Dragonball M, Chapter 3: In Blood, Bone, and Ash! The Way Forward Unlocked!

[Miburo]

As soon as Held's intentions aligned towards the reclamation of his weapons, the Lion of Vermillion surrounding Willa surged its flaming body forward with a roar filled with a sound like the immolation of a blast furnace roused as it turned its attentions directly towards his course.

Its jaws opened wide, and a dozen trails of energy, each akin to the solid cascade of explosions inherent to the Rose Flares shot towards him in pursuit.

For the moment, Blizzar upon his platform seemed to have escaped the Colonel's attentions.

A deafening roar was heard behind the Nevadian as he ran towards his spears, coating the walls ahead of him with a rose colored hue.

He craned his head slightly, seeing a barrage of energy rapidly approaching.

The Nevadian's face deepened into a scowl. He was undeterred, but deeply dismayed.

Of course she wouldn't take the bait...

Ki pooled around his legs as he prepared, wincing slightly as blood gushed from the wound to his calf in protest.

Unicorn Treads Upon Stars!

Lunging into the air feet first, a construct of ki instantly appeared from the soles of his boots, halting his momentum. He grit his teeth as he pushed off of it with both feet, sending him upwards diagonally. This quickly turned into a backwards summer-salt as he curled into a ball, being launched heels over head.

Less than a moment later, another rectangular construct appeared in the air as he uncurled his body, jumping off of it, upwards and towards his spears.

So Close.....

The Nevadian's wall jump had given him enough momentum to come within spitting distance of his spears, his hand outstretched as he was poised to grasp it.

[grampagen]

A deafening roar was heard behind the Nevadian as he ran towards his spears, coating the walls ahead of him with a rose colored hue.

He craned his head slightly, seeing a barrage of energy rapidly approaching.

The Nevadian's face deepened into a scowl. He was undeterred, but deeply dismayed.

Of course she wouldn't take the bait...

Ki pooled around his legs as he prepared, wincing slightly as blood gushed from the wound to his calf in protest.

Unicorn Treads Upon Stars!

Lunging into the air feet first, a construct of ki instantly appeared from the soles of his boots, halting his momentum. He grit his teeth as he pushed off of it with both feet, sending him upwards diagonally. This quickly turned into a backwards summer-salt as he curled into a ball, being launched heels over head.

Less than a moment later, another rectangular construct appeared in the air as he uncurled his body, jumping off of it, upwards and towards his spears.

So Close.....

The Nevadian's wall jump had given him enough momentum to come within spitting distance of his spears, his hand outstretched as he was poised to grasp it.

The streaks of Rose Flare fire converged upon Held. If he had been any slower in his decision making, they would have cut through him just as well as they did the ki pillars he bounded from. In an instant, from the thousands of micro-explosions they dissolved and broke apart like sand beneath the waves, and another tether trailed behind him and smashed through the one suspended in the air, covering the walls of the ancient arena in a backdraft of flame that alit the rock beneath the manmade structure.

It seemed not only were they reacting to the presence of a living ki, but with the particular Royal Signature of Arthur's lineage in blood and blade alike, it seemed to respond as it absorbed some of it, and the very bedrock beneath Charlie Base quaked.

Now it was a race between Held and the last tongue of fire, racing straight towards his spears, the ground alit like the burning sun as both closed in.
__

Meanwhile in melee range, Willa Rautt drew Excalibur upwards and cut Blizzar across the chest, for having received one of his punches before she sought to cruelly disable his weapon, and dragging the cut further the tip of the blade but under the jaw of his mask and slid diagonally across it, throwing him off before she let him fall at gravity's mercy.

It seemed the Lion of Vermillion was indeed a finite energy structure, and evidenced by its attack pattern, it could project its barrier offensively or commit to a static defense, but not both at the same time.

Slowly it began to knit its structure back together and stalked after the Officer as he fell.

[KingofPie]

The streaks of Rose Flare fire converged upon Held. If he had been any slower in his decision making, they would have cut through him just as well as they did the ki pillars he bounded from. In an instant, from the thousands of micro-explosions they dissolved and broke apart like sand beneath the waves, and another tether trailed behind him and smashed through the one suspended in the air, covering the walls of the ancient arena in a backdraft of flame that alit the rock beneath the manmade structure.

