Chapter Thirty-Nine
The Holy Seven
Planet Rhudz, Sacred Domain.
Glory be the Shining, and to all those who follow.
Glory indeed, the High Magistrate giddily thought to himself as one of the slaves brought him another bowl of sweet fruit. He popped the juicy seedling in between golden-plated teeth, clapping his hands together triumphantly as the zest tingled his taste buds.
He dismissed the slave with a lazy wave of his hand, greedy yellow eyes settling on the vicious match in the middle of the underground club.
The underground fighting rings were brutal, savage and strictly prohibited of course. Yet taking bets on these death matches filled Helios with such sadistic delight he could not help but indulge.
A few silver coin was all it took for the club owners discretion after all.
And even though he would show up to the match in full robe and guards in tow, he knew of not one soul on Planet Rhudz who would dare challenge him. Still, the small penance he took from the donations to the cause seemed to appease the locals once it was back in their pockets.
Another shout and holler erupted from the ring, bones crunched and blood splattered. The entire club booed and cheered all at once as Helios sat back in his seat, relishing in the win. His gem adorned fingers scrambled back into the bowl of sweet fruit, eager for another burst of pleasure on his tongue as the loser's corpse was dragged out of the ring to be put with the steadily growing pile of bodies in the corner.
The next burley opponent clambered over the ropes before the winner of the last barely managed to wipe his last challengers blood from his brow. The crowd erupted again, as the fighters exploded into a ferocious assault - oh yes, only one of them would outlive this skirmish.
He rapped his fingers together excitedly, turning to one of the slaves to fetch a wine when he noticed that they were no longer by his side.
Helios frowned, deeply. They had left their post for one reason or another. Perhaps to relieve themselves or something else unimportant. He would not stand for such incompetence. But alas, he relented, it was difficult to get good help these days.
He turned again, where on the Kais sacred realm were they? Surely they couldn't have all left without his instruction?! Imbeciles!
"Sol!" Helios ordered his bodyguard, "I require - Sol?"
But Sol was no longer by his side.
In fact, none of his guard were in the nearest vicinity. He shifted uncomfortably in his large leather seat, nerves setting in.
It must be a coincidence, perhaps they had gone to watch the fight up close?
Yes… that must be it. He concluded, trying to quell the sudden unexpected fear that gripped him by imagining the grievous punishment he would no doubt have to inflict on them for their own good.
How tantalising a thought.
He could not have any lost sheep as it were, he was their shepherd, leading them on the path to glorious everlasting light - !
The light snuffed out, and darkness filled him. It was as though the entire room had been filled with a dangerous black cloud, but only he could see it. A deep rooted feeling of dread and despair took hold of his entire being. He couldn't move, he was without any feeling other that fear - except something hot and jagged that burned close to his throat, threatening to slice into his jugular if he dared to utter a sound.
"Keep watching the fight," a harsh, threatening voice whispered into his ear from behind, "Make any sudden moves and you'll be dead before you manage to scream."
He could feel the warm breath on his skin, but it only made him shiver.
"W-Who are you? W-What do y-you want?" He whimpered, the Ki blade seemed to grow hotter with every passing second, "H-How did you m-manage to g-get p-past m-m-my guards - ?!"
"I think you might have some idea, High Magistrate," the owner of the voice glowered, "But it's not important. You have something of value to me, and I'd like you to hand it over as painlessly as possible."
"I-I don't know what you're talking abou-!" Helios choked, as a strong arm pushed the blade further into his neck, searing the stubble from his chin.
"Oh really?" He cooed dubiously, "Well if you don't have the Diamas then I guess you're of no use to me -."
"W-Wait!"
"Yes?"
"T-The Diamas y-you say?" He all but sobbed, straining to get a look at his attacker without cutting his own head off, "H-How fortunate that I know w-where it is!"
"Incredibly fortunate. Now be a dear and hand it over, and I'll let you get back to perving on illegal death matches like the piece of shit you are."
He gulped, he couldn't see the man's face even now he had stepped forwards. His stature was shielded by a long black hooded cloak, his nose and mouth hidden by a black mask - most likely to protect him from the smog outside. His eyes were just as dark, penetrating into his very being as though he was about to cast judgement on his soul.
"W-Well," he mustered shakily, "Y-You can't blame me for having a h-hobby, can you?"
The eyes narrowed, a white-gloved hand outstretched from beyond the cloak. "The Diamas."
"O-Oh! You think I have it? N-No no no, good Sir! The Diamas is not in my possession!"
"Then where is it?"
"T-The Cathedral!" He whimpered, as the Ki-blade burned even more horrifically.
A trickle of blood escaped the small wound that marred his throat, as the mysterious man gritted his teeth.
"Seems a little odd to me that you would leave something so precious unattended, High Magistrate - unless, you weren't to be trusted with it," he mused, "Can't say I blame them."
"I-It's true, I s-swear on the great Kais - !"
"Oh spare me."
"I-I mean I did have it! You're right!" He spluttered, the feeling of dread increased tenfold, an enormous feeling of pressure squeezed at his insides, "B-But one of Perses' associates collected it - t-they are the ones that have it!"
His attacker swore under his breath, he was angry. "Zamasu has it?!"
"N-No! It was not a Kai - but a woman - a-a girl - !"
"Stop lying!"
"I swear it!" Helios sobbed, tears spread hot and thick down his wrinkled cheeks, "The Kai known as Zamasu has not yet graced this world, but she appeared two sun-circles past! She has been a great gift upon Rhudz, telling us of the new world and spreading the word of the true Gods - !"
"She's here?"
"W-Why y-yes!" He sniffled, "I-In fact she is giving a sermon at the Cathedral at this precise moment!"
"That's a little convenient, wouldn't you say?"
