[OP: GRANRODEO ‒ Remember Your Passion]
Birth of The Cloud-Walking Fist! Zinco Once Again Takes The Field!
MONTH 1
[BGM: Yugo Kanno ‒ Cheerful Journey]
"..."
"..."
The tall, regal-armored Saiyan, with hair akin to a well-groomed lion's mane, unfolded his arms and broke his silence.
"... Explain. Now."
"In order to pursue knowledge," the mammoth Musai happily replied, "I'm taking assistance from those who'd call themselves 'mentors'!"
The Saiyan turned his baffled gaze from the massive, bio-masked and curved bull-horned being, to the chubby Majin wearing some 2-bit dogi.
"... And he can offer you this 'knowledge' how, exactly?"
The cesious-skinned and grey-exoskeleton'd fellow stepped further aside to let his new "mentor" elaborate.
"Thank you kindly. See, this may not add up to normal joes like you, but I can FEEL the raw spiritual aura this man exudes."
"(You think that's an accomplishment?)"
"Trust me," the overweight not-con man continued, "By the end of my tsukomigitendowushumochijiwarankidokaigenseitotoro training program, he'll have his power under control like tha~t."
"..."
The Saiyan turned to the Musai. "What does he ask in return?"
"A simple 100,000 zeni per hour!"
The Saiyan turned to the dirty gi'd Majin.
"If you value your life a smidgen more than I, leave."
"Y-YOU'RE LUCKY CHRONOA OUTLAWED MY SECRET TECHNIQUE, JERK!" he wailed as he ran off.
"Does your cruelty know no bounds, boy?"
"Oh, spare me. At least recruit reputable sources, not nameless curs."
Little did he know, this did not deter Ceushius.
Result: Zeni Balance of 0. Chubby Majin left satisfied.
Learned: Perils of False Advertisement. Con Artistry. Essence of Tactful Getaway.
MONTH 2
"..."
"..."
"Again?"
"Despite my doubts, there was indeed truth in your words last time. I've taken your advice, this time around. Behold, Earth's Strongest!
The Saiyan turned his baffled gaze from the massive, curved bull-horned man, to the afro-headed man in the flashy, open-chested outfit by their side.
"Human with absurd belt. Explain."
"Don't mind if I do! See, our Ceushius here has this natural affinity to fighting that I can see just by looking at him!"
"(So you have working eyes. How invaluable.)"
"All he needs is my critically-acclaimed coaching, and he'll have that power of his under control in a flash! Just leave it to me!"
"Really now? Surely, you'll show ME a glimpse of this 'coaching' you pride yourself in?"
The human broke out into sweats. "I-ah-see, I would, but, uh, I ate some bad sushi not too long ago, and…"
"Send yourself home, or be sent to Hell."
"WHY'S EVERYONE HERE SO DARN MEAN!?" The reigning combat sportsman wept as he sulked away.
Ceushius gave the proud, tailed man a look.
"Does your villainy know no bounds, boy?"
"There are children worth more than that buffoon! I did you a favor!"
Little did he know, this did not deter Ceushius.
Result: Nothing learned. Tabloid pictures taken. Mark Satan left satisfied.
Learned: Intricacies of Earth Media. Long-Period Posing. Essence of Showboating.
MONTH 3
"..."
"..."
"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
"Despite my better judgement, I've taken your words into consideration. I trust this one won't earn any needless ire."
The tall Saiyan locked eyes with the small, bandana-wearing child perched atop Ceushius's horns. Both exchanged a glare.
"She's failing."
"Who asked you, you big fat jerk!?"
"... Tell me, what exactly do you intend to offer, halfbreed?"
She pointed skyward. "Since Ceshi wants to get better or something, I'm training him so he's big and strong."
"... that's… that's not his-"
"It's just a difference of wording, dear boy. Knowledge is power, so they say!"
"(I was going to say 'name,' but sure.)"
The girl proceeded to blow a raspberry.
"Let's ditch this loser, Ceshi!"
"YOU'LL WATCH YOUR TONE WITH ME, YOU INSOLENT MONGRE-"
The tall warrior noble was thus planted into the ground by the little girl. Ceushius was just as shocked as her victim.
"Alright, NOW we can go!"
Without Voshyo's wise words, Ceushius had nothing to deter him.
Result: Problem worsened. Ceushius became stronger. Pan left satisfied. Pan's Mother left satisfied.
Learned: Long-Term Standard Calisthenics. All Ice Cream Flavors. Essence of Babysitting.
MONTH 6
The Saiyan who'd been stomped by a child months prior now leaned against a shaded wall, awaiting someone.
In case you've forgotten, this is Voshyo.
Now 20, he's endured his own endless stream of PQs and self-started fights in order to amass power. This, along with occasional challenges ushered to Ceushius (usually ending in unending pain for the noble, despite the latter's attempts at restraint), has resulted in incredible strength for a newcomer.
A gray and steel-blue figure rounded the corner.
"Any luck with your 'mentor search' or what have you?"
The figure, now adorned in slim-fitting armor of the same rock-grey coloring as his carapace, covering all save the red gem-like part in his core, shook his head.
"Regrettably, no."
This is Ceushius.
