Kohryu's mind wandered as the group crossed into a blue void. The barren realm existed in between the eighth and ninth demon worlds. It was much like the place Gohan had died, executed by Azrael for breaking the rules.
Kohryu's mind drifted to the past..to thoughts of Azrael.
"Azrael..you were not always as you currently are. Once..you served the cause of good. You had always been a dark being..dark..but not evil. You had been one of the most feared among the forces of evil." Kohryu thought, remembering the past.
"Azrael, you had taken it upon yourself to seal the demons away. It was you who sealed the demon world, it was your power that banished Tlama into that dimension of chaos. You had taken it upon yourself to be the jailer of the damned. Now you have betrayed all that you once stood for. There is so much I have not told my mortal friends. But as likely as it is that they will have questions...I have perhaps more." Kohryu thought as the group approached the reddish brown door at the end of the barren void.
Bardock placed his hands on the door. Slowly the door opened to reveal a city.
As one the Z-Fighters stepped out onto the ninth demon world. It was a glimmering city composed of tall towers made of some sort of white stone. Decorating each side of the towers was a white gargoyle whose frightful gaze seemed to stare into the soul. High above the city was a blue sky with white clouds.
Far from the image of hell, this world seemed the very image of heaven.
No sooner did the group arrive was the sound of singing heard. It sounded like a mix of male and female singers, together weaving a melody that seemed to fill the very world itself.
"This place doesn't seem so bad." Trunks remarked with a shrug.
"Appearances can be deceiving." Vegeta responded with a raised eyebrow.
Bardock was looking around when suddenly he grabbed his head, yelling in agony as a potent vision filled his mind.
Bardock stood before a man in white robes. He was in the middle of a barren flat plane. The sky was a constantly moving mass of red clouds.
The man carried a tall staff tipped by a ruby. A symbol lay on the man's robes which consisted of a circle with a single line running threw it.
"Do you desire redemption? Do you truly wish all the dark deeds of your past erased?" The man said in a deep yet wise sounding voice.
"Who are you?" Was all Bardock could answer.
"My name is known to those who seek the path of true redemption. If you desire to know who I am...than you must answer my question." The man said
"How can my past be changed? I have killed hundreds of worlds..full of millions. How can anything possibly erase that? I have come to except what I've done..in the hopes that my future actions can somehow make up for my past." Bardock answered.
"No matter what you do..the dark deeds in your past will eternally shape your future. What you do in life is what shapes what you will become. No matter how much you run from this truth...it will not change." The man said.
"Than what are you suggesting? That you have some sort of method of changing the events of my life?" Bardock asked.
Bardock's black and green armor seemed to be stained red. Whether it was from the red light of the sky above or Bardock's sins, the Saiyan warrior could not tell.
"All those who embrace the path can find true redemption." The man answered cryptically.
"How do I find out more of what you speak of?" Bardock asked
"Seek me out in the temple of the true path. You will know it when you see it." The man said.
Before Bardock could ask any further questions, the robed man slammed his staff into the ground, and Bardock found himself on the ground, with his son and grandson looking down at him.
"How long was I out?" Bardock asked, his head feeling like it weighed tons.
"An entire six hours." Goten answered.
"Was it another vision?" Goku asked with a serious tone.
Bardock forced himself to sit upright before speaking.
"It was.." Bardock said as he stood up.
Footsteps could be heard nearby. Bardock turned his head to see Vegeta and Trunks approach.
"Still nothing. We found monks and religious pilgrims..but no sign of this world's king." Trunks said with a frustrated tone.
"This world isn't like the others. All the other worlds seemed to lead us to the world's ruler. This world seems to want us to find the ruler ourselves." Vegeta said.
"Well it is the last demon world before we reach Azrael...perhaps things work differently here or something." Goku suggested.
From above Ultimo Shenron and Kohryu landed.
"Any luck?" Vegeta asked the only two in the group capable of flying at the moment.
"Nothing. All we sensed was weak power signatures. Nothing that would belong to the world's ruler." Ultimo said.
Suddenly a group of what looked like four humans dressed in brown robes approached the Z-Fighters from an alley nearby.
The tallest of the group's number stepped forward and spoke.
"Do you seek the true path? Or are you pilgrims here to see the temple?" The man said.