"N-No tricks! I implore you!" He begged, clasping his hands together in prayer, he could almost hear the dark Ki blade humming with malicious intent, "Y-You should slip by unnoticed, there will be a huge congregation - !"
"Fine," the dark stranger sighed, finally pulling the blade away from his neck, "But if you're lying about any of this, I'll end you before you can so much as raise the alarm."
"I-I -," Helios started, frantic. But it was too late, he was gone.
Gohan pulled his mask further over the bridge of his nose, making his way through the old cobbled streets and the darkened alleyways of the capital city.
Planet Rhudz was a large industrial world, its sun shrouded by dark oppressive clouds that churned out of tall polluted towers. The large brick buildings of the city were covered in soot and dirt, the unfurling festering fog reaching as far as the docklands and its similarly toxic waters.
The thick smog made his eyes water and his lungs ache for fresh air, but the darkness was a blessing. He slipped undetected through the busy streets, full of throngs of factory and dock workers who had just clocked off - he had timed his visit well, it appeared.
"… apparently it happened this last sun circle past," a man dressed in overalls told his colleague as he passed them.
"Terrible shame," the other tutted, shaking his head, "They never seem to have much luck do they?"
"Shows you what happens if you put your prayers in fabled Dragons rather than the Kais."
No one paid him much notice as he ducked into another dimly lit alleyway. Even though it was busy this time of day, he was mindful not to bump into any more of the Shining and their Magistrates. They were all too easy to spot, for they were adorned in bright orange robes and tall hats with the red sun emblazoned onto the front.
There wasn't a doubt in his mind that the High Magistrate would raise the alarm as soon as he managed to find some guards, which in all fairness would prove tricky seen as Gohan had taken out every guard in the nearest vicinity to the club.
Lord Beerus would have sorely reprimanded him for not Destroying the mewling brute, but it just wasn't Gohan's style. The man seemed more interested in getting off over daylight murder than indulging in anything Perses was up to anyway.
Gohan had never visited Planet Rhudz before, owing to the fact that the natives weren't exactly Destroyer friendly. Even the Kais gave it a wide birth nowadays, Shin wasn't all too privy to the sheer amount of strict worship and animal sacrifice that was well known amongst its religious leaders. He wouldn't come back any time soon either. Overcrowded slums festering with rodents and disease greeted him in various states of despair as he stalked the alleyways, it was a stark contrast to the religious buildings and pristine attire that belonged to the Shining. The disparity sickened him.
"Hey handsome eyes," a busty figure called out as he walked past a brothel, "Prayed to any Gods lately? I could make those prayers of yours come true, for a price."
Gohan ignored her and her giggling companions, instead noticing a red and orange flag that hung from a bronze-plated flagpole. There were a few of them dotted around the area, and as he walked, they became more frequent and linear, creating a path for him to follow.
The Cathedral was soon easy to spot, situated in the middle of large square that was eerily quiet for this time of day. The magnificent building was brightly lit by brackets of fire, a myriad of beautiful colours creating luminous patterns over the dark city as the light protruded from stained glass windows.
The Cathedral was ancient, yet well kept - more than anything else on Rhudz he would wager. It had three enormous spires that rose high past the smog, pointing towards the atmosphere hidden above it. Deep stone grooves encompassed the great windows and enormous oak doors, which lay tightly wedged shut and undisturbed, much to Gohan's chargin.
He knew better than to trust that old perve, he thought bitterly. The area was all too quiet for a religious sermon to be taking place - and he certainly couldn't sense a mass of people inside.
He did, however, feel a spark of energy - until it disappeared all too quickly. His thoughts immediately ran to this 'woman' the Magistrate had mentioned. Could it be the same woman that Zuno had spoken of too?
Either way, Gohan knew he wouldn't find any answers stood outside. Looking around, he let his hood fall free, before he pressed a palm onto the hard oak door and tentatively pushed it open.
The door let out a loud, grievous creak, the baneful noise echoing over the ancient stone and the hundreds of neatly set pews. That were indeed, empty. The lying bastard.
His senses on high alert, Gohan made his way further into the Cathedral, the sharp tap of his boots echoing against the cold floor with every step. The nave of the building was long and wide, accommodating the central spire that was held up by intricate golden beams and stone. A patterned, large red sun was visible directly below the spire. It lay at the centre of the entire Cathedral, shining wetly like blood painted into the pristine marble floor.
A solid gold altar presented itself opposite the pews, displayed on a stage which included a large font for baptism and another row of seating for a choir. Now that he was inside, he could see the full extent of the peoples' obsession with the Kais.
Faces of ancient Kai peered down at him from every wall, the paintings in the stained glass telling stories of when the Kai would receive gifts from mortals, and grace those they deemed worthy enough with their Divine presence.
One window even depicted a battle in which Kai fought side by side with mortals. The enemy? Well, Gohan could come to that conclusion on his own. The violet glare of the Hakai filled the majority of one of the lower panes, as a stronghold of valiant Kai with pure white wings protected a family of small children from being Destroyed.
The next window gruesomely depicted the fabled black-winged God of Destruction being decapitated by one of the Kai, whilst the children and townsfolk cheered below.
Tearing his gaze away all too readily, he noticed that there were parts of the cathedral he had yet to explore. The nave split off into two other sections, though they were not as brightly lit as the one he was in.
He stepped off the platform and made for the one on his left first, hoping he would at least find a clue as to where the Diamas was rather than it all be for nothing.
It was colder down here, he noticed. His eyes darting over various shapes in the semi-darkness. His vision finally adjusted, and he realised that the shapes were several stone tombs, that lay dusty and forgotten. Smaller, single paned windows lined the old stone walls and he could just about make out a graveyard in the Cathedral grounds. He felt an unwelcome shiver run down his spine, but swiftly brushed it off as he continued deeper into the chapel.