Now well into his 700s, in order to combat his power problem, he's been issued a suit which allows him to better regulate it (more so, it's to keep him from driving everyone in the city crazy.) He could now pursue knowledge of the universe in peace, and he's accompanied Voshyo because the latter's new goal interests him. That goal being…
"Lord Voshyo!" a younger, monkey-tailed man ran to him, kneeling on arrival.
"What's wrong?"
"Your name… it's being challenged again!"
At the mention, a fanged sneer slowly grew across the regal-armored Saiyan's face.
"You have my thanks, Sera'i. Rise, you've done well."
"Sir!" he yelled back, standing once more.
Ceushius followed. "This should be interesting…"
"If he ran, you morons would tell me, right?"
The Saiyans to the left and right of the man, bearing shield/mast-like sigils on their varied clothing, responded only with icy glares and bared teeth.
"It wouldn't be the first time some schmuck noble tried to talk himself up as a Saiyan leader. Every time someone's confronted them, they'd wind up knocked out, pouting and screaming all the way. Though it's the first time they actually managed to rally up a fanclub this uppity…"
"What'll it take for you to shut up?" one of them finally barked. "If we weren't saving you for Boss, I'd've torn you apart by now!"
"Is that your excuse? Jeez, what a pathetic excuse for warriors. No wonder you were all so easy to sway."
"YOU SON OF A…!" The scrappy young blood almost lunged at the challenger, though was stopped by a female hand.
"Calm down, Sera'i! This is VOSHYO's fight. Don't jump in like an idiot and screw up our reputation!" Her less-patient friend took some time to cool off before nodding in defeat.
The respect they held for this imposter was starting to bug the pugnacious row-starter. "What type of spell does he have these nitwits under?"
The sound of materialization filled the still air of the fractalized wasteland timespace. Suddenly, heads turned. Grimaces turned into proud grins, as the group began announcing one name in particular.
[ BGM: Hiroyuki Sawano ‒ Heaven's Door (Start-2:13) ]
"The one who'd be my challenger, I'm assuming?" asked a tall, small and smooth mane-haired man from the side. Unlike his peers, his armor possessed a black majority with golden highlights and the fur of a great beast coating the shoulders.
"... You're the idiot calling himself 'Voshyo'."
"And you're my challenger, I presume," he reinstated. With the 9-foot Musai right behind him, the source of his stoic confidence felt obvious.
Haughty mockery was replaced with seething anger. "You've really stooped so low that you'd have one of Frieza's race be your bodyguard?" the saiyan growled, the association causing Ceushius's pupil-lacking red eyes to darken.
Voshyo briefly turned from the Saiyan to Ceushius, and back to his opposition. "Don't kid yourself. This here is a spectator, I'd die before I had him fight my battles. His, and for now, your fight, is with me."
"Cut the crap! You want to look good in front of your cronies, but if they weren't here, you'd be sucking up or siccing that damned space liz-"
"PICK YOUR NEXT WORDS CAREFULLY."
The wasteland rumbled. The clouds briefly, and with haste, reversed their slow advance across the sky.
"I'll say it again. Your fight is with me. Barking outside your bonds is a coward's tactic."
The unnamed saiyan grit his teeth.
"But this inaction bores me. State your name and purpose."
"Uito. Vegeta III's era. I was sent off-planet before Frieza destroyed our home." Uito took a stance. "And I'm going to make sure that pampered royal pansies like you know who's boss."
This triggered a smile. "Very well. Voshyo, 6th of my named lineage."
He stood upright, spreading his arms apart. He practically invited shots at any and all conceivable openings, and yet the posture exuded confidence.
"I will reforge the Voshyo legend, and from there, claim all existence for the Saiyan race."
Introductions placed, the fight had begun.
And yet…
"(That stance…)" Uito stared in confusion.
"(No, it's not a stance at all… it's the direct OPPOSITE!)"
"What's wrong?" Voshyo glared daggers into his eyes. "You ARE my challenger, are you not? Prove your loyalty and attack me!"
"(He's a moron! Just giving himself away like that!? No, there's no way he's come this far by being brain-dead! Is he planning a counterattack as soon as I'm in range? If so, what IS his range? Maybe one of his henchmen is plotting to catch me off guard once I move a move? What about the musai? Is he going to strike?)"
"Attack, damn you! Whatever outrageous plot it is you're scheming over there, drop it and fight!"
That was enough to set off Uito.
"You…! STOP MESSING WITH ME!" he roared as he lunged. Voshyo's inaction drove his mind crazy, so the Vegeta-loyal saiyan dropped thought and let instinct drive his fist toward the false king's face.
And to his surprise, it made contact. Blood flew from it. He was even forced back by the blow.
"(He… he really IS just an idiot!)"
And then, Uito's fist was gradually driven back. With the force of the maned saiyan's neck alone. As his face slowly rotated back into view, Uito saw it...
Not once did Voshyo break eye contact with his aggressor.
Before he could pull away, Voshyo grabbed his forearm ‒ despite the latter yanking it back as fast as he could.
"A spectacular blow. Surely, one dealt by a saiyan. Any slip of fortitude, and it would've very well knocked me flat."
With the other hand, Voshyo made a fist.
Uito's heart frantically beat upon his chest, desperately pleading to be let free, and his irises darted back and forth like mad, longing to avoid what was about to occur.