It seemed not only were they reacting to the presence of a living ki, but with the particular Royal Signature of Arthur's lineage in blood and blade alike, it seemed to respond as it absorbed some of it, and the very bedrock beneath Charlie Base quaked.

Now it was a race between Held and the last tongue of fire, racing straight towards his spears, the ground alit like the burning sun as both closed in.
__

Meanwhile in melee range, Willa Rautt drew Excalibur upwards and cut Blizzar across the chest, for having received one of his punches before she sought to cruelly disable his weapon, and dragging the cut further the tip of the blade but under the jaw of his mask and slid diagonally across it, throwing him off before she let him fall at gravity's mercy.

It seemed the Lion of Vermillion was indeed a finite energy structure, and evidenced by its attack pattern, it could project its barrier offensively or commit to a static defense, but not both at the same time.

Slowly it began to knit its structure back together and stalked after the Officer as he fell.

Bloodshot from Blizzar's wound as he began to plummet back towards the ground. His crimson eyes squinted as his vision began to blur and he felt his own energy begin to fade. But he wasn't out of the fight yet. It had been quite a while since he was last wounded like this. Took him back to his old boxing days, when opponents with a vendetta against him left him battered and bloody, but they always tended to fall in the end thanks to the self-same blood they opted to spill.

Once again, Blizzar activated his telekinesis, hoping to utilize it before the Lion of Vermillion could reform once more and shoot forth his own blood to blind Willa's eyes and distract her for but a moment.

[grampagen]

Bloodshot from Blizzar's wound as he began to plummet back towards the ground. His crimson eyes squinted as his vision began to blur and he felt his own energy begin to fade. But he wasn't out of the fight yet. It had been quite a while since he was last wounded like this. Took him back to his old boxing days, when opponents with a vendetta against him left him battered and bloody, but they always tended to fall in the end thanks to the self-same blood they opted to spill.

Once again, Blizzar activated his telekinesis, hoping to utilize it before the Lion of Vermillion could reform once more and shoot forth his own blood to blind Willa's eyes and distract her for but a moment.

With the barrier of the flame-wreathed Lion still reforming, the Colonel remained exposed. The blood shot forward with all speed, and she lift her hand before her, atomizing it into a fine mist with the Shatterlock technique.

At this moment, Blizzar had her full attention.

[Miburo]

The streaks of Rose Flare fire converged upon Held. If he had been any slower in his decision making, they would have cut through him just as well as they did the ki pillars he bounded from. In an instant, from the thousands of micro-explosions they dissolved and broke apart like sand beneath the waves, and another tether trailed behind him and smashed through the one suspended in the air, covering the walls of the ancient arena in a backdraft of flame that alit the rock beneath the manmade structure.

It seemed not only were they reacting to the presence of a living ki, but with the particular Royal Signature of Arthur's lineage in blood and blade alike, it seemed to respond as it absorbed some of it, and the very bedrock beneath Charlie Base quaked.

Now it was a race between Held and the last tongue of fire, racing straight towards his spears, the ground alit like the burning sun as both closed in.
__

The Nevadian could feel the flames licking at his heels, his face contorted into a grimace as he stretched his arm to the maximum. He could feel his arm threaten to unhinge itself from the shoulder socket in protest.

The runes adoring his Golden Spear glowed bright in anticipation. The flames threatened to consume him whole, as a single finger managed to barely touch the hilt of the weapon.

Runic Art: Summoning!

In the moment between blinks, a thunderbolt descended from an unseen world above, crazing into the ground *just* behind the Nevadian with a deafening roar as it interceded in the path the flames had hoped to take.

The Nevadian crashed violently to the ground, his shoulder taking the brunt of the impact as he rolled to a stop.

Dust and debris hung in the air, a thick grey plume of smog and smoke wafting gently upwards as it slowly dissipated.

"It seems you have finally called upon me." A proud, deep 'voice' stated from within the smoke, a hint of amusement in it's tone. "And for a challenge that seems worthy of my time, no less!"

A silence lingered within the air for a moment.

"Or...So it would seem by appearances, if nothing else."

The Nevadian breathed a sigh of relief, having barely managed to avoid incineration by the skin of his.....skin.

Good Grief....I didn't think I would make it for a moment.

