The Vegeta Chronicles

by Demod20

What if Vegeta was the hero who killed Cell at his most powerful? What if 17 & 18 were given bigger roles in future Arcs? What if Tien Shinhan and other long forgotten characters were suddenly important? This is the series in which those characters get those big roles, and where the DBZ series is retold through their eyes and their perspective. This is...the Vegeta Chronicles!

19. Return of Old Enemies

A/N: So, after some deliberate pondering after reading all of your wonderful Reviews (seriously, thank you guys. I'll make sure to have an addendum after the Chapter Ends with a Review Response time. Please read it if you want to see my response, especially to those who don't have accounts here on-site) I decided to include a Plot Update. That's right, I'm going to be homage the Anime with "Last time on DBZ." C'mon, it'll be fun and it will make old viewers sinking back into this story a bit more up to date with what's going on.

So, without further ado...

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Last time, on The Vegeta Chronicles: The mysterious organization, The Inner Circle, has deployed their agents in an attempt to silence the Z Warriors and keep their existence from being jeopardized. Comprised of humans with powers both strange and obscure, they appear to be nothing but enigmatic with ties to the planet's past. With our heroes closing in on the truth they are left with no choice but to destroy those who seek out their origins.

Trunks faces an army of technologically advanced warriors in West City right next to Capsule Corp; Roshi and Videl combat a dangerous duo in the Central City Mountains; Tien faces a Femme Fatale of Flames over Kame House Island in the sky; and the Three Star Bandits are confronted by the Avatar of the Phoenix.

As their battles reach a peak, Popo has handily beaten the mysterious ninja Ningai whom had destroyed his Doll replicant of Piccolo in an attempt to kill the mysterious Genie. With Gohan pursuing the trail of Inner Circle supplies back to China from Ryūchi's coast, what mysteries will be uncovered and questions answered?

And now, let the Adventure Continue!

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Vegeta Chronicles

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Chapter 19 - Return of Old Enemies

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The Lookout

"Thank you for returning as quickly as you did," Popo bowed humbly as the former Guardian of Earth landed with a soft tap onto the tiled surface.

"You said it was important," Piccolo remarked with a acknowledging nod, definitely not in the mood for small talk. Even now he could feel battles occurring all over Ryūchi. Last he saw Gohan he was following a trail back to a gulf coast and then sped off across the sea. Before he could give chase Popo called him and asked him to come to the Lookout to share something with him.

"Yes," The Genie bowed his head, looking quite grave despite his limited capacity to emote. A bead of sweat crawled down his polished smooth scalp, his turban feeling especially heavy. The weight of his discovery caused him both a disturbing meditation and a series of questions racing through his usually blissful conscious.

"So?" Piccolo growled impatiently, crossing his arms expectantly. "I want to hear it, or are you tricking me into doing something else for you?"

"Not that. Its more about I don't know what to make of it," Popo explained, causing the Namekian he once knew as Kami to stare perplexingly at him. Waving his hands he tried his best to express his feelings. "I have been on this planet for ages, have served as an aide for every Guardian that even came before Kami. But for once I have no idea whom I am looking at the end of the tunnel this man's memories are."

"Who's memories? What are you talking about?" The Ex-Guardian asked with a look of growing dread etched onto his youthful features.

Turning around, Popo briefly walked away, disappearing into thin air soon after. What felt like a handful of seconds he came back as soon as he left. But this time, he returned with a dark clothed man draped over his shoulders. Gently laying him before Piccolo one could see the uncovered face of a young bearded human with scars crossing his left jaw and eyebrow, giving the distinct impression he had been mutilated but not beyond impairment in the past.

"Who is this? An assassin?" Piccolo growled, having firmly been made aware from his collection of his past memories as the Demon King or as the counterpart God Overseer. Few had tried but none have succeeded in either instance. Such a feat was rare but not unheard or forgotten by the reincarnated being of two-now-one entity.

"His name is Ningai. He scaled Korin's tower and leaped up to the Lookout," Popo addressed Piccolo seriously, waving a hand behind him at the now pristine looking grounds, "I spent the time it took you to get here to clean up the mess he made to the Lookout's courtyard. Fortunately he had done nothing to the contents or interior of the living space or any special rooms that have been sealed as per Dende's instructions. However I'm not sure what his true intent was in being here."

"Then what did you want to share with me?" Piccolo snarled, finding his patience waning with the situation at hand concerning him more with every wasted second.

"Place your hand on my head, Piccolo," The Djinn instructed, standing just nary a meter away from the colossal alien. "you must find out in a way that is immediate and without speaking. You alone must know what it is we're facing."

For a brief instance, the fused Namekian was hesitant. What did his oldest friend and associate to his past self want to show him in such a manner he couldn't use words? Disregarding it as he felt more Ki signatures spike with increased intensity from a distance he threw doubt into the wind and placed his hand onto the turban enclosed crown of Popo.

Closing his eyes, he began sifting through the thoughts of Popo, more of course of recent merit.

He found the sight of him battling an effigy of himself briefly amusing up until he backtracked and began seeing through the eyes of Ningai himself. True to Popo's word he climbed up Korin's Tower from his trek across Korin Valley. He was truly a silent and cautious character, avoiding all known contact that could be had in that area. Farther he seemed to have run, even across the sea his feet impossibly ran for kilometers. When he saw an shadowy silhouette of what looked like the upper half of a crescent moon shaped island with a pagoda temple on top he saw a series of intricate doors, a metal double-door elevator and then finally a meditation room. Within there he saw a dark shadow encapturing a man who stood with his back to the bowed ninja, looking out of the structure's only visible window.

"I have a special task for you, my disciple."

"What is it, Ryu-dono?"

"There is a place, a secret location, within a land known as Korin Valley. High above the revered Korin Tower you must climb to its top. From there you must leap to an elevated temple used to house a particularly young Namekian with great wisdom and knowledge. You will make sure he doesn't notice your approach as there are items of important significance within this esteemed Palace. Other than that, if you come into contact with the Keeper or the Namekian, use whatever means necessary to escape or silence those who've seen you."

"And if I should meet opposition?"

"You should be able to handle the Namekian Bodyguard if he is there, but with luck he should be not present. If you meet any other mysterious variables, eliminate them. The fewer tongues the less likely word will spread."

"As you wish, so it shall be done, Ryu-dono."

Piccolo furrowed his brows even as he tried to extract more information that Popo had from Ningai. Knowing that Dende was a target, most likely either for interrogation or assassination made his blood boil. The Nail within him was especially outraged while the Kami part of him was restraining his own boiling blood to impulsively killing the unconscious man outright. Calming himself he continued to look through memories.

Figures he hadn't seen before flashed before his eyes, some capable of being remembered while others flickered past too quickly to be noticed. Pictures of places he had no recollection or knowledge continued to be funneled through his mind. When it ended, there was an overwhelming presence both in his body and soul at the sight of a white hooded man with piercing crystal hued eyes staring at him with an overpowering glare. Then the voice of the face's owner flickered into his mind just as he finished extracting the thoughts from Popo.

"Do your worst. You cannot hope to touch me."

Releasing his hand back Piccolo gasped at what he felt as much as he saw within his own mind's eye. Heaving breaths were taken as he looked down and saw the hand that was used trembled. "Who is he? How could he know that I'd look through Ningai's thoughts to find out more about them? And why can I feel myself shaking at the sound of his voice?"

"I do not know who that man is," Popo answered Piccolo's next question, a bead of sweat crawling down his own scalp as he bowed his head apologetically, "I've never seen that man but his presence strikes a chord of familiarity. Despite all of this I do not know why he wants to harm any of you."

"It won't matter soon enough," Piccolo stated with a dark undertone. Turning his back on Mr. Popo, he looked out in a specific cardinal direction. Combining his Ki sense with his newly acquired memories, he found the place where the attacker came from. Powering up just nary a percentage of his full strength the white flamed outline of the Namekian leaped up into the sky before nosediving in a corkscrew spin. After raising up just a hair's breath above the treeline of Korin Valley he shot off at a speed easily many times faster than sound, intending on reaching his destination swiftly without delay.

As soon as Piccolo had left, a pair of footsteps sounded behind Popo, emerging from seemingly oblivion.

Each clap of boot soles left an audible impression too familiar to the dark colored entity. Beads of sweat emerged along his non reflective scalp, furthering the look of shock on his simple featured visage. Turning slowly to look over his shoulder he stumbled around and nearly fell over. The sight of the figure approaching couldn't be anyone else yet he hadn't sensed him or his approach in the slightest.

Any question of how long was he there was evaporated when the man's full appearance came into view. Long locks of dark brown hair wafted within the high altitude wind of the Lookout. A pair of locks framed his sharp facial features, lacing from his elbows up to temples with sharp brows covered by a pair of dark sunglasses. Gloved hands were pocketed in his matte black suit slacks, matching his top along with an ankle length coat that flourished and whipped about behind him in sync with his hair.

