Dragonball M, Chapter 4: Kidnapping! Invasion! A new Threat Strikes First!

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

"Hey, Bladdersea!" Sasheem taunted, having now reformed fully. "We never got properly introduced, Sahseem doesn't think. Name's Sasheem, heir to the Snake School. ...Also known as your better," the Majin smiled, he himself now taking a stance of the Lion School. "Your roar ain't nothin' but a whistle compared to mine..." he grinne,d hias arms multiplying with Naga Palm, each hand now curled into a Katchin fist.



"Resounding Roar- The King's Call!" he shouted, his voice directed and echoing at around Sasheem himself, raising his ki and distorting the air with it's vibrations. He was keeping it more controlled then he normally would've. The others would have to owe him after all, if he decided to spare them from getting caught in the crossfire. Either way, the sound wasn't the goal after all. It was the roar's ability to spatially distort itself, allowing Sasheem's punches to rain in from multiple locations. All intent on landing a punches on Battersea in every direction aside from the one Tasure had hit.

Still pinned, Battersea grunts as he takes multiple blows from Sasheem.

Up until his aura flares out again, growing even higher as he blows Zaofan and Tasure away. His mane returns, blocking Sasheem’s attacks as he grunts and starts channeling Ki into an attack.

The light around Battersea starts dimming, as if he was sucking in light itself from all around. Even the sky starts to dim. Than an aura of negative light surrounds him, than vanishes, than surrounds him again. Light and dark cycle around as he powers up an unknown attack.

[grampagen]

He is currently caught in the lock.

“Bedlam’s technique!? You really are slumming aren’t you, Zaofan?”



He grunts as Tasure lands a blow, doubling over as much as he can while in the Bear Lock.

His power swells and he grunts as he starts powering up even more.

Draping the crook of his elbow over Battersea's neck, Zaofan grimaced, transferring from a cross-face submission to a rear-naked choke; but by the way the guy kept chattering away, it was his sole regret that proper technique for a blood choke actually had nothing to do with cutting off the windpipe. Wrapping his forearms around either carotid, he squeezed.

"Believe what you want, but no matter how much power you have, you still got holes in your game, you son of a bitch!"

Tasure cocked her head as Battersea... punched himself? What in the blazes was going...

...

Somehow, deep down, she knew that her boy was somehow responsible for this. Only that idiot would think to try--and succeed--at pulling off something as absurd as trying to control his possessed body from the afterlife. Probably using Kizuna or... something. He had a knack for coming up with weird techniques, so she wouldn't put anything past him.

As Ochazuke was flung away and Zaofan got Battersea in a lock, Tasure once again put her fingers to her forehead, disappearing and reappearing just in front of Battersea, immediately thrusting her fist at the temporarily (?) restrained body-thief.

"Hey, Bladdersea!" Sasheem taunted, having now reformed fully. "We never got properly introduced, Sahseem doesn't think. Name's Sasheem, heir to the Snake School. ...Also known as your better," the Majin smiled, he himself now taking a stance of the Lion School. "Your roar ain't nothin' but a whistle compared to mine..." he grinne,d hias arms multiplying with Naga Palm, each hand now curled into a Katchin fist.



"Resounding Roar- The King's Call!" he shouted, his voice directed and echoing at around Sasheem himself, raising his ki and distorting the air with it's vibrations. He was keeping it more controlled then he normally would've. The others would have to owe him after all, if he decided to spare them from getting caught in the crossfire. Either way, the sound wasn't the goal after all. It was the roar's ability to spatially distort itself, allowing Sasheem's punches to rain in from multiple locations. All intent on landing a punches on Battersea in every direction aside from the one Tasure had hit.

As he held Battersea, this close Zaofan noticed he hadn't summoned his aura. That much was evident by the level of contact he'd held at the moment. Yet despite this lull, he knew this was a battle fought at a speed where seconds stretched into what felt like hours.

I won't be able to put him to sleep at this rate, he thought, cinching the hold in further as Sasheem and Tasure threw flurries from everywhere.

Sliding his fingers inward, he reached in towards the base of Batterseas skull, and sunk his fingers into a pressure point; The Kiss of the Dragon.

Still pinned, Battersea grunts as he takes multiple blows from Sasheem.

Up until his aura flares out again, growing even higher as he blows Zaofan and Tasure away. His mane returns, blocking Sasheem’s attacks as he grunts and starts channeling Ki into an attack.