As the smoke began to clear, a single point could be seen within, piercing the veil to reveal a horn.

Energy began to surge and crackle around it, dispelling the soot smoke that lingered.

bDBoXOdjKkEnFhcDEBwt.jpg

The Lord of The Sunlit Planes had returned, it's majestic countenance standing between the Red Lion and its would be prey.

"After all, I have gored Dragons into a living death. What is this imitation of a beast, by comparison?"

[grampagen]

The Nevadian could feel the flames licking at his heels, his face contorted into a grimace as he stretched his arm to the maximum. He could feel his arm threaten to unhinge itself from the shoulder socket in protest.

The runes adoring his Golden Spear glowed bright in anticipation. The flames threatened to consume him whole, as a single finger managed to barely touch the hilt of the weapon.

Runic Art: Summoning!

In the moment between blinks, a thunderbolt descended from an unseen world above, crazing into the ground *just* behind the Nevadian with a deafening roar as it interceded in the path the flames had hoped to take.

The Nevadian crashed violently to the ground, his shoulder taking the brunt of the impact as he rolled to a stop.

Dust and debris hung in the air, a thick grey plume of smog and smoke wafting gently upwards as it slowly dissipated.

"It seems you have finally called upon me." A proud, deep 'voice' stated from within the smoke, a hint of amusement in it's tone. "And for a challenge that seems worthy of my time, no less!"

A silence lingered within the air for a moment.

"Or...So it would seem by appearances, if nothing else."

The Nevadian breathed a sigh of relief, having barely managed to avoid incineration by the skin of his.....skin.

Good Grief....I didn't think I would make it for a moment.

As the smoke began to clear, a single point could be seen within, piercing the veil to reveal a horn.

Energy began to surge and crackle around it, dispelling the soot smoke that lingered.

bDBoXOdjKkEnFhcDEBwt.jpg

The Lord of The Sunlit Planes had returned, it's majestic countenance standing between the Red Lion and its would be prey.

"After all, I have gored Dragons into a living death. What is this imitation of a beast, by comparison?"

Even in this subterranean place, where the light had emit from the impacts of ki and the structure of the reactive rock below, the sun seemed to flood from this manifestation of Crazy Horn. The disquieting softness of this aura was brilliant, and whether it was the creature itself or the presence, it had stunned the Colonel to silence for a moment.

...only a moment, however, as she then plunged Excalibur into the body of the Vermillion Lion, and the fire from its mane seemed to expand. The Unicorn Lord's jibe had refocussed her intentions, and compared to the heavenly shroud of its fore, the Lion's burning seemed to only darken the environs.

"This imitation will be one that will kill the only Dragon that ever mattered," Willa responded.

The Lion fell into a stalking crouch, Willa floating near its heart as she drew the blade up to guard, then the beast roared, loosing dozens of explosive fiery chains as the living aura shot forward, intent on destroying the Unicorn as it did Held's ki constructs.

[Miburo]

Even in this subterranean place, where the light had emit from the impacts of ki and the structure of the reactive rock below, the sun seemed to flood from this manifestation of Crazy Horn. The disquieting softness of this aura was brilliant, and whether it was the creature itself or the presence, it had stunned the Colonel to silence for a moment.

...only a moment, however, as she then plunged Excalibur into the body of the Vermillion Lion, and the fire from its mane seemed to expand. The Unicorn Lord's jibe had refocussed her intentions, and compared to the heavenly shroud of its fore, the Lion's burning seemed to only darken the environs.

"This imitation will be one that will kill the only Dragon that ever mattered," Willa responded.

The Lion fell into a stalking crouch, Willa floating near its heart as she drew the blade up to guard, then the beast roared, loosing dozens of explosive fiery chains as the living aura shot forward, intent on destroying the Unicorn as it did Held's ki constructs.

Good Grief. This woman just won't let up, will she? Just as well I suppose.

Had Willa not been so focused on destruction, perhaps she would have saw the Nevadian smirk slightly as she prepared to lose her attack.

All the parts were in motion, at last. It was time for the counterattack to begin.

..Hopefully I don't overdo it. Ochazuke would never forgive me if I can't undo the mess I make..

