The Dark Machinations of Saltz
"Our battles are not merely physical; they are spiritual." ~Unknown
"Guard your mind and heart, for that is where the enemy seeks to gain a foothold." ~Unknown
Saltz gracefully descends to the ground touching it with her tippy toes before slowly touching her heels to the ground. Her hands stay at her side, her fists clenched, her head never looks down, Korn and Peppa are never out of her field of view. Saltz walks toward them menacingly like an apex predator with her spiky raven hair moving ever so lightly in the wind.
Saltz stops a few yards away black lighting sparking off her body with her sharp black aura with its inner fluid red tint flowing around her body like a maelstrom of raw emotion and power. Korn was the first to get to his feet but he did not assume a fighting position. Instead his knees were bent, his arms just dangled at his side and his head was hung forward as he breathed hard.
Korn was visibly mentally and physically exhausted from the Tournament of Power, being pulled from time right after they lost, to fighting Peppa, Saltz, then White Blizzard, and now Saltz again. Korn's clothes were torn in some places and dirt and dust covered him like a homeless man. Still, Korn lifted up his head, suppressed his fear of Saltz and glared her in the eyes ready to continue to fight.
Saltz's eyes slowly shifted to Peppa who was in an even worse condition. Peppa was sweating, his brown boots were dirty, the left side of his jumpsuit leg was gone from the knee down. The shredded top was tied in a waist belt with the ends flowing in the wind to his right side. His tail just hung straight down toward the ground. One glance at his bare chest and arms and Saltz could see Peppa was done. Peppa's body was wrecked with visible injuries, bruises, and blast burns from the constant high intensity fighting they had been doing.
Peppa struggled painfully to his feet. His knee locked, his arms dangled at his side, his back arched and his head leaned back looking straight up at the sky with his eyes closed and his forward spiky black hair covering the right side of his face. Saltz knew Peppa would never admit it, and would fight to his dying breath, before he would admit he was done. Like Korn, Peppa's body just could not go much further. They needed food, rest, and time to heal.
Saltz realized she could easily kill them now in their weakend, bruised, and exhausted condition. They wouldn't even be a challenge let alone be able to keep her entertained. Infact Saltz reasoned, remembering back to Fuu's monitor watching Peppa transform into a Super Sayian 4 only to revert back within seconds. Then Saltz remembered how easily White Blizzard knocked Korn out of his Rose form and it was clear.
Korn and Peppa not only used up all their stamina and power in the Tournament of Power, then fought each other on top of the constant form changes, coupled with the damage they took, and lastly the calories they burned. Their bodies just had nothing left. They weren't just running on fumes, they were running on sheer will and determination to survive because even their adrenaline was spent.
This was so disappointing to Saltz it made her furious. Saltz had waited the better part of the decade. Saltz trained her body in the high gravity, she developed her Ki and Ki control through long hours of meditating upon her anger, jealousy and hatred of Korn and Peppa.
Saltz had planned and envisioned time and time again what she would say and do if she got a chance to stand before them again. They had been the one constant fueling and motivating her to get stronger. They had been in her mind and heart for nearly a decade, never far from her thoughts. Watching them fight tooth and nail in the Tournament of Power as Sour broadcasted the fights to their entire universe Only made Saltz want to break free, fight, and kill them all the more.
Their death would not be quick. They are to suffer slowly and painfully until they were broken and begging for death! Even that wasn't good enough she would keep torturing them until they were so broken at her feet they were just shells of their former glory and only then would she kill them and it would be a slow death. That would be their reward for being such worthy rivals and exceptional members of her hated family.
"Your whole existence is nothing but a fraud…Korn." Saltz said in a dark muffled tone shifting her eyes forward keeping both Korn and Peppa within her sights. Saltz decided to prolong their death and mentally torture them instead to give them time to recover and hopefully prove to be a challenge worth killing.
"Is that so?" Korn said tiredly. Peppa opened his eyes and leaned his head forward keeping Korn and Saltz in his line of sight. Korn shifted his body and did the same, keeping Saltz and Peppa within his line of sight.