The light around Battersea starts dimming, as if he was sucking in light itself from all around. Even the sky starts to dim. Than an aura of negative light surrounds him, than vanishes, than surrounds him again. Light and dark cycle around as he powers up an unknown attack.

The moment the Lion's Mane reasserted itself, Zaofan found himself flying through the air like a leaf in the wind with Tasure. Bringing up the rear, Ochazuke intercepted both his martial brother and Totoma's mother as Battersea's next move.

"He remains tenacious. If nothing else the man is apt at seizing on power that does not belong to him."

"You can say that again, but it's not his to use, a part of Totoma's still in there even while he's training in the afterlife."

Grounding himself, Zaofan rolled his shoulders.

"But guys, even though his power's improved, his techniques are the same. I noticed it the moment he threw the Mane off with his Roar; he can't re-establish his barrier right away."

Ochazuke heeded Zaofan's words as he appraised Battersea's increased charge.

"In other words, the only openings come immediately after attack. A counter will have to come across a distance."

Zeroing in on the matter of Battersea's next technique, Ochazuke appraised and analyzed its nature. Drawing upon the Hozon innate to Nevanlinna's realm, he concentrated.

Applying Kei'i-Ken to all allies gathered, he amplified their concentration for the next maneuver.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Draping the crook of his elbow over Battersea's neck, Zaofan grimaced, transferring from a cross-face submission to a rear-naked choke; but by the way the guy kept chattering away, it was his sole regret that proper technique for a blood choke actually had nothing to do with cutting off the windpipe. Wrapping his forearms around either carotid, he squeezed.

"Believe what you want, but no matter how much power you have, you still got holes in your game, you son of a bitch!"






As he held Battersea, this close Zaofan noticed he hadn't summoned his aura. That much was evident by the level of contact he'd held at the moment. Yet despite this lull, he knew this was a battle fought at a speed where seconds stretched into what felt like hours.

I won't be able to put him to sleep at this rate, he thought, cinching the hold in further as Sasheem and Tasure threw flurries from everywhere.

Sliding his fingers inward, he reached in towards the base of Batterseas skull, and sunk his fingers into a pressure point; The Kiss of the Dragon.



The moment the Lion's Mane reasserted itself, Zaofan found himself flying through the air like a leaf in the wind with Tasure. Bringing up the rear, Ochazuke intercepted both his martial brother and Totoma's mother as Battersea's next move.

"He remains tenacious. If nothing else the man is apt at seizing on power that does not belong to him."

"You can say that again, but it's not his to use, a part of Totoma's still in there even while he's training in the afterlife."

Grounding himself, Zaofan rolled his shoulders.

"But guys, even though his power's improved, his techniques are the same. I noticed it the moment he threw the Mane off with his Roar; he can't re-establish his barrier right away."

Ochazuke heeded Zaofan's words as he appraised Battersea's increased charge.

"In other words, the only openings come immediately after attack. A counter will have to come across a distance."

Zeroing in on the matter of Battersea's next technique, Ochazuke appraised and analyzed its nature. Drawing upon the Hozon innate to Nevanlinna's realm, he concentrated.

Applying Kei'i-Ken to all allies gathered, he amplified their concentration for the next maneuver.

Battersea grins.

“Time to head home, boys. Not too fond of not having the home field advantage. Heaven Roar! Lion’s Shatters the Mountain!”


Simon roars, and Nevalinna’s entire realm shakes and trembles as that weird negative light aura surrounds and then flashes outward. Sound that shakes their bones, that rattles their blood and causes almost all of them to either vomit, double over in pain, or pass out as their very Ki pathways seem to shake and tremble.

The world groans, and cracks start to appear all over the sky surrounding Battersea. The cracks grow, rips tearing into Nevalinna’s realm and on the other side: Earth.

Simon grins, salutes, and darts through one, back on Earth after so many years.

[grampagen]

Battersea grins.

“Time to head home, boys. Not too fond of not having the home field advantage. Heaven Roar! Lion’s Shatters the Mountain!”


Simon roars, and Nevalinna’s entire realm shakes and trembles as that weird negative light aura surrounds and then flashes outward. Sound that shakes their bones, that rattles their blood and causes almost all of them to either vomit, double over in pain, or pass out as their very Ki pathways seem to shake and tremble.

The world groans, and cracks start to appear all over the sky surrounding Battersea. The cracks grow, rips tearing into Nevalinna’s realm and on the other side: Earth.