"Neither..we are looking for this world's ruler." Ultimo said.
"Only one who seeks the true path may see the head of the order." The man said.
"I seek the true path." Bardock said suddenly, stepping forward.
"Grandfather what are you?" Goten started to ask
"I know what I'm doing Goten. Stay out of this." Bardock said
The monk seemed satified with Bardock's words.
"Then come with us. We shall take you to the temple. Hallowed art the path!" The man said. The rest of the group echoed the man's last sentence just as Bardock walked over to join the group of pilgrims.
As Bardock walked away with the group, Goten could not help but voice his thoughts.
"Is he out of his mind?" Goten said as he leaned against the white wall nearest him. Goku stood with his arms crossed over his blue gi.
"I think something is going on with my father that is unseen." Goku said with a low tone.
Bardock meanwhile, walked with the pilgrims, feeling out of place with him being the only one present without a robe.
The group stopped in front of a large wooden door. The door had an O symbol with the line running threw it. It was the same symbol Bardock realized, that was on the man in his vision's robe.
The group entered the temple. Inside was what looked like a cathedral. There were pews in which sat various worshipers, a large pipe organ lay at the back of the room. The windows were decorated with stained glass. All the windows featured artistic representations of the same white robed figure, holding a staff which illuminated all it shone upon.
The group Bardock had traveled with moved in front of him. Then one-by-one each removed their hoods. When they did that, Bardock was astonished at who he saw.
The tall man wore ice blue and black saiyan armor. Bardock recognized the man immediately as Tora. All the others sure enough, were the rest of Bardock's old gang. The Saiyan wearing the pine green and black armor was the heavyset Shugash, the bald Borgos was the saiyan in the blue and black saiyan armor, and finally, the one in pink and black armor was the beautiful Fasha, the only female in the group. All of Bardock's old crew smiled at him.
Tora was the first to say something to the stunned Bardock.
"Whats wrong old friend? Aren't you glad to see us again?" Tora said with a smile.
"Tora, Shugash, Borgos..Fasha? What are you doing here?" Bardock asked with an astonished tone.
"After King Yemma died we escaped from Hell. We tried to find you, but we did not know how to get to Earth." Tora said.
"The master of this realm approached us. He said that one day, if we waited for you here..we would be re-united. We have been here a year. Bardock, the master has taught us so much since we started following the path." Fasha said with a smile on her face.
"Wait..so you have been here a year? All this time as part of this..religious order?" Bardock asked..a suspicious feeling welling up from inside of him.
"Yes. Every day we serve the true path, a dark deed from our pasts is erased. But that is not all. Tora, want to show Bardock what we can do now?" Shugash asked the tallest member of the group.
Tora smiled, then turned his hands into fists before his hair spiked up further and turned a golden yellow in color.
"We can become Super Saiyans..just like you now. In truth..all of us can reach the second level. That is just an example of what the master's blessings have done for us." Tora said, then powered down, reverting back to his normal form.
Bardock sensed a much higher than normal power from the normal human worshipers in the pews. Apparently, serving this master brought out someone's latent power, or bestowed power upon a person. A normal human became stronger than Frieza was...while his old crew could have probably taken down Maijin Buu if they fought during his first rampage on Earth years ago.
"If you serve the path as we do..with your power as it is..imagine how strong you will become." Fasha said.
Suddenly everyone in the chamber got onto their knees as a light filled the room. Bardock turned his head to see a man in white robes carrying a red-tipped staff with the same symbol as the man in his vision approach.
"Hallowed is the path...hallowed art Lord Qaru!" Everyone in the room but Bardock and the robed figure started chanting.
The robed figure pulled back his hood, revealing a bald male human face with eyes made of orange gemstones.
"Hallowed art the true path! For it alone is the path of enlightenment. Leave aside your past guilt..your every dark deed. Surrender it all to the true path..and you will be cleansed of evil." The man said.
Bardock noticed the man carried a leather bound book in his left hand, the hand not carrying the staff.
"The Book of the True Path will guide you all to enlightenment and purity." The man said, then pounded his staff into the ground.
Suddenly everyone in the room except for Bardock and the white robed man were on the ground, seemingly asleep.
