Chapter 2: Fates Changed! A New Route Obtained!
Arriving at Guru's place was a lot more awe-inspiring to Beat than he thought it would be. The Grand Elder's home sat atop a rather large pillar of rock that took Beat aback, it was one thing seeing it on a screen, it was another thing seeing it in person. I wonder if this is what it's like to see Korin's Tower from below.
"State your Business or leave," As he came up to land, he was "greeted" by a Nail, the Namekian, Guardian of Guru. Beat gave the much taller being a cheery smile even as the Namekian glared down at him.
"Yo~! My name is Beat, and I'm looking to see Guru! Unless you have a Quest for me?" Nail raised a nonexistent eyebrow at the child's strange words as said child looked at him for something.
Huh, no quest marker, Beat tilted his head as he looked at Nail searching for an indicator that he might have a quest. Now that I think about it, not a single pop-up has appeared, weird...
Thinking back to his fight with Dodoria, there had been no health bar indicator, or any notifications telling him what was going on or what he had to do. He had been so wrapped up in the moment he completely forgot about the video game aspects of where he was, if anything that was a testament to how real everything felt. Outreaching a hand, Beat moved to open the game menu when a voice called out.
"Nail, let the young one in, I have been expecting him." Beat blinked, hand frozen in motion as Guru's voice clearly rang out from the building drawing Nail's attention.
"Grand Elder?" He questioned.
"I sensed him the moment he appeared in our world," Guru stated. "He helped aid the escape of one of our young, and I sense no malice in his heart. I'd like to see our unexpected savior personally."
Hesitating for just, Nail gave Beat one last look before leading him to the Elder of Namek. As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think I could do much to stop this child if he was here for violence... Looking down at the boy with a tail, whether the boy knew it or not, he was radiating an obscene amount of power without even trying. Just where had such a strong boy come from?
Beat looked around the spacious building, able to finally get a good look, he never realized just how empty it was. Sitting in the back on a massive chair was Guru himself, the grandest, eldest Namekian on the planet. Beat could not help but open his mouth in awe at the sheer size of Guru. "Woah! You're so big!"
Thwack!
"Ow!" Beat rubbed the top of his head as he glared up at Nail who glared back.
"Show some respect visitor, this is Elder Guru, the leader of our people."
Guru couldn't help but let a mirthful smile at the display before him. "It is alright Nail, I can tell he meant no disrespect by it." His head shifted, though somehow Beat could tell he was somehow looking at him. "Tell me child, what brings you to our home?"
"Uhh, well, I came looking for missions and stuff?" Beat scratched the back of his head with a tilt. "Uh, do you have any for me? Hmm, maybe missions are triggered by some kind of voice request...?"
Nail gave the boy another look, more confused by his strange words as Guru's face shifted, taking on a subtle thoughtful look before he moved a hand up. Lowering it to the side of him, holding it away from the chair as he beckoned Beat over. "Come here young one, if you'd allow me to read your mind, I may gain a better understanding of what you speak of."
"Oh! This must be it!" Beat beamed, instantly walking over as his excitement grew. "This must be the end of the tutorial!"
With his consent, Guru placed his hand upon Beat's head, concentrating as he entered the boy's mind. As he did, his face shifted again.
"This is...!"
"And what do we have here, is that you, Vegeta?" Zarbon's voice rang out as he gracefully soared in front of the speeding Saiyan, his scouter confirming the identity of the approaching power level. Vegeta skidded to a halt, the dust and debris kicking up around him, the fiery determination in his eyes locked onto Zarbon's sleek and handsome features.
Vegeta's lips curled into a defiant smirk, his Saiyan pride as unyielding as ever. "Zarbon, Frieza's errand boy, I should have known you'd come crawling out from under your master's skirts."
Zarbon's elegant demeanor seemed untouched by Vegeta's insult as he continued to gaze at him with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. "You're a long way from your usual business, Vegeta. And where's Dodoria? He's been unreachable for far too long."