"You have been calling yourself the one and only god of the saiyans…The ego and arrogance of you knows no bounds." Saltz commented on it.
"I am a mortal who possesses god ki Saltz, I am a prodigy of our family, it's not inaccurate to call myself a god or to place myself above others. I have the power and it's my right to lead and dominate over anyone and anything in my way." Korn said in an evil tone smiling evilly at Saltz who just glared at him.
"Such a convincing statement! But sadly, it doesn't tell the whole truth. You have avoided the inclusion of one very important part of that statement." Saltz lifts her left hand and extends it outward pointing at Peppa.
"But how can anyone ever notice when you are constantly over shadowing him, right?" Saltz said in a dark almost offended tone that wasn't lost on Korn and Peppa.
"The truth is, you were only one of the two Sayians in our universe to possess god ki." Saltz reminded lowering her left hand.
"The other Saiyan of our house, the one our relatives wanted to kill because of the potential he possessed." Saltz gave a fond look over at Peppa who just looked confused as Korn was wondering where Saltz was going with this. Saltz then turned her head toward Peppa.
"Despite that, all you care about is how much more powerful you can become." Saltz said in a respectful almost admiring tone toward Peppa. Saltz then looks at both of them.
"Nothing has changed in all these years that I have been segregated. What did I do? To deserve all this? Did I not follow and prove Korn's thesis by taking it to its most extreme?" Saltz says in a hurt tone glaring at Peppa. Peppa and Korn just stood there with stunned looks in full realization of what Saltz was trying to tell them all the while trying to suppress her anger, feelings of betrayal, and hurt toward them.
"Why was I sacrificed for your ideals? ME! After I made myself the most dangerous rival to you? And eliminated all other rivals, relatives, and houses that threatened your ideals and goals?" Saltz turned her head to Korn. Korn was just speechless.
Korn thought Saltz was just an evil and crazy relative bent on killing Peppa and him and claiming their family's Seat of Power for herself and her son. Never, did it cross Korn's mind that Saltz was actually on their side helping them like a double agent giving validity to his thesis.
Saltz's eyes narrow at Korn watching his mind torture himself for his stupidity at not realizing this possibilty, what they could have done differently with Saltz on their side, how they could have better coordinated with Saltz to further their ideals, but most of all having Saltz on their team at the Tournament of Power and what could have been. Saltz smiled wickedly under her face mask.
Korn also had to acknowledge the possibility that Saltz could be messing with him. After all, his uncle, Saltz's father made her read Korn's manifesto to better understand Korn as a rival, his motivations, and what he values so she could know how to destroy him. Korn remained silent, staring at Saltz.
"Why did you abandon me and take my son? My heir? My living legacy? Why was I locked away in the worst prison cell of Planet Soho?" Saltz said in a hurtful tone looking at Peppa.
"If I didn't our family would have killed him out of fear of him growing up to be like you. I saved you, I saved him, my Mother cared for him and made sure he was growing up to be strong and ruthless like us! Did not my Mother, your Aunt bring him to you often so you could see your legacy continue?" Peppa answered her. Saltz was silent as she stared at Peppa.
"You can hate me, but your son was alive, you were alive, and look how strong you have become! You should be thanking me! I apologize for nothing! If I had to do it all over again I'd make the same choice because look how you benefited in the long run and think how much fun our fight will be!" Peppa protested in a loving and excited tone. Korn just blinked and shook his head at Peppa. Saltz just stared at him then smiled under her face mask. Saltz turned her head back to Korn.
"You can trick them into believing that you have changed, that you're a different man with your feats and acts during the Tournament of Power. The Universes may have forgotten but stay assured that I do not forget and neither will all those innocent people that Peppa and you have exterminated!" Saltz told them.
Peppa just smirks. However, Korn felt a pain in his heart remembering Hop and Universe 10. How that whole universe was erased from existence by Goku and him defeating their chosen warriors. Then his failure and defeat with their own universe, their friends, family, and its planets full of life being snapped out of existence by Future Zeno. As well as all the different races of people and planets destroyed by Peppa and him flashed in his mind.