After he reached a ten meter distance between the Genie and himself, he stopped with an eerie pause in the air. As the wind howled, unusually hostile sounding for a monument so high up in the sky the man in bleak hued trappings stared on impassively. No intent or anything seemed to come off from him at all. Something that could be described about Mr. Popo for anyone meeting him for the first time.

"What...are you doing here?" Popo asked with a nervous visage that was caked in sweat, still reeling in the shock at this man's arrival.

"Come now, Mr. Popo," The guest began, his voice smooth yet emotionless, making his attempt at snark sound crisp in the Lookout air. "I know it has been ages since you last saw me but I shouldn't be that forgettable."

"I know who you are, Ryukage," The Djinn's eyes hardened, coming across as an intimidating glare for someone with such limited expression. "I know the man I had trained and guided for years. What I don't know is why you are here, as I had queried not but a few moments ago."

"I'm sorry," Ryukage replied coldly, having no hint of sincerity as he cocked his head to the side, "I don't think I understand the merit of such a question. You're standing between me and my objective so you should know by now whenever I am here precisely what I am doing."

"It has been five hundred years since we last spoke," Popo stated as if it was obvious, waving an arm out in a show of exasperation. "I cannot understand what motivates you to show yourself now of all times. Nor can I find it within the man I once saw protect a whole world to send such a subordinate to potentially harm my current charge. My question is completely relevant!"

"Irrelevant, given we both know what I am here for now," Ryukage briskly brushed off Popo's statement, his walk renewing towards his old colleague. "Popo. Stand aside."

"I will not!" Popo waved both arms to each side, his angry orbs creased downward with a show of vindication. "I command you to leave, Ryukage! You are not welcome here any longer!"

A footstep after the Genie shouted and he felt the whole world plummet from tense silence to an unbelievable thunderous roar. The world distorted as if it was made of static laced film. An unholy white aura shined brightly from Ryukage's otherwise black colored attire and dark haired crown. The exertion of power was enough to cause Popo to fall to stumble, feeling himself exert just to stand five meters away from the slowly approaching man.

"Don't raise your voice to God, Mister Popo," Ryukage chided in a smooth tone, unperturbed in the slightest by the stalwart watcher of the Lookout. "I remembered when this was a revered Holy Ground. God's Palace it was called and it was watched over by a deity far above the lowly mortals of this world. Now it became home to an aging coward and then to a child who had no knowledge of this world. How far has your post truly has stooped to that of a babysitter, old friend?"

At four meters away, Popo felt himself start to lose his composure. His lips warbled with trepidation and anxiousness. It felt like an ocean was rushing towards him at a snail's pace. For all of his unknown and mysterious power or skill he couldn't help but feel powerless by his own unwillingness to face his former disciple; the predecessor of Kami himself.

When three meters was all that separated them, the Djinn acted in an unexpected way. Raising his hands, he clapped them four times, giving the approaching former deity pause. When the sound of hissing claps of feet hit the ground behind him, he only had to briefly turn his head to look over his shoulder to see whom it was.

It was the Dolls of Son Goku, Son Gohan, Vegeta and Future Trunks. All of which bore the attire of their last visit to the Time Chamber. The only exception that these Doppelgangers had from their counterparts was demonic masks strapped over their faces made of wood. Well, Trunks and Vegeta's did, Gohan and Goku's had simplistic expressions etched in an almost cartoonish fashion. With all four of them transforming in unison in a thrum of golden light, they truly appeared just as dangerous as their originals had been at the Cell Games.

"If I can get him distracted enough," Popo thought, watching the Dolls launch themselves at Ryukage with his back still more or less turned to them. "I could possibly hit him in a vital spot. At the very least I can force him off the Lookout without-"

A sound of thunder followed by four thuds cut off Popo's plans entirely. If his anatomy could allow him to turn a shade paler, he'd be chalk white at seeing what transpired. All four Dolls were dismantled by well executed strikes by Ryukage, moving at a speed that caught him off guard. Having turned swiftly enough to look as if he hadn't moved from his spot, the former deity of the Lookout continued walking with hands pocketed, not reacting at all to the now four piles of wooden bodies that lied crumpled unevenly on the tiled ground.

"I know you have the power to challenge me, Mister Popo," Ryukage murmured evenly, passing by the Djinn without him able to turn to look at his former pupil and charge in the eye. All he could do was look at the Dolls he manufactured with horror at just what level this man had ascended to. When he heard Ningai's body lifted off the ground over his shoulder, he turned to look over his own shoulder at the man's back, just in time to see him disappear in a flicker of movement. "I also know you don't have the strength to use it against a dear old friend, even if you were the one to banish me from this place. So stay here, Keeper of the Lookout. Stay here and watch the world fade away as you become irrelevant to it all."

Reaching out at the collar of the man's coat, the Genie felt himself gasp as the pressure immediately left upon his disappearance. Swallowing hard, he felt his eyes well up with tears, hands balling up at his sides. Bowing his head he knew the man he once trained, mentored and guided was now so far away. He couldn't do a thing by his own nature and that made him weep.

Once again, he was all alone on the empty Lookout.

"Everyone...please survive this!" Popo silently prayed for everyone's safety as he felt the battles continue onward far below the tiled grounds.

---

Storage Location #3, 30 Miles East of West City

The atmosphere was incredibly hot.

Every breath Yamcha inhaled only served to make his throat drier. His lips chapped and his eyes teared up just staring in the direction of Edge. The heat was extraordinary, something to such an extent that Launch was seen stumbling back with arms covering her face. Steam radiated her skin as it began to burn just by proximity to the man's immense Ki output. And judging from what the scar-faced martial artist sensed, it was something he didn't want to face.

"Dammit!" Launch cried out, peering through the crevice her crossed gauntlets made to peek at their stalwart enemy standing before them. She felt her body beginning to bake just being close. She wished she had the whole set of armor instead of leaving the rest for Bulma's tireless tinkering.

"Launch! You have to get to cover!" Yamcha said, his aura engulfing himself to provide what little barrier he could in the face of such heat waves.

"Like Hell I'll step down! That jackass cut me! He's going to pay for that!" She retorted with a vicious snarl behind the roar of Edge's fiery mantle.

"If you just stand there, he'll make you pay for what you-" The former bandit trailed off, finding his eyes widening as his long hair flourished over his back in the wake of what appeared to be a bright golden light. Searing through the air at speeds only he could register, he kicked off the air and flew between the light and Launch. Barely reaching her in time, he swung his blade to cut through the blaze of light while pushing her to the ground.

A guttural cry of pain followed by lapses of tongues of fire flowing around the his Ki infused sword. While it deflected the majority of it, the high temperature by just standing next to it torched his skin and heated his own grip on the blade. When it finally subsided Yamcha felt his arm hang limp, now a dark charcoal color with cracks of pus and blood leaking from the useless limb. Most of his upper right torso was marred with red burned tissue, still steaming from the attack's deflection. Part of his right face was blackened, causing only a single eye to stare back at Edge with contempt and anguish.

"You managed to survive and deflect it," Edge stated out loud, his only working eye twinkling slightly with amusement. "I commend you for your effort, but if that's as far as you can go then you're nothing better than the girl."

"Shut it, you bastard!" Launch shouted back, but found her rising form kept down not just by the high temperature waves. It was Yamcha's burnt form, angling himself to keep her from facing him directly. Her eyes stung at keeping them open but she knew if he hadn't been there she would have been turned to ashes. Turning her face away in shame, she grabbed at the desert floor with a silent curse.

"Yamcha!" Maron cried out, rushing towards his side in a single leap. Unknown to the black maned swordsman, he was unable to see that not a single fleck of sweat dotted Maron's body. Despite this, he took two steps forward bravely facing the enemy.

"I'm...fine, Maron," Yamcha insisted, growling as he kept his ground. Raising up his left arm, he collected a large volume of Ki within his palm. Stretching it with a loud shout, he complemented his reassurance with a golden wave of Ki at Edge. "This is nothing!"

When the Ki struck Edge, it appeared to vaporized in a field of harmless sparks. No explosion happened and no inch made the Phoenix bearer budge. He simply stared stoically on, raising his now fire laced sword up in preparation to dealing a death blow.

"Yamcha," Maron spoke in a quiet tone, something her lover knew all too well as a sign of seriousness. When her eyes met his injured face, she coldly enunciated, "I want you to get into the pit. As you are now, you'll only get in the way."

"But, Maron-"

"Whatever you do, stay down in there," She commanded, her sapphire orbs glimmering in the orange overcast that Edge's form cast. "I'll be down there in a few minutes to get you out. If you or Launch remove yourselves, I may not guarantee I can spare you. Do you understand?"

"Well, no-" Yamcha trailed off, suddenly feeling himself and Launch lurched around by both of Maron's hands. Unceremoniously rolling into the pit they found it to be significantly cooler than the outside. Even while he felt severe pain with the burns placed on him, his head felt significantly more agony at landing into one of Launch's armored hands. "OW!"