Vegeta's grin widened, revealing a hint of his sharp Saiyan teeth. "Oh, Dodoria? I took care of him. He won't be bothering anyone ever again." The satisfaction in his voice was unmistakable.
Zarbon's eyes widened in genuine surprise, a flicker of shock crossing his face before it was replaced by a subtle smirk. "Is that so? You're getting bolder, aren't you?"
Vegeta snorted, his arrogance oozing from every pore. "What I do is none of your concern, Zarbon. In fact..." Without a moment of hesitation, Vegeta let his Ki flare around him, sending shockwaves throughout the area as he shouted and charged. "You'll be concerned with nothing anymore after this!" Zarbon barely managed to block Vegeta's attack, a fist aimed squarely at his face. By the weight behind the punch, Zarbon knew for certain.
He truly tried taking my head there in one punch, he's serious...! Scowling for the first time since he arrived, Zarbon let go, pushing off Vegeta's fist and backing up in the air, taking a stance. "Fine then Vegeta, I'll consider this your Rebellion, and it will end by my hands!"
Vegeta's smirk never wavered as Zarbon rushed him, leaning his head to the left to avoid a right hook, and then to the right avoiding the Zarbon's attack with an ease that only served to make the servant of Frieza angry. In a fluid motion, Vegeta countered as he dodged the right hook, pushing it aside and sliding into a fast jab at Zarbon's head, hitting him cleanly in the nose and sending him flying.
Zarbon grabbed his face, pain rocking his mind as his nose bled from the impact. Before he could recover Vegeta rocketed behind him, flying at blinding speeds, spinning around behind Zarbon and impacting his back with a firm fist. The alien gasped out in pain, blood flying from his lips as he was paralyzed from having his spine devastated. Not giving his opponent not a moment to breathe, Vegeta flipped himself and slammed the tip of his boot-covered foot into Zarbon's neck, shouting as he put all his might into the kick, sending the teal being to the ground below, forming a massive creator.
Coughing, Zarbon staggered to his knees, blood staining his hands as he coughed against them. Growling with bloodshot eyes that looked up at Vegeta, the Prince floating down to the rim of the creator, that damned smirk still on his face as he raised a hand, crackling with energy. "Any last words, Zarbon?" He taunted mockingly as Zarbon swayed to his feet, grabbing his throat.
"C-Come now Vegeta, you don't believe this is all I have, do you?" Vegeta cocked an eyebrow as Zarbon spoke. "I know you Saiyans love a good fight, and I can give you one, if... you let me transform."
"Oh? Has little Zarbon been holding back?" Vegeta lowered his hand, the energy dissipating. "Very well, show me this transformation, but be warned. If it doesn't make a difference." His eyes narrowed. "I'll make you wish for death for wasting my time."
"Oh, don't you worry dear Prince." Zarbon smirked, wiping the blood from his lips, "I'll give you exactly what you deserve!"
Vegeta quickly found the tables turned. In less than half a second, Zarbon's body bulged out, his elegant features becoming distorted and grotesque as his power doubled, his body barely containing all the raw power that flowed out. A half second passed again, and Vegeta reacted barely in time to block a punch from the beefed-up Zarbon. He grunted, bones cracking under the weight of the hit only for his eyes to bulge and blood to fly from his mouth as Zarbon sent Vegeta flying with a gut punch.
Slamming back first into a nearby pillar of rock, cracking it heavily. As he regained his senses, he found barely enough time to look up as Zarbon was upon him again, face full of sadistic glee as he brought down his fist again, pummeling Vegeta deeper into the rock. Cracking and shattering behind him as he was beaten, punch after punch bringing the pillar down around them. Zarbon jumped back as the pillar finally came tumbling down into a pile of stone atop Vegeta, leaving just the Prince's left leg sticking out.