[ BGM: Hiroyuki Sawano ‒ Heaven's Door (2:13) ]
"You're worthy of it."
The ambitious young man's onyx pupil's disappeared, like a shark smelling blood.
"THE FIST WHICH SHALL ONE DAY SHATTER HEAVEN!"
Uito's armor exploded. Blood shot from his mouth like water from a broken faucet, his eyes rolled back all the while.
A force rocketed through the area around the stricken loyalist like a gargantuan wrecking ball, splitting the ground, extending past the horizon, parting clouds, and obliterating a distant, looming plateau.
The saiyans surrounding the pair let out feral cheers, closer to an Oozaru's than to a human's. Ceushius continued folding his arms.
"He's grown."
The copious amounts of dust settled, seemingly to Voshyo's whim. He looked down toward the broken challenger.
"Once you've recovered," he spoke, talking down to the once-proud Uito, "Find me." He walked off. With the battle firmly decided, all parties began to dematerialize and leave the duel scenario.
"Whether it's to challenge my name once more, or join me, I don't mind."
The musai watched as his saiyan companion was flooded with adoration, from old and new faces alike. Voshyo remained calm and collected throughout the ordeal, a prideful sharp-toothed smirk upon his face all the while. In time, he sent them off, recruiting those willing to join the faction he was slowly building upon, and approached Ceushius.
"Though you've fought both alongside and against them in the past," began the bull-horned being, "It still strikes me as odd how that band of saiyans chooses to rally under you, despite your weakness compared to this world's stronger variants."
"Our race tends to gravitate toward the strong, especially those of both physical and characteristic. Naturally, I must exude both traits in spades."
"Would you attribute that to being born a noble?" Ceushius curiously asked.
"Of course not. The status of royalty is but a word. Beyond that, one must go forth and forge his own strength. Even as a child, I sought to do so."
"Hm. Interes-"
"Yes!" Voshyo continued on his own, absorbed by himself, "I grew ever-so dull of my father's over-reliance on backhanded 'tactics' for conquest and, at the age of 8, assembled my own squadron of warriors to conquer my own stretch of stars!"
"Well… that's very nice, bu-"
"It was by leading my own brigade into battle, besting a planet's strongest by my lonesome, that I TRULY began to hold the name of Voshyo in such regard! Foolish titles like class or the like mean nothing to me, for what truly matters is a saiyan's pride, and both their blatant and subtle strength!"
"('Subtle,' right…)"
"(I don't much care for that demeaning look...)"
The more he held onto the word, the more it interested him. "I wonder, where did you learn to wield such a thing? 'Subtle' strength?"
"Oh, it's simple, I…"
The small-maned Saiyan's bravado abruptly faltered.
"... from… a woman."
"Does that wound your 'warrior's pride'?"
"No, of course not, it's…"
In that instance, he was reminded of why his situation threw him into such a pathetic way when he came here.
He could reforge his pride. Create a new legend. Grow his power.
But he'd never see her again.
The red-eyed giant bowed his head. "Forgive me, I stepped out of line-"
"Watch your tongue. As if mere words could fell me."
He balled his fist.
"So what say you?" Voshyo confidently turned and asked, as if flipping a switch. "Did that display draw me any closer to your level?"
"Hardly."
Words hurt.
"A… ah, as expected!"
"Though it was certainly a sizable leap from the power you displayed during your many losses."
Words hurt a lot.
"I'd say you're 'W/L ratio,' as they say, is around 157 - 42 now. Yes, upon reflection, it must've been your 'subtle' strength of character that's attracted so many to your side."
Words could fell Voshyo.
"I'm complimenting you, am I not?"
"In the only manner that matters… yes…" Voshyo wheezed from the imaginary anvils top his back. As they dispersed, he let out a chuckle. Not nearly as haughty as those which he usually gave.
Though he wouldn't say it outright, those were the forms of compliments he loved the most.
"Now then, I must be off. The more battles I fight, the closer I arrive to my goal, and to you."
Ceushius nodded. "Good day, 'Lord Voshyo.' "
"Hmph. Patronizing bastard…"
Admittedly, though he possessed a bratty nature upon their first meeting, his repeated defeats from he and 42 others gave way to a… slightly… humbler young man. Even before then, he never took a defeat lying down; every instance was a near-death KO. That aspect of the noble, along with his hidden kindness, made him endearing to the musai.
But as one ambitious monkey-tailed fellow strolled away…
"Excuse me, sir!"
A familiar voice called out from behind, compelling him to turn.
[BGM: Hiroshi Takaki ‒ Anything is Possible]
Present was a green-eyed boy of quite an athletic build, further pronounced by the dobok he wore; a yellow torso and pants followed by a mossy-green belt, v-neck, and boots, with a white short-sleeved undershirt below it all. His blonde and moppy hair came down below the ears, and at the front, one long bang protruded from the middle of the overgrowth to his nose.
"Have you seen a really big guy, with really red eyes, and really big horns, and a mask? He sorta looks scary, but he's nice."
As Ceushius recalled his memory, the yellow-tailed boy continued listing off traits of his target, seemingly inspired the more he looked at the "stranger."