Statues of stony-faced Kai watched him pass, unseeing eyes following his every move. Yet nothing else jumped out at him, no clue or hint as where he might find the Diamas. He sighed, relinquishing in the fact that he'd fallen for that idiotic Magistrates pathetic mutterings and had a wasted journey when he felt it.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and the spark of Ki he had caught earlier raked across his senses almost jarringly. Gohan spun on his heel, back towards the tombs just beneath the archway.
He was not alone.
Draped in darkness, the figure lingered just short of the nave that Gohan had passed but a moment earlier. He was certain that there had been no one else there with him.
His breath came up short, as a strange sense of unease encompassed him. Though whoever it was wasn't paying him any attention. They stood eerily still, paused at the foot of one of the tombs.
The lid of the tomb was carved into an intricate statue of the ones that lay beneath it. The mother held the child close to her heart, long stone hair draped across them in bountiful curls. The youngling clutched tightly to their mother, small hands fisting the fabric of her robes. Both lay resting in a forever sleep, peaceful, serene and desperately sad.
"Do you think they are together in the afterlife?"
It was a woman, Gohan realised as the figure spoke. She turned her head towards him, but her face was hidden by the shadow of her hooded cloak. He didn't know how to answer, or if he even should.
Alarm bells went off like a fanfare in his mind, but for some reason, he could not move.
"Do you think they've found peace together?" She asked again, her voice sounded young but not innocent, it was as though she were challenging him, "Do you think that whoever wronged them has been brought to justice?"
The word intermingled with the obvious tension in the air, weighing heavily between them.
"Who are you?" Gohan demanded.
The woman chuckled darkly, "Quite the question. Who. Am. I? I have been searching for the answer for a long time, Son Gohan."
She spat his name as though it was venom, and turned to face him fully.
A thick scar stretched from her cheek to the underside of her jaw, down her neck and breeching her collarbone. The shine of thickened skin was glaringly obvious in the firelight.
Her eyes were dark and wide. They were framed by her dangerous expression, and if that was not disturbing enough he could have sworn that a spark of violet flashed within the iris' as their gaze locked.
Her stature was petite, short in height. Her black cloak swept the floor as she took a step forwards.
Anxiety gripped him unexpectedly, was she…. was she a survivor of a planet he had long condemned to Destruction?
"Look," he started, "Whatever Zamasu and Perses have promised you, it's not worth it. You should leave this place. Just hand over the Diamas, no one needs to get hurt here."
The woman paused, stoic for a moment, until she threw her head back in a bark of unrestrained laughter. It was almost manic, her shrieks clattered harshly over the Cathedral walls, reaching into every crook and crevice and rebounding back towards them.
Her hood finally slipped off her head. She was thinner than he had originally thought, gaunt almost. If he hadn't already heard her voice he would have thought she were a pubescent boy, her face and boyish haircut were enough to persuade him otherwise.
"Stop it!" He yelled over her raucous howls, "I meant what I said! Now hand it over and leave!"
She stopped all too abruptly, a dissonant chime continued to echo around them as she spoke, "You think it would be that easy, do you? You really are as pathetic as he says."
"What are you talking about?!" Gohan spouted, who the hell was she? Some nutter that Zamasu had picked up off the streets?
"You have something we need," she told him in a sing-song voice, "So why don't you stop dancing around the fact Gohan? Give me the Z-Sword and maybe I'll think about giving you the pretty neckless."
"So that's it huh?" He scoffed, "The Diamas was just some ploy to get me on my own so I'd hand over the Z-Sword? Cute, but I don't believe one word coming out of your mouth. Better yet, if Perses wants it so much, why doesn't he come and get it himself?"
She eyed him for a moment, before letting out a small giggle, "You have no idea, do you?"
"I'm on a bit of a tight schedule so forgive me if I'm not in the mood for guessing games."
"Games?" The girl looked excited, "Oh I love games. Let's play one of my favourites! How many limbs will be severed before one of us gets what they want? You go first!"
"… What?"
"That's the wrong answer, silly!" She cackled, "My turn!"
Gohan skidded backwards, as the girl flung through the air towards him. He caught her rampaging fist before it made impact, the collision of their palms created a powerful wind that blasted through the Cathedral, causing the whole building to shudder.
The fires snuffed out, the only light that of the soft glow that escaped the surrounding city, pouring in through the stained glass windows and illuminating colourful patterns on the floor. He barely had time to react, as her shin bristled the top of his head. He powered up, bringing his Ki to the surface in a white aura, batting her oncoming attack away with a fast strike of his hand.
She was relentless, her eyes glistening with a mixture of determination and mania. Her laughter grated on his eardrums like nails raking across a chalkboard as their fists, elbows and knees continued to collide. He could sense something incredibly dark within her Ki, it was almost… no that was impossible. It was definitely something powerful whatever it was, and yet to be unleashed. He would have to be careful.
She let out a wail of pain, as his boot imbedded itself into her abdomen. She flew backwards, crashing into the altar and sending splintered wood and debris flying into the air.
"You're no match," Gohan told her, "Give it up before you get hurt, or worse."
Her head hung low and still, for a second he thought he had knocked her out.
Then, she let out a snicker, "You are so confident, aren't you? But you're still losing. You might have got a hit on me but you didn't take a limb."
His frown deepened as she awkwardly stood, her arms hanging loosely by her side. Then suddenly, and without warning - her energy sparked.
Blades of wicked Ki grew long and sharp in each palm like a pair of katanas. A deep purple light crept over the dark Cathedral, shadows dancing gracefully over the empty pews. She turned, slowly, a crazed smile upon her lips.
He couldn't believe what he was sensing, yet it all but confirmed his earlier suspicion.
"That energy… how?"
She said nothing, she was too busy admiring one of the sizzling blades.
"Oi!" Gohan snarled, the pressure in the air increasing tenfold, "How the hell do you know how to use the power of Destruction? Answer me!"