"Maron," Launch gasped, finding her scalded body spreadeagled over Yamcha's, looking helplessly up to where her friend for the last few years was. "Please don't die!"

A searing flash of orange-golden light followed by the barrier all but collapsing by Edge's hands. It carved ten meters to the left of the hole, creating a gouge of sizzling grains that stretched on for a quarter of a mile. To the fire winged swordsman's chagrin, he saw Maron on the precipice of the pit, her sword steaming but having well parried it without a mark on her.

"You baffle me with your skill as much as your sinister power eludes me," He remarked, taking cautious steps forward while raising his sword up in a presenting manner. "I again ask who taught you before I have the honor in slaying you."

Maron sighed as she lowered her left arm, currently wielding her sword while her primary arm was held by her side. In one inhale, the turquoise haired woman exhaled what looked like a dark colored gas from her own lungs. Following that was an eerie film of darkness that overlapped the cooked atmosphere, causing the swords that circled them to become brittle and decay, soon shattering like glass onto the darkening desert earth. Her colorful hair soon became a rich bleak hue of colorless black, eyes reflecting it by pools of pupiless obsidian.

The Phoenix host simply looked on in sudden awe. The heat that radiated from his own body began to glow softer, the feeling of a chilling wave came from the thick film that now inhabited the very air around him. He noticed it had spread over the better part of a half kilometer. When he turned his working eye to look at her again, away from the dying wasteland around him, he saw her place her palm over the sharp end of the katana. When she slid it over her palm, he noticed the blood that escaped her pores transformed into a crystalline substance that flourished around her like a wisp of dark glass.

"My name isn't Maron," She began to explain, inclining her sword as the carbonized substance clung to her weapon and soon made it ebb a mist bearing dark violet texture. Her back began to protrude an elegant pair of what appeared to be wings. But instead of avian in design the shards formed a dark energy imbued pair of monarch appendages, whistling at a high pitch with every rapid flutter made behind her. Swinging her sword to her left, the dust kicked up and then was obliterated in a large tidal wave of disintegration. Tossing the weapon back to her right, she murmured out loud in a rich, rippling tongue that didn't resemble the enthusiastic and charming voice all knew her by. "I am Hana of the Yūgure Clan. I am its only survivor that I know of. This is why I did not expect you to know whom trained me."

"The Yūgure Clan?! Then...that means she's a-" Edge's line of thought interrupted when the spot inhabiting her dark mantled self was lost to him. In another second a wraith of motion flourished over him, followed by an arc of violet flames. When his sword returned a violent swing up, a clash of pressure sparked in the air like electricity followed by the sandy earth behind him to whip out at a violent rate.

"Ngh! She's strong," The Phoenix swordsman concurred as his sword of bright flames lapped about like the smoke that spewed from Maron's dark blade. Pushing against it, he shoved forcefully against his opponent till they were high up into the air. Folding both wings behind him he gave them a mighty forward flap just as his sword swung a gleaming arc of infernal light at her, sending her streaking across the sky. "But I will not fall again!"

Soaring through the sky, Edge swung his blade in criss-cross angles, sending searing crosses of heated Ki towards the Yūgure swords woman. Dancing through the air she deftly avoided the attacks outright her own energies nullifying their inherent dangerous temperatures as she dodged them. When she reached his position, her sword made a circular gesture, creating a halo of violet colored shards of smoldering energy.

"Ku!" She cried out with a thrust through its center, sending the shards flying through a dark blur of Ki acceleration.

Reacting quickly, the Phoenix warrior turned in the air and wrapped his front with his own fiery left wing. Shielding him from the worst of the projectiles with only a few piercing through the burning appendage, he countered with a blind charge. Thrusting his sword forward he unleashed a magnanimous proportioned wave of orange-yellow flames in the shape of an enlarged sword.

Maron danced gracefully soared up and above the blast of fiery Ki, in turn flipping over Edge while narrowly missing a back ax kick. The wing of flames, despite protecting his head, seemed to dim in its magnificent glow and gave the Circle Agent an affect that alarmed him. Everything about his mantle seemed to ebb and worsen the longer he was in contact with her. It frustrated him to no end he had no idea why it resembled that moment of weakness he had on the moving truck fight he had with her only hours prior.

Twisting about, he parried a number of high momentum strokes by the silent artisan of death. Her attacks were now more ruthless than before, aiming to not disable but to kill. It was both refreshing and terrifying to see such a significant change take place before his eyes. Each exchange of sword swings was enough to destabilize air pockets within the skyline, rivulets of dark and bright energy spearing through the heavens each time they locked blades.

Deciding to take a bold move, Edge backpedaled just a hair's breath away from Maron's down stroke before returning with a rapid upper cut. While she moved to evade and counter at the same time, he risked harm to himself by palming the side of her blade. A dark chill rang up and down from the tips of his fingers to his very heart. He felt himself almost black out by touching her blade but had managed to regain himself at the moment his Hellishly hot weapon found purchase into her left shoulder.

As he found a small amount of victory was snuffed out at the display of near instant recovery. Gaseous black smoke hissed out of quickly repaired flesh, the dark hued vapor coming off her own blood sifting into her own wings seeming to make them even larger and more solid than before. Any damage he had done simply had undone itself right before his eyes.

To make matters worse, he looked down and gasped at the sight of his ghastly pale hand. Dark veins devoid of the flames that burned brightly around him weakly pulsed around what could pass as a rotten hand. After staring at it for a few seconds he was caught off guard when she returned favor by the sight of the outer ring of her left monarch wing's makeup swirling around her smoke spewing blade.

"Kan."

A surprisingly swift stroke level in the air and a violet colored arc of crystalline infused energy cut across his midsection. Blood oozed out of his mouth and much to his surprise the cold feeling seemed to increase, making an effort just to stay upright within the sky. The flames around him were starting to become so dim that the wings were almost completely evaporated and his hair was losing its bright red color.

"The Yūgure Clan's special power...am I falling to it despite my being the current Phoenix host...?" Edge asked himself without finding his voice creating the words.

"The power I hold is a dreadful one," Maron spoke solemnly, seeming to know exactly what look in his dimming eyes of his. Raising her sword she gripped it to be perpendicularly aligned to her right monarch wing. As it began to dismantle it swirled around and began to construct something as she finished explaining. "I cannot refute that you are someone who bears the Phoenix within you. Somehow, you found its corpse after it was long since buried and took in its essence. Lighting yourself aflame you no doubt took upon its properties and its inherent immortality to not be slain ordinarily. But, in the face of Entropy, not even the Phoenix can rebirth itself forever."

It was something that Edge couldn't bring himself to understand. He was slowly dying and it wasn't because of the power's properties going awry. It was that this woman was Death personified. His grim reaper had come in the form of a deceivingly harmless woman and held a blade readied for execution.

Gritting his bloodied teeth, he couldn't help but find it all laughable. After years of selfless service to the Circle he was finally going to fall. Raising his blade in front of him, the wings that were upon his back were now dismantling into a maelstrom of brightly shining feathers. Attaching to his sword it soon became a bright winged hilt with a talon shaped sword of howling Ki that permeated the air.

"If I am going to die, I will ensure I do my all to kill you, Avatar of Death," Edge declared valiantly, earning a slight smile from Maron. Holding his newly forged weapon out of his own dwindling life force, he watched her rise with her own newly constructed weapon. From his eyes it looked like a ghostly blade of violet glittering gems marred by dark shadows that swirled within the inner true sword.

Silently she kicked off the air in a pulse of violet-black light, pulling back her sword till the back of it touched her side. At the same time, Edge rushed up in a plume of jetting flames from his sandal soles while raising it over his head. Reaching each other at the same time he swung his blade down just as her sword stroke ran across.

The sight of a single hilt-less sword was sent haphazardly flying up, glinting in the desert Sun's gleam. When it began to flutter down it reflected Maron's black maned back, her own sword held at her side stained red just as a shower of ichor flourished up over her front. Edge's eyes began to be defused as a ghastly thick cut had all but cut him in a perfect bifurcation, leaving his lower half arms and torso with attached legs to drop separately from his now black haired upper half. Just under him was a deep chasm, carved by Maron's attack seeming to stretch a distant quarter mile in length while its depth seemed to bury Edge's body as it dropped below the bloodied now one-winged reaper.

"Goodbye, my friend," Maron whispered as her dark eyes looked sorrowfully down at the pit which she buried him in. "I will never forget your strength or your will. Take honor in your death and be reborn a better person in the afterlife."

---

Kame House, The Gulf around the Island

Tien didn't think he'd be on the run so soon after facing an opponent. He had anticipated someone capable of inducing harm to lower levels or even his past self. But this kind of enemy sent chills running up and down his spine. The moment she had fully engulfed herself in flames it seemed like any hope of making contact with her was futile.

All he could do was avoid her as best as he can without having the island come under fire.

