well, in horrible news, Amazon's otp doesn't seem to be working, and even though it sends a code, jack and shit arrives on my phone and thus, I can't login.
Fuck!
Let's hope this is but some kind of temporary hiccup which will be fixed in a day or two...
Days until the end of the world: 28
His fingers danced over the keyboard, the sound of the keycaps mixing with the soft hum of generators and his intermittent low growls as he stared at the screens arrayed before, around, and above him.
The distressing reports displayed on some of the gathered panels making him growl in frustration once more as red—unimportant—lights continued to blare around him and, raising a hand, he caressed a sweaty, mostly bald scalp if for the sides, where white unkempt hair could still be seen.
His sweating had little to do with heat, after all, like most everything in his private sanctum—
"Tsk!"
Swiping an arm, and typing on a green lit keyboard to his left, the—unimportant—sound of klaxons faded, restoring the peace and quiet he so enjoyed and preferred to think in.
Yes.
Quiet.
Climate controlled, and in rooms mostly painted a smooth reflective black.
But now, even that failed to soothe him, for the reports streaming through his feed, the captured videos playing on some of the monitors…
"Annoying," left arm shooting to another keyboard followed by a couple more commands, ensured that one of the screens which displayed one of the entrances to his home—
"Unimportant."
He turned it off, focusing on the bigger problem.
Namely, this Yuha.
The mutant hero and his meteoric rise in strength, popularity and accomplishments, the man represented a potential problem for him down the line. One that now, with the threat of this 'god' and the potential opportunities defeating said being could bring…
"I will have to deal with him," he murmured only for the sound of tortured metal parting to reach him, and cause him to spin his chair—black, of course—around in surprise, and as the scent of burning plastic, spilled oils and ozone reached him, he saw a monstrous if compressed figure step into his private sanctum.
One composed of seemingly writhing interlocking tubes—snakes, which formed the humanoid figure's muscles and limbs, and from the ends of said limbs oil dripped freely, soiling the previously immaculate—black, of course—floor.
"Gkh!"
A green thin filament surrounded his body and chair, freezing him.
For in front of the hulking monstrosity, a blue-haired woman garbed in a form-fitting white dress stood, right arm raised towards him, palm open and the other on her cocked hip.
"Dr. Bofoi, I presume?" the glasses wearing dichromatic beauty said with an arched eyebrow.
Besides a slight narrowing of his eyes, he did little else, for he couldn't speak, or move.
Not that it seemed necessary, for the woman nodded, seemingly to herself, a vicious smile spreading across her lips.
"Ah, good, good. I mean, it's not like there was a chance for me to be wrong, but, still, formalities must be observed, they are what separate us from savages, you see," the woman said as Metal Knight kept coldly plotting inside his head how he would deal with the invader, permanently, if she but gave him the chance—
"Tut~Tut~!" the woman said, shaking her head, sending her long hair swaying. "I think not, my good doctor. After all, I'm not some third rate, heh, comic book villain. I've already won, and you simply don't know it yet," the beauty said and strutted closer, the irritating clack of her heels against his perfect floor making him manage to twitch an eyebrow.
"Oho? Impressive, most impressive," the woman said as she came to a stop in front of him. "As were your little esper countermeasures, they would have given even me some trouble but a few days ago…yes, you're right, the brat should have dealt me a long time ago," she said, once more confirming that she could read his mind. "But she didn't and so…"
Tornado's mistake lowered, grasping his chair's arms as she pinned him with her gaze.
"Now, look into my eye," the beauty said, and despite his struggle, Bofoi found he couldn't avoid looking into the swirling red eye with the four pointed—sensibly colored—black pinwheel. "And let me help you focus on the important things, Kotoamatsukami!"
And Bofoi saw the light.
"Gkh!" her knees hit the cold, hard floor.
And yet, Psykos cared little, for blood continued to drip freely from her ears, noise, and eyes.
Her left one completely destroyed, her vision swimming, her breath coming in quick and her pulse feeling erratic, making her freely use her will to stabilize her heart and ensure she didn't pass out…
But more importantly continue to maintain her control over the monster behind her, Orochi, now loyal in truth—at least as long as she maintained her iron hold, lowered down to one knee, his leg digging a deep groove into the metal as he picked her up with a gentle grip, part of his arm 'muscles' uncoiling from the rest, forming a protective cocoon of tentacles around her, harder than any common metal.
