A/N: Hi there!
Straight from the Xenoverse is another tale about my favorite Dragon Ball character. This story is split into a three-part act and as far as my standards go is relatively short. Still, it will be enjoyable. If not for you at least for me. LOL
This story is cross-posted on FFN and AO3.
Warning: This story has been rated T for Teenage audiences and up per site guidelines. What you will read is descriptions of graphic violence as well as heavy cursing. Some of what you read is graphic in nature and viewer discretion is advised.
Disclaimer: Dragon Ball was created by Akira Toriyama and is owned by Bird Studio/Shueisha. The franchise has produced numerous games, films, companion books and manga volumes. All characters and properties belong to the rightful ownership.
Age ?
Ravines of Time
Something had changed.
Bardock had no clue what happened nor the when, how or why. But it was happening regardless. The Scarred Saiyan could feel it in his soul.
("My body… I don't feel the strain.") Bardock noted.
Calmly, Bardock observed the change. His body had adjusted practically too well to his newfound power. He had eclipsed the Ascended Super Saiyan state and reached what his son had in the battle against Majin Buu.
But there was more power there for the taking.
It was then Bardock heard the primal roar of Great Ape echo throughout his mind. It was then that Bardock understood.
("My limit… I have to surpass it. I have to!")
Instinctually, Bardock dismissed his Super Saiyan 3 form and relaxed his body. For several moments, Bardock gathered all the power in his being. All around him, spiritual energy and large amounts of Ki started to flock to his being from the crystals. Growling, Bardock summoned a crimson and golden aura, bio-electric bolts colored blue and gold encompassing him. Eyes open, Bardock looked down, body hunched over in a horse stance.
The growl turned into a dull roar which then increased in volume. Winds buffeted the wounded form of Mira, who stared at the Scarred Saiyan in awe and slight horror.
("He… h-he already reached Super Saiyan 3! What more could he possibly do?!")
Despite having the cells of the strongest races and beings the Xenoverse had seen, Mira was nowhere near ready to take on warriors and beings like Jiren, Beerus or even Whis. Goku and Vegeta had reached the heights of power only gods and angels had attained. They had worked themselves to the bone to get that far.
Bardock had unknowingly done so while performing missions as a Time Breaker. All the fights, all the alterations to several timelines… Bardock had amassed so much power dishing out damage and taking some of his own.
Hunched over, veins bulged across various parts of Bardock's body. Eyes going completely white, Bardock didn't feel the slight sharpening of his canines or the itch on his skin. Standing straight up, Bardock howled to the distant heavens of time and space. The flaming aura produced was one of gold and crimson, sapphire-colored bolts striking everywhere.
As Bardock's power climbed higher, his body was then enveloped in a golden sheen. Mira had to brace himself and cross his arms across his face in order to protect his vision. Bardock's powerup lasted for several more minutes before slowing down to a stop.
Mira uncrossed his arms… and couldn't help but gape at what he saw in front of him.
Bardock was different… stronger. Red fur covered a majority of torso minus his pectorals, palms and abdominals. His upper body armor was completely gone along with his protective hip guards. All other pieces of his armor and clothes remained unscathed by the initial bout.
Bardock slowly lowered his arms to his sides. As Bardock opened eyes, Mira could tell clearly that Bardock had taken his power to the level just below that of gods. Bardock had achieved the primal power of a Great Ape and the legendary power of a Super Saiyan combined.
Bardock had become a Super Saiyan 4.
Yellow, bleeding a bit into green eyes, scanned every inch of the body they were attached to. Bardock turned over both his hands before clenching them into fists. He blinked a few times before looking straight at Mira. All the feelings Bardock had coursing through him were held back by the fierce determination to get the job done. Naturally, due to Saiyans being a warrior race, Bardock was already evaluating his opponent down to the most minute of details.
Scowl fixed, Bardock cracked his neck twice before staring the ultimate bio-android down.
"Alright you bastard… hit me with your best shot." Bardock dared.
Gritting his teeth, Mira obliged Bardock by rushing the Saiyan Rebel at breakneck speeds. Mira closed the gap, only to phase out of existence. Mira reappeared only so he could blitz Bardock from behind. Bardock continued to stare ahead, waiting until the very last second and punched Mira in the face.
