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

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Come on. Come on! Her eyes locked onto his. She could see faint traces of hope starting to appear. The runes were powerful, and his will had been eroded from years of death and undeath. He could no longer fight for himself, at least not yet. His mind and body had been completely enslaved by Auroc and his Maven.

Yet, there was one thing that they could never take from a Saiyan, no matter how many times he died and was forcibly brought back to life.

"Remember your pride!" she urged him. "Will you really allow yourself to remain a slave?" As she spoke, her aura flared and she doubled her efforts. The chains wouldn't hold someone of his strength forever. Katchin had long since stopped being relevant to them once Ultra Katchin was introduced to them and she didn't have time to craft any of that. She didn't have much time before he broke through them, throwing all her efforts aside as nothing.

"A Saiyans bends at the knee to no one. Especially not some buffoon who likens himself a god!" The white glow of her anti-magic spread from her hands to him, slowly creeping from his head down his entire body. "Will you continued to be the only Saiyan in thousands of years to be enslaved?!"

A primal scream rips through Kakarot, the chains bursting even as Parsley’s anti-magic burrows into Kakarot.

The sheer flash of his aura is enough to slam Parsley through a nearby cliffside, his scream echoing for miles and miles.

When the light fades, for a split second, Parsley, when she looks up, sees something...inhuman almost as Kakarot screams. Long spiked hair down to his back, no eyebrows, and a massive aura.

In an eye blink it’s gone, Kakarot in his normal form, drifts down to land on his knees before her. Lines and cracks form across his body as her power seeks to break the runes upon his person.

A smile quirks across his face, dead eyes gazing at her.

“Your word....Princess. They cannot...bring me back...again. You...promise?”

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

"...good afternoon, Madam--!" Zaofan replied, slinking back and dodging between the strikes of his battered foe, "a pleasure to make your acquaintance~!!! In a matter of speaking!"

Now how did she know about...ah, telepathy, of course. I'll never get used to this, he thought as he reestablished his range with his staff, perhaps the slightest direct advantage he had. The rest came down to speed, and...Timing.

Shrouding his staff with ki, in an instant thousands of subtle vibrations coursed from his aura, into his hands, and through the katchin, and when he drew it forward, suddenly the air about it seemed to twist and distort as he'd veiled it with the twisting momentum of Kaiten.

Gotta get this just right, he thought, minding his position in the room.

The Knight hops back, brings both blades to one side, then slashes outward, twin ki slashes aiming for his head.

The Queen chuckles, blood dripping down her chin.

“Cutting....it close. Neva...never was good with....time.”

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

What sight could not bear out, the lethal, silent presence of Threshling Armour revealed; as Ochazuke's meditation field plumbed the innermost mysteries of these hidden hallways, the hidden spots that stood fast among the lines of magic power beneath this house of dark worship gave away the presence of their honour guard. Now that he had ascertained where they were, he used his acquired skill to target the very spiritual nature of their possession.

Then with a projection of fighting spirit carried through a shout, the vector of Muhen Sekai Keihatsu carried a Mastered Kiai in a bid that stone and sentry alike would chip and shatter.

With Auroc's very essence seeped within the terra firma, he was determined to press onward to the Runic Spell beneath the citadel, should the worst happen.

Both suddenly are revealed and stumble, their forms Silver in nature as opposed to gold. One outright falls to its knees and passes out, while the other seems less possessed and more a willing participant.

[Miburo]

It comes up and below is a dirt cellar.

And about fifteen people stand in the exposed room, unblinking, unmoving. Thin tendrils of leylanic and Auroc’s tainted energy have twisted up and attached themselves to each occupant from the ground, and slowly pulses of energy can be seen being pulled from each one.

Right in front of his eyes he watches an older man suddenly shudder and turn to dust as the last of his energy was taken.

The Nevadian stood in shock, mouth agape for a moment, the horror of seeing a man turned into a man turned into so much ash plastered across his face.

What the hell?!

Evidentially, the inhabitants of the room did not share his shock, or anything resembling acknowledgement of the terror that had transpired.

Held studied them, and in moments it became clear. Their dull, lifeless expressions, matched those of the locals he encountered on Baradur.

The dark, twisted tendrils of energy pulsed with an energy he had become quite familiar with during the Baradur excursion.

Auroc.

"This guy.....He'd even do that here?!" Held said to himself, incredulous. "Even his own people..."

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised...It seemed to be that way for his Gold Knights, Annula, and the whole of Baradur....Why did I think he would allow anything to escape such a fate...