Simon grins, salutes, and darts through one, back on Earth after so many years.

As soon as Simon had turned around, he would feel Ochazuke's fist slamming straight in the the back of his skull.

The technique had cracked the world apart, thinned the veil between dimensions, and riotously sundered the fabric of the fighters' composition therein. How could this be?

Light and bluster and showmanship. These were the ingredients to fuel the performance of a champion. Legitimate or otherwise, none of that mattered in the past. They couldn't judge him because Simon Battersea had already won.

However, by flexing his aura in such a manner that twisted ki, directly in front of somebody who was initiated in the same technique he was using, there was a rather steep cost for this display of strength.

The M Fighters gathered near Ochazuke had their concentration enhanced. This had included the mistress of the ground they stood on, who had already been synchronizing her efforts in the subtle interplay of this place, and the martial apostate himself. As they'd stood in his meditation field as he channeled energy through himself, so had Nevanlinna's

The Dragon's stance, Kokaku Sanchin, carried the Phoenix's wings, Hoyokusen, capturing and subsuming the power. Force for force, it was obvious he would not be able to match Battersea's efforts. But with the technique to realize it, and the open book Simon played with, even before the former Champion parted his lips to roar, he'd done a rookie mistake:

He'd t elegraphed this move start to finish.

Enhanced directly by Nevanlinna's Hozon to preserve their condition, Ochazuke gild the path before him with the frequency of his Mastered Kiai, nullifying the effects of Battersea's area of effect as he matched its frequency across the shortest and most direct path.

Still enhanced by both the Bear and Wolf, it was a trifle to cut across the distance. And as his blow landed directly where Zaofan had hit his pressure point earlier, the antagonistic Mastered Kiai's force now channeled the very same effect through Totoma's body, eating away at Battersea's very spiritual essence from within.

"Shall I tell you where you miscalculated?"

[Monstrous Bird of Qin, Ou Ki]

Battersea grins.

“Time to head home, boys. Not too fond of not having the home field advantage. Heaven Roar! Lion’s Shatters the Mountain!”


Simon roars, and Nevalinna’s entire realm shakes and trembles as that weird negative light aura surrounds and then flashes outward. Sound that shakes their bones, that rattles their blood and causes almost all of them to either vomit, double over in pain, or pass out as their very Ki pathways seem to shake and tremble.

The world groans, and cracks start to appear all over the sky surrounding Battersea. The cracks grow, rips tearing into Nevalinna’s realm and on the other side: Earth.

Simon grins, salutes, and darts through one, back on Earth after so many years.

As soon as Simon had turned around, he would feel Ochazuke's fist slamming straight in the the back of his skull.

The technique had cracked the world apart, thinned the veil between dimensions, and riotously sundered the fabric of the fighters' composition therein. How could this be?

Light and bluster and showmanship. These were the ingredients to fuel the performance of a champion. Legitimate or otherwise, none of that mattered in the past. They couldn't judge him because Simon Battersea had already won.

However, by flexing his aura in such a manner that twisted ki, directly in front of somebody who was initiated in the same technique he was using, there was a rather steep cost for this display of strength.

The M Fighters gathered near Ochazuke had their concentration enhanced. This had included the mistress of the ground they stood on, who had already been synchronizing her efforts in the subtle interplay of this place, and the martial apostate himself. As they'd stood in his meditation field as he channeled energy through himself, so had Nevanlinna's

The Dragon's stance, Kokaku Sanchin, carried the Phoenix's wings, Hoyokusen, capturing and subsuming the power. Force for force, it was obvious he would not be able to match Battersea's efforts. But with the technique to realize it, and the open book Simon played with, even before the former Champion parted his lips to roar, he'd done a rookie mistake:

He'd t elegraphed this move start to finish.

Enhanced directly by Nevanlinna's Hozon to preserve their condition, Ochazuke gild the path before him with the frequency of his Mastered Kiai, nullifying the effects of Battersea's area of effect as he matched its frequency across the shortest and most direct path.

Still enhanced by both the Bear and Wolf, it was a trifle to cut across the distance. And as his blow landed directly where Zaofan had hit his pressure point earlier, the antagonistic Mastered Kiai's force now channeled the very same effect through Totoma's body, eating away at Battersea's very spiritual essence from within.

"Shall I tell you where you miscalculated?"

