Heroes Rising
"History will decide if I'm a villain or a hero." ~Harlan Ellison
Realm of the Angels, Sour's garden one day later…
"You can try all you want but that will be impossible." Jiren said, staring down Korn in his evil Aura Royal Rose Form.
"Say what?" Korn said in a dark voice.
"Your fighting reeks of arrogance! Ego infects your technique and makes them impure! You think you're entitled to greatness but you're not. I commend you for harnessing so much power. But you will lose everything like you did before." Jiren told Korn in a commanding voice. Korn thought about his friends Peppa killed, The Kamakaze Fire Balls, and his Universe 2 being wiped from existence.
"I absolutely will not go through that again. I Can not! I will Not! I REFUSE!" Korn yelled out in a dark voice powering-up.
A safe distance away Toppo and Saltz watch Jiren and Korn train against each other. Thanks to Sour who used his staff he repaired and upgraded their outfits. Toppo was back in his Pride Trooper Uniform. Saltz wore low class Saiyan boots and armor gauntlets similar to what Goku's brother Raditz wore.
Saltz still wore her black cargo pants, but now she wore a short sleeve black shirt with female Saiyan armor in the style of Cheelai from the Super Timeline. Saltz now wore a polished version of her metal face mask. With her brown tail moving freely behind her. Korn charges Jiren punching and kicking him.
"Your energy is like a steel wall. I have never faced anything like this. No wonder Peppa is so in love with fighting you! But I don't care how powerful you are! I'll be the first to defeat you!" Korn said with a smirk.
Jiren kicks Korn in the gut, dispersing his aura then swats him in the back of the neck sending him several feet into the ground. Korn teleports behind Jiren only to have Jiren casually back hand him and send Korn flying back. Korn lands on his feet charging in dodging all of Jiren's fast punches, getting in close sucker punching him in the gut to Jiren's surprise.
Saltz and Toppo watch Korn push Jiren back through a series of punches and kicks that Jiren struggles to block and evade. Korn knocked Jiren away using Instant Transmission to teleport behind Jiren but as Jiren went to counter attack Korn used it again to appear in front of Jiren kicking him in the gut.
Jiren gives Korn a hard left, knocking him back. Korn rebounds off the ground using his hands to get back to his feet. Then using his Talk to the Hand blast to fire a powerful beam at Jiren who breaks through it with a glare getting in close and punches Korn across the face then shoulder buts him. Jiren uppercuts Korn in the air then leaps up knocking Korn back into the ground then blasting him away.
Korn pushes the attack away rolling across the ground as the blast goes off Sour's floating platform of a world. Korn gets back to his feet all bruised up with a proud smirk across his face. Jiren just glares at him.
"You say I'm arrogant. I say damn right! That's pride. Pride in the Saiyan I am, a member of the ultimate warrior race!" Korn said in arrogance powering-up putting his hands together for a Black Rose Kamehameha. Jiren just stands there unafraid.
"Bring it." Jiren commanded.
Korn gets ready to fire but suddenly disappears and reappears behind Jiren firing the massive blast causing a massive explosion to everyone's shock. Korn breathes hard, smirking proudly.
"This is why I'm the strongest Saiyan in Universe 2 Jiren." Korn said standing erect as the smoke cleared Jiren stood there with his hand out unharmed with energy forming in his hand as he glared at Korn.
"The force of that wasn't half bad." Jiren told Korn to his shock.
Toppo and Saltz watch Jiren trap Korn in a flaming orb of energy, shocking him. Korn screams out in pain before the energy spiral ups and explodes taking Korn out. When the smoke clears Korn drops to his knees in his shredded clothes and goes face first into the ground in defeat.
"And he loses again…pathetic. I can't believe he is related to me." Saltz scoffs walking off toward Sour.
"Hey Sour. I have been wondering if you angels are so powerful why don't you guys stop Zamasu and Hearts? Why us?" Saltz demanded to know. Sour just gives her an emotionless look.
"To put it simply, we angels are governed by three rules we must follow. We can not side with good or evil. Since we are mighty it causes many more problems if any of us were to choose one side over the other during a dispute." Sour explained.
"So you must stay neutral no matter what then." Saltz said outloud deep in thought. Sour just nods.
"We also can not ask for assistance to save our Universe since we must always remain neutral. We can not show any favoritism to the universe that we have been assigned to. However, we can use our own abilities to prevent the destruction of our universe." Sour explained.
"But the Tournament of Power's ruling prevented you from acting to save our Universe because it was a decree from Zeno that any Universe who loses will be erased. To defy that would defy Zeno." Saltz said outloud.
"That is correct." Sour said with no emotion.