"What is going on here?" Bardock asked
"I am Lord Qaru. For many years people have come to me to erase their guilt and provide them direction. I was the one in your vision. I sense much guilt and pain in your heart Bardock. Follow the true path...and all of it will vanish just as morning due vanishes with the heat of the sun." Qaru said with a voice filled with both wisdom..and authority.
"Something isn't right about all this. You erase the wrongs of people's pasts..and provide them with power. But what do you get in return? What is in it for you?" Bardock asked.
"I get satisfaction in knowing that in following the true path..I bring peace to those with troubled hearts. I need no other motivation." Qaru said
"I don't buy the act. This is the ninth demon world. You are obviously the one in charge here." Bardock said.
"Many have doubted my intentions in the past..and many more will no doubt in the future. But just as the sun rises each day..so to will I continue to serve the true path..and bring others into its embrace." Qaru said without a trace of emotion on his face.
"Intentions or not..the Earth will be permanently destroyed unless my friends and I reach Azrael and defeat him. Unfortunately you are in our way..if you truly are the leader of this world." Bardock said, eyeing the robed figure carefully.
"You need not concern yourself with the Earth or its people. Any guilt you may feel over failing to prevent its end..the true path can erase. You need no longer carry the burden of the hero." Qaru said calmly.
"I am not going to allow millions to die in the hopes that I can forget my past. I have done wrong in my past..and I am not about to let another world's population die if I have the power to save it. It would be selfish to abandon that just so my conscious can be clear. I'm sorry Qaru..but I see where your path goes..and I don't think I like where it leads." Bardock said
Qaru looked at Bardock intently for a moment before responding.
"Those who refuse the true path..theirs is the path of guilt and suffering. Is that truly what you desire?" Qaru asked.
"No, but sacrificing others just so that I can feel better about myself isn't what I'm about. I stopped following that path when I opposed Frieza. I'm not about to go back on that path just because you talk a good talk." Bardock said.
"So you say...so shall it be." Qaru said, then pounded his staff into the ground. Suddenly the two were standing on opposite rooftops in the city. Qaru stood on the top of one tower, while Bardock stood opposite facing Qaru.
"You could have been my greatest champion." Qaru said
"Thanks but no thanks." Bardock responded, then allowed his latent power to rise to the surface as he assumed the form of a Super Saiyan Two.
Fasha, Borgos, Shugesh and Tora flew up and in front of Qaru. All four were in Super Saiyan form. The city was lit brighter than usual by the five golden lights given off by all five transformed Super Saiyans.
"Your making this harder than it has to be Bardock." Tora said, his arms crossed over his chest armor.
"Don't make me do this guys. You aren't my enemy. Qaru is." Bardock said
"Anyone who opposes Qaru is our enemy." Shugesh said flatly.
"Just join us. Let your son and his friends be the heroes." Fasha said.
"I'm sorry guys...but I can't do that." Bardock said with sadness in his voice.
"Then we have no choice." Borgos said before charging Bardock.
In a flash Bardock was on the defensive, flying threw the air over the vast world-wide city as he blocked punches and kicks from all four of his former teammates.
Bardock could not bring himself to harm them. The blood-stained bandage he wore around his head was a reminder of the friendship he had with all four of them. Yet those same four now assaulted him.
Tora broke off from the others as he charged a sphere of energy in his right hand.
"Bardock..you may be unable to hurt us..but we have no problem hurting you." Tora said
Bardock immediately recognized the attack Tora was about to use.
"Tora you can't!" Bardock yelled seconds before getting punched hard in the face by Shugesh, then kicked in the chest hard by Borgos, an attack which caused Bardock to slam hard into a building nearby, which crumbled on impact.
"Riot Javelin!" Tora yelled, throwing the grenade-like attack in Bardock's direction.
Bardock quickly fired a beam at the incoming energy attack, which caused a huge midair explosion as the two attacks exploded.
Before Bardock could do anything more, he was suddenly slammed in the face by a kick from Fasha.
The other three saiyans flew at Bardock, ill intent evident in their actions.
Bardock suddenly yelled, a bright flash of light occurring just as his former teammates were about to strike him.
When the light dimmed, Bardock was revealed as a Super Saiyan Three, with a lack of eyebrows and waist-long golden hair.
"So you finally decide to get serious." Tora said, crossing his arms.