"We're leaving," she said, and even if her minion said nothing, she could tell, could feel the monster hastening to obey as well as hear him rising back up and his lumbering steps as Orochi smashed through a wall, taking the straight path outside, leaving behind a drooling old man.
Drooling, but not for long.
Soon enough, her suggestions would take root, and her love would have what he needed to build those amusing toys of his.
For without Metal Knight's expertise…
She shuddered, and it had little to do with her strained body.
Without Metal Knight?
Well, Kuseno and her love would have done their best, but, let's just say their chances would be low.
And Psykos refused to accept that future.
"But even still…"
Their chances remained low, for even with his toys, Yuha…
She forcibly stopped that train of thought.
Letting out a weak chuckle instead as she remembered something else she had discovered in her beloved's mind.
"It would seem that the quote is true after all, 'bitches love cannons and boys love mechas…'"
"Gkh!"
Her arm rose unbidden to the left side of her temple as a pain akin to someone stabbing her left eye-socket with a blazing hot poker slammed into her brain.
"T-that technique is not combat ready yet…" nor would it be for a long time yet.
But, it had achieved its purpose in proving that she could re-create techniques and abilities from the wider cosmos and incorporate them into her kit.
…Even if it wasn't as easy as she thought it would be, but it didn't matter. She would persevere, they would win and she'd rock her love's world!
"How did that movie quote you're so fond of put it my love? Ah, yes—"
"There's no fate but what we make for ourselves," Yuha said, arms crossed, frowning and looking down at the panting woman kneeling by his feet.
The gray-haired beauty managing to catch her breath at last and look up at him with a blink and, his expression softening, he uncrossed his arms and wrapped a hand around the beauty's soft left hand, causing her cheeks to tint red as he pulled her to her feet.
"Erm…" Grayfia fidgeted, lowering her gaze, and due to her height, she still looked down at him, even if no longer at his eyes, and her blush grew as she hastily turned her head to the side. "T-that's interesting and all, but what does it have to do with anything, with why we're here?" the flustered beauty asked, seeking his eyes once more.
"Merely to help inspire you and to make you understand something."
"Understand what?" she asked, head tilting to the side.
"You carry my blood, Grayfia," he said, and the woman's entire head turned tomato red. "And from what I've seen so far? What you've accomplished? It would seem you can do most anything I can do, in fact." He chuckled.
"Yuha?"
He merely grinned, shaking his head.
"Just finding it funny, that from a certain point of view, you, my dear—"
"Wawawawa—"
"Managed to achieve something before me. In fact, the only reason you failed to manifest it fully is due to your low strength, relatively speaking."
"E-eh? What are you—"
Raising a palm, silencing her, he closed his eyes, and frowning, moisture gathering at the edges of his eyes as he remembered the pain, the grief, the regret, the sorrow, and the rage filled him once more.
"HaaaaH!" and a golden glow erupted around him once more.
"Eek!" the shock-wave sending Grayfia back down on the ground, as his aura and the released energy dug a small crater into the dirt and toppled a few of the nearest pine trees, making the leaves of the rest sway and filling the air with pollen as some of the braver squirrels that had returned during their short break, raced for cover deeper into the forest once more.
"G-gkh! S-sorry," he said at last, opening his teal eyes, and, smacking down the rage—not completely, but enough so that he wouldn't fall out of this form but at the same time, neither lose himself to the wrath—he reached out with a hand again.
"It's ok…" Grayfia said as he pulled her back up. "Yuha…"
He nodded.
"Yes, this is the form I unlocked when…yeah." He sighed and forced a smile. "In any case, this is similar to something you can already do."
"Eh?" the girl tilted her head to the side, pointing at herself with a finger as she repeatedly blinked her red eyes. "Me?"
Cute.
"Wawawawa—"
Damn, did I say that outloud?
"Ahem!" he coughed into a fist. "Grayfia."
"Wawa—Y-yes?"
"Remember that stage you can achieve with remarkable ease? The one where you're surrounded by a golden aura so similar to my own?"
Something clicked in the woman's head at that, for her eyes widened and, gulping, she took a hesitant step back.
"You mean…" closing her eyes, fists clenching by her side and moisture gathering at the corners of her own eyes, Grayfia let out a pained shout and her still gray hair stood up, becoming rigid. Her muscles swelling some and a furious golden glow erupting around her.
"That's the one, yes," he said, a small note of awe coloring his voice. For to see another super saiyan—even an incomplete one…
Magnificent…
The aura around Grayfia faded, her hair falling, muscles relaxing.