"But our Universe 2 you--"
"I was very fond of our Universe and I much rather it not have been erased. Our warriors did the best they could, but in the end they lost. There was nothing I was allowed to do." Sour said, lowering his head and closing his eyes for a moment before opening them and looking back at Saltz. Saltz just stared at Sour deep in thought.
"The last rule is we are not allowed to engage in combat outside of training. It is the strictest rule we must follow." Sour explained.
"What happens if an Angel breaks one of those three rules?" Saltz inquired.
"It has been stated that if an Angel fights a mortal outside of training we will be erased from existence." Sour answers her. Saltz just stared at him.
"So you guys can't really do anything, you have to have us act on your behalf." Saltz stated. Sour just nods. Saltz just crosses her arms with a frustrated look.
"Do we know where Zamasu and Hearts are?" Saltz inquired.
"Somewhere in Universe 15, they have been quiet since they left Universe 16." Sour explained.
"They are probably resting and training as well. The next battle will be the last battle." Saltz stated. Sour just nods his head in agreement.
Several Hours later…
Korn wakes up sitting up looking around to see Jiren meditating by a tree with Toppo standing in front of him protectively. Korn saw a table with some food and drinks with Saltz leaning back in a chair drinking a pitcher of beer. Korn walks over to her. Saltz turns her head and glares at him.
"You know you embarrassed our house with that pitiful display of power and poor fighting technique. Then watching you train against Jiren was just sad. He out classed you each time despite your growing power and improvements." Saltz told Korn.
"I know." Korn sat down, starting to eat and drink some food that was left out.
"There in Universe 15." Saltz told Korn.
"Universe 15 is a weak universe with no noteworthy warriors. The mortals there are just going to be slaughtered by Zamasu and Peppa." Korn stated.
"So what are you going to do about it?" Saltz demanded to know.
"We will go to Universe 15 and put a stop to them once and for all. That's all we can do." Korn told her.
"We will lose if you fight like you did before. We will lose without a solid plan. Especially now that Sour told us Peppa has achieved Ultra--"
"I know…" Korn said in a low voice. Jiren opens his eyes, breaking his meditation, getting to his feet and walks over to them with Toppo behind him.
"Do you have a plan?" Toppo asked as they approached. Korn and Saltz looked over to them.
"I do." Korn said.
"What is it?" Toppo inquired.
"Our only advantage is the match ups. We have to play to our strengths. Since you can use Hakai far more efficiently then me, you're the one who has to completely destroy Zamasu's body and soul. Completely wipe him from existence." Korn told him. Toppo nods.
"As for Peppa, I'll take our beloved cousin. I'll kill him this time." Saltz said but Korn shook his head.
"No, Peppa is more dangerous then ever with Ultra Instinct. I have seen first hand what that power is capable of." Korn said, taking a drink of water.
"So have I, so has everyone who watched when Sour was broadcasting the Tournament of Power to Universe 2." Saltz reminded him.
"Jiren was the only one to fight and win against Ultra Instinct in the Tournament of Power. It has to be Jiren who fights and puts Peppa down permanently." Korn said in a dark voice. Saltz just glares at Korn.
"Very well, you got that Jiren? When the fighting starts, kill Peppa. Show my beloved cousin no mercy." Saltz ordered. Jiren just nods.
"That leaves the Tuffle twins--"
"I'll take them both on." Korn told her. Saltz just perks her eyebrow at Korn.
"I assume you expect me to take on Lagss then and her insane attack?" Saltz said in a bored tone.
"No, I want you to take Hearts." Korn said in a serious voice. Saltz tilted her head with an amused look.
"Why Hearts?" Saltz demanded to know.
"You're the only one who can withstand his gravity attack so you're our best bet at killing him." Korn told her.
"Very well." Saltz said laughing evilly liking her match-up.
"What about Lagss?" Toppo inquired. Korn though for a moment.
"Yeah she is a problem." Korn said deep in thought.
"Maybe I can help you there." a voice said.
Korn and Saltz got to their feet in a defensive fighting stance looking around for the source of the mysterious voice. With Jiren and Toppo turning around minding their surroundings.
Majin Ozotto appears as a tall horned demon with three red eyes. His body is a variety of colors: his skin being pink, his hips, chest, and shoulders being black, his scale-esque areas being blue, and his armored areas being dark pink.
Aside from resembling one of Universe 7's Cell's original designs, he also displays elements similar to Frieza in his second form. Additionally, his characteristics of a pink alien that shapeshifts and his history of devouring a planet make him somewhat comparable to Universe 7's Majin Buu.
"Who and what are you?" Korn demanded. Sour just watches from a safe distance not interfering.
"I am Majin Ozotto from Universe 13, but I was a prisoner on Planet Prison." Majin Ozotto explained holding up the three star Ultra Dragon Ball.