"Enough! I know these aren't my old friends Qaru! Stop with the tricks." Bardock yelled, anger in his voice.
"What would give you that idea?" Fasha asked, the female saiyan floated nearby, her hands on her hips.
"Because I know how my teammates fight. I know how their power feels like. All of you feel the same to me..because your really one person." Bardock said
"Well done Bardock." A familiar voice said from nearby.
Suddenly all four of Bardock's teammates changed into stone, then crumbled in midair into dust. Lord Qaru floated over and stood on the top of the nearest tower, while Bardock floated in midair.
"Your friends never were here. You fight with your heart..which was why you noticed my deception." Qaru said, staff in hand.
"So what else in this world is an illusion? The worshipers? The sky?" Bardock asked.
"All of that is real. Many followers of the true path live here. Only by following this path do they avoid the fate of all mortals...death. You however have been dead. You returned to life in the hopes you could make up for the bloody path of sin you once led. I could have given you everything your heart desired...but seeing as you have rejected the path..I must destroy you in Azrael's name." Qaru said, then pointed his staff at Bardock.
Bardock placed both his hands in front of his chest. The move to block Qaru's incoming attack was futile however, as blocks of white stone materialized around Bardock.
"This Stone Tomb will be your final resting place. There will be no more heroics out of you. No more valiant acts in the heat of battle...only death." Qaru said
Bardock floated in the pitch blackness. Was this to be the end? After everything that had happened..was this his fate?
The cold stone walls of his prison blocked out all light..and seemingly..all hope. But Bardock was not about to give up. He was a veteran of many battles..and moreover..he was a Saiyan.
Bardock fired a blast of white energy from his right hand at one of the walls of his prison. When the blast had no effect, Bardock was disappointed..but still refused to give in to despair.
That fact played itself over in Bardock's mind as he floated motionlessly inside his prison. Suddenly..like a light suddenly going on in his mind Bardock had an idea. Placing his hands in a circular "o" position, Bardock channeled energy outwards. The energy was not enough to create an energy blast..but just enough to create an artificial moon inside his prison. Bardock looked intently at the light, and suddenly from deep within him the primal mind fought its way to the surface, even as Bardock's body grew and changed.
Qaru was about to return to his temple when the stone tomb suddenly burst open, scattering the stone composing it in random directions above the city.
A giant floating golden oozaru wearing Bardock's armor floated in the skies over the ninth demon world. The Great Ape glared with ruby-red eyes at Qaru, who stared back without a trace of emotion.
Golden Oozaru Bardock snared and bared his white fangs. In Bardock's mind memories of his friends surfaced.
Bardock remembered leading the attack on Kanassa. The natives had been strong, requiring an entire squad of skilled Saiyans to defeat. It had been that conquest that caught Frieza's attention.
The next mission Bardock went on was his squad's last. He would never forget the grinning face of Dodoria, the fat pink alien that had been responsible for killing his team.
Images of each of his squad mates floated before his mind's eye. Bardock remembered the last time he had seen them had been in Hell.
"I will be back for you my friends..I promise you." Bardock's words echoed in his mind
A wall had been passed. A new mountain had been reached. The reddish glow filled his mind's eye.
A red glow suddenly erupted around the golden oozaru. It grew so bright even Qaru was forced to shield his eyes.
The Oozaru itself began to change. Shrinking down to normal Saiyan size. Bardock's hair went down to his waist, as in his previous Super Saiyan Three form, only the hair was black. Bardock's arms were covered in a blood-red fur, the same color as the stained bandage on his forehead. Bardock's normally brown tail had unwrapped itself, changing to a blood red in color. Finally, Bardock's eyes resembled the eyes of a cat, and were now an emerald green in coloration. Green circles surrounded both of Bardock's eyes.
Surrounding Bardock's new form as a green and red aura resembling flame.
"I thought you might try and off me with a technique like that, so I used something I never thought I'd use again..an artificial moon." Super Saiyan Four Bardock said with his red-furred arms crossed over his black armored chest.
"You achieving that form will not help you against me. My power is vast...far greater than even the pinnacle of your new form's power." Qaru said as he lowered his staff so that the headpiece faced Bardock.
"You talk the talk..but lets see you walk the walk." Bardock said with a smile..then rushed forward at Lord Qaru, who swiftly parried Bardock's attack with his staff.