Tasure doubles over as Battersea does... whatever the hell he did. This had not gone how she'd envisioned at all... still, she was able to avoid throwing up or losing consciousness, so that was good. Neva was far enough away that she wasn't particularly affected by the attack, but her realm being... violated in this manner was most uncomfortable. Now she didn't just wanted Battersea out of here, she wanted him dead.

Or worse.

Manipulating the remaining fire into a ball, she added to it her rarely used Cloud of Earth, as well as her Boundary of Air. A slight burst of air erupted from the ball as it was expelled, and the fire grew... grey and cloudy. As Ochazuke struck, she pointed at Battersea, and the ball careened towards him, impacting and... seemingly dissipating. In reality... the spells had just been applied to him directly.

Aura of Fire would gradually burn away his energy stores. Not all at once, but using it too liberally would be risky, and it would recover more slowly, if at all.
Cloud of Earth would gradually petrify him. Slowly, but it would impact his mobility as time went on.
Boundary of Air would repel life-giving air away from him. Not entirely, but enough that it would impact his physical performance.

She could only half-ass (to be crude about it) these spells, so individually, they'd only be minor, if gradually worsening annoyances, but as a whole, this would amount to a death-curse, of sorts. Still gradual, of course, but far more dangerous as time went on.

Clenching her fist, she applied Hozon--not to Battersea, but the spells themselves, to make them difficult to dislodge or dispel.

[Miburo]

"Put your soul into it, Held!" Crazy Horn bellowed, his horn glistening murderously in the dimly lit halls, chasing after his apprentice.

Held had never swept so fast in his life, the broom frantically sweeping to and fro in all directions of the portion of the Grand Palace he was charged with cleaning. Had he not been so gripped with sheer terror, he would have found himself thankful he had only been assigned a few rooms to clean.

It was somewhat difficult to focus, with Crazy Horn taking it upon himself to add an additional challenge. Cleaning would have been difficult enough, but avoiding the creation of new orifices created yet another challenge entirely.

Dust parted from the floor, shifting to piles to the left and right as the Nevadian turned a corner, hugging the wall as he did.

The rampaging horn of electrified death narrowly charged past him, the static electricity making the hairs on his hand stand on end.

With not a moment to spare, he fled in the opposite direction, grabbing a nearby dust pan and brush.

SCOOP SCOOP SCOOP SCOOP!

Piles of dust were precariously balanced on the pan as the Nevadian added more and more upon the pile, the fragile structure maintained by an immobilization rune.

The clattering of hooves soon was upon him once more.

"You must value this task as you value life itself!"

The Nevadian gave no reply as he approached a large garbage pail, frantically turning the pail over into it. The dust refused to budge.

What?! What the---The Rune, If I'm---

The Lord of The Sunlit Plane appeared into focus again, gaining speed as he saw the Nevadian lingering at the end of the hall.

Held screamed.

Dust pan still in hand, he kicked open a nearby door, running around the side of the grand palace.

"Run wherever you wish, Held!" Crazy Horn shouted in a voice of booming thunder, "Only through success will you know a moments peace!"

[Sub-Zero MKA]

There was no pomp and circumstance or fanfare. One moment, Sarada was alone in her bedroom feeding Kumara; the next, Avoca and Parsley were standing right there. "Done?" she asked her sister.

"Yes, it went better than I thought." She found a chair to sit in, while Avoca sat on the bed. "There's a lot to explain to add some context about this meeting of mine. The only reason I'm even bothering to is because I was told something that pertains to the both of us."

Sarada nodded slowly. "Okay."

Parsley nodded and got started. She started a few days ago when she, Inanna, and Sasheem first encountered Night. She decided that it would be best, given recent events, to not leave anything out. That meant that before mentioning Night, she went over her embarrassing gaff with the petrified dragon that nearly cost her her eye. She also mentioned the deal she and Night made that she would give him the amulet in exchange for keeping her eyes.

She moved on to Remnant, explaining who he formerly was and what his intentions were. Koorimaru's part, his death, and the fact that he was currently free were also mentioned.

After that, she told Sarada of her trip to Universe 16, her interactions with the retired Creation God Caliban, and the Majin hidden away with the Rookery's back room. That was when she mentioned that Night had been spying on Vocado's throne room. She wasn't sure for how long, but that didn't matter.

Sarada was predictably and understandably angered. Her reaction, however, was far more muted than Parsley anticipated; that was certainly because of their present company.