"Oh, and his skin is blue like rainy clouds, and he has hard grey skin on top of it like rocks… oh, and he has these really cool feet with 3 toes that bend like hands, and his horns kinda look like an ox's-"
"Apologies, but besides myself, I can't recall such a figure."
"-and he talks," Zinco deepened his voice and covered his mouth, "LIKE THIIIIIS, and…"
"..."
"..."
"IT IS YOU!"
Ceushius confirmed with a light-hearted chuckle. "It's been quite a while, Zinco."
Zinco enthusiastically nodded. "It's great to see you, Ceee… ru… zi… us?"
"Not quite," noted the massive musai in reaction to the stupid fucking name that only an idiot could come up with.
"Sorry, I mix up names sometimes."
"So then, is this a simple friendly gesture, or was there a reason you've sought me out?"
"You're really strong!"
"... I'm aware." Ceushius seemed to take offense to the blunt statement.
"Oh, I didn't mean it in a bad way! I mean…" Zinco straightened himself out, and rephrased.
"I want to become strong enough to beat up violence. But I'm starting to get strong, but slower. So I need a really strong guy to help me in order to get stronger faster! And you're the strongest guy, so I-"
"So you intend to use me for your own ends?"
Zinco froze. "Is that what…"
Faced with what he was doing, reflecting on why he was doing it, Zinco maintained.
"Yes!" He proceeded to bow. "Please, let me use you!"
There was being upfront, and then there was… that.
It interested the long-lived being.
"Forgive me, I only desired your response. Still, what a curious want of yours. Mind repeating it?"
"Huh? Oh, ok."
Zinco perked back up. "I wanna be strong enough to beat up violence. But first, I've gotta become so strong that I can't hurt anyone."
"(So my ears aren't failing me. He speaks of something so absurd as if it's a matter of time… yet those eyes cry honesty.)"
The boy's goal had the musai reflecting upon his own. Strong enough to, what sounded like, completely control his own power.
"And you're certain this is possible for you?"
It was more than interesting to him.
"Absolutely, positively!"
Ceushius nodded. But before he could go any further…
"Hold it."
Voshyo reappeared.
"Voshyo? Were you not off to continue fighting?"
He scoffed. "You'll find that saiyan earshot doesn't end at the length of stage left. Besides, you may offer your services to any weakling who approaches you…"
He approached Zinco.
"But I am not so charitable."
"Hi, I'm Zinco!"
"I'm aware."
Ignoring the boy's extended hand, he turned to Ceushius. "Take us to your Stagnant Timespace. I'll see to it whether or not this one's worthy of your, and by proxy my, time."
Zinco took on a dejected tone. "You want to fight me, don't you?"
"Hah! It's the only true means of gouging another Saiyan's true strength! What, does that frighten you?"
"No, but I really don't want to…"
His eyes drifted over to Ceushius, the big guy who couldn't control his power.
This would be his proof. That it COULD be done.
"... Nevermind. If we have to fight, then I'll win. And..."
He refocused on Voshyo, making direct eye contact.
"I'll win without hurting you!"
Voshyo stared.
Voshyo chuckled.
Voshyo laughed.
Voshyo cackled.
Zinco stared.
"You cocky little bastard!" he bellowed between howls. "If I didn't know any better, I'd kill you here and now!"
"It wasn't a joke."
The laughter slowly stopped. "Oh, this one's fun. I haven't laughed like that in… no, no that was a first for me. Very well, I accept. I'll even throw you a boon: force me above 50%, and you'll have bested me."
Zinco firmly nodded.
"Then it's decided. I'll let you two settle this." With that Ceushius led the way.
"..."
"Please let that go," Zinco blankly asked Voshyo, who was currently squeezing his formerly-swaying tail. His skeptic expression removed, he promptly released, and went ahead of the blonde.
"Just checking."
It was Hell frozen over.
Few, if any, descriptors would better suit the timespace they'd entered. The black sky nulled much of the sun's rays, the sparse amounts which intruded being absorbed and reflected off the jagged, deep-blue ice across the planet, serving as its light. In sheets, in rocky slopes, in gigantic jagged formations piercing the sky, it took on all shapes and sizes. Most immediately apparent however, besides the heightened gravity, was its bone-chilling frigidness; enough to freeze an ordinary human's flowing blood in seconds.
It was no wonder why the inhospitable wastes' denizens underwent the nicknames "Frost Demons."
"SO COOL!" Zinco hollered, giddy despite the temperature as he sailed across the ice.
Voshyo cringed. "What an eccentric little brat."
"It's certainly a nice change of pace," Ceushius cheerfully responded, his eyes reflecting said joy. "My homeworld isn't used to such 'warm' reception."
"Your humor confuses and sickens me."
"I imagine many forms of humor do likewise." The flashy-armored saiyan paid the musai a scowl before walking off.
"No interference."
He looked upon the still ice-skating saiyan, laughing like an idiot, and had enough.
"CEASE YOUR FROLICKING AT ONCE!" he roared.
Zinco immediately stopped, staring down Voshyo with a dead-serious expression as he slowly slid into view. His squeaking boots did not get the memo.
"Alright."