Qaru then in one swift motion yelled, forcing Bardock away from him with just an ounce of his power.
"Those who oppose the true path walk down the lonely road of madness and despair. Such is the fate of the wretched and the unworthy." Qaru said as pointed his free hand towards a nearby tower.
Just as Bardock noticed his opponent was no longer carrying the book from earlier, did the entire top of a tower detach and fly towards Bardock.
Bardock easily avoided the massive object, flying upwards and over it before flying downwards again as he prepared to launch a counter attack against Qaru.
Before Bardock had a chance, Qaru yelled, using his mind to split the tower into hundreds of smaller objects, all of which he launched at Bardock.
Swiftly Bardock flew, avoiding the hundreds of deadly stone protectiles. Deciding now was the time to counter attack, Bardock formed two spheres of red energy in both hands, then merged them together.
Holding the object in his right hand, Bardock dodged another few objects of stone before yelling the name of his attack as he threw it at his opponent.
"Chaos Avenger!" Bardock yelled, firing his attack at his white-garbed opponent.
Qaru spun his staff around in front of himself, causing the chaos avenger to impact harmlessly.
"You fight with the true spirit of a Saiyan warrior...but I am afraid that will not be enough to defeat me." Qaru said, then pounded his staff into the top of the tower he was standing on.
Suddenly a shockwave of energy shaped like a dome erupted from around Qaru. Bardock tried to fight the energy..but he was forced backwards no matter how hard he resisted.
Qaru then launched himself at Bardock, and promptly struck him in the chest with his staff. Bardock found the armor in the area Qaru had struck had cracked like an egg, revealing unprotected flesh beneath.
Qaru then fired an orange blast of energy at Bardock, which the Saiyan father of Goku managed to avoid by flying head-first downwards.
Bardock landed on the ground of the world-city, looking upwards to see the tower that had been hit by Qaru's blast begin to crystallize into some kind of orange gemstone.
Qaru gently floated to the ground, a calm orange-white aura surrounding his form.
"I offered you a change to avoid this fate...but I'm afraid now your future is not just set in stone..it is crystallized." Qaru said, then fired another orange blast at Bardock, who flew into the air as fast as his Super Saiyan Four body would allow to avoid Qaru's deadly attack.
Yet another tower reverted to crystal. Bardock could sense the lives inside the structure being snuffed out the moment the effect of Qaru's attack took effect.
"I have to take this battle somewhere where I won't endanger innocents..but how can I do that when this entire world is full of people?" Bardock thought as he flew into the sky.
Looking upwards at the blue sky, Bardock knew the answer to his question, and continued to fly upwards, even as he felt Qaru giving chase below.
Bardock dodged several more orange blasts. Even as Qaru gave chase, did he attempt at destroying Bardock from behind.
Good for Bardock, his many years of fighting had made him very good at dodging, even when he couldn't see what he was avoiding.
Finally the two combatants arrived in the clouds high above the city below.
Bardock stared at Qaru, who had floated to a position opposite his own.
Qaru gripped his staff tightly and spoke.
"You once had the very power of my master flowing within you. You should know more than anyone the ultimate truth." Qaru said without a trace of emotion on his face as he stared at Bardock with his two orange crystalline eyes.
"I don't believe I know what your talking about." Bardock said
"The only absolute in a mortal existence is death. However..I can allow mortals to transcend it...if only you give up your foolish morality." Qaru said with a slight smile.
"Never..I walk a righteous path now..and I will not leave it." Bardock said, his emerald eyes looking on Qaru.
With those words Bardock suddenly flew at Qaru, then spun around and slammed both his feet into the chest of the robed king. Bardock then slammed his right arm downwards into Qaru's chest, his right hand glowing with red energy.
Bardock's fist punched threw Qaru's chest and came out the other side. A look of astonishment was on Qaru's face.
Bardock removed his arm from Qaru's body.
"You underestimate me..and this is what you get." Bardock said with a slight smile on his face.
Meanwhile...elsewhere
The Z-Fighters stood..all facing the sky above.
"I can sense Bardock fighting someone..but I don't recognize who he is fighting." Trunks remarked.
"It is the ninth king..it must be." Vegeta replied.
"For awile it seemed Bardock was badly outclassed but somehow he has managed to greatly increase his power." Ultimo said calmly.