Parsley moved on, briefly mentioning that she would be taking time away to train with Caliban. Then, she mentioned her and Avoca's recent conversation with Night. "...spying on you is because of a vision or something he received. Something is going to happen very soon. He didn't say what. What he did tell me was that you, Inanna, and myself are at the center of it. I have no idea what that's supposed to mean, but.." She shrugged. "He's only watching so he has a front row seat. He loves a good story, he says."

Sarada stood to put Kumara in the crib that was in the corner of the room. "I see," she mumbled in reply.

"There's one more thing. Eva is alive, I'm not sure if Maiz told you. She said, right before we left, that something is going to happen in a year. Something that involved Asha'rah, Genesis, and Remnant. In Auroc's journal, he spoke of a vision he received some time ago of a woman sheathed in Creation and Destruction energy. She was surrounded by twelve people, half with golden auras and half with silver. I believe she is going to merge with Remnant to put a stop to his... whatever it is he plans on doing."

Sarada sat down quietly. She was quiet for some time as her mind turned over what she had been told. There was more to this cosmic god stuff than simply Sakin and Eldfen. Other, more potent threats were out there. The veil between universes had been breached and bypassed time and again. The threats that were in other universes could have easily made their way to Universe 15 to start trouble and wreak havoc. She wasn't sure how she felt about that.

On the one hand, she was ultra excited to test her strength against all those gods and godlike beings. On the other, countless innocent lives would be put at risk if they decided to show up and start ****.

Just when one threat is dealt with, ten more crawl out of the woodwork. When will it be over? The opportunities to test her power against stronger enemies was a Saiyan's dream, and had been ever since they first popped up out of the aether. But, when it came at the risk of their friends and loved ones, Sarada knew that ending that threat was more important than sating her thirst for quality combat. To protect her family, her friends, and her people, she would have to get stronger. "We have a year until whatever's going on with Asha'rah goes down, right?"

Parsley nodded.

"Then, we need to train. There's a lot of other **** we have to get to as it pertains to the Empire, but I need to delegate all that to the council. We need to be as strong as possible to handle someone like Genesis."

Parsley nodded in agreement. "We'll have to work on mastering Super Saiyan 2. That's the only way to unlock Super Saiyan 3."

"...there's a Super Saiyan 3?" Avoca asked. "...there's a Super Saiyan 2??"

Sarada smiled. "You got a long way to go, buddy, but we'll help you. By the time this year's up, you'll be a Super Saiyan 2 like us." She fell silent again. Parsley needed to take a month off, and she had endless duties on her plate as she intended on beginning the cleanup for the colonies and picking up the pieces as soon as possible. Training was vital for the three of them. "I suggest we spend one day every three months on Ilargi training. That'll give us four years worth of training. That should be more than enough time to get Avoca to Super Saiyan 2, then master it for all three of us."

"I promised to training Seri, as well," Parsley said. "Eh, I can do that as I'm training my children." She nodded and stood up. "It's a fine plan, so let's go with that. Once we master Super Saiyan 3, we have to travel to Lampton's Hell to undergo the god ritual."

Sarada couldn't stop herself from grinning. Thus far, her hair-brained scheme to surpass the gods was coming along swimmingly. Soon, she herself would be a god and then there would be no stopping her! "Awesome. Let's get started next week. I... have a ****-ton of meetings to get through the next week." All that work and she still hadn't had any sex in over a year. She was going to be at her wits end by the time Inanna decided to show up.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Battersea, just a step onto Earth, freezes. His body trembles under the Kiss, under Ochazuke’s blow, under Neva’s layered spells.

He struggles, energy eating away, as he barely manages to force his head just a bit to look at Ochazuke.

“Wh...at.....wha...t....is....”

[grampagen]

Tasure doubles over as Battersea does... whatever the hell he did. This had not gone how she'd envisioned at all... still, she was able to avoid throwing up or losing consciousness, so that was good. Neva was far enough away that she wasn't particularly affected by the attack, but her realm being... violated in this manner was most uncomfortable. Now she didn't just wanted Battersea out of here, she wanted him dead.

Or worse.

Manipulating the remaining fire into a ball, she added to it her rarely used Cloud of Earth, as well as her Boundary of Air. A slight burst of air erupted from the ball as it was expelled, and the fire grew... grey and cloudy. As Ochazuke struck, she pointed at Battersea, and the ball careened towards him, impacting and... seemingly dissipating. In reality... the spells had just been applied to him directly.

