super Saiyan Fives, Super Buu could have easily defeated Goten, even in his current state. I'd know, don't forget I fought Goten myself, I know just how strong he really is." Majuub said.
"Things look bad now guys, but this is my grandson we are talking about. I'm sure Goten will pull threw." Bardock said, crossing his arms over his green-armored chest.
"Nevertheless, Trunks, he may need your help." Nouva said
"He won't allow me to help him. Not after what I did. I used him to get at my counterpart from the other timeline. I don't think Goten will ever trust me again." Trunks said sadly.
"He will..and I fear he may have no choice." Nouva said.
Goten yelled, causing all the bats around him to explode. Goten then immediately flew towards Malistar.
"Did you forget Valese Goten?" Malistar said with a wicked smile.
Suddenly Valese flew up off the ground. Goten knew she was going to intercept his latest attack.
"He needs my help. This fight wasn't fair to begin with." Trunks said, powering up to Super Saiyan and flying towards the battle.
"Trunks you will be slaughtered!" Gohan said.
"No..let him go. My son is stronger than he realizes." Vegeta said with a proud smile.
"Have more faith in him Gohan." Bardock said.
As Trunks rushed towards the battlefield he gathered white energy in each of his hands and formed it into a large ball, then pulled it back and fires it at Valese.
"Buster Cannon!" Trunks yelled as he fired his attack.
Valese was blasted into the distance by the surprise attack. Trunks flew beside Goten, giving his oldest friend a quick glance, a smile, and finally a thumbs up.
"Trunks..why did you help me?" Goten asked.
"Because I couldn't stand the sight of my best friend in an unfair fight." Trunks said.
"I thought I told you that I didn't want your help?" Goten said, keeping on his guard as he watched Malistar in the distance.
"Well you know me...I just don't listen somethings." Trunks said.
Goten smiled at his friend.
"You never change." Goten said.
Trunks smirked in a manner that reminded Goten of Vegeta.
"I have changed..I've learned how much our friendship means to me." Trunks said.
Malistar clapped his hands as he floated closer to the two Z-Fighters.
"How very touching. I'm moved a really am. Fortunately such moments don't last." Malistar said, wiping fake tears from his face.
"I'll keep Valese from interfering, you handle this reject from a Halloween party." Trunks said, turning around and facing towards Valese, who was heading back in their direction.
"Sounds like a plan." Goten said.
Malistar and Goten rushed towards each other. Each caught the other's hands in a vice-grip. The two immediately began a test of strength, Malistar's black and red aura clashed with Goten's golden aura.
Meanwhile Valese fired a red sphere of energy, an attack which Trunks easily blocked.
"Get out of my way. The master needs me." Valese said
"No can do." Trunks said, getting into a fighting stance.
Valese bared her fangs and rushed towards Trunks.
"Brave Cannon!" Trunks yelled, firing a white sphere at Velese. Velese once again was sent flying into the distance from the sheer force of the attack.
Malistar knocked Goten backwards, then aimed a right punch his way. Goten managed to duck under the punch, then block a left punch from Malistar with his right forearm.
"Your stronger than I thought you'd be." Malistar said, then sent another punch Goten's way, an attack which was easily dodged by Goten flying backwards out of harm's way.
"Lets see how you handle this without a shield." Goten said, narrowing his eyes at Malistar.
"Double" Goten started to say.
Malistar moved his wings so that they shielded his body.
"Kamehameha!" Goten yelled, firing a white beam of energy from both his hands at the vampire king.
The attack slammed into Malistar, sending the Vampire lord high into the night sky.
Meanwhile, Trunks restrained a livid Valese.
"You let me go! I have to assist my master!" Valese practicly screamed as Trunks restrained her.
"Don't worry Valese, you'll be back to normal soon." Trunks said.
Goten got into a fighting pose. He knew his last attack wasn't enough to destroy someone as powerful as Malistar.
Sure enough, Malistar flew down and hovered in front of Goten.
He looked mostly unharmed, although his wings were smoking.
"Not bad. I honestly thought I picked the short-end of the stick when it came to you Z-Fighters. I guess I was wrong. Don't think you have a chance at beating me though." Malistar said with a wicked smile.
Goten ignored his opponent, merely narrowing his eyes in preparation for what was to come.
"Lets see how you handle this! Rain...of...BLOOD!" Malistar yelled, spreading his wings apart. Suddenly a red liquid that resembled human blood began to fall from Malistar's wings towards Goten. Goten managed to avoid the attack, but noticed the stone of the roof below wasn't so lucky as the acid-like substance melted away at the stone, leaving a small crater.