"Father...I believe in you." Goku said quietly to himself.
In the clouds Bardock was about to land another punch to Qaru's jaw, when Qaru swung his staff around, using a wave of his power to force Bardock away from him and then on a painful trip back to the city below.
Bardock fell completely threw a majestic white tower, leaving only a pile of stone rubble behind in the aftermath.
Feeling sore, but otherwise unhurt by his fall, Bardock stood up out of the rubble and sensed for any sign of Qaru.
Feeling nothing..Bardock decided to go back into the nearby temple. As he walked threw the streets, the various pilgrims and worshippers, all dressed in white or gold robes, looked at him with glances of suspicion.
Bardock walked into the temple of the path, and saw many worshippers bowing their heads in prayer.
A priest at the front of the building dressed much like Qaru was talking.
"To those who give up their worldly burdens and embrace the true path..theres is the path of happiness eternal. But for all who stand against the path...theres is the fate that awaits all mortals..death eternal." The priest said in a booming voice.
Bardock suddenly thought he heard a whisper. He looked around and seeing nothing, continued to try to sense Qaru's position.
It was then that a couple of the pilgrims walked over to him. Both of them were young and of a race that resembled humans, the reddish skin tone setting them apart.
"The burden of your past is great. Why do you refused to accept the path? All that weights down on your heart could be removed? One of the pilgrims, who sounded like a seventeen-year-old male human said.
"Eventually all will have the chance to embrace the path. All hearts will be no longer burdened with the deeds of their past. Will you walk with us Bardock? Or will you stand against the path and perish?" The second pilgrim said with a female voice.
"Burdens. Our regrets we carry with us for the actions we took in the past. Responsibilities we alone can accomplish. It is not burdens which drag us to hell. It is the lack of them that do. Frieza did what he pleased and killed whom he wanted. Never did he feel guilty. His actions of evil were not a burden to him..because he was evil and did not desire to change his ways." Bardock thought.
"My burdens are what sets me on the true path..not the lack of them. Qaru I understand now what you were trying to get me to buy into..and once again I will say no..because I will never again be the person I was." Bardock said.
Qaru appeared out of the shadows of the room. His normally calm face had a slight smile on it as he stared at Bardock with his orange gem eyes.
Bardock stood calmly while he stared at Qaru with his emerald-cat-like eyes, with the red and green flame-like aura surrounding his Super Saiyan Four body surrounding him as he did so.
"Pilgrims...all those who serve the true path..here the call of Qaru. An enemy of the faith has come to this most holy city..an enemy that even I cannot defeat alone. I ask you give me your lifeforce..that which gives you your power. Even if your life is all you can give..all that I ask is you help me in this dark hour." Qaru said then slammed his staff onto the ground, an action which teleported Bardock and himself to the roof of a very large white tower.
On the ground somewhere else in the city, the rest of the Z-Fighters looked around in confusion as thousands of white-robe wearing pilgrims emerged from every tower in the world-sized city.
"What is going on..I'm sensing that Bardock is now far superior to his opponent in power..but why do I suddenly have a bad feeling something is going to happen?" Goten asked
"I think thats why." Vegeta said, pointing a white-gloved finger at the multitudes standing around them, all wearing the white robes.
When all the pilgrims and worshippers raised their hands to the sky Goku immediately had a perfect idea of what was going on.
"This is just like when Baby used the people of Earth to power up." Goku said as he narrowed his eyes.
Suddenly the sun in the sky began to set, darkening the sky as a deep blue twilight descended on the world.
Qaru suddenly ripped off his robe. Revealing a thin, yet muscular body beneath. Qaru then raised his hands into the air.
"All who follow the true path...all true believers. Give me your power so that I may defeat the darkness that has falling upon us." Qaru said
From all around the world city a white-gold energy erupted from the ground and flowed towards Qaru's position.
Bardock flew a short distance away from Qaru, even as the energy from around the world struck and merged with Qaru's form.
Qaru faced the sky. His eyes closed and an expression of pure ecstacy on his face.
The incoming energy gathered quicker and quicker. The entire world was illuminated by the lights making their way to Qaru.
Just as with Baby, Qaru's form began to change. His skin changed to the color of solid gold. A vest of platinum appeared on Qaru's chest. Bracers of platinum appeared on both of Qaru's wrists.