Aura of Fire would gradually burn away his energy stores. Not all at once, but using it too liberally would be risky, and it would recover more slowly, if at all.
Cloud of Earth would gradually petrify him. Slowly, but it would impact his mobility as time went on.
Boundary of Air would repel life-giving air away from him. Not entirely, but enough that it would impact his physical performance.

She could only half-ass (to be crude about it) these spells, so individually, they'd only be minor, if gradually worsening annoyances, but as a whole, this would amount to a death-curse, of sorts. Still gradual, of course, but far more dangerous as time went on.

Clenching her fist, she applied Hozon--not to Battersea, but the spells themselves, to make them difficult to dislodge or dispel.

Battersea, just a step onto Earth, freezes. His body trembles under the Kiss, under Ochazuke’s blow, under Neva’s layered spells.

He struggles, energy eating away, as he barely manages to force his head just a bit to look at Ochazuke.

“Wh...at.....wha...t....is....”

On heavy footsteps Ochazuke moved in front of Battersea. His frame was bloodied from the combat, but his eyes remained alight with a focused fury. Even though he wore Totoma's face, his stare fell directly upon the ghost that yet lingered within the Saiyan shell of his departed junior.

"Did you think you could treat this body like another one of your possessions? Five years in Hell and all you continue to think of is...power."

Raising his palms into the Dragon's stance once again, though he emit no aura there was a subtle energy carried in his hands.

"How many hours had Totoma trained? How much anguish had he endured to earn the power you now possess? Do you even know? For all this, all you are able to do is wield his techniques like a toy."

One step back onto Earth and the Lookout was enough. Surging forward, Ochazuke threw the paired palms of Kongosho into his midsection, the neutralization energies directly attacking Battersea's very soul in an effort to shove it out of the body.

"You see strength something to take in excess, a power kept to the exclusion of others. Perhaps it served a competitive edge in the petty game you played as champion. But my comrades and I have survived on battlefields filled with stronger foes across the universe."

At the moment of impact, a second wave of Mastered Kiai struck Battersea, and the burst of Zanshin Touki threw him straight back into Vaikuntha.

"'King.' You're nothing more than a fish in a pond."

The rest he would leave to Totoma's mother.

[Monstrous Bird of Qin, Ou Ki]

On heavy footsteps Ochazuke moved in front of Battersea. His frame was bloodied from the combat, but his eyes remained alight with a focused fury. Even though he wore Totoma's face, his stare fell directly upon the ghost that yet lingered within the Saiyan shell of his departed junior.

"Did you think you could treat this body like another one of your possessions? Five years in Hell and all you continue to think of is...power."

Raising his palms into the Dragon's stance once again, though he emit no aura there was a subtle energy carried in his hands.

"How many hours had Totoma trained? How much anguish had he endured to earn the power you now possess? Do you even know? For all this, all you are able to do is wield his techniques like a toy."

One step back onto Earth and the Lookout was enough. Surging forward, Ochazuke threw the paired palms of Kongosho into his midsection, the neutralization energies directly attacking Battersea's very soul in an effort to shove it out of the body.

"You see strength something to take in excess, a power kept to the exclusion of others. Perhaps it served a competitive edge in the petty game you played as champion. But my comrades and I have survived on battlefields filled with stronger foes across the universe."

At the moment of impact, a second wave of Mastered Kiai struck Battersea, and the burst of Zanshin Touki threw him straight back into Vaikuntha.

"'King.' You're nothing more than a fish in a pond."

The rest he would leave to Totoma's mother.

Tasure flew past Ochazuke, driving a fist into Battersea's stomach. "My boy's a loser, huh?" Another punch, this time an uppercut to the chin, sending Battesea flying into the air. Aura flaring, Tasure followed.

"A loser is someone that has to cheat and steal to get ahead." She delivered a wicked downward punch, literally bouncing Battersea off the ground. "My boy may have his quirks, but at least he gives a damn about others. When the hell was the last time you ever gave a **** about anything except your own glory?!"

Aura flaring, Tasure began whaling on Battersea with rarely-seen fury.



"Every day he's trained and fought, and sacrificed his time, and now his life, to protect this world and other beyond it," she roared, intensifying her assault. At last, she drew back her fist, clenching it tightly, energy pooling around it. "I won't let you desecrate his body and memory any longer, you worthless excuse for a man!"

She punctuated that thought by driving a Diamond Fist straight into Battersea's chest.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Battersea withers, his soul barely clinging on. Tasure pummels the body of her son, and after the Diamond Fist strikes, an audible shattering of ribs can be heard.