Beneath the earth, deep within the tunnel the Nevadian had created, a single seed had been planted not far from the comatose Jack Knave. Originally it was meant as a fail-safe to protect the gambler, in case the Nevadian and Acrosian were overwhelmed or outmaneuvered.

Which turned out to be the case. Willa truly was a master of battle.

As the battle raged upon the surface, the seed below began to sprout. Tendril like roots slowly spread upwards, piercing through the stone as if it were sand. The Nevadians will restrained it, scant inches from penetrating into the open world above.

The odd properties of the cavern and it's floor did not go unnoticed by the keen eyes of the Nevadian. Energy seemed to be magnified by the elaborate latticework, concealed by a thin layer of stone skin. Likewise, energy harmlessly dissipated into it, diffusing to places unseen.

The energy constructs tendrils delicately penetrated into the core of the latticework, making the power of the sacred area its own. With each passing moment, the connection deepened, to the point one could scarcely tell where one ended, and the other began.


The energy from the construct fed the latticework--in concert with energy absorbed from the battle-- which fed the construct further still, in a virtuous cycle.

Piercing Horn Forrest!

It was time for the cycle to be disrupted.

The Red Raider might have been a master of battle. However, the Nevadian was the master of this battlefield.

A rumbling could be felt from beneath the earth as numerous massive spiked pillars erupted from below, with a height just barely missing the cave ceiling.

The trees emerged one after enough in a circle surrounding the Red Lion.

If I can cage her in first, it should be easier....

Branches of spikes extended in all directions upon the massive tree trunks. It truly was a forest, poised to impale and entangle anything caught within it, no doubt disrupting and deflecting some of the attack sent the Nevadian's way.

The largest spike jutted forth a moment later, just beneath the Blazing Lion, poised to pierce into its hide, severing its connection to the earth. Perhaps it would even pierce the heart at lay at it's center, the Colonel of the Red Raiders.

[grampagen]

Good Grief. This woman just won't let up, will she? Just as well I suppose.

Had Willa not been so focused on destruction, perhaps she would have saw the Nevadian smirk slightly as she prepared to lose her attack.

All the parts were in motion, at last. It was time for the counterattack to begin.

..Hopefully I don't overdo it. Ochazuke would never forgive me if I can't undo the mess I make..

Beneath the earth, deep within the tunnel the Nevadian had created, a single seed had been planted not far from the comatose Jack Knave. Originally it was meant as a fail-safe to protect the gambler, in case the Nevadian and Acrosian were overwhelmed or outmaneuvered.

Which turned out to be the case. Willa truly was a master of battle.

As the battle raged upon the surface, the seed below began to sprout. Tendril like roots slowly spread upwards, piercing through the stone as if it were sand. The Nevadians will restrained it, scant inches from penetrating into the open world above.

The odd properties of the cavern and it's floor did not go unnoticed by the keen eyes of the Nevadian. Energy seemed to be magnified by the elaborate latticework, concealed by a thin layer of stone skin. Likewise, energy harmlessly dissipated into it, diffusing to places unseen.

The energy constructs tendrils delicately penetrated into the core of the latticework, making the power of the sacred area its own. With each passing moment, the connection deepened, to the point one could scarcely tell where one ended, and the other began.


The energy from the construct fed the latticework--in concert with energy absorbed from the battle-- which fed the construct further still, in a virtuous cycle.

Piercing Horn Forrest!

It was time for the cycle to be disrupted.

The Red Raider might have been a master of battle. However, the Nevadian was the master of this battlefield.

A rumbling could be felt from beneath the earth as numerous massive spiked pillars erupted from below, with a height just barely missing the cave ceiling.

The trees emerged one after enough in a circle surrounding the Red Lion.

If I can cage her in first, it should be easier....

Branches of spikes extended in all directions upon the massive tree trunks. It truly was a forest, poised to impale and entangle anything caught within it, no doubt disrupting and deflecting some of the attack sent the Nevadian's way.

The largest spike jutted forth a moment later, just beneath the Blazing Lion, poised to pierce into its hide, severing its connection to the earth. Perhaps it would even pierce the heart at lay at it's center, the Colonel of the Red Raiders.

The tongues of vermillion fire shot out and struck the manifestation of Crazy Horn full-on, sending the Lord of the Sunlit Plains careening backwards from the force of the chained explosions into a facet upon the ancient wall.