"Kamehameha!" Goten yelled, firing his family's classic technique at Malistar, who once again used his wings to shield himself from all damage.
Goten flew over to Trunks.
"I'm at my limit Trunks. Even at my max my attacks aren't able to land a serious blow on this guy." Goten said
"Your asking if I'll help you with fusion?" Trunks said with a half-smile.
"Yes. I'm trusting you. Lets show this guy what happens to those who mess with the people we care about." Goten said.
"Sure thing." Trunks said as the two old friends landed on the ground and took up identical poses.
Valese flew up and hovered beside her master.
"So they have overcome their differences and are preparing that ridiculous Fusion Dance technique." Malistar said, stroking his chin as he pondered whether or not to allow this development to continue.
Trunks and Goten powered down to their base forms. Each then began the first pose needed for the fusion dance.
"Fuse" Trunks and Goten said together.
"Sion" Trunks and Goten said as they struck the second pose of the fusion dance.
"HA!" Trunks and Goten yelled as they placed their fingers together in symmetry, striking the final pose needed for fusion.
Malistar shielded his eyes from the painful and horrible blinding white light that followed, as did the Z-Fighters nearby.
"Will Gotenks have enough power to defeat Malistar?" Gohan yelled over the roar of the explosion that occurred as the blinding light appeared.
"Easily." Goku said.
Valese screamed as the sudden wind that had picked up forced her away from the battlefield.
The light began to dim, slowly revealing a figure at the center of the light.
The figure stood proudly. He was thin, but well-muscled, much like a pro-athlete. His face was young, kind and gentle, but hinted at a fury much like an oncoming storm. He wore white pants, a blue sash around his waist, and a black and orange metamorian style vest. On his feet the warrior wore tight blue boots. The warrior's hair went down to his waist and was a golden yellow in color. The warrior lacked eyebrows.
No sooner was he revealed, did the warrior smirk in a manner very much like that of Vegeta.
"So this is what fusion looks like? Most impressive, are you Trunks, or Goten now?" Malistar asked
The warrior turned his gaze towards Malistar.
"I am neither..and I am both. I am Gotenks." The warrior said with a tone full of confidence.
"Your still no match for my power." Malistar said arrogantly.
"Is that so? Why don't we test that theory. Big Tree Cannon!"
A golden, comet-like blast of energy was then fired from the warrior's hands towards Malistar, who attempted to block with his wings. This time to Malistar's horror, the resulting explosion destroyed Malistar's wings, and sent the vampire plummeting to the ground below.
"Revenge Cannon!" The warrior yelled before Malistar hit the ground, firing a golden blast of energy from his mouth at Malistar. The attack slammed into the vampire, causing him to scream out in pain.
Valese was about to shield her master, when Gotenks appeared behind her and promptly restrained her.
"I won't allow him to use you, even if you truely desire to protect him." Gotenks said with a calm tone.
Nearby all watching were amazed at the new Gotenks.
"Gotenks is nothing like he was last time I saw him." Goku said
"Both Trunks and Goten have been threw much. Their combined fighting and life experiences have likely caused Gotenk's change in demeanor." Nouva suggested.
"Maybe Gotenks sees this battle as something to take seriously. Don't forget fusions have minds and personalities of their own." Bardock remarked.
Malistar painfully forced himself off the ground just as the rain stopped falling.
"I knew your fusion would give you alot of additional power. But I did not imagine you would gain this much power." Malistar said, breathing heavily as blood fell from the right corner of his mouth.
Gotenks landed near, released Velease, then fired a ring-shaped blast at her.
The girl, now properly restrained, struggled to break free.
Gotenks ignored Velese and turned his gaze towards Malistar.
"You take advantage of the innocent. You use love as a weapon. Give me one reason why I shouldn't simply kill you where you stand?" Gotenks asked, betraying no outward signs of emotion.
"You? Kill me? Thats rich! Darkness Wing!" Malistar yelled as he fired a seemingly endless stream of black bats from his hands at Gotenks, who did not seem amused.
Gotenks yelled, causing his aura to flare outward and destroy all the incoming bats.
"I think its time I shove the wooden stake threw your heart..if you actually have one." Gotenks said, getting into a combat pose.
"Oh I have a heart..its just black as night." Malistar said with a wicked smile.
Suddenly two utterly white clones of Gotenks appeared on either side of the fusion.
"Is that the Kamikaze Ghost Attack?" Gohan asked.
"I think its a new and improved version." Vegeta said as he watched the two clones strike identical combat poses beside their creator.