His body collapses to the ground, eyes looking upward at the sky. Blood trickles from his mouth as a cracked grin crawls across his face. To those spiritually inclined, whisper of a strange mist seem to be lifting from Totoma’s body, no doubt Battersea’s spiritual essence slowly leaving.

[grampagen]

Battersea withers, his soul barely clinging on. Tasure pummels the body of her son, and after the Diamond Fist strikes, an audible shattering of ribs can be heard.

His body collapses to the ground, eyes looking upward at the sky. Blood trickles from his mouth as a cracked grin crawls across his face. To those spiritually inclined, whisper of a strange mist seem to be lifting from Totoma’s body, no doubt Battersea’s spiritual essence slowly leaving.

Around this time, Zaofan had been watching Battersea come back from his presumed exit, and as he braced to follow up, he was rather swiftly having second thoughts after seeing what Tasure did to him. Now, certainly, he couldn't say he blamed her. Even if she didn't have the same, smouldering disposition he'd rather gotten used to, watching this unfold, it became apparent that this side of her, well, perhaps was simply more reserved.

When he heard the crunch of ribs breaking, he winced.

"...would it kill you to pull back a little? I really don't want to be pulling him back from that..."

In the aftermath, Ochazuke followed Battersea to where he'd collapsed. There it was. It could not truly be called a second death, for the connection and control had been less than perfect. The more damage they'd accrued, the less synchronicity between the split mind, Totoma's body, and Simon's wicked soul.

Witnessing whatever it was that still bound the two before them, Ochazuke's thoughts turned to the matter Parsley, Arthur and Evangeline had denoted to him.

First it was Kevi the Stalker, and now you. I will not tolerate a third mockery. By the sound of it, there was pandemonium in the afterlife, and those long dead refused to stay that way.

As the spirit began to leave the body, Ochazuke reached out to seize whatever etheric cord gave Simon's soul possession in the first place.

Banjakuza.

It was crude, like lifting a finger to determine the direction of the wind, but he was determined to find the reason for this.

[Monstrous Bird of Qin, Ou Ki]

Around this time, Zaofan had been watching Battersea come back from his presumed exit, and as he braced to follow up, he was rather swiftly having second thoughts after seeing what Tasure did to him. Now, certainly, he couldn't say he blamed her. Even if she didn't have the same, smouldering disposition he'd rather gotten used to, watching this unfold, it became apparent that this side of her, well, perhaps was simply more reserved.

When he heard the crunch of ribs breaking, he winced.

"...would it kill you to pull back a little? I really don't want to be pulling him back from that..."

In the aftermath, Ochazuke followed Battersea to where he'd collapsed. There it was. It could not truly be called a second death, for the connection and control had been less than perfect. The more damage they'd accrued, the less synchronicity between the split mind, Totoma's body, and Simon's wicked soul.

Witnessing whatever it was that still bound the two before them, Ochazuke's thoughts turned to the matter Parsley, Arthur and Evangeline had denoted to him.

First it was Kevi the Stalker, and now you. I will not tolerate a third mockery. By the sound of it, there was pandemonium in the afterlife, and those long dead refused to stay that way.

As the spirit began to leave the body, Ochazuke reached out to seize whatever etheric cord gave Simon's soul possession in the first place.

Banjakuza.

It was crude, like lifting a finger to determine the direction of the wind, but he was determined to find the reason for this.

Tasure rose, giving a sidelong glance to Zaofan. "Tch. He called my boys losers. I can stand being mocked or made a fool of, but that is something I won't tolerate. Hope he burns." She had, perhaps, gone a bit overboard... although given how much damage her boy could soak and the risks of letting a self-serving jackass roam around the planet with that much power, she didn't really have much of a choice, now did she? She saw her chance and took it.

Although, something was happening to him, beyond just the injuries she'd inflicted, and whatever Ochazuke had done. It seemed like he was turning to stone...? What in the hell?

"My, that was... a rather brutal finish. Normally, you're much more composed," said Nevanlinna, stepping out of Vaikuntha. Saiyans were known for their intense, sometimes debilitating pride, but this one... seemed to take more pride in her 'boys', as she put it, than herself. How... curious.

"Tch. What the hell's happening to him?"

"Ah, yes... the petrification, among other things. Those are my doing. Give me but a second and--" She laid her hands on Totoma's body and drew out the spells, along with the hozon she'd used to fortify them. Immediately, his breathing improved, and the petrifaction began reversing course. "--there."