"Power?" She spat, her tone shifted - low and dangerous, "It is not power. It is a curse!"
"What the hell are you -?!"
"A curse which has plagued me before I came into this world," she growled venomously, aiming her katanas towards the sky, "A curse that I will finally use to take you out of it!"
A cascade of violet lightening struck the Cathedral in a rip-roaring BOOM! snaking its way through the central spire and meeting her blades in a dazzling explosion of light.
Not taking any chances, Gohan immediately matched her energy with his own, the Almighty power of the Destroyer encircling his frame and causing the roof to tremble even more so. The smoke cleared all too soon, his hard gaze observing the girl who stood engulfed in a violet aura much like his own.
It was certainly Divine energy, but on her it felt… odd. He couldn't put his finger on it.
"You feel it too, don't you?" She asked, curiously at first, before her features became vicious once more, "Infecting your bloodstream like poison…. it builds and it builds until your body can no longer contain it and it EXPLODES out of you… disgusting… dirty power… unnatural…"
She was upon him in a flash of violet fire, hot pressurised Ki exploding outwards as she slashed the Ki-blades towards him. He countered, quickly, ducking under one blade before parrying another. He drove a spinning kick into her side, causing her body to fold inwards. Her black cloak whipped about her as she skidded on one foot, before coming back snarling - aiming another deadly swipe of her swords at his chest.
Gohan phased out, reappearing behind her and delivering a crippling blow to her back. She cried out in both pain and frustration, whirling around to attack him again. He caught both her wrists at once, halting the katanas in their tracks.
She growled and spat squarely in his eye. Gohan retaliated by slamming his forehead against hers, before kicking her away with another gut-wrenching attack to the sternum. She landed in a heap, violet blades shattered from the impact.
He wiped his face with the sleeve of his cloak in disgust, stepping towards the girl who was still struggling to her feet.
"Look I don't even know who you are, or where you came from," Gohan stated, "But this fight… it's pointless. There are bigger things at stake, so just tell me where the Diamas is."
"Pointless…." she mustered quietly, "That's all you'll ever be unless you succumb unto me… he said that. He said that."
Gohan was bewildered, as she snapped out of her mutterings and turned to face him once more.
"It's not pointless. My friends don't think it's pointless."
"You're… friends?"
Just like that, violet shadows erupted from the dark corners of the nave. Energy of Destruction flooded the magnificent marble floors like a wave, it stopped just before it reached the shield he quickly conjured to protect himself, before encircling the golden dome.
He just had to ask didn't he?
The Hakai shifted and grew, manifesting into six tall monstrous shapes that snapped and snarled at the shield, creating cracks in its protective force.
He had no idea how she had managed to create monsters out of Destruction energy, but he would have to ponder that later. With a brazen shout, Gohan poured his Ki into the shield, where it glowed a brilliant golden before exploding outwards.
The monsters fell back, purple particles falling about them as they got back to their feet. They roared and screamed in unison, their cries eerily similar to that of a little girl's.
Gohan quickly blasted two of them apart with his own Hakai as they charged at once. The others violently swiped their claws towards him, but his own aura was indeed more powerful and all but disintegrated their limbs on impact.
A well aimed Masenko was all it took to wipe the others out, their girlish screams ringing out around the Cathedral in a sorrowful dying hymn. He spun on his heel, just in time to snatch the girl's knee out of the air.
She screamed horrifically when he countered. Anger, sadness, pain moulded together as she struck him again. This time, to his shock, she actually made impact.
He yelped, his back colliding with the ancient stone wall, a sizeable crack spiralling up to the beams above them.
The metallic taste of blood lingered on his tongue as he prised himself out of the wall. He glared, as the girl landed in front of him, rubbing her first in triumph. Her aura was darker, bolder than it was before. Her power washing over his senses in jarring discordant waves.
Okay. Now, he was pissed.
"Fine, you've got my attention," said Gohan, balling up his fists as his dark Ki snapped and crackled at the air, "I'll play."
"Really?!" Her subsequent squeal of excitement was enough to rattle the windows, "Yay! Last one to die is a rotten egg!"
What the f -
KA-BOOM!
Her strikes were much more powerful now, yet he was still able to hold his own. He countered her attacks quite easily, but they were steadily becoming more violent, more desperate and erratic as the fight wore on.
Her energy was just potent and deadly as any Destroyer he knew, and he had to be mindful of the occasional stray Hakai she would randomly throw into the fray. Her sadistic grin bore into his soul as he batted yet another away. It connected with a large statue of a Kai where it disappeared in a shower of purple particles.
Lightening bolts cascaded over his frame as a powerful Ki blast erupted from his palm. She dodged it at the last second, where it exploded out of the ceiling and caused wood and stone to clatter back to the ground. He didn't let up, and careened towards her like a speeding bullet. His knee struck her hard in the face, following up with a hammer fist to the skull. She screamed again, uncaring of the blood that flowed freely from her broken nose and conjured other ball of Hakai which Gohan had to bend over backwards to avoid.
It was much larger than the others, and struck one of the spires that was shortly lost to oblivion. The glittering shower of particles that followed drifted down to greet them, the city smog now exposed as it crawled across the sky.
The girl's eyes widened, "Oops. Guess I'll never find out where the Z-Sword is if I end up Destroying you, right?"
Gohan didn't get chance to speak, as she shot towards him without warning. Her bloody face gave her an even more crazed look, aiming another well-aimed hit towards his head.
He retaliated before her fist connected, spinning in the air and delivering a bone-shattering punch to her spine. Sonic booms erupted over the Cathedral, that had begun to groan in protest from the shockwaves of their fight. He had the upper hand, and was about to end this quickly when she phased out, reappearing underneath him and bringing up her boot hard below his belt. Nausea hit him immediately, stunning him as he let out a howl of pain.