On the platinum vest now covering Qaru's chest was the o symbol with the line threw it, the same symbol that had been on his staff.
The energy bombarding Qaru seemed to cease. Bardock immediately sensed just how much stronger his opponent had gotten.
Qaru now stood without a robe now staff in hand. His body was perfect in proportions and seemingly made of precious metals. Qaru's face had changed as well. It looked more metallic than flesh now.
A calm white aura, almost like a steam rising from Qaru's form, surrounded the Ninth demon king.
"Did you see the devotion my followers have? Now all of them are a part of me, their spiritual power flows threw me. With their sprit and faith..I stand now an ascended being." Qaru said as he took a step towards Bardock.
"You think you have power now? Any strength you gain is borrowed power. You may possess great strength..but unless you know how to use it is worth nothing." Bardock said, getting into a fighting pose
"Why? Because I did not train or work hard to gain this power? The true reality of existence does not work like that. It is not honor, nor righteousness that defines existence..only power. It does not matter how one gains it. Such is the true path." Qaru said
"Then lets see if you can handle this. Chaos Avenger!" Bardock yelled as he formed, then tossed, a red ball of energy in Qaru's direction.
Qaru was struck by the attack. Before anything else happened Bardock flew forward and slammed Qaru in the chest with a hard right punch, the kneeled quickly before bringing his left arm upwards, slamming Qaru in the jaw with an uppercut.
Qaru quickly recovered, and flew towards Bardock, his body glowing white.
Bardock caught Qaru's fists in his own hands, then spun around and tossed Qaru into the air. Bardock flew over and behind Qaru, then brought his fists down on Qaru's back.
Qaru fell and slammed into the ground below. Bardock swooped down and landed, then dodged a series of three punches from Qaru before jumping backwards and out of reach of Qaru.
"You do not understand anything about the true nature of existence. You are but a child playing in an infinite sea of sand, blind to everything around you. My master has shown me the truth! Azrael's plan will come to pass. The celestial beings that oppose him will fall! The one who rules all will be overthrown." Qaru said as he rose slowly into the air, a white glow surrounding his metallic form.
"Sounds like you have quite the hobby there. Sorry to say this..but if your trusting Azrael..your a fool. Azrael has no desire to join you in your crusade. His agenda benefits him alone." Bardock said with a slight smile.
"Silence! You have no idea the powers my master has bestowed on me! I will show you exactly what I speak of..then I will share in my masters GLORY!" Qaru yelled, then slammed his foot onto the ground.
Bardock quickly flew up and over the resulting shockwave. But he failed to avoid Qaru when the ninth king leapt over to him and slammed him in the chest with a hard right kick.
Bardock slammed into the ground of the city, creating a crater in the middle of the pristine white cobblestone streets.
Qaru then formed a red sword made of ruby and hard stone in his left hand. Leaping at Bardock with his weapon in hand, Qaru began his next assault.
Bardock cupped his hands together as Qaru approached, then fired a crimson beam of energy at Qaru. Qaru was struck by Bardock's attack, and sent high into the sky.
Bardock followed, only to be forced to dodge several sword slashes from Qaru. Bardock swung his leg around, then kicked Qaru's sword out of his hands.
"It is clear that no normal attack will defeat you." Qaru said.
Qaru rose it the sky, pointing his hand downwards at the ground.
Bardock did his best to guard against what was coming.
Lightning from the ground of the world itself flowed upwards and into Qaru's left hand.
"Lightning Cascade!" Qaru yelled, throwing his electrical attack in Bardock's direction.
Even with all the power he had as a Super Saiyan Four..Bardock was still effected by Qaru's attack. His body spasmed as the electricity made its way threw his body.
Afterwards Bardock found himself on the ground..and worse yet..he found he was unable to move.
As Qaru flew down and landed nearby, the only thoughts going threw Bardock's mind were
"Is this the end?"
In his mind's eye Bardock saw his old teammates standing side-by-side.
"You really going to let his clown beat you Bardock?" Tora asked
"You've been hit with far worse attacks then this." Shugesh said.
"He tried to make you fight your own friends earlier..are you going to let him get away with that?" Borgos said.