Tasure didn't know very much about magic, other than how difficult it could be to fight. Especially the ones that could skip the incantations and hand motions most mages had to do to cast their bullshit. Thankfully, most of the powerful mages she knew were allies or at least not enemies. "...good. Thank you."

She sighed and sat down on a nearby piece of debris. "...any of you wouldn't happen to have a way to prevent my boy from becoming a meatsuit again, hm?"

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Around this time, Zaofan had been watching Battersea come back from his presumed exit, and as he braced to follow up, he was rather swiftly having second thoughts after seeing what Tasure did to him. Now, certainly, he couldn't say he blamed her. Even if she didn't have the same, smouldering disposition he'd rather gotten used to, watching this unfold, it became apparent that this side of her, well, perhaps was simply more reserved.

When he heard the crunch of ribs breaking, he winced.

"...would it kill you to pull back a little? I really don't want to be pulling him back from that..."

In the aftermath, Ochazuke followed Battersea to where he'd collapsed. There it was. It could not truly be called a second death, for the connection and control had been less than perfect. The more damage they'd accrued, the less synchronicity between the split mind, Totoma's body, and Simon's wicked soul.

Witnessing whatever it was that still bound the two before them, Ochazuke's thoughts turned to the matter Parsley, Arthur and Evangeline had denoted to him.

First it was Kevi the Stalker, and now you. I will not tolerate a third mockery. By the sound of it, there was pandemonium in the afterlife, and those long dead refused to stay that way.

As the spirit began to leave the body, Ochazuke reached out to seize whatever etheric cord gave Simon's soul possession in the first place.

Banjakuza.

It was crude, like lifting a finger to determine the direction of the wind, but he was determined to find the reason for this.

Simon coughs and slowly raises his hand. He snaps his fingers, and a cigar seems to aparate there. The tip lights up and he slowly and painfully pulls it to his lips, coughing up some blood as he takes a slow drag.

“What’s.....the ....matter? Can’t...see what’s....hidden?”

He chuckles again and coughs, arm dropping limp to his side, cigar rolling from his loose fingers.

“S’okay.......I’ll show.....you.....”


The mist leaving Totoma’s body seems to curl up and part, allowing Ochazuke to sense a.....small object? There, nestled in Totoma’s other hand is a crystal that seems to be tethering Simon and the body.

“Soul.....splice. You...meet all sorts....in HFIL. Soul....magic...heh. Just add....an empty...vessel and...stir....hehehe.....”

[grampagen]

Simon coughs and slowly raises his hand. He snaps his fingers, and a cigar seems to aparate there. The tip lights up and he slowly and painfully pulls it to his lips, coughing up some blood as he takes a slow drag.

“What’s.....the ....matter? Can’t...see what’s....hidden?”

He chuckles again and coughs, arm dropping limp to his side, cigar rolling from his loose fingers.

“S’okay.......I’ll show.....you.....”


The mist leaving Totoma’s body seems to curl up and part, allowing Ochazuke to sense a.....small object? There, nestled in Totoma’s other hand is a crystal that seems to be tethering Simon and the body.

“Soul.....splice. You...meet all sorts....in HFIL. Soul....magic...heh. Just add....an empty...vessel and...stir....hehehe.....”

The twitch of his brow and the long vein running from his temple pierced through Ochazuke's silent appraisal. Though Battersea was defeated, his mockery yet persisted. Whatever cryptic thing persisted beyond the grave to allow this possession to happen, Simon seemed less than forthcoming about. To hear the man who was never content, even as his cup overflowed with forced tithes and bloody prizes, speak of empty vessels was baffling.

But to see Totoma, still garbed in parts of his heroic vestments sputter and choke on this cigar was among the most incongruous and pathetic things he'd seen in a while.

Summarily, Ochazuke reached upward and grabbed the ghost of Simon Battersea by his phantom throat and ripped it out of his Half-Saiyan possession.

"...the order between the living and the dead has been upended, and you could only think to come back to a world that hates you. Did you seriously think this would escape the attentions of those you transgressed upon?"

Nor did he consider the full extent of what this Soul Power implied. For this shortsightedness, if Ochazuke could find it in him kill a dead man a second time, he'd do it. Yet it seemed he was on his way back to hell in mere moments. For now, he'd take the Soul Splicer away from Totoma.

"Your time is over, Battersea. Scurry back to your new master, 'King', and pray that we never meet again."