"One or Three it makes no difference to me." Malistar said as he slowly walked towards his opponent.
"You misunderstand. These aren't clones..not really anyway. Lets just put it this way..compared to me..they have a much more explosive personality." Gotenks said with a smirk.
"What?" Malistar said to late as the two doubles ran towards him.
"Kamikaze Phantom..Explosion!" Gotenks yelled as the two doubles converged on Malistar and then promptly exploded.
Malistar screamed as the energy from Gotenk's attack tore him apart.
In moments it was all over, and seemingly nothing remained of the vampire lord.
Valese screamed from nearby, seeing her master destroyed.
"Is it over?" Gohan asked.
Goku felt something was not right, and narrowed his eyes.
"No..this isn't over..not yet." Goku said.
All around dark energy gathered in the sky.
Gotenks turned his attention to the gathering energy, getting into yet another fighting pose as he did so.
Suddenly the white moon changed, becoming blood red. In that instant Malistar reappeared with his clothing ripped and in a much more muscular form resembling a fusion of man and bat. Malistar had a long red serpent-like tail, reminding everyone of Malistar's demonic nature. A dark red fur covered Malistar's now bestial head and body.
The new Malistar landed on the roof of the building and let out a hearty laugh before facing Gotenks.
"DID YOU REALLY THINK YOU COULD DEFEAT ME SO EASILY? ARE YOU FORGETING I AM THE LORD OF THE FOURTH DEMON WORLD. ALL THE POWER OF MAKYO IS AT MY COMMAND!" Malistar said as Gotenks looked at Malistar's long red hand claws.
"Someone needs to get their nails trimmed." Gotenks said
"MOCK ME ALL YOU WANT. IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT I AM THE SUPERIOR FIGHTER HERE.!" Malistar yelled, then charged Gotenks, who swiftly landed a fierce uppercut to Malistar's jaw before the vampire lord could land a single attack.
"You were saying?" Gotenks taunted
"DIE!" Malistar yelled, firing a blast of red energy from his mouth in Gotenk's direction. Gotenks was struck by the blast and went flying into a tall nearby building, then threw the building behind that.
Gotenks quickly flew back towards Malistar, and slammed the beast in the chest with a flying left kick. Gotenks then held his hands towards Malistar and fired thousands of yellow energy blasts at the vampire.
"ENOUGH!" Malistar yelled as he shrugged off Gotenk's attacks. Malistar then flew toward Gotenks and grabbed the fusion by the neck, then flew as fast as he could towards the ground. Gotenks was painfully slammed threw a building, which immediately exploded on impact.
Still holding Gotenks by the neck, Malistar slammed the fusion into the side of another building, then tossed the fusion into the air.
"I AM THE DARKNESS..I AM THAT WHICH CRAVES YOUR BLOOD. I AM NEITHER DEAD..NOR ALIVE. I AM THE UNDEAD KING..NOW FEEL MY WRATH!" Malistar yelled, then flew up into the air and gave Gotenks a head-butt to the chest. Gotenks cried out in pain, spitting out a small amount of blood as he soared higher and higher into the sky.
Nearby...
"Is that what I think it is?" Gohan asked, looking at the dark red moon in the sky.
"Is there something about this place you know that you haven't told us Gohan? Because I think now would be the time to share." Bardock remarked.
"Yeah..I think the moon here is the Makyo Star. Years ago Dad, when you were still missing in space after defeating Frieza, Piccolo, Krillin and I had a run in with Garlic Jr. His source of power was a red planetoid called the Makyo Star. But how can it be here if I destroyed it?" Gohan asked aloud.
"Look closely at the moon. There is a small piece missing. I imagine what you destroyed was only part of a much larger object." Nouva said.
"Then that must be the source of Malistar's power. Maybe if we destroy it." Goku said.
"Then Gotenks wins." Vegeta said with a smirk.
Gotenks created another clone and sent it at Malistar, but the bestial vampire lord willingly took on the blast, showing no sign of injury when the smoke cleared.
As Malistar approached him, Gotenks held his hands together and began charging tiny particles of yellow energy.
"Big Tree Cannon!" Gotenks yelled as he fired his yellow hued beam at his opponent.
Malistar was pushed backwards by the attack and into the sky, but he quickly recovered and once again could be seen by the other Z-Fighters flying back towards Gotenks, intent on delivering a killing blow.
Valese also watched the battle from nearby. She was waiting and willing to sacrifice her life at any time for her master.
"I ACTUALLY FEEL SORRY FOR YOU GOTENKS. YOU EXISTENCE ONLY FOR A BRIEF TIME. I COULD CHANGE THAT..IF YOU ALLOWED ME TO." Malistar yelled as he approached Gotenks.