Mira flew back, face scrunched in pain as Bardock hovered in place with the same neutral stance as before. Shaking the pain off, Mira growled before rushing Bardock again. Instead of trying the same tactic as before, Mira started throwing punches and kicks hoping to get a clean hit on the Scarred Saiyan. Bardock's gaze never left Mira even as the Saiyan was dodging the Demon Bio-android with ease. With each dodge, Bardock continued to test Mira's patience.
("This… shouldn't be possible! Super Saiyan 4?! His body should be torn apart from the strain alone! Damn him!")
Bardock continued to dodge, seemingly increasing his speed as Mira did his very best to match him. But no matter what Mira did in terms of attack, he couldn't land a single hit on the scarred Saiyan. This infuriated Mira to no end, as he had amassed power to rival that of Goku and Vegeta. This was inconceivable.
And here Bardock was dodging his every move with a look of utter focus and determination. But Mira was no fool. Or rather, Mira's patience had run out with the Scarred Saiyan. He hated the look in the Saiyan's eyes.
("QUIT MOCKING ME!")
Panting and breathing a bit heavily, Mira hovered with his arms bent. A short distance away Bardock simply stared the Android-Demon Hybrid down with his arms crossed. To Bardock he was simply waiting to see more of Mira's moves, making observations and evaluations before wrapping up this fight. Mira took it another way entirely. Teeth bared, vein pulsing in his forehead, Mira shot forth with his fist cocked back.
"RAAAAAHHHHH!"
With every ounce of power in his being, Mira drove a fist towards Bardock's bandana covered forehead. Within seconds of impact, there was a fierce shockwave from the punch. While Mira had hoped it would do some damage, he was in great shock at the fact that he couldn't even make the Saiyan Rebel bleed at all.
"You done?"
Mira tensed as Bardock slowly uncrossed his arms, before reaching up to grab the Bio-Android's wrist with his right hand. Having a received a more physical reaction than a verbal one, Bardock tightened his grip and decided that the time was now to finish this fight.
"Good. My turn."
Cocking back his left hand, Bardock drove his fist into Mira's solar plexus with great force. Stunned, Mira could only gape as Bardock was about to unleash hell.
Letting go of Mira's wrist, Bardock flew up and delivered a hard knee strike to Mira's jaw, snapping it shut. Spinning, Bardock briefly saw memories flash of a kick Kakarot had performed on Frieza during their bout on Namek. History repeated itself as Bardock gave a harsh boot to Mira's face sending him flying through a nearby crystal.
Phasing out of existence, Bardock flew down and delivered yet another knee strike, this time to Mira's gut. Grabbing the Bio-Android by his shoulders, Bardock hoisted him up before delivering a series of knee strikes before switching it up to kicks. Rounding off the combo, Bardock delivered a tornado kick that had Mira reeling.
Yet the Scarred Saiyan was not finished just yet.
Roaring, Bardock drew out his awesome aura and rushed Mira who weakly brought his guard up. Bardock phased out before delivering a powerful punch to Mira's kidney from behind. Elevating then spinning, Bardock delivered an elbow strike to Mira's face which resulted in the Demon-Android's head snapping back rather violently. Without relenting, Bardock delivered an uppercut that sent Mira high into the air.
Adjusting his wristband, Bardock flew up and disappeared in an awesome display of speed. As Mira's body continued to go up, his body suffered a pinball effect from rapid fire blows courtesy of the Saiyan Rebel. His mind was reeling from the fact the Saiyan had grown so powerful underneath his and Towa's collective noses. It was unfathomable that a warrior of Bardock's caliber achieved so much during his time as a slave to the Time Witch.
("I… I can't be beaten… not like this!")
As Mira struggled to summon his remaining power, Bardock met Mira at the apex of Mira's impromptu flight and hit the Bio-Android with a mighty ax-handle smash. Mira let a shout of pain and frustration as he was sent down into the great expanse within the Ravines of Time.
Bardock watched and waited, aura still ignited as knew very well the job was almost yet not quite done. He didn't have to wait long as moments later, a bright light that was attached to a dark power alerted him to where Mira was.
The Demonic Bio-Android was gunning for him with everything he had left. And Bardock wasn't going to disappoint him. Grunting, Bardock gathered a massive amount of energy into his palm. Eyes alight, Bardock made a fist with his right hand as a swirling ball of navy and white ki engulfed it.
Roaring, Mira raced towards Bardock with every intent on ripping the Saiyan's head off his shoulders. His eyes never left the Saiyan's form and had he been rational, he would have known to plan a defense for the Saiyan Rebel's eventual attack.
It proved to be his undoing.