But wait. There was something else. Something....That had a familar sense to it, other than that of the dark energy Auroc brought to bear.

The rose red of the Shingan manifested itself entirely, and within a moment, he understood.

The energy of this world, pulsing from its core, somehow mingled with Aurocs energy, being wielded adroitly by the Majin.

Leylines. He had first come to comprehend their existence through his adventures through the Vermillion Kingdom, learning of the beautiful, terrifying power the world could bring to bear as he and his comrades battled against Kenshiko and The Red Raiders.

Eventually, Held gained the ability to perceive them in their entirety--Even if the nature and complexity of such things still remained beyond his comprehension.

That beauty--as different as it was from that of the earth--still manifested itself....

Before Auroc's dark energy disfigured it, turning it into a revolting mockery of what it had been. If The Nevadian had not been so disgusted, he would have been impressed at the Majins ability to exercise such controlled with such precision, even when in the throws of battle.

A puff of smoke Heralded the arrival of the Nevadians smaller silver spear, better suited to more enclosed areas. With a slight grunt, the Nevadian descended through the trap door, landing with catlike grace.

It was time to disrupt this dark ritual as quickly as possible, before Auroc grew greater and power still, with even more lives lost at his hands.

Glistening energy manifested around the spear of the Nevadian, anathema to the putrid, wicked energy found in this makeshift sacrificial chamber. In a flash of motion, with nary a wasted movement, the spear set upon the tendrils, set to sever them from their subjects.

I imagine he's somehow managed to control a much bigger portion of the leylines than this...Hopefully this will make it more difficult.

Raising his blade upwards, he plunged his spear into the stone earth floor of the tavern.

Unicorn's Purity!

Energy pulsated from the spear, depositing its pure, pristine essence deep within the surrounding leylines. The purity of the attack was repulsive, poisonous, even acidic to evil, and Auroc's energy was certainly that.

With enough power, the Nevadian might have been able to make control of the leylines painful enough deter the Majin from wielding his power over the leylines further, assuming it did not eradicate the evil essence entirely from within this planets core.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

It came swiftly, and the saurian found himself sailing through the air, smashing through buildings and homes before he managed to right himself by digging those talons into the soil.

"Impressive, for a fake god..."

Standing upright, Rex found himself in an entirely different environment as he was surrounded by nature now. In the distance, he could see his Yucatan Crash hovering over the city like a ghastly hot-air balloon, still threatening those below even in his absence.

"Perhaps you'll be worth eating after all," Chi coursed through his reptilian frame, muscle massing growing more defined before a thin sheen of ki projected outward as an aura.

Auroc floats up, eying the attack above his city.

He summons dark oozing ki and hurls it at Rex’s awaiting attack.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

The Nevadian stood in shock, mouth agape for a moment, the horror of seeing a man turned into a man turned into so much ash plastered across his face.

What the hell?!

Evidentially, the inhabitants of the room did not share his shock, or anything resembling acknowledgement of the terror that had transpired.

Held studied them, and in moments it became clear. Their dull, lifeless expressions, matched those of the locals he encountered on Baradur.

The dark, twisted tendrils of energy pulsed with an energy he had become quite familiar with during the Baradur excursion.

Auroc.

"This guy.....He'd even do that here?!" Held said to himself, incredulous. "Even his own people..."

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised...It seemed to be that way for his Gold Knights, Annula, and the whole of Baradur....Why did I think he would allow anything to escape such a fate...

But wait. There was something else. Something....That had a familar sense to it, other than that of the dark energy Auroc brought to bear.

The rose red of the Shingan manifested itself entirely, and within a moment, he understood.

The energy of this world, pulsing from its core, somehow mingled with Aurocs energy, being wielded adroitly by the Majin.

Leylines. He had first come to comprehend their existence through his adventures through the Vermillion Kingdom, learning of the beautiful, terrifying power the world could bring to bear as he and his comrades battled against Kenshiko and The Red Raiders.

Eventually, Held gained the ability to perceive them in their entirety--Even if the nature and complexity of such things still remained beyond his comprehension.

That beauty--as different as it was from that of the earth--still manifested itself....

Before Auroc's dark energy disfigured it, turning it into a revolting mockery of what it had been. If The Nevadian had not been so disgusted, he would have been impressed at the Majins ability to exercise such controlled with such precision, even when in the throws of battle.

A puff of smoke Heralded the arrival of the Nevadians smaller silver spear, better suited to more enclosed areas. With a slight grunt, the Nevadian descended through the trap door, landing with catlike grace.