His hands flew to the source of agony out of pure instinct, leaving him wide open to a blast to the face. It burned horribly, his head swimming as he felt himself go catapulting through the air.
He knew he had reached the bell tower when he crashed into the enormous brass bell with a loud CLANG!
He burst out the other side of the wall, coughing as the polluted clouds invaded his lungs. He growled, tears in his eyes as his hard stare settled on the girl who was all too readily floating before him.
"Dirty fucking move!" He snarled breathlessly, as she all but snorted with laughter.
"Dirty, dirty, dirty," She chanted, before looking down at her hands almost in thought, "Dirty… disgusting."
Her aura grew unexpectedly, reaching a height that Gohan realised would be able to Destroy the city ten-times over.
"Hey! HEY! Watch it!" He bellowed over the roaring winds that whipped around them from the force.
It sputtered and sparked, wavering at his command. Her eyes glazed over, and Gohan realised that there was something very very wrong about this.
The Divine Ki was leaking out of her as her aura spiked and then quivered. I was all so obvious to him now. She couldn't control it.
"Stop! STOP!" Gohan ordered, "You'll Destroy the city!"
"Destroy…" She spoke quietly, plunging a hand into her cloak and reaching for the string around her neck. She pulled it out, revealing a dazzling smooth crystal at the end of the pendent.
The Diamas.
"Destroyers," she said again, its glint dancing in her eyes, "It's their fault. All your fault. Not mine."
He watched cautiously, as her power climbed, higher and higher - so much so that the sky grew even darker, electrifying waves of violet Ki streaked across the atmosphere. The winds grew wilder, more destructive. Her cloak blew about her so roughly that it ended up tearing. Gohan brought his power forth, making to knock her back out of the sky in order to stop this madness -
BOOM!
They clashed, a thunderous roar battering over the blackened skies which blew back from the force. The weather changed due to the ruinous pressure, lashings of rain pouring to the city far below them.
Her building Ki stagnated, as Gohan successfully smashed her to the ground. She landed in a crater in the middle of the marble floor of the Cathedral, the decorative red sun shattered as it cracked apart. The stained glass exploded outwards so that no windows remained, the majority of the statues lay broken beyond repair.
She stood to full height as he landed before her, eyes burning with the power of Destruction as she spat a wad of dirt and blood to the ground. The rain battered what was left of the pews with a furious tap tap tap.
There was a pregnant pause, before she charged once more. He met her blow for blow, but the girl didn't let up. She became more desperate - unhinged - spit flying from her mouth as she aimed another Ki-infused kick towards him.
"You can't control your Hakai," Gohan told her, stopping her attack in its path, grasping painfully at her ankle, "You won't win like this."
She shuddered under his strength, violet Ki surging outwards before it dissipated. "SHUT UP!"
She screamed, as Gohan used the momentum to launch her through the air. She crashed unceremoniously into the font which crumbled, spewing holy water outwards and drenching her even more so.
Violet sparks fizzled out, a cry of pain erupted from her throat. Gohan was already towering above her, his foot cruelly poised on her now broken and bleeding ankle. He leaned forwards, grabbing hold of the Diamas and roughly tugged it from her neck.
He observed the glittering crystal for a moment, before addressing her.
"I don't know how you managed to wield the Divine energy of a Destroyer, but you certainly haven't mastered it," he said lowly, as she all but snarled at him like a wild animal. "Either way, I won't let you get another chance to use it."
"I didn't ask for this - this curse! You have no right to judge who lives and who dies! You are not a true God - !"
"Save me your preaching," Gohan scoffed, "I don't give a flying shit what your little cult believes. And as for casting judgement - I'm not going to kill you, but I am going to bring you before the Divine Council. You're too dangerous to be running around the universe."
"D-Dangerous….dangerous…," She suddenly became subdued, muttering to herself again.
"What are you twittering on about now?"
"I'm n-not dangerous," she uttered, rocking back and forth, before clutching at her neck. She gasped, as if only just realising that the Diamas was missing, "No Zamasu. H-He took it! He took it! I'm sorry, I didn't - I didn't mean it!"
Her eyes glowed with that ominous violet light, Divine energy bursting from the seems of her Ki. It exuded outwards in strange spilling wisps of purple, reaching every corner of the Cathedral.
"W-What are you doing?" Gohan demanded, a strong sense of dread filling him, "Hey! Snap out of it!"
She wasn't listening, too busy howling with rage and sadness. Tears streaked down feverish cheeks as she was encompassed by a vibrant sphere of Destructive energy.
"Stop it!" He roared, as the orb grew more concentrated with power, "Are you trying to fucking erase yourself?!"
It was no use. He had no choice but to transform for want of not getting injured in the explosion that was sure to come, his Super Saiyan glow shining out like a beacon amongst the dark.
The Hakai was building. Getting denser and denser before it imploded.
Arms over his head, Gohan threw himself to the ground, his ears ringing from the deafening shockwave that followed. He looked up frantically, just in time to watch the mysterious girl teleport out of sight. He skidded to a halt before he could reach her, nothing but a half-Destroyed Cathedral and scorch marks left in her wake.
Gohan sighed, powering out of Super Saiyan as he looked around him for any signs of danger, but miraculously found none. She certainly wasn't coming back.
Well, that was weird.
He looked down, as the rainfall petered out into a soft patter. His fingers smoothed over the Diamas crystal as he studied it.
Just who the hell was that girl? She was definitely working for Perses, he knew that much. The fact that she had access to Destruction energy didn't sit right with him either.
Mysterious girl aside, at least he had gotten what he came for. First things first, he would have to deal with her later.
He should get out of here. No doubt Perses will realise that he had it in his possession before long.
As if on cue several sirens rang out amongst the dark night, but as the guards of the Shining reached the smoking ruins of the Cathedral, their suspect had already disappeared.
Planet Tartarus, Sacred Domain.