"As if I'd want anything you'd have to offer." Gotenks said, then swiftly dodged a claw attack from Malistar. Gotenks then flipped over in midair and pointed both his palms at his opponent.
"Galactic Donuts!" Gotenks yelled, firing three ring-shaped golden energy blasts at Malistar.
Malistar found himself restrained and unable to move his body. The vampire grinned with malicious intent seconds after being immobilized however.
Roaring with inhuman might, Malistar broke free of his restrains and pointed a clawed finger in Gotenk's direction.
"YOU'LL HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN THAT." Malistar said, then opened his mouth, unleashing a red beam of energy in Gotenk's direction.
"Big Tree Cannon!" Gotenks yelled quickly, firing his own yellow beam to intercept Malistar's. In seconds the two beams were clashing against each other, red and yellow battling for dominance in the dark skys over the gothic city.
For now it seemed Gotenks would be the victor, but Goku knew better.
Goku placed his hands in a familiar stance.
"Its now or never guys. Gotenks fusion won't last forever." Goku said
To Gotenk's surprise nearby, he found his opponents attack beginning to overpower his own.
"DO YOU FEEL YOUR MORTALITY SLIPPING AWAY AS DEATH APPROACHES TO CLAIM YOU?" Malistar yelled as he poured more of his foul energy into his attack.
"I don't plan on dying today thankyou very much." Gotenks responded as he sent more of his own power into his attack.
"Now guys! Kamehameha!" Goku yelled, firing his signiture attack at the massive red moon in the sky.
"Final Flash!" Vegeta yelled.
"Nova Death Ray!" Nouva yelled
"Masenko!" Gohan yelled
"Riot Javelin!" Bardock yelled.
The attacks of all the assembled Z-Fighters flew towards the massive red moon in the sky, converging on the blood red planetoid and causing a blinding flash of light to consume the entire sky in an instant.
Malistar did not fail to notice as he felt his power decreasing.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" Malistar yelled in anger and surprise.
"We just defeated you." Gotenks said with a smile as his Big Tree Cannon finally overcame Malistar's attack and struck the vampire king.
Malistar felt his body being torn apart by the energies Gotenks unleashed against him. His massive form soon reverted back to its orginal size and shape as the wounded vampire landed on the hard stone ground of the tower.
Gotenks landed nearby and crossed his arms.
"Thats what you get when you mess with the grim reaper of justice." Gotenks said with a smile.
Gotenk's smile soon disappeared however, when Valese ran over to the injured king.
"My master..I could not protect you..I'm sorry." Valese said sadly, tears dripping down her face and onto the red dress she wore.
Gotenks suddenly split back into Goten and Trunks, the former of which ran over to Valese.
"Its ok Valese, its over." Goten said
Valese suddenly rose to her feet. She looked at Goten with a face combining both anger and grief.
"You have no idea what you just did. Malistar opened my eyes to the world in a way you could never have Goten. I love him." Valese said
"Your under his spell. It will wear off when hes gone." Goten said.
Malistar, although injured, managed to chuckle to himself in amusement.
"Once bitten by a true vampire such as myself..the victim becomes forever under that influence..even if the vampire somehow is killed. Even though I lay defeated here today...I take comfort in the fact that I forever influenced your lives and will continue to." Malistar said weakly, before laughing one last time.
Malistar's face stopped, his injured body went limp. The vampire king of the fourth world was dead.
"Malistar!" Valese screamed, tears flowing down her face as she embraced the dead body of the fourth king.
Goten wasn't sure what to do. He had come all this way, fought this hard, only for things to end like this. He could not accept this. He would not accept this.
"Valese..hes dead." Goten said calmly.
"Thanks to you!" Valese hissed.
"Is there no way to break Malistar's spell?" Goten asked.
"The only way to set her free would be to kill her." Nouva said sadly.
The group noticed a door appeared at that moment, meaning that Malistar was truely dead.
"You guys go threw the door ahead of me..I'll be right behind you." Goten said with barely controled sorrow in his tone.
"Alright Goten. Just know..I'm proud of you son." Goku said with a smile, in an attempt to comfort Goten in this dark hour.
"Thanks Dad..I'll be fine..now go." Goten said with a weak smile.
With that all the other Z-Fighters went threw the doorway to the next demon world, Trunks being the last to step threw.
Goten turned his attention to Valese, who had an animal-like look of fury on her face as she stared at him.
"Valese..I'm so sorry." Goten said as he charged white energy in both his hands.