"We're not done yet!" Zarbon snarled as he walked over and grabbed the leg with enough force to break it. With a shout and a violent yank, he pulled Vegeta out from the rocks and threw him as hard as he could. Vegeta could barely manage a single eye open, blood flowing from the top of his head obscuring his vision as he soared through the air. "Look up small fry!"
With a surprised grunt, Vegeta turned his eye skyward, only to see Zarbon rapidly come down feet first. "D-Damnit!" Vegeta struggled to summon the energy he needed to regain control of his direction, but it was too late as Zarbon's foot crashed down on the Saiyan's stomach, knocking the wind and more blood out of him. Without noticing, Vegeta was sent crashing down into the creator he had made with Zarbon's body, now triple the size from his own impact.
"Any last words, Vegeta, Prince of no one?" Zarbon mocked, adding insult to injury as he floated down to the widened rim of the creator, his own energy glowing in his hand as he prepared to finish Vegeta off. The Prince found himself gasping for air as he turned himself over to his side, panting and leaking blood from his head and mouth, his one eye giving him blurred vision as he looked up at Zarbon.
"H-How, are you this powerful damn it...!" Vegeta ground out as he balled his fist up, anger at having his victory snatched from him as Zarbon's transformation far outclassed the power he had. If only he still had his tail, maybe then he could...!
"This is why you Saiyan's are always looked down upon Vegeta." Zarbon spat out in his distorted voice. "Always thinking you're superior, that your power and pride make's you on top! The second you get a taste of real power, you become intoxicated and think yourselves gods." He chuckled, not paying attention as Vegeta's body trembled, not seeing the eyes Vegeta's eyes flickered yellow momentarily, not sensing the power rising...! "You and your kind were nothing more than disposable foot soldiers for the real Elite, for people like Me and Lord Frieza! And now, like a disloyal pet, it's time to put you down!"
With a shout of power, Zarbon unleashed his strongest blast at Vegeta. From the distance, a massive cloud of smoke could be seen rising from the aftermath.
"And so ends Vegeta, Prince of the pathetic Saiyan ra- What?!" Zarbon's confidence was shattered as the smoke cleared, showing a Vegeta standing tall, outfit battered and torn, blood across his body, but standing firm as energy radiated around him. "How are you...!" Zarbon took a step back as yellow eyes locked onto him, "What is, that?!" He stuttered out, clenching his fists.
Vegeta could feel power raging in his body, an instinct fighting to take control of him. His eyes narrowed, not at Zarbon's words, but at the feeling of pure, primal rage trying to consume him that he fought back down with ease. This feeling, it's...! There was no denying it, somehow, someway, his body had tapped into the body of his people, the raging power of the Great Ape...!
He smirked.
"Considered yourself honored, Zarbon." Zarbon's eyes could only widen in confusion as Vegeta spoke, his voice laced with a subtle rage that made Zarbon feel a fear he'd only experienced from his Lord, Frieza. "You've helped me take one step closer to obtaining the legend, and for that... I'll make your death quick."
With a shout followed by a flash of light, all scouters on Namek exploded.
In his ship, Frieza flinched in annoyance as the scouter on his face exploded right on his head. The last number he managed to see flashed 240,000 for a power level before exploding.
"Well now," He spoke up as he swirled a glass of liquid in his hand, arms crossed. He had been listening in on everything Zarbon and Vegeta were doing through Zarbon's scouter before it was destroyed. "It seems Vegeta has managed to get a bit stronger, no matter." He turned to a nearby soldier who was cradling his bleeding face from his scouter blowing out his ear and eye. "You there, send out a message to summon the Ginyu Force, the situation just became more, interesting."
"A-At once, Sir!" Despite his pain, the soldier snapped to attention, the hand covering his eye forming a salute as fear overcame him. Without wasting any more time he took off to deliver the message to the communications on the ship.
"At least I have some competent men left." Frieza turned back to look out the window of his ship, taking a sip from his glass.