"What's the matter, big man?!" Flare cried out as her infernal form burned brightly in the sky enough to cast an orange gleam upon the sea's surface. As she chastised her enemy, she continued to launch dozens of Ki fireballs, all of which sought after Tien as his bare chested form zoomed over the ocean. Each one exploded into geysers of vapor, pluming up each and every time they narrowly missed the triclopian fighter. "Are all you good for is big talk and running away?"

Briefly looking over his shoulder, Tien narrowed an eye just prior to him plunging into the water below. The current slowly was driven invisible, all except the resonating beat of the stout warrior's Ki. Something he knew his enemy would take full advantage of.

"Truly, you must think that the realm of logic works against my flames. Sucks to be you!" Flare shouted out with a cackle, upraising her palms over her fiery tresses. Unleashing a renewed volley of what could be confused for magma balls, the heated blasts pierced the fabric of moisture and hissed till they hit the bottom of the gulf bed. Large explosions of steam and liquid heat rose up to bathe the air with heated H20, making a hazy environment the more she attacked him from above.

An eerie silence was cast over the steam filled sky, with Flare lowering herself in altitude by a dozen meters just to attempt to get a better view. But unfortunately for her hastiness of laying waste to the fleeing opponent, she had no clear view of anything now. Relying purely on Ki sense, she felt him scurry about in the water and then instantly disappear from her senses altogether.

"Where did he go?" She thought with a few blinks, looking left to right, turning around in circles with her flaming form primed for attack.

Then, she caught sight of a silhouette of her enemy to the left.

Without even a hiss, she twisted in the air and kicked, sending a lance of piercing lava. Streaking through the air at a high singing pitch, the spear of Ki burrowed through the human shaped shadow. When the steam parted to reveal the undulating figure nothing could be seen but a flickering mirage.

"Afterimage?" Flare questioned with an angry twitch.

"Over here!" She heard him call out from behind. Twisting around she palmed the air to send a wide blaze of flames to torch the talking piece of sky. When she saw nothing this time she gritted her teeth with mounting frustration.

"You fuckin'-!" She began to swear until she felt another whoosh of movement around her.

"No, over here!" Flare heard, causing her to spin with a hand reared back.

"Where are you looking?" Another flickering motion and sound was heard to her left.

"I meant here!" Followed by another.

"What's the matter? Come and get me!" Another cried out.

"Wow, you suck at this game," Cried out a complementary taunt adding to all of the others.

Twitches formed over her entire being, causing the flaming aura to crackle like a bonfire. Teeth were bared, eyes widened with unseen pupils dilated and hair springing outward. The dance around her was just proving how capable of speed he was able to produce and just mocked her. He was everywhere and nowhere, driving the point with insult to injury with every snide remark.

At last, she snapped.

A wordless scream was let loose from her throat just as the last witty remark came out, her limbs spreading in the air as a torrential maelstrom of pyrotechnic energy exploded forth. The shockwave that followed distended the sea, cracked the Kame House isle's glass and scorched heaven down to the water below in a ever-encompassing blaze of flames. The orange-golden fireball almost was as bright as a dwarf star, causing the floating Chiaotzu to cover his eyes at the sheer glare of the attack that seemed to erase Tien's Ki from his senses.

"Tien?" Chiaotzu breathed out with a quiet sense of alarm.

"Hah...Hah...Hah," Flare heaved, more from relieving pressure than strain on her powers. Her glowing form now softly glowed, reined in easier than simply lashing out at random. Feeling no sign of the man's Ki she chuckled languidly, turning her gaze over to the diminutive partner hovering over the house planted island. "I killed the three eyes. Now I can go after the midget."

Lazily she coasted across her altitude to gain distance to the main target. She hadn't a clue why her original mission was just to destroy a measly island. Was it really worth all the trouble?

"SHIN!"

"What?!" Flare echoed back, her mouth gasping at hearing a voluminous shout emanate from below. Looking down she felt the sudden explosion of Ki, a swirling whirlpool of seawater cycling around the perpendicularly hovering triclops. His hands had seemed to form a triangle shape, an old technique that she had studied for the documented profiles of each fighter. Her flames reignited to new proportions when she realized what it was at the last second. "I WON'T-!"

"KIKOHO!" Tien roared out, transferring all of his concentrated Ki into a concussive shockwave that expanded outward like a kinetic bomb. The sight was similar to a rippling seismic blast emitting in the ocean except above in the heavens. When it traveled all the way up Flare was helpless to deflect it and took the full brunt of the attack. She shrieked out as her brilliant aura was sheared off and her frame; receiving lacerations along with spittle spewing out of her mouth along with flecks of blood her body was knocked up a dozen meters head over heels before slowly drifting down to the ocean below.

"Tien!" Chiaotzu cried out.

"Relax, Chiaotzu," Tien replied through telepathy, smiling as he turned his back to the falling frame of Flare. "I think that got her."

"No! She's not unconscious!" Chiaotzu countered with a worried shriek in his consciousness.

With all three eyes widened, he felt a whipping flash of heat ignite behind him. Twisting around he caught sight briefly of Flare, bleeding and bruised, but very much not beaten. With one thumb folded over four extended fingers she lashed across the air, creating a blistering blade of tangible flames; this time, it hit its mark dead-on.

Tien let out a pained shout as a bubbling cut burrowed deep into his abdomen's flesh. The lateral eruption of flames almost encroaching to the rest of his chest. The agony was overwhelming and caused him to stumble back away from the grimacing yet very much proud woman at her attack's connection.

"That's gotta sting, having your skin turn into bubbly mass as it slowly eats away the rest of your body," She mused out as Tien continued to struggle as the fire continued to eat away at his skin, allowing herself time to wipe away the blood ebbing from her less than brilliantly glowing visage, "I wonder if your blood is boiling right now, not figuratively but literally. I wonder if you're going to pop before you turn to ash. That'd be fun to see. Go on! Explode!"

Snarling with new found vehemence, Tien flexed his arms and willed himself to stop panicking. Even as the wound continued to bubble with the fire still eating away at his skin he gathered up a vital amount of Ki around his area of injury. Then, with a few veins bulging around his forehead he let out a strained shout as a crackling shockwave emerged from his chest, dousing the flames entirely.

While she was briefly taken aback, she knew from prior experience that Tien had firsthand knowledge how to breakdown her flames. Seeing the dark, steaming scar painted over his midsection, she noticed it was the second one he had received atop of Tao's slash across his upper torso. With depraved delight she knew she'd be the one to inflict more than that on his form before she's done.

"C'mon, Three-Eyes," Flare crowed out, holding up a pair of priming fireballs that danced over her fiery skin like miniature stars, "I can't imagine you have much left in you. Besides, this was a bad match-up from the start. You need to face the facts; you can't handle a real woman in a fight."

A barely audible chuckle was heard by the fire-borne vixen, causing her head to cock to the side and her smile retract. When she saw the sweating triclops slowly raise himself back to full readiness without breathing hard she knew something was off. It was only confirmed when he clenched his fists at his sides, eyes glaring at her while a dark smile remained on his face.

"A real woman? Don't kid yourself," Tien grinned wildly, now grunting as his muscles began to enlarge his energy returning with a slowly swelling thrum. "You aren't half the woman I know Launch is! Besides, I've yet to show you my full power!"

"What are you kidding yourself? You don't have anything-" Flare began to retort until the heavens and sea shook with an intense quaking pressure. A pulse of Ki rushed out like a hurricane wind, pushing back Flare across the sky. This was followed by another thrumming ejection of energy as his overall power rose higher and higher. It was when it hit a certain precipice that it didn't feel like ordinary Ki, large or otherwise. Like a gate into an overwhelming world let loose on her senses it seemed to bear upon her person heavily, causing her breaths to come short and her gaze dizzy.

A dozen meter distance away floated Tien now bathed less in a burning aura of white fiery light as he once was. Now it was a gentle mantle of silver light, almost erasing sight of his physical attributes that have bulged to contain the immense flow of power. His eyes, once onyx in hue, now were a piercing grey. The ocean below was pushed out in either direction, with continuous winds blowing out from his current aura roaring out.

"Say hello to my own technique," Tien announced in a more confident yet indifferent tone to his enemy. "Sora-ken."

"I never heard anything about this!" Flare thought as she backed away in the air, her aura seemed incredibly less bright as it once was. Arms raised defensively she had no idea what to expect from such a peak of strength facing her. Gritting her teeth, she gathered flames into both of her arms, wanting to strike first before he could. "I don't care how strong he's become. I still hold the advantage! If I can get his flesh aflame once more, I'll make sure to burn him alive till nothing remains!"

In the time she was deliberating on how to exact her preemptive strike, the Crane Schooler made it first. Pulling back his arm, he concentrated his Ki into a punch. Swinging it forward toward her direction much in a same way he saw Goku did to Chi-Chi decades ago in the 23rd Tournament. But unlike the gentle knock out the Ox Princess had received, this was anything but a nice thrust.