As Mira phased out of existence, he phased back in not a moment later. His hands were cupped and he was about to annihilate Bardock with his own iteration of the Kamehameha.
Time seemed to slow, as Mira saw that Bardock was still looking down into the expanse of this place. The Bio-Android thought with the distraction he would have the advantage. Mira continued gathering energy into his cupped hands for a few more seconds, only for it to cut off completely. Confused, Mira felt himself blink slowly.
("Wait… w… what just… h… happened…") he thought in confusion.
Grunting lightly, Mira looked down and he couldn't comprehend the sight before his very eyes.
Bardock's fist was now lodged inside of Mira, at a spot where pectoral muscles met abdominals. The Saiyan Rebel's fist was still ignited with a massive amount of Ki and it seemed that the end had finally come for Mira.
Eyes widening, Mira slowly made a grab to push the Saiyan off him.
"Boom." Bardock stated.
A massive wave of Ki briefly erupted on the other side of Mira's body creating a sizeable hole that he could not recover from. Coughing up blood, Mira felt his body losing strength rapidly as his limbs felt weighed down. Bringing up his left hand, Bardock found grip on Mira's shoulder before looking him in the eye.
"For all the trouble you caused… for the all the people whose lives I've ruined… have nice fall. And keep hell warm for me when I see you again." Bardock said with finality in his tone.
Ripping out his slightly bloodied fist, Bardock then watched as Mira fell away into the expanse. As big and wonderous as the Ravines of Time were, it mirrored a similar warning to that of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber at Kami's lookout.
Don't get lost.
("Oh well…")
Bardock felt himself relax a bit now that the fight was over. He still had plenty of power to spare and his muscles were itching for a proper workout still. Mira barely qualified as a warmup and right now Bardock needed to test this form proper.
("I need a new opponent or something. Instincts are driving me crazy right now.")
"First things first, need to find an exit and fast." Bardock mused aloud.
Staying here where his power could possibly break space-time was not an option for the Saiyan Rebel. He had a to-do list now, especially with his newfound power in play. Kicking Towa's ass and most likely killing her was at the top of the list. Next to it was beating her boy toy, which he just succeeded in. Adding on to the list was minor items such as leaving this place and getting some training in.
As Bardock was organizing his thoughts, he felt a slight breeze at his back. Humming in curiosity, Bardock turned around only to gape at what he was seeing. Several of the crystal remnants from the fight were now starting to swirl around in a small twister. The shape of the twister mixed and meshed together before forming something a bit different. Lightning bolts and stray bolts of pure energy shot a few times, one nearly hitting Bardock in the head who dodged it with relative ease.
Feeling a bit nervous Bardock slowly backed away as the broken crystals from the Ravines of Time began to form a time rift. Only, this rift was much different than the ones Bardock had seen caused by Towa's magic and experiments.
"Aw hell!" Bardock exclaimed.
Igniting his aura, Bardock's mind warred over what to do next. On one hand, the very violent and unstable gateway could be his ticket out of the Ravines of Time. On the other hand, Bardock was risking getting lost in the past, present, far future or dying a violent death in the continuum. At this point, even with his fighting prowess through the roof and power fully unleashed, Bardock was very wary of getting inside any more portals.
Unfortunately for him, that decision was made without his consent.
As soon as Bardock made a move to fly away, the portal's gravitational field snagged a hold of him. Knowing his luck and what was about to happen, Bardock could only curse as he was pulled into the violent portal.
"SON OF A BITCHHHHHHH!"
Bardock's roar echoed throughout the Ravines of Time. His form disappeared through the portal and seconds later the portal calmed down before collapsing completely.
Chronoa, The Supreme Kai of Time, once told her faithful companions and most loyal Patrollers that Bardock's fate was unknown in the final battle with Mira. Some said that he was destroyed by the destructive nature of pushing the limits of Super Saiyan. Others thought that the Saiyan Rebel was scattered, lost across time fighting injustice and evil as they had.
Little did everyone know, Bardock would land in a place rich with history and where his son called home. But this world was broken and in desperate need of heroes.
Heroes who could restore hope.
A/N: And scene!
Bardock has defeated Mira after attaining Super Saiyan 4. But the results of the clash destabilized a small portion of the Ravines of Time, creating a time rift that sent Bardock elsewhere. Given the title of this short story, y'all have most likely clued in as to who Bardock is going to throw down with.
As always thanks for the love and support.
Later!