"They will always haunt you. No matter how many lives you save…" Saltz told him. Korn just stood there lowering his head clenching his fists tightly. Then Saltz turned her head back to Peppa.
"Tell me my dear cousin Peppa, why do you hate Korn?" Saltz inquired. Korn looked up at Saltz.
"What?" Peppa tilted his head giving her a quizzical look.
"If you hate him so much, why stay by his side instead of MINE!" Saltz demanded in an angry and possessive tone.
Saltz's shifting and ever changing emotions were starting to give Korn whiplash. There were so many different layers to Saltz, Korn couldn't tell what was an act, what was truth, and given her mindset and perspective what emotions were being twisted in her head.
To Korn, Saltz's self-proclaimed hate for them was betrayed by her questioning and the subtle tones in her voice. It was like Saltz was forcing herself to hate them because that's all she knew and the only way she knew how to express herself to them.
In truth, by her inquires she wanted to know the why and their true feelings on certain matters, but if she was going to kill them why did it matter and why drag it out in this long suffering torture game unless...
Korn eyes widen. Unless she cared… Saltz wanted to stand with them, to be included, to be one of them. The more Korn thought about it the more her actions and reactions made sense when looked at from the perspective of love rather then hate. Korn felt a surge of pain clutching his chest. Saltz and Peppa look over to him. Saltz had a disgusted look.
"Looks like my evil aura hasn't purged all the goodness in your heart, either that or you're just so weak it's creeping back in…pathetic." Saltz said looking back at Peppa wanting his answer to her question. Korn continued to hold his chest with his right hand in pain with black lighting sparking around his body.
"Well?" Saltz demanded. Peppa looked back over at Saltz then looked over at Korn.
"The same blood that runs through your veins runs through mine. I am the potential of our family unleashed!" Peppa proclaimed.
"But him? He is nothing but a joke!" Peppa told Saltz while disgustingly gesturing his hand out toward Korn.
"Yet, I have to watch YOU and HIM surpass me in strength. My future! My life! What I want for ME thrown by the wayside! In servitude to you two!" Peppa told them his true feelings standing there in his frustration glaring at both of them. Saltz and Korn just stare at Peppa.
"He's…He's even saved my life as if I was a helpless child. Do you understand how small, weak, and humiliated I feel each time he does it? To be trapped in the shadow of his greatness since our childhood? To be looked down upon as lesser and not as an equal!" Peppa gave Korn a hateful look.
"He has stolen my honor and his debits must be paid with his blood!" Peppa proclaimed. Korn gave Peppa a cold serious look.
"Interesting, Korn, what are your feelings about our dear cousin Peppa?" Saltz inquired, watching Korn and Peppa glare at each other.
"Look at him Saltz, all the time looking for the easy path to keep up with us, having your potential unlocked by the Fat Guru, absorbing the energy of my friends to become a Super Saiyan God, but never understanding what West Supreme Kai Nishi was trying to teach you." Korn scolded Peppa.
"Oh? And what is that?" Peppa gave Korn a nasty look.
"That the hard work is what's going to get you far! Try to respect at least yourself in that regard. You're pathetic, show us your pride as a Saiyan, your pride in our house, show us your real power! Until you do, you will forever be bound to me living in the shadow of a god!" Korn proclaimed. Peppa just clenched his fists.
"So that's the reason…his honor binds him to Korn but his loyalty to me has been out of…" Saltz doesn't finish her thought, not wanting to admit not only Peppa's feelings for her but her own feelings for him. In truth Saltz not only respected Peppa but she loved him. She loved to hate him. He was the closest thing to a best friend or little brother she had in her life. Staring at them with a sinister smile. Saltz was done messing with them now. She found out the answers to her questions.
"Don't worry Korn, I will kill you in time." Peppa said in a wrathful tone.
"Not if I kill you two first!" Saltz said powering-up.
Saltz fired two ki blasts at them. Peppa and Korn dodged out of the way turning into Super Saiyans but Saltz rushed them in the blink of an eye, punching them both in the gut knocking them back to their base forms tumbling clear across the great plains. Korn and Peppa laid on the ground defeated, in pain, and gasping for breath with Saltz hovering down to them.