Leaving an impression the width of a mountain across the horizon the air punch was sent soaring to its target at seconds pace. Like thunder an explosion of pressure hit Flare's entire body, her arms contorting in odd angles for bracing against the attack unknowingly. The rest of her was sent soaring along with a kilometer of oceanic surface, sending her petering away into the horizon. Any sign of consciousness was lost as her eyes rolled to the back of her head, the flames ebbing off her skin evaporate.

Before she could descend into the sea, her body was caught, limply hitting the broad and injured chest of the warrior who bested her. Looking down sternly, he had half a mind to end her just now. But no, he needed to know who sent her and why. The knowledge could come first. After that, he had no reservations on ending her.

He knew he wasn't any Son Goku.

"Chiaotzu," Tien announced as he appeared in an almost instant with his new found power's speed, still clad and shimmering brilliantly around him. "Let's see what we can learn from our uninvited guest."

"I'll do my best," The diminutive proportioned friend of his nodded sagely, reaching out with telekinesis, to set her down on the beach. Placing hands upon her crown, he began to concentrate. What would he find within her mind, he shuddered to consider.

---

Central City Mountains, Northern Valley

Videl found herself cut off from her Master, almost on an opposite area of the normally serene peaks. Her clash with Castle was a true test of her mettle against an enemy aiming to take her out. No quarter was given to her, almost akin to Piccolo's training; the only stray difference was that there was unrestrained Killing Intent behind this man's actions. This was not training, this was a fight for survival!

Dashing back and forth across the rocky ravine to a particularly large lake, she felt the heat of the man's energy blasts narrowly miss the mark each time. Taking only a second to look back as her ponytail whipped in the wind she could tell without Ki Sense that he was hot on her tail. The clean shaven man was easily as tall as her father was at his prime but she knew he was much stronger than he ever claimed or demonstrated to be. It also didn't make matters easier when he had an arsenal of tech on his person that made him a walking armory of unfriendly surprises.

One such surprise came when the brace on his left arm swiveled around like a clock and opened up a compact missile. Taking only a few seconds to prime its targeting system, the hand-sized projectile launched with a whistling departure from the man's wrist. Surprisingly it moved at a faster pace than the one who fired the explosive.

Grimacing, Videl spun around the lake, finding herself continually chased by the death seeking dart. Carving fissures within the body of water she looked over her shoulder to see Castle pursuing albeit at a safer distance. Smiling slightly she took the gap in visibility to plunge herself straight into the lake.

Petering bubbles of oxygen curled along with the warping depths as the missile arced through it in an attempt to keep up. Turning around at the last second she thrust a palm forward, creating a depth charge of Ki to disturb the projectile. As the missile arced and became mangled a less than substantial explosion spewed upward for Castle to see.

Toggling his dark rectangular shaped shades' HUD, he began toggling readings for what lied underneath the lake's surface. Seeing nothing but a field of static, he couldn't tell if his senses were declining or that the girl was somehow muting her Ki more than he could. But when he felt a sudden surge of motion under the water he twisted around and discharged a brilliant golden beam of Ki from his outstretched palm.

Watching a rising Videl get skewered by the blast through the middle caused him to smile broadly with victory, "Gotcha!"

The sensation of strong hands grappling his heels took him off guard during his reverie of accomplishment. Pulled under the water he briefly thrashed out to break free only to be pulled feet first back up through the lake's top. Videl, very much intact, rapidly spun him around and around in the air till she created a whirlwind of motion.

Upon the last rotation she tossed him with all the might she could muster, sending him barreling across the valley to the base of the mountain. Not banking on the idea he'd just let himself smash into the rocky wall, she raised her hand up above her head to gather as much Ki as she could in five seconds. When she was satisfied with the amount, she pointed her now glowing golden hand, releasing a searing beam with a shout. "MASENKO-HA!"

Still pinwheeling back, the tech armed human found himself staring at the column of light racing after him like a chariot on fire. Gritting his teeth, he reached up and tapped the side of hsi visor to enact a particular protocol. At the last second he palmed his belt, halting himself in midair with a quaking dispersal of momentum and airwaves. Raising one hand to face the pillar of light he placed the other behind him, firing off a column of Ki behind him as the offensive hand glowed a bright orange hue.

"Fortress Cannon!" Castle roared out, unleashing an explosive coral colored sphere of energy at the yellow beam. When it bulldozed through the head of energy, it swirled, being wrapped up within the wave of light. Then it detonated with a sonic boom that indented the earth and pushed back the waves from the lake's shore.

As the agent of Master Squad lowered himself back to the ground just next to the mountain base he felt one seismic vibration followed by another. The thunderous booms of Ki crashing against each other while the natural formations of rock and earth shuddered with every collision. Glaring over his shoulder, he could tell even without his shades that the blows were all Kyoshō and Roshi's doing.

Returning his stare to a now ground based Videl, whom seemed to be biding her own time, he grumbled to himself with abject frustration.

"This girl is just wasting my time," Agent Castle thought with hidden twitches underneath his blocky shades that continued to feed him intel on his target and the given environment. "I should be helping Kyoshō finish off the old coot. The more time we waste, the more potential our cover will be compromised or one of our comrades will fall without our intervention."

Growling, the Inner Circle soldier squatted down and swung both arms with hands clenched into fists. According to his HUD's specs flickering within the dark colored lens, his power was rising immensely. His already staunch build was swelling with girth and gained weight with the inflation of Ki filling his body. The earth cracked and broke, bio-currents crackled around his whole person as even the mountain face behind him quickly eroded in the face of such Ki output.

Any sign of confidence was erased by the sight of perplexity his enemy made.

With the same idea in mind, the young student of the Demon and Turtle Schools spread her legs and crossed her arms over her lower jaw. Just as he assumed his own stance of drawing out his own power, his HUD noticed something odd. The output of Ki measured by an unnecessary series of digits was not growing like his. It seemed to be getting smaller; almost being erased upon will.

At the same time her body to be alight with a serene halo of golden light that hugged her body like a second skin. Pure as snow tinted particles ebbed off her body, just as her braid tied ponytail rose up gently, her body not permeating the same kind of environmental hazard projection as Castle was. The sight of her exhaling and her arms dropping to her waist was enough to draw a baffled tilt from the Circle enforcer.

That was until an explosion of pain followed a very audible clap of thunder. His whole body bent downward as his hulking form lifted up from the cratered earth, a single shining fist wedged up within his large abdomen. Any indication that his enemy had moved or was coming was completely missed by his instruments and his senses. One moment he was curious and the next he was doubling over in pain.

"I can't maintain this form for too long," Videl explains as spittle and blood continued to leak profusely around the man's gaunt chin. As he looked up with his eyes sneering behind his glasses, he could see a measured look of contempt hidden behind a wall of confident stoicism. When she finished explaining, her arm was already drawn back in preparation for another attack. "So this means I'll have to end it in this next strike."

"Like Hell you will!" Castle snarled, overcoming his pain with the rage and adrenaline flooding his veins. Rearing back he swung one arm around to bowl through her stark contrasting form with his own crackling aura covered limb. When he saw her image dissolve, an elbow was already cracking through his armor covered upper torso, shattering his sternum along with nearly every single rib.

With her aura already defused, Videl watched the man maintain a look of constipation, even as his blocky shaped optics fell off his face. Using a single finger she poked his shoulder, watching him limply fall with a dense thud onto the earth below. Sighing, she looked down at her hand, clenching and unfurling it with effort, watching it noticeably twitch.

"Kiaida is a phenomenal technique but I needed to get him to power up so I could have time to do so. This took a lot of concentration just to maintain and given that he was a capable enemy it was a miracle I had the chance to employ it," She noted mentally, walking away from the fallen Circle Agent. From there she warily approached the source of the seismic tremors happening on the opposite side of the mountains. With her eyes furrowed into a fervent expression, her hands clenched by her hips shortly before her lithe frame took off into the sky and veered back to the battlefield her Master was in. "Still, this means I have an edge over someone who has higher Ki. This new form is the answer to the question of my merit. Wait for me, Masters, Gohan...and Vegeta. I'll catch up to you all soon enough!"

---

Central City Mountains, Southern Mountainside

Roshi was having the time of his life.

This enemy was testing the extent of his mettle again and again with every attack he launched with near hyper speed. Instead of simply appearing like he was outpacing or dodging at the last second he was appearing to match him step for step. This gave an impression they were equally matched with every shin, fist, elbow and palm crashing against the other to create thunderous counters.

When the Turtle Hermit swung a particularly devastating punch towards Kyoshō he watched him narrowly tilt his body away in a blur of motion. Cartwheeling to the side he noticed him grasp a few loose stones in his hand before righting himself up a good distance away. Tossing the rocks just as he had done at the beginning of their fight, they sped off like rocket propelled slingshots.

"HM!" Roshi grunted with effort, palming the air just enough to create a Kiai that shattered the earthen projectiles and warp the air with a vibrant orange colored explosion.