It was time to disrupt this dark ritual as quickly as possible, before Auroc grew greater and power still, with even more lives lost at his hands.

Glistening energy manifested around the spear of the Nevadian, anathema to the putrid, wicked energy found in this makeshift sacrificial chamber. In a flash of motion, with nary a wasted movement, the spear set upon the tendrils, set to sever them from their subjects.

I imagine he's somehow managed to control a much bigger portion of the leylines than this...Hopefully this will make it more difficult.

Raising his blade upwards, he plunged his spear into the stone earth floor of the tavern.

Unicorn's Purity!

Energy pulsated from the spear, depositing its pure, pristine essence deep within the surrounding leylines. The purity of the attack was repulsive, poisonous, even acidic to evil, and Auroc's energy was certainly that.

With enough power, the Nevadian might have been able to make control of the leylines painful enough deter the Majin from wielding his power over the leylines further, assuming it did not eradicate the evil essence entirely from within this planets core.

The spear cuts the absorbing tethers, the rest of the bodies slumping down to the ground, but alive.

When Held plunges the spear down, a pulse of energy ripples through the ground and all around him, with his heightened senses, he can hear a faint scream of anger as the Unicorn’s purity lances into the leylines.

Held can also see in his minds eye the pulsing energy in each building where the rest of the populace lay hostage, slowly being drained. In fact, in was possible every person on the planet could be being drained even now.

[bruceleegreyhulk]

The knights seeem wary to apparoch. Suddenly, a swath of magic fire is flung at Praxat’s form.

Praxat swiftly dodges the fire while looking like she's dancing. She then goes into Efficiency Mode. Praxat suddenly slightly increases in mass and gets slightly taller before the knights' eyes. Then counter attacks with a barrage of acrobatic strikes with each strike using 40% elastic energy.

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

Praxat swiftly dodges the fire while looking like she's dancing. She then goes into Efficiency Mode. Quickly inflating her muscles and bones with Ki by a small amount. Which slightly increases her height. Then counter attacks with a barrage of acrobatic strikes with each strike using 40% elastic energy.

The knights are knocked out or back, but the magic fire circles back and attempts to engulf her. Seems a magic user is targeting her from afar.

[bruceleegreyhulk]

The knights are knocked out or back, but the magic fire circles back and attempts to engulf her. Seems a magic user is targeting her from afar.

Praxat then uses Flash hop to continuously dodge the fire. While relying on her panoramic vision, Infrasonic hearing, and Ki sensing to locate where the fire is coming from.

[Miburo]

The spear cuts the absorbing tethers, the rest of the bodies slumping down to the ground, but alive.

When Held plunges the spear down, a pulse of energy ripples through the ground and all around him, with his heightened senses, he can hear a faint scream of anger as the Unicorn’s purity lances into the leylines.

The Nevadian felt the highs of victory...

Held can also see in his minds eye the pulsing energy in each building where the rest of the populace lay hostage, slowly being drained. In fact, in was possible every person on the planet could be being drained even now.

Before his spirits were laid low once more, realizing the seeming futility of his efforts. For every small group saved by his efforts, for every tendril severed, for every leyline stream purified, countless more remained corrupted, with endless souls being drained of their essence.

It's...Impossible...Even I'm not fast enough to get so many places at once.....It's like he's everywhere....

The Nevadian grit his teeth in frustration. No, this was not the time for such things. It was contrary to his nature, and to the way of the Unicorn.

Taking deep breaths, he cleared his mind, focusing on the situation at hand.

Auroc was controlling the leylines of the planet.

How?

Through his energy, making the soul of the world dance like a marionette on the strings of his power.

Where was his power located? It would have been too cumbersome to impregnate every single stream of the world power, with the seed of corruption. There was an almost endless sea---

The Nevadians eyes sprang open, as he launched himself into the air, shattered the floor, and then the roof of the building into splinters in a single bound.

It was now that the Nevadian knew what he must do. It would have been pointless to try and cut of the heads of this serpent, with more heads than there were souls on the planet. He would have to attack the body. The core of this planet had to have been where the bulk of Auroc power resided, forcing the planet to act in his name.

If Held nullified control of the body, then the head would follow.

His aura flared as he flew higher, launching himself miles above the surface of Reshlan, Gold and Silver spears in hand.

Energy focused itself into both spears, entwining around them as orbs of azure energy manifested themselves slightly above the tips of his weapons. Tendrils faded into existence, rotating faster and faster in unison with the orbs.

Focusing the purity aura into the attack, the orbs began to change color, glowing white, with sparkling energy cascading off of the sunlight.