A Blacksmith was his last hope,
He had tried everything. Everything to open that bloody crystal. He had even tried to stab himself with it, but that was about as effective as if he had tried to shank himself with a teaspoon.
Princess - Queen Otrera had said that the Diamas must be exposed to blood before the memories can be accessed. But so far, he had failed.
He had tried his own blood at first, slicing a small gash in his palm with a Ki-blade and clutching the gem hard. He had tried the stabbing - no luck. He had dipped it in various bits of blood from animals he had hunted and ate in the wilderness so he wouldn't draw too much attention to himself eating in a restaurant or bar every night. Yet that hadn't worked either.
Gohan had gotten so fed up that he had attempted to smash it open himself. It was seemingly indestructible, even launching a Kamehameha at it wasn't enough as to even chip it.
So he decided to enlist the help of a Blacksmith. Otrera had informed him that the Diamas may have been mined on Ares, but the ancient Blacksmiths of Planet Tartarus were the ones who had forged the crystal into pendent-like shapes before her ancestors instilled their magical capabilities into them.
Tartarus, like Planet Ares, was one of the Holy Seven which had served the Gods for many millennia. It was also the home world of Perses, and the irony was not lost on Gohan.
Weaponry had been Tartarus' main trade, however, the Gods nowadays had no such need for much weaponry. The trade had died out much like the Tartarian's themselves, but Gohan, during his excursion, learned that there were still a few Blacksmiths left that may be able to help him with his conundrum.
Planet Tartarus was a dry, dusty world with only a few hundred inhabitants. They were not natives, more so outcasts that had settled here. There were several small villages dotted around the ruins of what was once a bustling metropolis. The ancient ruins lay abandoned and uncared for, much like the poor people of the dying world.
The atmosphere was habitable but bitingly cold, the frosty ground crunched beneath his boots as he made his way through one of the larger villages - certain to meet a Blacksmith here.
The planet had three moons that cast his shadow over numerous tents that housed various outcasts. Fire pits flickered underneath the velvet sky, illuminating a path up to a rocky hut up ahead. Several pairs of eyes followed him, but Gohan simply pulled his hood up further over his head, his breath creating puffs of humid clouds in the freezing air.
He reached the Blacksmiths hut eagerly, the roar of a furnace gladly warming his cheeks. He outstretched his hands so that they could feel the benefit too, before a gruff voice escaped the dark corner next to the furnace.
"I tol' yeh, we're closed."
"Why's the fire still burning then?" He asked, prompting a scoff from the shadows.
"Cold ain't it," the voice growled, "I don't know abou' ye but I'm not abou' to loose me balls to frost bite - still usin' em see."
Gohan wrinkled his nose, "I just want to ask a question, is all. I've travelled a long way."
"You and the res' of em sunshine," the man grumbled, "Now off with ye."
He sighed, "I've got coin. If that helps."
"Migh' do, how much?"
"Depends on how much information you can give me."
"Oh ho, is tha' so?" He chortled, a scrape of wooden chair legs against cool stone reached his ears as he stood.
The Blacksmith was tall and broad, muscular arms gave way to his trade. He was an older gentleman, sporting grey hair over pointed ears and a long silver moustache. He wore leather wristbands, adorned with sharp spikes over each arm as well as a welding apron. His skin had an orange tint, only made more vibrant by the amber glow of the fire.
Gohan tossed him a bag of gold coins before he could say another word.
"That's for your discretion," he said, as the man's eyes grew wide in disbelief, "There's more in it, if you can help."
"Blimey kid," the Blacksmith mustered, "Where'd a little punk like you get coin like this?"
"I'm the one asking the questions here," said Gohan, it's not like the he would believe him if he told him that he had access to the God of Destruction's vault. That is, if he didn't find out who he really was.
Lord Beerus' vault was filled with various gifts from mortals, including gold and various other such treasures. The Destroyer had no need for it, of course, but it certainly proved useful in situations such as these.
"Right you are," the man laughed, pocketing the drawstring bag, "Name's Hephaestus. How can I be of service to ye this evenin', traveller?"
"I wondered if you knew anything about this," he said, making sure no one was watching before placing the Diamas down on the wooden counter between them.
Hephaestus picked up the crystal, and rolled it around in his palm.
He let out a low whistle, "Is this what I think it is?"
"It might be," said Gohan, "The question is, can you open it?"
He waited with bated breath, as Hephaestus's brow furrowed in thought.
"I don't know kid, a Diamas crystal? My ancestors used to make weapons for the Gods out of these lil' beauties, but I haven't seen one of these around for centuries. Where'd you even get it?"
"That doesn't matter," He tutted, "Can you open it or not?"
"Not a chance," Hephaestus shook his head, "I ain't got nothin' of what your thinkin' to crack one of these open - don't work like that, see."
"Fine, I suppose I'll just take my coin and leave -."
"Hey, hey! Hol' on now!" He cried, "I says I couldn't get it open. Not that I didn't know how!"
"Explain."
"Well, from what my granddaddy use ta say, ye have to expose the crystal to blood."
"I've already tried that," Gohan griped in annoyance, "It didn't work."
"Now tha's a pity," Hephaestus hummed in thought, "The blood of whoever this memory is didn't work, huh? Strange."
"The blood of the - oh." Shit.
"Bah!" The Blacksmith chortled, "Ye can't just use any ol' blood, boy! It's gotta be the blood from the memory maker! They 'ave a blood bond or whatever it is - can't jus' anybody open it."
Gohan slapped a hand to his forehead out of sheer despair. Was this Perses' plan all along? To lure both Gohan and his memories to him? He was such an idiot.
"Right, well thanks for your help," he chastised, snatching the Diamas back and stalking off as quickly as he had come.
"Oi! Wait a minute!" Hephaestus hollered, "Wha' abou' the rest of me coin?!"