"Hah, sounds like you're getting serious!" Voshyo took his stanceless… stance, with zero defense in mind. He closed his eyes, and imagined himself in the center of a raging torrent. With a mighty stomp, half of the ocean halted, a massive wave sealed off behind a spiritual dam. His onyx eyes shot open, his aura shot forth, and he grinned.
"Now, with all pleasantries aside, come!"
Zinco looked at the black-maned saiyan's form, and without a second thought, approached it.
Anticipation grew higher and higher, until he finally arrived, face to face.
"Now then, how exactly do you intend on subduing this Voshyo?"
"..."
Zinco turned to Ceushius. "Am I worth your time?"
Interested in where this could go, the bull-horned being nodded.
"He said I'm worth his time!"
He proceeded to jump in victory. "I WON!"
By the look on his face, Voshyo's ancestors had been spat upon.
With an innocent smile, Zinco gave a respectful bow. "You're strong, but we don't need to fight anymore." He outstretched his hand once more. "Thank you for your time! This was fun!"
"... Ah, I see now. How rude of me."
Voshyo grabbed Zinco's hand, assuring him the fight was over.
"I'VE CHALLENGED YOU."
[ BGM: Jim Dooley ‒ Rampage ]
And then Zinco flew.
"The first move was mine to make."
Slamming past several frozen mountains during his flight, Zinco rectified himself and slid across the rocky ground, just in time for another fist to come flying straight into his face. More ready, he staggered backwards, blood oozing from his nose and mouth.
"But the fight-"
More blows rocketed toward him, and he took the defensive, dodging and redirecting what he could.
"Are you so void of a backbone, you believed that WORDS could fight in your stay?" Voshyo growled as he steadily pummeled Zinco. "You flaunt that tail of yours as if you were proud of your Saiyan blood, and THIS is what you offer the battle?"
Aside from Ceushius and the things that resulted in his spiriting away to Conton, THIS was the strongest person he'd ever encountered. With amazing speed, he had his legs swept from under him and fell onto back as if in slow motion, beholding Voshyo's enraged downward proper fist. Attempting a block out of pure instinct, he was slammed into the icy rock, rock which burst from under him in a mile-wide radius.
"St-strong…" he wheezed.
He was kicked into the air amidst the glowing deep-blue shards. Each gradually took on a glaring bright white, before a colossal burst of ki ate into his back, shooting him even higher into the air before Voshyo outpaced the attack and struck his core with a double axe handle, detonating the ball of ki and illuminating the pitch-black sky for a brief moment.
"Too… strong…"
He shot down into a great mountain of solid ice back-first, sending waves of searing pain before violently slamming into its dark interior. Given no time to so much as reflect on what'd happened, Voshyo dove after him; soon after, the entire mountain exploded from the inside, sending hundred-meter debris scattering across the realm as if dust.
In the epicenter stood the saiyan heir, above the dreamer. With a look of pity, he grabbed the disheveled boy by the tattered collar.
"How loathsome."
He forcefully tossed him to the side. Zinco lifelessly spun across the jagged field of ice, slowly sliding to a stop far out of view.
"... Am I gonna lose?" he asked himself. "Is this… all it took?"
He turned himself onto his forearms, blood dripping across the cold midnight blue.
"This was impossible?"
His eyes were drawn to his hands. Daily, he'd relentlessly condition them.
But why? To make sure they were strong?
Did he simply hate them that much?
In that moment, he wasn't sure.
For a long time, all he'd used them for was blocking. Redirection. Sustaining damage.
For any other reason, they'd hurt someone.
As red slowly covered them, he was reminded why he felt so strongly toward them.
He'd accepted a challenge. A fun, innocent challenge by a young friend.
He was excited. She was excited. They came at each other, holding nothing back.
He struck first. It was then that he first learned what death was.
Soon after, he fled into the true world, away from the mountain. There, he learned what hate was. The reasons why. The constant fear others felt. Past wrongs caused by pain. Their need to never feel it again.
Tears of disgust slowly pooled in the boy's eyes, angry at himself that doubt would cloud him so quickly.
Retaliation against other species. Causing retaliation against each other.
If only no one felt the need to hurt. So many people would still be alive.
And with that, as quickly as they arrived, his tears stopped.
A world without pain.
"DAAAAAGH!"
He headbutted the ground beneath him, shattering the ice for miles. The raw soundwave further fragmented the mountain's spread debris.
Power that could resolve anything without pain.
People needed that. And he was the only one willing to seek the strength for it.
So he walked forward.
[ BGM: Masaru Yokoyama ‒ Crescent Moon ]
He approached Voshyo, who waited atop a piece of debris, once more.
"What a bore. Don't tell me you still plan to talk me down, mongrel?"
"No."
He smacked a fist into a palm and bowed. Maintaining eye contact all the while.
"Oh? You intend on fighting me? Despite your drivel about 'not hurting anyone,' or what have you?"
"Yes."
Voshyo lightly scoffed. He stood, and soon after, the piece of mountain collapsed.
The subsequent cloud dissipated, and there stood Voshyo, eyeing Zinco.
"Then once more, the first move is mine."
Voshyo did just that. And Zinco dodged accordingly.
"(Hm? Is this your real effort?)"
"(This isn't enough.)"
Voshyo moved in, his fists coming closer to Zinco. Despite, the latter began incorporating redirection, using his palms to both slide blows off, and lightly bat them off course.