So committed had she been to the attack on what she'd perceived to be the greater threat in the moment, that she hadn't picked up on Held's intention until forest of spikes within the transmuted rock below them began to emerge.

The first put her on notice, the Lion of her Aura starting backwards before a second walled off her escape path behind her, then others from the arena floor to the top of the chamber, so empowered by the storage of ki within the medium itself, like the departed Crystal Serpent outside, had loaned his constructs additional strength as the trap was sprung.

When the final spike shot upward, the Vermillion Lion roused its aura, and the chamber shook with a terrible roar. Between the raised, glowing projections and the burst of light and power, it was was difficult to see what had happened, but both Held and Blizzar knew for certain the cage had pinned their foe in place!

[Miburo]

The tongues of vermillion fire shot out and struck the manifestation of Crazy Horn full-on, sending the Lord of the Sunlit Plains careening backwards from the force of the chained explosions into a facet upon the ancient wall.

So committed had she been to the attack on what she'd perceived to be the greater threat in the moment, that she hadn't picked up on Held's intention until forest of spikes within the transmuted rock below them began to emerge.

The first put her on notice, the Lion of her Aura starting backwards before a second walled off her escape path behind her, then others from the arena floor to the top of the chamber, so empowered by the storage of ki within the medium itself, like the departed Crystal Serpent outside, had loaned his constructs additional strength as the trap was sprung.

When the final spike shot upward, the Vermillion Lion roused its aura, and the chamber shook with a terrible roar. Between the raised, glowing projections and the burst of light and power, it was was difficult to see what had happened, but both Held and Blizzar knew for certain the cage had pinned their foe in place!

The Nevadian had barely rose to his feet when Willa struck true.

A blade of concern stabbed at the heart of the Nevadian as the burning chain cracked upon the body of Crazy Horn like a whip, sending him crashing into the cavern wall.

But there was no time for sentiment, only action. An opening had appeared, and to hesitate would be to squander an opportunity that would likely never arise again. If only for a moment, he could attack unimpeded, and concentrate on piercing her defenses.


Plucking his spear of gleaming silver from the earth, an azure sphere of light appeared at the tip of the weapon, tendrils of spiraling energy rotating around it, swiftly gathering speed.

Spiraling....

The Nevadian took his stance, pointing the tip of the weapon towards the center of the blazing Lion. Or more specifically it's master, and the hand that held the enchanted weapon.

With enough power, his attack would penetrate into the burning beast, and into Willa's hand, disarming her.

Horn...

The attack was ready. More or less.

Was it time to release it? No.

Not just yet. The Nevadian continued focusing power into the attack, using the fact that the Red Lion was currently immobilized to his advantage. He would give his attack every possible moment he could spare to allow it to drill though the beast to it's full potential.

Of course, this was relative. The more time Held had to focus his energy, the stronger the attack would become. Although Held had become very efficient at producing a quicker version of the attack, time was power.

As the rotation reached a fever pitch, he knew it was now or never. Willa was caught off guard, and Held had very few surprises of that magnitude left.

Burst!

The beam of energy shot forth as the Nevadian extended through the air, spiraling through the air as it drilled through the energy constructs like they were nothing, on a collusion course with its prey.

[grampagen]

The spear smashes through the thorny constructs conjured from the bottom of the arena, twisting the very air about them. The path of the spear was gilded in Held's energy, and behind its path the Vermilliion Lion's body seemed to coil and disperse from its vortex path, and then...

...the spear's forward momentum stopped. Even as the spiral continued to twist about its axis, it ceased to move forward. Jutting violently upward were sparks of energy, the sound of metal shearing against metal.

Bloodied from the impacts as she stole from the Forest of Thorns, Colonel Willa Rautt threw all her wounded limbs to guard. The Lion of her ancient house was gone, the last of her Red armour cast off, and deep wounds dragged across ashen flesh; yet her hands refused to drop Excalibur, and clashing in the deadlock between weapons her aura flared as she held fast, her full attention on keeping the spear at bay.

[KingofPie]

The Nevadian had barely rose to his feet when Willa struck true.

A blade of concern stabbed at the heart of the Nevadian as the burning chain cracked upon the body of Crazy Horn like a whip, sending him crashing into the cavern wall.