Just above the fiery tongues of flames the Captain of Master Squad raced down with a ax kick toward the Hermit Master's head. Watching it connect with the old man's skull caused the warrior to smile wildly. What caused it to revert instantly was the sight of the attack not hitting him instantly into the dirt but instead absorbing the attack. An instant later he found himself crossing his arms over his face as a voluminous barrier of Ki projected off Roshi's head and sent him tumbling a dozen meters away.

"Just as I thought," The wizened martial artist sighed with relief, adjusting his shades while tearing off the tattered upper shirt of his torn gi. Swinging it to the side it tumbled away in the gust of wind coasting across the mountainside, his beard flowing within its wind as his substantially muscular body flexed and showed no real harm done to him other than some scuffs to light bruises.

"What is it, old man?" Kyoshō asked with an impatient growl, finding himself inhaling lungfuls of air in between their intense exchange of fisticuffs.

"Your power isn't simply pegged down," He explained with an upraised finger, "at first, from your incredible demonstration of speed and strength, I had thought you were just simply good at manipulating your Ki. But that wasn't the case as I was able to perfectly weave defensive pulses within my body to properly match the strength yield of your assault. It wasn't teleportation because I could see your movements. No what you have is a rare gift; the ability to manipulate the density of your body and anything you touch."

Unnerved by this explanation, the Circle agent skirted back on his heels a few inches. Then in an instant launched himself back into a full offensive. Much to his dismay the rapid attacks he sent the elder fighter's way were now being swatted aside with little effort on his part. Frustrated to a breaking point, it was only furthered by Roshi's continued dialogue even amidst his attacks.

"However, there is a catch to your incredible control over matter. You make yourself incredibly quick by lowering the density on yourself while increasing it on instant intervals with every attack. This can even be changed on objects you touch like the stones you've thrown and done so remotely. The space in between each change is remarkable but can be read by someone of higher skill," Roshi replied, now still against the incessant all-angled attacks Kyoshō kept hammering at his person. "Unfortunately for you, using this power to its fullest potentiall is not only taxing on your body but also easily exploited."

"DAMN YOU!" Kyoshō roared out as he reared back an especially strong armed thrust at his enemy. But to his alarmed surprise, his nemesis was already skirting away from the attack, avoiding the rolling wave of force that passed him by and dug an enormous trech of demolished ground behind him. Roshi's fist was raised just over his left pectoral as his arm was still held out, slightly tapping it with a blurring push.

"Kamehameken," Roshi muttered just as the fist pulled back with a flick of his wrist, just as quickly as it had touched him.

The result of the punch was instantaneous. The earth billowed with kinetic discharge coming from Kyoshō's own distorting frame, now writhing in a crackling series of shocks. His body was upright while his heels didn't move an inch. Eyes rolled to the back of his head and his mouth gaped wide with detached feeling. Falling to the earth on his back, his mouth ebbed out bile and saliva as his form was completely inert.

As the wind howled once more, Roshi reverantly bowed to the young man's body, knowing he had passed on. The punch had stopped his heart, thanks to the pressure of his condensed Ki punch. The rest of his muscles were also torn apart from the inside, disallowing him from defending from the attack further. He even theorized his brain possibly shut down from the shocks riding through his nervous system that rippled his musculature structure.

"You were young but aspired for greatness without thinking of your own weakness. I'm sorry it came to this. If we weren't enemies fighting to the death I would have liked to have known you, perhaps even tutored your talents to fruition," Roshi murmured as he looked at the dead man's expressionless visage. Lowering his head he shook his head as he released a ragged sigh. "Damn shame."

"Master!" Roshi's thoughts were changed as the source of a young voice echoed the air above him. Watching her descend he could see she was relatively unharmed despite her hard battle. Arching a brow he could only questionably stare at her as she smiled with relief to see him well.

"So, you used Kiaida," He stated as much as he figured by the look on her face.

"I wanted to end the battle quickly. Luckily, he had the same idea and gave me the opportunity to activate it," Videl explained with a huff.

"So you haven't completely mastered the technique," Again he spoke as if he knew before she could even reply. Crossing his arms, he stared at her behind his shades with a serious demeanor. "I don't want you using that technique against enemies leagues and bounds above you. This was a fine exception as these men didn't compare to the likes of Vegeta or Gohan, but if you faced an enemy worth their mettle you could put yourself in danger."

"But, Master-"

"Kiaida is a Ki barrier that instills you with incredible speed and strength, stripping you of the ability to mount a ranged attack but furthers your ability to get close enough to hit them. Your benefits of being able to pierce through an enemy's Ki and damage their body without playing the numbers game is an incredible technique you've developed but still puts you danger of losing control," He explained and warned with an unfurling of his arms back to his sides. "Slipping up just once may give your enemy an opportunity to take you out of the fight. Or worse, end your life."

Clenching her teeth as tightly as her fists, she felt disappointed. As much as she wanted to show her accomplishments she knew better than her Master how limiting the attack had. Kiaida, Spirit Break, was an invaluable tool she wanted to use to make up for her lack of Ki volume that Saiyans, Namekians or even her fellow advanced human martial artists like Krillin or Tien. Yet there was still an incredible risk of being not able to compose it.

Bowing her head solemnly, she muttered out, "I'm sorry for hastily using it. I'll do better to perfect it when I can use it without fear of slipping up."

"That's for the best," Roshi nodded, looking around the debris ridden landscape. Scratching his bald head he chuckled sheepishly. "I hope we didn't harm any yodelers without knowing it. These were some pretty mountains. What a pity they had to suffer being our battleground."

"What should we do next?" Videl asked, her eyes blinking brightly at her Master, wondering if they'd be of use elsewhere.

"Better get back to ma' house," The Turtle Hermit nodded, raising himself off the earth into the air, soon joined by his disciple. "I was feeling something amiss when we were waiting for our enemies to come to us. Tien and Chiaotzu were there with someone I didn't recognize. Let's go and see if they're alright."

"Yessir!" She replied, coating herself in a bright aura of Ki just as Roshi did, rocketing away from the devastated mountainside into the horizon vista before them.

---

West City, Capsule Corp Neighborhood

It was a strangely arduous battle for the swordsman from the future.

Every one of the soldiers were highly skilled and knew how to complement each other in the midst of a fierce battle. They were obviously rigorously trained either in the field or in simulations since not too many new tricks Trunks employed fazed them. Swinging his sword he tried to control his Ki to just effect everything in a small radius. It was difficult given that so many of them were threatening his person.

But he had plenty of time in the future to ready himself for such a situation.

One violent swing of his sword and a projection of Ki turned into a shockwave that sent a dozen Proto-Troopers flying head over heels into various uninhabited homes. Windows shattered, walls crumbled, and the roofs soon came tumbling down on their heads. Twisting on his heels the sword in hand batted away a number of concussive to super heated laser weapons aiming to catch him by the back. With his spare arm Trunks elbowed a cloaked trooper aiming to catch him unaware, smashing his face plate inward till it crushed his skull.

"These guys are persistent," The Saiyan Hybrid thought with another swift swing of his blade, cutting through the durable enemies with a grinding slash. Blood sprayed from their maimed bodies as he used his maximum speed in base form to cut through a swathe of men who were practically lined up for the taking. When he finished in his whirl of swordplay, it appeared as if he had teleported behind them, only showing his handiwork seconds later as men were gushing of blood at the points of the sword made neat fissures in their otherwise black armored bodies.

Through his Ki sense he could feel less than ten men left of the sixty odd men he had dealt with over the course of twenty minutes. One of them was the apparent leader of them, appearing no different than the skull face-plated entities. Above all the others that rushed or fought in unison he seemed to be the one that was holding back the most. It bothered him that something was being schemed without knowing, given he wasn't projecting any discernible Ki or body language that told him his intentions.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw something that derailed his concentration. Three of the ten that circled him had veered away and made a mad dash towards the only unharmed structure within a close proximity. Trotting across his home's lawn, he immediately gritted his teeth and vaulted over the other charging troopers. After acrobatically landing in front of them just mere meters from the doorway they stopped their advance too late.

"BACK OFF!" Trunks roared out, the force of his shout enough to send them tumbling back. Following up he fired a fissure of Ki from his spare hand, detonating it over their heads, melting the armor off their bodies. Watching them fall to the ground in fiery pain, he only caught a glimpse of an azure light before he raised his sword to counter the attack.

But the sensation of total paralysis caused his eyes to open wide. A field of blue coated his perspective, encroaching every inch of his person. From the tip of his sword to the edges of his boot and follicles of hair he was completely entrapped in a barrier that extended from a single beam projected by a glove of the leader himself.

"Zero Point Energy, Saiyan. Apparently not even you can move when under its influence," The Proto-Officer proclaimed with a mirthful declaration. Seeing Trunks was unable to resist in any state he nodded to the other Troopers to aim a number of large beam rifles. Grinning behind his face-plate he shouted out with confidence. "Goodbye, Alien scum!"