"Hn! Now you're making this enjoyable!"
"(This isn't enough.)"
Both began circling each other, Zinco's defense sharpening to a tee as it was matched against Voshyo's offense, before they began barreling off across the frozen tundra. Despite his rapidly-improving performance, inside, the blonde Saiyan was still unsatisfied.
"(This isn't enough! I can't just run from this!)"
As they fought, Ceushius observed a peculiar development: ice had reached a point where it was no longer breaking apart under the force of the fight.
It was beginning to melt.
"You've grown in power, but is this all you intend to use it for? What, do you plan on continuing until I grow bored and forfeit?" Voshyo kicked Zinco across the softening land, pursuing him up a massive frost-encased tree. The younger Saiyan uprighted himself with a kick and narrowly evaded a fist which sent it on the verge of collapsing, the royal giving further chase up the mythic falling foliage, every hit pushing the two ever higher.
"Do you truly believe that I would lend your repulsive construal of victory even the slightest modicum of validation!?"
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!" Zinco yelled back.
Voshyo, during a close dodge on the other's part, noticed something that made him chuckle aloud.
"I see! You're beginning to enjoy this, as well!"
Zinco attempted to brush the comment aside, until he caught a glimpse of himself in a falling sheet of ice.
Despite his determined eyes, a manic smile had manifested itself.
"What? Why!?" was all he sputtered out before an inhuman roar underneath him refocused his attention. With no time, his instincts suddenly jut forth his arms and blocked a full-force fist, sending he and many other slabs of dense black leaves into the sky.
"So strong…!" his brain repeated, he himself beginning to shake. He could feel his face contort in an uncontrollable smile.
His eyes spotted Voshyo, reeling back for what he planned to be the finishing blow.
And then his fist began to reel back on its own.
"(What… No! Stop it!)"
Voshyo cackled. "THAT'S IT! REVEL IN YOUR NATURE! THIS IS WHAT MEANS TO BE A SAIYAN!"
In one final, desperate move, he poured every ounce of energy, every ounce of anger for these fists he had, into stopping the attack.
"I SAID STOP!"
But his limb disobeyed.
Instead, it made direct contact with Voshyo's.
And a blinding light enveloped the land.
Voshyo had been flung down into a cavern. Though the quick drop stung quite a bit, he was more so fazed by what caused it.
"That power…"
In that moment, as the two fists collided…
The ki and force behind Zinco's attack…
The aforementioned Saiyan noble looked down toward his hand.
"Nothing… not even a scratch."
He analyzed his fist in awe, before opening his hand.
"(Power is the extension of one's will… and ki, its direct manifestation into the world. That brat… imbued that will into his fists.)"
"(Thereby, matching… and cancelling the force of my own.)"
Zinco had seen the same thing.
High into the sky, down to his white t-shirt, he looked at the same hand that served as his goal's catalyst.
"I… punched him. But… I didn't?"
He was confusing himself, but he didn't, in fact, feel his fist collide with Voshyo's; millimeters before impact, they violently separated.
"... These hands… It's because of them, that I was able to do that. Even after everything…"
He smiled, welling up a bit.
"Thank you."
Thanks to them, he was on to something. And the fight hadn't ended.
At least, not to them.
Voshyo burst from the cavern, landing in front of the descending Zinco.
They shared a curious glance, both acknowledging the phenomenon that'd just occurred.
And then Voshyo atta-
And then Zinco attacked.
The phenomenon happened once more. They were separated once more, this time cross-planet.
"(Again!)"
[BGM: Hiroyuki Sawano ‒ thunderBOLTfantasy]
Once more, Voshyo dashed at Zinco with a fis-
Zinco attacked.
They separated once more, this time several kilometers apart.
"(AGAIN!)"
Voshyo dove in with a kic-
Zinco attacked.
One mile apart.
"(Such impudence!)"
"(AGAIN!)"
Zinco had entered a Zone, and he had no intention of leaving it.
This time, Voshyo tried to grapple him, only for the force of his palm to be cancelled by one just like it. They separated a mere few hundred meters, leaving no time to even breath as they lunged at each other once more, Voshyo with a flurry of blows, Zinco with a flurry of blows. Each subsequent extension of will had less and less distance between them, until it hit a cap; Voshyo was pushed back no more or less than 10 or-so meters each time.
"WHAT IS THIS!?" he growled, sending a knee.
"HYEUP!" Zinco shouted, collecting himself before reflecting this blow as well.
"(To assert dominance upon that which opposes you, to crush them utterly and completely with your power in spite of what damage you've sustained, THAT is the Saiyan way! Yet this brat…!)" He seethed, rearing back his arms and shattering the ground beneath them to kill Zinco's footing before throwing him, then chasing him across the sky, only for his sequence of fists to be reflected with a triple bolley kick. He looked upon his undamaged fists in disgust.
"(He's actively fighting against that very ideal!? How could this…!)"
Zinco skidded across the ice, which flared up in vapor and gradually returned to ancient water with every meter covered.
"(To become so strong, that I can't hurt anyone…)"
The encroaching, armored saiyan arriving with both fists reeled back, Zinco reciprocated the attack.