It didn't take Gohan long to reach the Gateway between worlds. It was situated on the far end of the planet, great pillars of marble stood high above the earth and opened out to a mysterious light that would enable him to cross the bridge to the next planet.
He bristled angrily. He would have to meet up with the others with his tail in between his legs, no doubt. Makhai would be annoyingly smug about his little mishap as well, especially when Gohan had been so sure he would find something out about Perses that was able to aid them in this fight.
So far, all he had managed to find out was that there was yet another maniac with Divine Ki doing his bidding.
"Where to Sir?" A small man addressed him, shaking him out of his thoughts.
He was one of the Keepers of the Gateway, donned in a pristine blue and white uniform complete with top hat.
"Ares, please," said Gohan, approaching the gate.
"Righto!" The Keeper smiled happily, pulling on the large golden lever in front of him.
Gohan waited, but the bridge didn't appear.
"Oh, dear," said the man, tugging the lever again. But it wouldn't budge, "Now that's not right."
"What isn't? What's wrong?" He asked.
"Well, it seems to be broken… again," he mustered, "Not many people come through this way anymore, and I'm afraid the old girl just isn't up to much nowadays."
"Ugh, fine," he sighed, there was a queue of about half a dozen others forming behind him now, "I suppose I'll just have to teleport -."
"Not advisable I'm afraid," the Keeper chimed, shrinking back when he caught the look on his face, "Tartarus is part of the Holy Seven. You can teleport on to one planet from outside the network, but once you are in it I'm afraid that you cannot jump between them. The Kais deemed it so many millennia ago to make the planets less accessible to those on the outside."
"So what?!" Gohan demanded, "You're saying I'm stuck here?!"
"At least until I get the Gateway back up and running," he squeaked, "Though I daresay it will take a few days… maybe weeks -."
"Weeks?!"
But wait, he thought, his communicator!
"Ridiculous," a horned alien woman sighed from behind, turning to her companion, "And at dangerous times such as these?! We should be able to get off this planet if it were attacked!"
Ignoring the Keeper's subsequent apologies to the other patrons, Gohan quickly dove into the pocket of his cloak and pulled out the new communicator that Whis had given him. He eagerly tapped the screen, in the hopes that he could at least contact the others or even Whis himself.
However, to his dismay the screen didn't light up at all. It only let out a spark of violet electricity before failing completely. Yep, that seemed about right. It must have died during that weird girl's fit of Destruction back on Rhudz.
It was a mystery as to why Whis even bothered, in all honesty.
Days went by, and the Gateway was still down. Much like his communicator, even though he had desperately tried to fix it.
He had spent the last few nights hiding out in a small wood not far from the Gateway, just incase the Keeper miraculously managed to fix the problem in the middle of the night. Despite the his warnings, he had still tried to teleport, but found that there was some sort of block preventing him from doing so. That, and it felt as though someone had struck him down with lightening every time he tried.
It appeared that the Kais had been pretty serious about that one.
But how had that girl managed to escape Rhudz? He was certain that he had seen her teleport. The only conclusion he had come to was that she had managed to teleport to a nearby planet not apart of the Holy Seven network.
Alas, he realised, if his internal planetary map was correct, there weren't any planets surrounding Tartarus that he knew of. His range of teleportation was certainly not as adept to take him over to the next galaxy either, and he wouldn't be any use to anyone if he suffocated in the middle of space.
So Gohan finally relented, and had come to terms with the fact that he had no choice but to wait it out.
He stayed camped out beneath the withered trees and distant stars, thankfully undisturbed by any locals. He managed to keep a low profile, living off the provisions Otrera had gifted him and a few woodland creatures that he had caught then roasted on the small fire he built. He kept the Diamas around his neck, fidgeting with the smooth stone every so often. It became almost instinctual to do so, steadily growing into a small habit.
It was strange, being alone like this without anyone for company. It reminded him of the six months of survival training he had endured when he was a child, before Piccolo finally deemed him worthy enough to train him himself.
Back then, he had wanted nothing else but his mother and father, praying that they would take him away from this awful place and keep him safe. But now, all he wanted was to keep them safe. Which was hard to do when he was stranded on this shit hole of a world.
He sighed, looking out into the stars and wondering if his father and the others had reached the centre of the universe yet.
On the fourth night of being stuck on the miserable planet, something strange happened.
Gohan had fallen to sleep next to the flickering pyre, the flames warming the patch of earth he was lying on and sending him into a somewhat restful dream. He pulled the cloak he was using as a blanket tighter around him, a cold gust of wind brushing through his hair.
"Wake up…"
He grumbled sleepily, brushing off what sounded like a whisper when he heard nothing else but the wind, rolling onto his other side.
"Wake up, you'll be late."
What? He started wearily, it was definitely a voice. Where was it coming from? Was he dreaming?
"Wake up, son!"
Huh? Dad?
"Perses, wake UP!"
Gohan bolted upright out of shock, his head spinning as he tried to wake himself. He wasn't sure if he was dreaming still, even though he felt awake.
He was no longer alone, it seemed. He was lying on the dusty ground but instead of the dying woodland, his simple camp was consumed by a lush and bountiful forest. For a moment, it looked just as real as the rest of his surroundings, were it not for the wisps of silvery light that encompassed everything in the nearest vicinity.
A tall man walked past him, stepping directly into his campfire as though it wasn't even there. He waltzed deeper into the clearing, calling back to a young boy who begrudgingly trudged behind him.
They wore extremely old-fashioned training robes, that Gohan had only ever seen depicted in ancient paintings and textbooks.
"Father, do we really have to train today?" The boy yawned, pulling up his shoulder length hair into a ponytail.
"You would do well to train that power of yours at every opportunity you have, Perses," his father frowned, although a smile lingered on his lips. "You have a gift, my son. A gift so precious that it will be lost if you do not nurture it."