"Wawawawa—"
Dammit, again!?
Snorting and looking out at the surrounding clearing, feeling the sun kiss his skin, and hear the wind sway, the namekian part of him loving both of those things, he let the girl get it out of her system for a few moments.
"In any case, Grayfia."
The blushing girl couched. "Y-yes?"
"What you're doing? It's the same as what I'm doing, the only reason your power doesn't rise as much as mine and you don't change completely? It's due to your low power," he said and the girl's shoulders slumped.
Causing him to step close and give the girl a quick hug.
"Meep!"
"Hey, none of that now," he said as he stepped back, and quick as lightning reached out, boobing her on the nose, causing her to go cross-eyed.
"Eh?"
"This is what we're here to solve, Grayfia," he said, taking a step back. "Why I asked you to come train with me and why I shared that phrase with you." He grinned at the taller beauty. "What you've already accomplished is magnificent, Grayfia. Have no doubt about that. After all, to achieve that form, even an incomplete one in your case? It can only happen if one has a pure heart, a high enough power, or a mix of both." He pointed at the wide-eyed girl who didn't question how he knew all that.
Sweet, precious, Grayfia. You're spoiling me.
"And you, my dear, did it through a pure heart alone. Whereas I…I took the more difficult and lesser path."
"What? No! I—"
"It's the truth. I've told you before, but you, everyone has too high of an opinion of me. Your heart, Grayfia, is far more pure, more heroic than mine. But…I can see you're not convinced and in any case, that's neither here nor there."
"Hmf!"
The girl pouted and crossed her arms. Clearly resisting the urge to scold him, making him grin.
"At any rate, we're here to solve your power issue, for if you're that similar to me? Than nothing will make you grow quicker than a fight against a stronger opponent and—"
"G-grow?"
Blinking at the suddenly squirming girl who'd uncrossed her arms, touching the tips of her index fingers against one another, Yuha nodded slowly.
"Yes?"
"Ah, can we not, then?"
"Grayfia?"
"For I'mplentytallasis!"
Deciphering the blushing girl's words, he blinked, and blinked again.
And groaned, pinching his nose.
"Not like that, you dummy. I mean in raw power. Not height."
"A-ah! O-of course—"
"Although I don't see why you're worried about it, tall mommies are all the rage and I like me a tall glass of—"
"Awawawawawawa—"
"Marika dammit!"
Sighing, he shook his head and, making a fist, smacked his thumb against the middle of his chest.
"At any rate. Focus on fighting me, on growing stronger and worry not about anything else, and if you start doubting yourself? Believe in me, who believes in you!"
"A-ah! Yes~!"
And with that and a determined nod from the girl, they started fighting once more, further ruining the already mostly destroyed forest and its nearby mountain, both far from Z-city.
Until, a few hours later, holding the tall beauty in a bridal carry, Grayfia snoring cutely in his grasp, the woman holding his red tail in her hand with a silly grin, he returned to Bang's Dojo.
And a smile split his face as he stared at his vi's reading, namely its scan of Grayfia.
[error. Unnatural!]
Ignoring his straining heart, the exhaustion almost reminding him of the days he'd been but a mortal human and ran marathons, Yuha's grin stretched wide enough to hurt.
For today all but confirmed his hope and suspicion both. Using his template's ability in such a way was, in fact, possible. Even if unbelievably demanding.
And to do this for so many and for so long?
A shudder passed through him before he scowled and set his heart ablaze.
No matter.
He would have to endure.
For that's what it meant to be a shinobi.
Besides, it's not like I have to do this forever. Just for a month or perhaps two, depending on how much a dick and similar to other villains this 'god' is. If the bastard's words were true and I have a whole seven months to prepare? Even though I doubt it?
He sent a fond smile towards Grayfia and, heading deeper into Bang's dojo, and into a small well-lit corridor, with silent feet he came to a door, one which, he slid open with a touch of telekinesis and then, coming to a stop above the futon, carefully lowered the sleeping beauty.
The unconscious girl whimpering and pawing for him, or more specifically his tail, as he stepped back out into the corridor with a rueful shake, closing the door, and made his way back towards the Dojo's main room.
Well, I'll have all the time I need to relax afterwards. And by then, I will no longer be the only one standing against that creature or have to fear what would happen to this beautiful world if I fail…
Nodding towards a practicing Charanko, he stepped back outside, stretching out his senses.