"(I thought I knew what that meant. Being strong enough to hit something and not hurt it… No, to never need to hit something ever again…)"
They engaged in an aerial exchange, Zinco erupting into a whirlwind of spinning attacks to counter Voshyo's blows, only for Voshyo to attempt taking the last kick in order to grab the boy by the leg; instead, he stopped what he was doing at the last moment, killing his own momentum with a small kiai and horizontally spinning to the other side, back to the ground.
"(But now… I know a bit more. It's not about not fighting, or holding back my hands…)"
He began dodging, redirecting, and cancelling Voshyo's oncoming, faster attacks, as the two began walking on water rather than ice.
"(I have to change what it MEANS to fight, WITH them!)"
"HRAAAAH!"
Not quite there yet, Voshyo finally caught Zinco with a body blow, causing the boy to cough spittle. Yet, now upright and determined, he retightened his core and skidded across the new frigid waves.
"(I'll beat violence, starting with my OWN!)"
CLNCH!
CLNCH!
"KAA-H!"
The roar, a letting-off of his own boiling blood, was just as inhuman as Voshyo's. Yet it had more in common with a divine beast's, than a primal one's.
"(No… No, this is EXACTLY what the Saiyan is!)" Voshyo grinned, powering up.
"(Writing its own will upon the universe at large, possibilities be damned, and breaking past all laws with ITS power!)" He began preparing a potent ki attack in both hands, causing the water to rapidly rise and crash in violent tidals.
Within his being, cracks began forming within his spiritual dam, pouring in ki.
"I, VOSHYO, HENCEFORTH ACKNOWLEDGE YOU!"
Zinco would take this attack. Full force.
"HERE, A FINAL GIFT TO THIS BATTLE!"
{7-GATE BREAKER!}
With that, he fired, and the world briefly rocked.
Zinco did not move.
He simply grit his teeth.
It was painful, very much so. But there was worse pain down the road he had chosen.
So he took it.
By the end of it, there was a massive expanse of empty space, mist for miles where water once flowed. The dark atmosphere had a colossal hole in it, raining down beams from the long-absent sun across the icy terrain.
Voshyo huffed. He'd gotten far too excited, tossing forth a technique he usually used for armies and space fleets on a single boy.
Yet there he was, in the same stance he'd last seen him in.
Zinco slowly exhaled, vapor flowing from his maw like steam from a factory.
He slowly laughed. Preparing to fall into the depths, he was caught by large, grey and cesious hands.
"Unbelievable…"
He brought him to a stable sheet of ice. "In the centuries I've lived, not once have I seen such a gentle yet fierce way of fighting."
"Really?" Zinco said weakly.
Ceushius nodded. "Not once."
The other young man flew over, as well. "To see a Saiyan... fight in such a way," he tiredly chuckled, "Further proves our place over all things. Though…"
He looked down at Zinco. "He possesses the tail and instincts, but his scent and fighting style…"
The tall noble figured it earlier, but wanted to confirm. "Zinco, what are you exactly?"
He smiled in response. "Oh? I'm half-human!"
"... c… come again?"
"I'm half-human!"
"... oh."
He knew he was half something, but when he gave off a similar scent to… the girl… he thought it was his nose playing tricks on him.
"Well… if nothing else, at least you HONOR that Saiyan blood."
"Hih hih, your eyes got really big!"
"It's as if you've seen a ghost, dear boy!"
"Quiet, you!"
The sound of hasty, foreign footsteps that had no way of being there snapped Voshyo and Ceushius's heads to attention.
"ZINCO!"
The two hardly had time to register it before the voice of a female reappeared behind them. They turned to see a fuschia-skinned woman with tendrils for hair and a height above Voshyo's, cradling the blonde half-blood as her eyes leaked like a faucet.
"Hi, Kaza," he nonchalantly smiled. "When'd you get here?"
"I-I looked e-everywhere for you," she began to sputter, "And then…"
She gulped, making a go at composure.
"... And I asked around, and someone directed me here. So I came. I couldn't interrupt you, because you were busy."
"Oh. That was smar-"
Her attempt crumbled.
"AND THEN-YOU-STARTED-GETTING-BEAT-UP-AND-I-GOT-SCARED-BUT T-THEN YOU-GOT-SO-COOL-AND-I-I-I-" she screamed before breaking off into wails.
Zinco cautiously wrapped his arms around her neck. "I'm ok, Kaza. Actually, I'm more than ok."
"WHY AM I STILL CRYING, I CAN'T STAND THIS!" she babbled.
During which, Zinco turned to Ceushius. "Oh, this is my friend Kaza. Can she come here, too?"
Ceushius turned to Voshyo.
"... This is no longer my call."
"Very well, sure!"
Zinco, now healed up a bit, lifted Kaza into the air, halting her tears. "ALRIGHT!"
[BGM: Hiroyuki Sawano ‒ The Top of Oshu]
The gesture… that, and the boy's goal… caused the former ruler in-waiting to reminisce.
"I just hate the sight of death," the small, tailed woman weakly smiled, after scaring off a predator from its prey. "It's selfish, I know, but… I just can't help watching something die."
"Maybe once you've conquered all there is," softly spoke the woman, her head resting upon his shoulder, "One way or another, there might be peace…"
"No, get back!" she yelled, pushing the controls to a pod's thrusters. "I won't let a king stain his hand with retreat… so let me!"