"Stand Bardock..or you will never forgive yourself. Defeat him..not just for us..but for our son." Fasha said.
Suddenly Bardock was on his feet. A new resolve gave him the energy and power to stand. Staring with emerald eyes filled with determination, Bardock looked without fear upon Qaru, who walked towards him.
"So my attack was not enough to kill you. A pity...because that means yet more pain awaits you." Qaru said as orange energy emerged from the very ground itself and flowed into Qaru.
"That is right. You are the demon king who controls the power of Earth. As long as your on the ground you have an unlimited supply of energy." Bardock said.
"How observant of you. With that knowledge...do you really think you can defeat me considering as long as my world exists..I will never run out of power." Qaru said with a smile.
"You underestimate me yet again." Bardock said, then rushed forward and slammed Qaru with an uppercut, sending him high into the sky.
Bardock quickly used instant transmission to teleport above Qaru as he approached his position.
Bardock formed two spheres of red energy in both hands, then smashed them together to form a larger red sphere which he held in his right hand.
As Qaru approached Bardock threw his attack.
"Chaos Avenger!" Bardock yelled as the red attack slammed into Qaru.
Qaru's form was torn apart by the attack, leaving nothing but ashes behind.
Just when Bardock was going to celebrate, he heard a laughter which seemingly came from everywhere at once.
"You cannot defeat me..so long as my world remains.." Qaru's voice echoed seemingly from everywhere at once.
Bardock noticed an entire tower fly into the sky. The tower then changed shape into Qaru, apparently forming a new body for the ninth king.
"You underestimate me far more than I underestimated you. There is a reason why I am the ninth king!" Qaru said as orange electricity emerged from the ground and then danced around Qaru's form.
Bardock was not the type to give up in a fight. But how could he defeat someone who's body was the very world itself?
"I could try and destroy the entire world itself..but there are so many innocents..and theres the others to consider..." Bardock thought as Qaru seemed to be preparing an attack of his own.
"I have had enough of this game. It is time to destroy you. You and your allies quest ends here. Azrael will be victorious..Earth will become part of Demon World...and there is nothing you or anyone else can do to stop it!" Qaru yelled as lightning flowed into his left hand.
Qaru then launched his powerful bolt of orange lightning in Bardock's direction. Bardock attempted to fly away, but to his horror Qaru's attack followed him.
"There is no escape!" Qaru yelled
"Come on Bardock! Think!" Bardock thought as he flew further and further over the white city-world.
Suddenly Qaru appeared ahead of him.
"Going somewhere?" Qaru said with a sinister smile on his rocky face.
Bardock flew downwards to avoid the lightning which still followed his every move.
"You can run forever if you want to. My attack will never stop following you!" Qaru yelled.
Bardock flew in between towers, over the city, into the clouds above..and still the lightning chased him.
Finally Bardock had decided he had enough with running, and turned around and fired an attack of his own at the lightning.
Bardock's energy attack was torn to shreds by Qaru's stronger lightning.
"And so your story ends mortal." Qaru said as the lightning got closer..and closer.
"Thunder Flash!" A familiar voice said from nearby.
Suddenly an enormious fireball slammed into Qaru, destroying his body utterly and breaking his concentration.
The lightning following Bardock dissipated harmlessly.
A green skinned alien wearing a white cape-like jacket and a tall black hat and white pants stood on top of one of the white towers. The alien had a black "W" on his forehead.
"Who dares?" Qaru yelled
Elsewhere in the ninth world..
"Pikkon?" Goku asked aloud, suddenly sensing his old friend and rival from Otherworld.
"What?" Vegeta asked
"He is one of the strongest warriors in Otherworld. I promised him a rematch after our last fight ended in a draw." Goku said.
"So I'm not the only one eh? Kakorot you certainly have a way with creating rivals for yourself." Vegeta said.
"Pikkon has gotten so much stronger..wow." Goku said as he leaned against one of the white towers.
The other Z-Fighters all looked up into the sky, sensing the ongoing battle.
Back at the battle..
"You looked like you could use some help." Pikkon said as he got into a fighting stance.
Pikkon stared at Qaru as his newest body floated up from the remains of one of the towers.
Bardock landed next to Pikkon.
"I hope you know what you got yourself into my friend." Bardock said as he also struck a fighting pose.