As the other seven unleashed a number of potent blasts from their revolutionary designed weapons they'd find that Trunks did indeed not move or even show signs of struggle. The signs of the beams dispersing mere inches away from his still form however showed that he wasn't entirely incapable of defending himself. The sight of the soldiers losing their grips on their own weapons as they flew into the air, catching themselves into the beam of Zero Point Energy. With the objects caught in the line of fire instead of his own body, Trunks was able to move freely.

Launching himself in a blur of motion, he didn't hesitate on bifurcating the seven agents, letting their mutilated forms drop onto the ground in gory heaps across the pavement. Looking over he saw the leader undo the beam's lock on the weapons and take aim at the Saiyan Hybrid again. When he saw him disappear in another rush of movement he'd find the pain of his now severed arm more distracting as the gloved hand went flying down to the ground away from the rooftop he was perched on.

"D-Dammit!" The Proto-Trooper hissed as he held onto his elbow stump, staring apprehensively at the man who took down all of his men-in-arms. Blood and soot stained the otherwise unmarked weapon as it was raised to lean against his neck at an angle. Vapor trailed off the buster sword when a luminous glow of cobalt Ki began to charge against the now vibrant reflection of Trunks and the trooper of equal measure.

"Who sent you and why? Answer me that and I might let you live," The son of Vegeta bargained with eyes glaring unforgivably at the man he practically towered over.

"G-G-Gaze?" The Trooper called out, wondering where his superior was in all of this chaos.

"Who's gay?" Trunks asked inquisitively, almost taken aback by the man's statement.

"GAZE?!" The Trooper enunciated out with clear panic behind his skull visage.

A streak of black soon swooped in beside the blue overcoat warrior, ramming an elbow into the side of his head. Crashing into the street, four additional outlines of onyx hued silhouettes repeatedly battered the Saiyan Hybrid without reprieve. Ten seconds after the barrage of repeated hits were dished out on the unsuspecting time traveler, his body crashed into the street with a sliding grind, sword still in hand.

The Trooper swore out loud at the sheer brutality of his saviors until he was shocked by the devilish appearance of the man who hit Trunks first. Wearing a stark helm of black with rectangular slits of red for lens upon the otherwise impassive mask, two opposing horns were erect from the Captain's skull. Shoulder pads jutted out for half a meter from each flank, standing out from his skin tight obsidian colored body suit that defined a muscular bulk. Standing at six and a half feet he easily contended for one of the largest Captains within the Circle's field operatives.

"Captain Gaze!" The Trooper cried out, standing attentive and less angry for his save now that he was standing beside him.

"Sorry about your arm," Captain Gaze replied lamely, crossing his arms over his chest as he observed his team's handiwork. Seeing the man was less concerned with his apology and more about the Saiyan Hybrid he made sure to keep his eyes on their target. Much to his chagrin the enemy twitched, shuffled and soon pushed himself back up to his feet. "Unfortunate. It appears he cushioned our blows with his dormant power. This might take a bit longer than I wanted."

"What about me?" The Trooper asked, unable to comprehend what that meant for him.

"Leave the rest to my team, Trooper. Report back to base and see to it that your injuries are attended to. We'll have someone pick up the casualties after we're done here," The Circle operative commanded, picking himself up into the air, soon joined by the other four shadows that had struck the son of Vegeta simultaneously. Before their feet touched down a dozen meters cautiously in front of the ruffled alien, they observed him as assuredly he them.

"That was close. If I hadn't detected their movements with my peripheral senses I wouldn't have been able to absorb their hits as well as I did," The mix-blooded earthling thought as he observed each one. They all had various custom made attire but it was clear they were all cut from the same cloth. Insignia in the shape of a hollow white circle on black surfaces presided over each their upper left chests. The one thing that pegged him as odd was that the horned one seemed to be apparently male while the four, two on each flank, were undoubtedly female. "What kind of squad is this? Harem Squad? I can't feel their Ki which means either they're good at suppressing it or they're..."

As the Trunks from the future's thoughts trailed off into what he suspected, Gaze stepped forward one meter, clapping out loud. A hidden smile could be felt by the Saiyan Hybrid while waved his arms in what was amounted as disingenuous hospitality, "Hello, Trunks Briefs. I'm sure you are aware we are here to take care of loose ends. Them being yourself and the woman inside, Bulma Briefs. What she has in her possession is our property and I am inclined to retrieve it before she does something we'll all regret."

"And exactly whose the original owners of that tech? It and what your men have demonstrated is far more advanced than what the Royal Military possesses," Trunks pegged as he idly tapped his sword's flat upon his right shoulder, pocketing his unarmed set of digits within his coat's outer pocket. "My mother will find out who made it and then we'll put a stop to its distribution. Its quite apparent you guys don't care who gets hurt, like that Sky-woman who almost caused a global cataclysm. What kind of people are you?"

"My-My, so many questions," The Circle Captain laughed with bemusement, rubbing his chin with covered digits, "I can't disclose as to what we are or what we're after. But I can tell you whom we are," waving hands to either side, he pointed to each woman on either side, "I am Captain Gaze of the Elite Squad. To my right are Agents Mai and Ranfan. My left is Violet and Hasky."

"Introductions? How formal of you," Trunks dryly commented, observing each of the introduced women with mild curiosity. He had heard most of their names from his mother somewhere but what was their relevance?

Agent Ranfan on Gaze's far right had deep purple hair, styled in a way that looked like a curly Afro that looked like a world of follicles hovering over the woman's head. Beige fair skin complemented by bright round eyes with cyan irises. Bearing a orange sleeveless muscle top that presented a generous bust that was on the verge of jutting out, it was fastened into a black pair of cargo pants with large sneaker shoes. Her hands were gloved with an orange and black scheme in its design from back to front.

Agent Mai from Gaze's right flank was in a much more stylishly serious appearance, bearing an upturned collared deep onyx overcoat, covering her brown satin top and bottom. Dark brown boots reaching only up to mid shin similar to her hazel tinted leather gloves. Accented eyes bore ocean blue orbs that complemented nearly snow white complexion that was framed by eyebrow trimmed bangs and long locks that reached the middle of her back in the color of pitch black.

Agent Violet to Gaze's immediate left seemed to be the most collected of the five. Short military cropped patch of lavender hair reminiscent of his own but in a slightly richer shade was neatly kept on her crown. Sharp eyes of dark blue stared at him with a serious glint, framed by her rounded cheek boned visage bearing a more tanned complexion that was covered at the hands and most of her body. Her own sleeveless top comprised of a dark blue flak jacket with a red belt holding together a studded pair of armored leggings leading to calf high heeled boots in caramel color akin to her own gloves.

Agent Hasky on Gaze's far left looked strikingly similar to Launch that it was uncanny. Instead of curls of golden blonde however it appeared much more wavy, possessing bright emerald eyes that softly stared his way with a smile and a richer tan on her own skin. Dark red pauldrons comfortably rested over her shoulders, knitted to violet hued short-sleeved top and bottom, leading to opposing knee and elbow pads. Burgundy cowboy boots were affixed to each foot up to calf, finger-less gloves clenching idly at her sides.

"If I remember mother's stories correctly there was a Ranfan who attended a Tournament awhile back. Mai was one of those people trying to get the Dragon Balls, same for Hasky. But who's Violet? Where did this Circle get most of these people to fight for them so willingly?" Trunks asked himself with a pensive glare as he took in each of their appearances, knowing they might all possess artificial energy or something similar to it. In that case he had no way to discern just how strong they all were, or if he could take them on.

Seeing the grim expression, Gaze took opportunity to take another step forward, his tone growing mirthful upon approach, "I know that introductions are out of the way, but I have to say, it will be very delightful to best you in combat, Trunks. You may not know it but I have a particular history with your father that can't go unanswered. I'll ensure he dies by my hand when we are finished with you."

"You think I'm afraid of you five? Bring it on!" Trunks cried out, his body immediately engulfed in a brilliant golden light, shrouding his features in a bright yellow hue. All of his long bangs stood up on end, creating a sheet of spiky tresses that led up to the top of his head that seemed to resemble the head of an Ultra Super Saiyan. Yet with as much ease he displayed in unveiling the power within, he might as well be compared to Gohan, as his power blistered mightily enough to shake the city block while blanketing the cityscape with a solar glare.

"That's good," Captain Gaze commented with a hidden smile, raising his hands with barely contained excitement. "I can't wait to bring about a long overdue retribution against your family!"

"Sorry about this pals, but can we cut in?"

The sound of a voice being emitted behind the five caused the four women to turn around with alertness while Gaze merely gazed comfortably over his right shoulder. His own unseen eyes inched a bit wider with genuine surprise. There stood three new arrivals, all recognizable but clearly bearing new trappings.

Krillin, being the source of the declaration stood out in between the two Cyborgs of Gero's design. Bearing the black gi top and bottom with a crimson inner shirt, he sported his wrist bands of black akin to what his two friends sported. His eyes sported a confidence having not been seen by the time traveler in all his time knowing him in this alternate Universe.