"Porumi…"
Ceushius turned his head, prepared to acknowledge the remark.
"Zinco!"
The boy looked back, seeing the armored young man.
"That girl. What do you feel for her?"
"She's one of my best frie-"
"NOT ENOUGH!" he boomed. He directed his attention to the tall, extradimensional girl who was still in the air.
"See the way she values you, and return it a hundred fold." He turned, preparing to leave.
"This path you've chosen to walk is one you're bound to lose people upon. So cherish all those who'd endure it alongside you. Or don't, and live in regret once they're gone. I don't care."
While not quite understanding it, Zinco got the broad gist of it. He looked back toward Kaza, setting her down.
"Thanks for being here with me," he said with a serious expression. It was good, having friends after all he'd experienced, and done, and lost. "And believing in me."
"I… uh… yeah… um…"
The musai beside him nodded. His jest wouldn't be needed.
"You have my clearance to use this timespace for all your needs," he then turned to Kaza, "though with her... oddities, I hardly think you'd need it."
"sorry for breaking in," she whispered in guilt.
He turned to Voshyo. "There's enough space for you both, I assure."
The ambitious young man scoffed. "Good. I don't plan on training at all, much less alongside a potential enemy. A Saiyan ought attain strength through active combat, and only through such. This remains my, and your, battleground."
"By the way," Ceushius finally brought up, "Regarding the results of your battle…"
Zinco and Kaza smiled.
Voshyo grinned.
"It's a draw."
"eh?"
"eh?"
"eh?"
The bio-masked being cleared his throat. "Zinco's initial 'Aggressive-Pacifistic Fist' cast down Voshyo in a way that harmed him, insignificant as the damage may've been."
"Oh…" Zinco sulked, as Kaza literally fumed at the ref's decision.
"All the while, even before his '7-Gate Breaker,' Voshyo slowly-but-surely began using more than half of his full power."
"I know nothing but shame and disgust," Voshyo simply stated. Both reactions drew one last, deep chuckle from the huge being.
"Of all I've seen," he said, tossing forth a gate, "I think you pair are the most interesting people I've had the pleasure of observing. Grow strong. Pursue those immense dreams of yours. I look forward to seeing where you go from here."
With that, he was gone.
Voshyo looked back once more at the half-blood, Zinco looking back into his eyes and Kaza glaring at him, before going through the portal as well.
The blonde looked down at the fists he'd once hated more than anything.
"... I found out how I'm gonna fight for now on, Kaza. And I wanna be the best at it."
Kaza nodded excitedly, tenderly clutching them "And you're never gonna lose again once you're there!"
Zinco grinned. "And then…"
"You're gonna make a world without fighting!"
Zinco bounded upward, toward the hole in the atmosphere that beamed down light. Looking directly toward it (like an idiot), he gave a single nod.
"Absolutely, positively!"
[ED: Pay Money to My Pain ‒ Weight of My Pride]
Yo! OP here!
I'm probably gonna take a long-ass break from the story after this. Not a fuckin' year-long hiatus, I'm not evil and my back's doing fine, but IDK. Maybe a month, just gonna invest some more time into college and other personal goals like drawing. Spent a shit ton of Christmas Break and today on just this.
Regardless, this is a chapter that, despite being before the one that's ALSO up, right now my G, it's one that came after the other one. First time I've ever done this, and, I've gotta say...
I have not a single regret about making this chapter.
Voshyo and Zinco are two of the best fucking characters in this story IMO. Hell, Zinco's a better MC than both Neoru AND Dina. Now this doesn't mean the prior-mentioned two are suddenly gonna stop being main characters, but damn. I like working with Zinco.
This chapter also establishes Zinco's primary means of fighting/self-made martial art: Ceushius (yes I changed his name, this one's better) named it "Aggressive Pacifistic Fist," but Zinco will eventually rename it (See: Title.) It needs the user to be in a damn-near zen for it to work effectively, requires precision, timing, adequate ki-control, and a well-conditioned body; it's some S-Class shit. I want it to incorporate Tae-Kwon Do/Taekkyon aspects as well, as a small prelude to Zinco's origins (no, he isn't just a blonde Saiyan mutant or whatever.) He's also never gone Super Saiyan, the hair's just a coincidence. The "Had SSJ from the Jump" plot point is something I have saved for another character (You probably already know who it is, but it'll be cool to have unveiled regardless, swears it bruv.)
Voshyo's cool, too. I based him more-so off Fate/Zero's Iskandar, Gilgamesh (zAsShU, but it fits every time Voshyo says it) and, of course, Raoh. Iskandar comes out more around other Saiyans and people he respects, Raoh toward those he gives 0 shits about/people he loathes (like Dina) and hints of Gil all around. They'll have one more interaction, like RIGHT before the tournament. Regardless of inspirations, though, I'll still aim to make him his own character, with his own mannerisms.
Kaza. She ripped into the dimension to find Zinco. She's gonna be fun to unravel.
It was nice to have a chapter completely disconnected from the usual characters. I'll leave this OP Talks by saying this is one of if-not my favorite chapter. Just kewl doods saying and doing kewl shizz.
That's about it. See ya.