"He is a survivor of Planet Prison just like us." Saltz said outloud.
"I have been following you and watching you since your escape." Majin Ozotto explained pointing at Saltz.
"So you want to help us?" Saltz inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"Not exactly, I have no interest in your fight but I will help if it means I can fight Lagss." Majin Ozotto said.
"Why Lagss?" Saltz demanded to know.
"That's my concern. Right now it's their six to your four, but with me it can be their six to our five." Majin Ozotto said.
"Are you strong?" Saltz inquired.
"Very." Majin Ozotto.
"He is correct, he is strong." Sour approached.
"You know him, Sour?" Saltz looked over to Sour.
"Yes, Majin Ozotto of Universe 13. A power-hungry demon, he seeks to challenge powerful fighters and devour them for his own personal gain." Sour explained.
"I see your evil." Toppo said with a disgusted voice.
"So what? I'm evil and you're working with me." Saltz scolded Toppo.
"Saltz is right, beggars can't be choosers. If nothing else he can keep Lagss busy while we finish off the others." Korn said in a defeated tone.
"Becareful, you can't trust or make deals with demons." Jiren warned.
"Chill out. Give me that Ultra Dragon Ball as payment to join our group." Saltz demanded, holding out her hand. Majin Ozotto hands her the Ultra Dragon Ball. Saltz inspects it. Then smiles.
"Perfect, this makes four Ultra Dragon Balls. On Planet Prison the seven strongest prisoners were holders of the Ultra Dragon Balls. So maybe the other three prisoners made it off world before the planet's destruction. If that's the case, maybe the Ultra Dragon Balls made it off-world as well." Saltz thought to herself walking away with the Ultra Dragon ball in her right hand and her left hand in her pocket fumbling the case with Khai's Potara Earrings.
Saltz walks to her spot by Sour's enormous tree that overshadows the entire garden. Dropping the Three Star Ultra Dragon Ball with the other three she had collected. One was hers, one was Blizzard, one was Majin Ozotto, and the last one belonged to Korn and Peppa. Saltz looks back over to the group and heads back to them.
"Alright team, let's rest until they make their move." Korn suggested.
"Good idea. While were at it maybe you should have Sour fix your outfit." Toppo suggested. Korn nods, walking over to Sour.
"Sour, I respectfully request for a new outfit if it be your will." Korn said bowing respectfully. Sour just casually twirls his staff pointing it at Korn. Korn's clothes glow white and reform into white boots, blue jumpsuit, white gloves, with elite Saiyan armor with the Hakai symbol on the left side chest plate. Korn wraps his brown tail around his waist.
"Thank you, Sour. This is better then anything I could have asked for." Korn said respectfully. Sour just nods then looks at the orb on his staff blinking red.
"Looks like the Core Area Warriors are making their move." Sour informed them.
"Then let's go." Korn said with a proud smirk.
Universe 15 on a world with no intelligent life…
The floating base floated in the heavens above looking down at the surface. At the edge was Hearts, to his right was Lagss and Zamasu. To his Left was Kamin, Oren, and Peppa. Peppa wears low class Brown and Black Saiyan Battle Armor with yellow shoulder pads similar to Goku's brother Raditz minus the arm and leg bands. Peppa's arms and legs were bare with Peppa wearing a short sleeveless, short black bodysuit underneath the Battle Armor. Peppa's brown tail moved freely behind him.
Peppa thinks back to a few hours ago when Zamasu approached him and held out his hand to him, generating him this new outfit. Peppa remembered what Zamasu said to him.
"There, low class Saiyan armor for a lowly Saiyan mortal such as yourself. Take care of it, it is a gift from a god after all even though you don't deserve it. Consider this a blessing from a god Mortal." Zamasu said.
Peppa hated Zamasu's disrespectful and insulting comments, however after looking over the armor Peppa saw despite it being the battle armor of a low class Saiyan it was of the highest quality. Peppa couldn't deny it was an amazing gift despite how it was given. Given everything that is at stake Peppa needed every edge he could get in battle so he wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Peppa just nods and thanks Zamasu telling him he will put it to good use. Zamasu just smiles righteously. A white light broke from the heavens hitting the ground with Korn appearing with Saltz to his right, Toppo to his left, with Jiren and Majin Ozotto behind him.
"Looks like they got a 5th member." Kamin said.
"Doesn't matter, were going to win. No matter what, we will make our dreams come true." Peppa said in a dark voice.
"Alright team, remember your pairings and let's take these guys down and save the multiverse." Korn said.
Peppa stares down at Korn and Saltz with Korn and Saltz staring up at Peppa as the final battle of the Universal Conflict is about to start…