Seventeen wore what he had in the morning, a red ball cap was worn over his mid-length midnight colored hair that blew in the ominous whistling wind coming from Trunks own body. His dark muscle shirt was slightly tattered but still intact remarkably after use in comparison to his shredded dark blue jeans. Brown boots clicked with jingling star-shaped spurs clicking against the pavement earth. His black wrist banded hands rose up with ripe anticipation in stark contrast to 18 who looked presumably bored if not a bit on edge.

While 18, wearing a casual sleeveless white top stopping short of her navel flourished in the wind that brushed her blonde hair to the side with earrings jingling. Thigh length shredded jean shorts clung to her mostly exposed legs, something she felt more comfortable with as opposed to fully covered in the midst of training due to the constant wear and tear. Black and white tennis shoes were her choice of footwear, similar to the pair of finger-less gloves she bore instead of the wrist bands Krillin and 17 wore.

"Krillin? You two?!" Trunks cried out, still apprehensive about the topic regarding the faces of those whom he had killed in his own future. Seeing Krillin was a welcome sight but there was something different about his Ki. While he knew the man had undergone a drastic increase of strength thanks to the motivational farewell Goku left everyone as he stayed in the Afterlife, much like Tien and Yamcha must have, he was still surprised how swift their transformation into capable and reliable fighters were. Even still he had no idea what made these five so dangerous and was still on guard for anything that could offset their confidence in themselves.

But before he could protest, Krillin called out knowingly, "Relax, Trunks. We got your back. After all, it wouldn't be a real fair fight if we at least divided the odds a bit, right?"

"I saw something fun and couldn't pass up the opportunity, Goldilocks. I wouldn't bail you out for free," 17 countered with a haughty tone.

"You handle Mister Horny," 18 quipped, much to the chagrin of a visibly twitching Gaze, while she nonplussed jerked her head at the four women standing in front of the timely trio. "I think we can take them."

"If you guys say so, then I'll trust in your capabilities," Trunks replied, now sternly staring back at Gaze who clenched and unfurled his digits with rabid excitement.

"Ladies," He ordered out loud, not bothering to turn to give the command to his lovely squad. "Kill them. With stylish gusto if at all possible!~"

"Sounds good to me," Hasky laughed out, grasping an open fist, cracking her knuckles as she looked to each of the prospective fighters. "Gero's prodigal projects and the dwarf monk. Who wants who?"

"I'll take you all if you ladies don't mind?" 17 offhandedly offered, flashing a pearly grin as he wagged his eyebrows.

"Really, 17?" 18 asked with a raise of her own brow.

"Oh fine, if you want I can pull straws," 17 snarked back with a chuckle.

"I don't care, so long as you just leave one for us. Take the two on your left and we can take what's leftover," 18 proffered with a shrug of her own.

"Alright!" 17 fist pumped, pointing to Hasky and Violet, thumbing over his shoulder, "let's settle this on this patch of visibly deserted street; on that note, good thing this place is practically abandoned. I'd feel guilty if I have to go kilometers searching for a battleground, right ladies?"

Hearing him talk caused both women to roll their eyes as they pursued with visibly effortless flight.

"I'll take the one on the left," 18 declared outright with a sigh, walking forward to Mai's vicinity before leaning down to plant a peck on Krillin's cheek. As he blushed she flashed him a small smile before returning her attention to her own self designated enemy. "Don't get any funny ideas when fighting your opponent."

"Y-Yes ma'am!" Krillin chirped back in acknowledgement, swallowing hesitantly as he approached the woman called Ranfan. He couldn't feel her energy no matter how much he tried. Just as 18 settled into her own casual fighting stance, he crouched low and bent his body at an angle. What was this eerie feeling he was getting off this whole squad.

Just as a distant clash of thunder was heard, so too was 18 and Krillin locking limbs in mutual charges by their enemies. A crescendo of impacts and reverberating shockwaves began to rattle windows off their sills, tiles to shatter off their placements and walls to rattle intensely. Battles within a close area began anew as other distant battles had ended shortly before.

The conflict of the Circle and the Dragon Team continued!

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A/N: And finished!

Briefly I want to say thanks to Firegod00 and RHODESKurosaki for taking the time to preview over my chapter and help me edit it for your viewing pleasure. Without them, it wouldn't be as up to par as it is now. Once again, thanks guys for the help as always!

I know its been awhile, but I felt it to be prudent to start Review Responses. Its simple. If I have enough Reviews (8-10) for the last Chapter, I shall compose a list of replies on each chapter I'll update for the one before. This way if anyone isn't used to employing the Private Messaging system in the site, you'll always get a reply. Alright then, let's not waste any time and get to it before I give you all my farewell!

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Darth Huitzilopochtli: LOL hold thy tongue less you give me and everyone else nightmares XD

Perfect Carnage: Yeah, I definitely wanted to give Popo in the last and this chapter especially a good representation he deserved. Hopefully you enjoyed that. And thanks for the welcome back as it is good to be back :)

Lightningblade49: Remember the Pecking Order -w-

ShadowLDrago: I know its not a new thing, especially these days, to give humans their time to shine in the limelight but I felt these characters deserved it. Because Goku was such a Main Asset no one strived to become better fighters or better people themselves. Their dependance on him was lost when he said he counted on them to hold their own. While his return to smack Bojack was a one time deal, he will return proper eventually. But in the meantime they can't expect him to bail them all out.
And yeah, I wanted to keep Popo close to his original character but also give him a bigger role in events to come. Being the Keeper of the Lookout far longer than Kami has been around has to yield for some importance, right? It'd explain why he's perceived as stronger than any given Guardian at the time of their role is carried out. That is, until they come back and show them who's higher on the Pecking Order, right? =w=

Mdhunter: Thanks for the praise and good to be back, Hunter :)

GodzillaFollower1998: Good to see I haven't lost my touch in awhile. I was worried when I came back I wouldn't be at 100%. Good thing absence hasn't dulled my writing skills. Thanks for welcoming me back and can't wait to hear what you think of this coming Chapter!

The Anguished One: Good to have this update, honestly. My first serious Fanfic without amateurish skill (or lackthereof) is always going to have a special place in my heart. Also, nice of you to note Launch's receiving and cauterizing her wound. That was a moment I was proud to introduce, showing that not every hero is going to walk away without being scarred (poor Tien can join his girlfriend in that category). Also I liked having Videl use the Foot Kamehameha cause its a fun technique to use -w- can't wait to see what you think of this new chapter :)

Simgr101: I know its been awhile but thanks for reminding me to put a summary of the plot at hand. Every chapter after this will have one so that no one gets lost in the newest update -w-

Firegod00: I know, I know, its been too long. Yeah, my favorite of the incidents in the last chapter had to be with Mister Popo just making Ningai look like a complete tool. The fact he was fighting nothing more than a Doll of Piccolo back when he was at the Cell Games showed that while Ningai is strong, Popo is just that much stronger. I also like making sure he keeps to character; makes him more interesting. Thanks for enjoying the chapter, and I hope to hear your thoughts in the next update!

RHODESKurosaki: Thanks for the extensive Review, section by section. It means a lot to me that you took the time to analyze each part in such a scrutinizing way. I hope to hear what you think of this newest addition to the Vegeta Chronicles. I'm sure it'll be a blast, haha!

Anonymous: Something I want to bring up that hopefully was brought up when Videl used and was chastised for using Kiaida is that it doesn't matter about the scale of powers given out. I'd be repeating myself if I said Toriyama himself thinks the idea of power levels are ludicrous as the control of the battle's outcome is dictated by the writer and not by the stats of said characters.
Think of Kiaida and Sky's ability to nullify Vegeta's attacks as one in the same. They're meant to bypass or deflect what would be terrifyingly strong attacks and inflict damage on otherwise imperviously durable characters. Her power is immense by humans standards as the Earth's Core has an unidentified amount of power, the same going for a star. In-Canon, it isn't until we see the likes of Beerus do we see characters outright destroying these kinds of cosmic creations.
So while there is no definitive measurement for Sky's personal power, think of her as the embodiment as Nature itself. Add that to her fighting style to negate and redirect Ki inflicted attacks as she can perceive them and you have the most predictable fighter, Vegeta, being completely unable to best someone of her caliber of combat. I won't do a raw power comparison because it is pointless, as many of you know, the idea of Power Levels is Bullshit and is only a measly numerical backing to make the characters SOUND stronger. Just letting you know that I am smarter than you think I am and that I do know within the BS context of numerical levels of strength how that works.

J.R: Thanks

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Yes, the four most unlikely women are working for the Inner Circle! But what is the empty feeling that Trunks is feeling about these girls of the past? And can the Cyborg Twins and Krillin hold their own against them? And what of Captain Gaze's personal history with the Briefs family and Vegeta?

Find out, on the next Chapter of The Vegeta Chronicles!