"This is pathetic." Saltz said in a disappointed tone.
Saltz created massive basketball size black and red fluid orbs holding one in each hand. Then as Korn and Peppa were struggling to get up she threw them at them. They didn't have time to block before they were hit.
Korn stood there expecting to be dead but was shocked to find his pain was subsiding, his wounds were forcibly closing and mending, with a sudden burst of energy. Korn looked over to Peppa who gave Korn a confused look then they both looked over at Saltz bewildered.
"Like I said before, you don't get a quick death. Now we will fight, and fight until you die. It's the only way I'll forgive you." Saltz told them hovering up in the air looking down at them.
"Peppa, if we are going to survive Saltz and get her Ultra Dragon balls we need to use the Potara Earrings." Korn suggested. Peppa just gave him a disgusted look.
"Fusion? That is your answer for everything! I'll pass! I want to fight Saltz with everything I have and everything I am. I owe her that much. Anything less then my best would be disrespectful to her." Peppa explained.
"On the contrary Korn has a point Peppa, in your current condition neither Korn or you are a match for me, even with that burst of energy I gave you I doubt you'll be able to fight me at full power for long anyway. It would be better for you two to do the fusion thingy I saw you two use to defeat Garlick. Yeah, I want to fight him! The one with the red hair." Saltz demanded with a growing bloodlust in her voice getting excited at the thought of fighting with the Evil Saiyan who defeated the Saiyan of Legend Garlick.
"I Refuse! I want to fight you as myself!" Peppa protested. Korn saw Saltz get an annoyed look then powered-up to her a Super Saiyan state with her evil aura. Korn and Peppa's eyes widened when they felt Saltz's seemingly limitless power. There was a huge gap in power between her and them. Infact Korn would bet Saltz was up there with Toppo, maybe even base Jiren. Korn and Peppa realize Saltz was right in their current condition; they are little more then an annoyance to her like they were for Jiren and Toppo.
There would be no escaping this fight, she will just hunt them down and torture them to death if she didn't get bored of their pitiful efforts and brutally murder them. Regardless, they can't escape Saltz, they couldn't generate the power and strength in their weakened condition to fight her like they had in the past. Maybe if they were fresh like she was they could fight her separately but not now.
Fusion was their only chance to survive. Korn looked over to Peppa and saw the look on his face as he stared up at Saltz. As much as Peppa wanted to fight Saltz by himself he cared more about surviving and fighting her another day. Peppa grimaced then let out a sigh.
"Fine, I'll do the stupid fusion…" Peppa said defeatedly.
"Really Peppa?" Korn looked shocked.
"Yeah, this is one of those exceptions, but I have a demand." Peppa gave a serious look to Korn. Korn just nods. Saltz just stares down watching them. Peppa walks over to Korn and whispers something in his ear that shocked Korn.
"WHAT!? ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW!?" Korn yelled out. Saltz just gave them a curious look.
"That is my request if you want me to do the fusion with you." Peppa gave Korn a dead serious look. Korn gestured with both arms up to Saltz then at them then back at Saltz with a pleading look. Peppa did not budge and glared at Korn. Korn let out a sigh.
"Fine! But we die trying that and it fails-" Korn went to say before getting cut off by Peppa.
"It wont. It has to work or else…" Peppa pauses looking up at Saltz showing an emotion that confuses Saltz then Peppa looks back at Korn holding out his left hand. Korn just stares at Peppa then begrudgingly takes the Potara Earring from his right ear and hands it to Peppa who puts it on in his right ear since Korn wore his in the left ear.
"Thank you, Peppa." Korn said with his earring starting to glow.
"Just stick to the plan." Peppa said as his earring glowed.
Saltz watched them hover and their bodies slammed into each other fusing into one being in a glow of an eerie green and white light. When the light dissipated Saltz felt an immense power that rivaled her own coming from the fused saiyan on the ground before her.
"You wanted me Saltz! Here I am! You now face the Evil Saiyan Kopa!" Kopa spoke in the dual voice of Korn and Peppa as he reintroduced himself to Saltz…