If I can get an attack deep enough into the planet, I might just be able to euthanize his whole project with one shot....Of course, I need to be careful to not drill the whole planet into nothingness.

Spiraling......

Although the Nevadian had gotten much faster at launching this attack, able to do so instantly, it was far more of a gamble than it had been in the past, requiring enough power to penetrate through the planets own defenses, as well as the corrupted energy of Auroc....

OT: Charging attack for greater penetration

[Sub-Zero MKA]

A primal scream rips through Kakarot, the chains bursting even as Parsley’s anti-magic burrows into Kakarot.

The sheer flash of his aura is enough to slam Parsley through a nearby cliffside, his scream echoing for miles and miles.

When the light fades, for a split second, Parsley, when she looks up, sees something...inhuman almost as Kakarot screams. Long spiked hair down to his back, no eyebrows, and a massive aura.

In an eye blink it’s gone, Kakarot in his normal form, drifts down to land on his knees before her. Lines and cracks form across his body as her power seeks to break the runes upon his person.

A smile quirks across his face, dead eyes gazing at her.

“Your word....Princess. They cannot...bring me back...again. You...promise?”

The sudden power surge pressed against her was startling. Frightening, even. She was shoved by like chaff in the wind and thrown into cliffside by his mere presence. She rose to a knee, pushing against the sheer force of his aura. Hand over her eyes, she opened them and saw what looked like Kakarot with inhumanly long hair and an aura that was several magnitudes larger than his previous one. The thing that had her heart racing like a drum in her chest was his power. It was enormous. It dwarfed hers by the same chasm as hers dwarfed her son's.

She had severely underestimated this man's power. I made the right choice, she realized silently. There was no way I was going to survive a fight against him. At least not yet.

Eventually, the light, pressure, and power died down until he was in his base form. Parsley rose to her feet and returned to him. Her anti-magic was still burrowing through his body, seeking the runes and destroying them. It wouldn't be long before he was finally free.

"You have my word," she confirmed, offering her hand. "They are due to die this day. Once you die again, it will be for the last time. I promise."

[Yun Lao]

Auroc floats up, eying the attack above his city.

He summons dark oozing ki and hurls it at Rex’s awaiting attack.

Watching from a distance, Rex pointed a clawed finger towards the Yucatan Crash. He couldn't fault Auroc for focusing on the massive sphere of demented energy, but that was exactly what he had anticipated. Clenching his hand, the Crash exploded before Auroc's safety measure would make impact; however, the explosion did not snuff out the attack, but rather scattered it about. The fragments of ghost hakai squirmed and zig-zagged in the air before swarming in Auroc's direction.

Kicking off the ground, the dinosaur launched himself back towards the city, planning to capitalize on the confusion.

[grampagen]

The Knight hops back, brings both blades to one side, then slashes outward, twin ki slashes aiming for his head.

The Queen chuckles, blood dripping down her chin.

“Cutting....it close. Neva...never was good with....time.”

"...all due respect, I think you and her have very different opinions on that matter," Zaofan said hurriedly between beats and footfalls before the Gold Knight.

He keeps going for the head, Zaofan mused, staying annoyingly just out of reach in his evasion. Thought these guys were upper crust.

Two swords. This warrior did have long arms, massive as he was, but the Chef's keen eye was always aware of all ingredients and combinations.

He should know, never look at the head...

The blades flashed. One-two.

When you should be looking at the hands!

Cutting off to the side, Zaofan clased his Kaiten enshrouded staff into both blades at once.

As they clipped the energy shroud, the collected momentum, imparted into the Knight's blades and into his limbs, veering it off the intended target with a spinning force. He'd not only parried the strikes, but redirected their course entirely, sending the blades careening straight downward into one of the energy tether chains.

[grampagen]

Both suddenly are revealed and stumble, their forms Silver in nature as opposed to gold. One outright falls to its knees and passes out, while the other seems less possessed and more a willing participant.

With the sentries neutralized, Ochazuke brusquely seized the conscious knight to his feet, forcibly curling his wrist and elbow behind his back and shearing his shoulderblade.

Assuredly, Erosa would have the rest well in hand. With this trap held close beneath Auroc and his very own kingdom, should they have any lucidity remaining, they would find some alternative to trying to capture the wild Id.

For his part, hostage in tow, he made haste for the rune array beneath the city, examining it where it pooled in the Leylines of this planet.

"You are the last of your company," he spoke to the deposed Silver Knight. "If you value your world, explain."

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

While the others are busy Inanna continues her attempts at draining the magic that seems to permeate the planet itself.