So, that's one half of the puzzle down. Now…now to find a way to solve my own power issues…
He found his target.
Dammit, Metal Bat. Grow a pair, or rather a stomach, and let your girlfriend, Da'nir or someone else ferry you back and forth! I'm not your taxi!
Grumbling, Yuha vanished.
Days until the end of the world: 27
"Finally…" Yuha said, groaning and leaning back into the chair as the dignitaries, officials, and other irritating bureaucrats vacated the premises.
The answering sigh reaching his ears made him crack open an eyelid and stare at the alien invader.
"Not fond of bureaucracy, I take it?" he asked, causing Boros to snort.
"Not in the least," the invader…ally pending, said.
Well, we have this much in common at least.
But, unlike the two of them? Boros' subordinate and fear of Japanese schoolgirls everywhere seemingly glowed.
"Is he…"
"Yes," Boros sighed. "He actually enjoys such things."
Bully for you, Yuha grumbled inside his mind before sighing and looking at the cyclops once more.
"Well, now that we have a temporary treaty and the boring crap is out of the way, Boros."
"Yes?"
"You still intend to help me fight…kill, 'god'. Still intend to honor your promise?"
Around the cyclops' body, his white aura erupted, and the table in front of him cracked.
"Yes…" the man hissed, his lone eye narrowing, and even the red jewel in the center of his chest gleamed.
"Good," Yuha said. "In that case, I need your help and a favor both…depending on how you answer."
At that, the octopus blinked towards him, even if it remained silent as Boros gazed at him in interest.
"A favor?"
"Yes. Tell me, how fast can your ship travel to another star system?"
Boros snorted and grinned.
"Yes."
Yuha groaned.
"That doesn't help me, you damn—"
"According to my data, courtesy of the ship's data and that of this world's primitive data slates," the octopus begun, eyes glowing, and drawing Yuha's gaze, stopping him from throwing the table at Boros. "The nearest star system is four…" the alien blinked, stopped, and spat a tiny little saliva covered orb, glaring at it with narrowed eyes, before grumbling something incomprehensible and swallowing it once more. "Seriously, 'light years' what sort of primitive language is this?" the alien grumbled. "In any case, assuming the translator is not wrong, the nearest star system is four…'light years' away."
"That's the correct term, yes."
"Primitives…" the alien said, shaking its smooth purple head. "At any rate, we can cover such a distance in less than a third of one of your 'hours', and at with the engines at idle at that. Why do you ask?"
Yuha grinned.
For with this? He potentially had his second piece of the puzzle.
After all, with 'god' looming over them all and ready to strike in so short a time, namely anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of months?
He couldn't afford to spend the time growing accustomed to the base super saiyan, followed by achieving mastery of it and then trying to push for the ascended.
Not while he also had to help his friends prepare, complete his work with Kuseno and also try and master God Ki and Spiral, things which would take months each.
At best!
No.
He couldn't afford to take it slow.
And that didn't account for whatever Trefor wanted from him.
But, saiyans, like humans, were tool users.
And the usage of tools brought with it a big brain and with it came the capacity to…
Cheat.
If the normal path would take too long?
Well…
The Good Doctor, at least according to the vi's data, did bless me with a full saiyan genome…
"Do you star charts contain any uninhabited star systems, ones that are relatively close?"
The two aliens blinked at each other, and at Boros' shrug, the octopus gave him a slow nod.
"Yes?"
"Perfect."
Time for someone else to be the Marika damn taxi for a change!
"K-kiiro! S-stop!"
'Smack'
"E-eh?"
Garou blinked with surprise at the smiling, naked, and flushed woman riding him.
"B-bad S-saint, call me, Athena, or mommy~ Fufufu~"
"Kiiro p-please!" he tried again. "The spirit is willing, but the body is—"
'Smack'
"Sorry mommy!"
"Fufufu~"
Days until the end of the world: 26
well, the new opm chapter dropped and...that's one Mosquito that I want to give me the succ.
Also, Marika dammit! Murata Sensei, please wait until I've finished with this before you start dropping more stuff about Sweet Mask!
Show us more of Yuta's ass...err fighting skills instead, yes!
By the way, I wasn't aware the second course of 'Thousand Year Blood War' had started until a couple days ago.
Checked out the first episode of course 2 and I have to say...(south park) nice.
And I have to say, this Yuhabahha guy seems like a swell dude :P