"I suppose you're right," young Perses smiled back, slipping into a well-practiced fighting stance, "If I'm ever going to half the warrior that Mother was, then I need to make sure that I'm pushing myself to my limit!"
The boy didn't catch it, but Gohan did. The father's grin fell for a split second, before he composed himself. In one swift movement, a shining silver spear appeared out of thin air before he caught it and matching the boy's pose, he readied himself for the ensuing spar.
Gohan was confused, still coming around, as the forest dissipated as quickly as it came in a swell of silver light, voices erupting all around him. Strong deep shouts suddenly rushed towards him all at once, much like a battle cry.
"Father - ! Father wait, don't do this!"
The light grew more intense, when it suddenly dissipated, settling on a new scene altogether.
"Commander Aether, do you really have this much faith in the boy?"
"Of course. He is my son, and the perfect candidate."
"But a Major General in the Tartarian army? He is barely of age!"
Perses' father - or Aether, as the other man addressed him, stood in some kind of meeting room. Both of the men were dressed in similar looking armour, helmets tucked under one arm as they spoke in hushed tones.
It was futile, however, as unbeknownst to them, Gohan spotted a young man hidden just beyond the doorway. Perses looked older than the earlier manifestation, though his boyish features frowned as he continued to eavesdrop on the conversation at hand.
"You would do well not to underestimate him, Metis," Aether argued.
"Strength wise - no!" Metis implored, "But tactically, he hasn't had all that much experience!"
"I trust him," he said firmly, "You have heard the whispers of the approaching war as much as I. You cannot deny it any longer, and Perses' power may be the answer to Victory."
Metis said nothing, his face frozen in a deep frown.
"If you have that much objection to it, General - then you have my blessing to train him to your standards as well," Aether sighed, which caught the man's attention.
He grunted, "Fine, but I am only doing this for you, old friend."
"I appreciate it," said Aether with a smile, "Perses may... protest at first but I'm sure he will come around to the idea."
"Looking forward to it," Metis drawled sarcastically.
"We can't afford any complacency, not when tensions are growing amongst the Holy Seven," said Aether, "The Areians have already chosen their side, and I'm afraid it's not the side we hoped for."
"Well, it's not hard to determine where yourallegiances lie," he retorted knowingly. "The Kai -."
Aether shushed him with an air of annoyance, "That is not up for discussion, General. Know your place."
Metis didn't seem too perturbed, and went on to question, "So where is that boy of yours? Might as well get started straight away -."
A glaring flash of silver and white blinded him for a split second, it was accompanied by another desperate shout that penetrated through the dazzling light.
"What are you doing, Perses?! Finish this, son! End it NOW!"
Before he could wrap his head around the words that rattled harshly against his eardrums, the men had disappeared and another set of figures had taken their place.
Gohan couldn't believe his eyes, as none other did Whis and Lord Beerus appear, standing still and stoic in front of a young man in a tattered Junior Destroyer's garb.
"The monster has been apprehended," Whis spoke somewhat sadly, though his eyes were as hard as steel. "It needn't have come to this."
"Majin Buu has served its purpose," Perses snarled, the silvery glow illuminated the horrific wound around his eye.
"Perses," Whis tried, "Your mother -."
"She was no mother of mine!" He roared, his own diabolical Ki raged wickedly around him, "And you abandoned me just like her! That's what this is, isn't it? You've come to stop me, - and after everything you've put me through!"
"ENOUGH!" Lord Beerus bellowed, "You've crossed the line, brat! You were warned, the Oracle foretold it and yet you still - !"
Perses laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender, "Who is it that denied me my Destiny? You didn't even trust me enough with the Z-Sword -."
"That was never my decision," said Whis, prompting Perses to guffaw.
"Yes, it was!"
"You were not worthy, and that was not my fault."
"Not your fault?!" He spouted, "Who filled my head with dreams?! Who told me that I could make a difference?! Well, LOOK around you - I madea difference. I created a beast that wiped out the lowest ranked universes and what thanks do I get?! All I have ever been, all I have ever done, I have done to make you proud! Tell me how proud you are Whis! Tell me how proud you are Beerus!"
"I have always been proud of you," Whis mustered solemnly over the stunned silence. "Yet I'm afraid that it was pride that blinded me. I thought too much of you to see what you were becoming, and for that I am sorry."
"I don't want your apology," Perses spat venomously, charging a deadly attack beneath his fingertips, "I want that SWORD!"
Another explosion of silvery wisps followed, rising high above him in a plume of ashen smoke. The ghostly forms around him disappeared abruptly, as though someone had flipped an off switch without warning.
And Gohan was left alone, clutching the Diamas to his chest as he sat in a stunned silence in the middle of the desolate wood.
AN:
You're not seeing things, this is indeed another chapter!
Thank you for those that reviewed, keeps me going and excited for releasing the next instalment.
I am really enjoying writing Gohan going off on his own, we haven't seen much of that for a while. I described this chapter as the sexy chapter, because I am LOVING the first scene with Gohan threatening the High Magistrate. Any one else? ;)
I appreciate there is a lot of lore to digest over these next few chapters, which is why I'm trying to keep them more concise and more easy to digest.
The ancient Greek theme is something I love to keep up as you can probably tell - Rhuz is based off of Rhodes but with a really nice Victorian England image.
Hephaestus is - you guess it the Blacksmith of the ancient Greek Gods, and Aether, Perses' dad is the personification of the bright upper sky which I though fit really well with his love for Perses' mother who is a Kai.
We are starting to see a few of Perses' memories come forth - and this is something that I have been wanting to explore for a long time. I am so excited to have gotten to this chapter and am diligently working on Chapter 40.
There's a lot of mystery and unknowns - particularly surrounding the mysterious girl with Destruction energy. I absolutely can't wait for the next few chapters. As always thanks for sticking with me.