But there was no time for sentiment, only action. An opening had appeared, and to hesitate would be to squander an opportunity that would likely never arise again. If only for a moment, he could attack unimpeded, and concentrate on piercing her defenses.


Plucking his spear of gleaming silver from the earth, an azure sphere of light appeared at the tip of the weapon, tendrils of spiraling energy rotating around it, swiftly gathering speed.

Spiraling....

The Nevadian took his stance, pointing the tip of the weapon towards the center of the blazing Lion. Or more specifically it's master, and the hand that held the enchanted weapon.

With enough power, his attack would penetrate into the burning beast, and into Willa's hand, disarming her.

Horn...

The attack was ready. More or less.

Was it time to release it? No.

Not just yet. The Nevadian continued focusing power into the attack, using the fact that the Red Lion was currently immobilized to his advantage. He would give his attack every possible moment he could spare to allow it to drill though the beast to it's full potential.

Of course, this was relative. The more time Held had to focus his energy, the stronger the attack would become. Although Held had become very efficient at producing a quicker version of the attack, time was power.

As the rotation reached a fever pitch, he knew it was now or never. Willa was caught off guard, and Held had very few surprises of that magnitude left.

Burst!

The beam of energy shot forth as the Nevadian extended through the air, spiraling through the air as it drilled through the energy constructs like they were nothing, on a collusion course with its prey.

The spear smashes through the thorny constructs conjured from the bottom of the arena, twisting the very air about them. The path of the spear was gilded in Held's energy, and behind its path the Vermilliion Lion's body seemed to coil and disperse from its vortex path, and then...

...the spear's forward momentum stopped. Even as the spiral continued to twist about its axis, it ceased to move forward. Jutting violently upward were sparks of energy, the sound of metal shearing against metal.

Bloodied from the impacts as she stole from the Forest of Thorns, Colonel Willa Rautt threw all her wounded limbs to guard. The Lion of her ancient house was gone, the last of her Red armour cast off, and deep wounds dragged across ashen flesh; yet her hands refused to drop Excalibur, and clashing in the deadlock between weapons her aura flared as she held fast, her full attention on keeping the spear at bay.

Blizzar's movements were swift and erratic. He was not used to flying this way. Much of his energy spent, he was now storing what remained for one last attack, option to move himself with his telekinesis, an odd sensation to say the least. Still his course stayed true as he gathered what remained of his energy in his fist...



...Shot forth to Willa's side...

And extended his arm forth!



"Supernova Straight!"

[grampagen]

Fully occupied upon blocking the Spiralling Horn Burst, the most immediate danger to her losing her handle upon the symbol of her birthright, Willa had been so focused on rebuffing Held's advance that Blizzar's Supernova Straight hit her full on.

The impact from the punch sent her descending down to ground level, digging a trench where she landed. Set upon her knees, blood poured from her side, the shoulder that supported the arm she pressed herself up on.

"It's because of fuckers like you that he keeps getting away with it," she spat, "you wanted to make a deal with him so badly...you handed the planet to him on a platter..."

Slowly, she struggled to get a foot on the ground, and slowly she began to stagger to her feet.

[Miburo]

Fully occupied upon blocking the Spiralling Horn Burst, the most immediate danger to her losing her handle upon the symbol of her birthright, Willa had been so focused on rebuffing Held's advance that Blizzar's Supernova Straight hit her full on.

The impact from the punch sent her descending down to ground level, digging a trench where she landed. Set upon her knees, blood poured from her side, the shoulder that supported the arm she pressed herself up on.

"It's because of fuckers like you that he keeps getting away with it," she spat, "you wanted to make a deal with him so badly...you handed the planet to him on a platter..."

Slowly, she struggled to get a foot on the ground, and slowly she began to stagger to her feet.

The Nevadian winced in sympathy as Blizzar's Supernova Staight hit it's mark, forcing the good colonel earthbound.

Even wounded, she seemed unwilling to give ground or compromise, forcing herself to stand.

To fight.

......She really does see us as nothing more than oppressors of this planet....

Even now, she cursed the two warriors from beyond the stars, and the Dragon who had made the planet his own.

"And what would you have preferred as the alternative?" Held asked, a tinge of annoyance in his voice, "Would you have preferred we went on a crusade, bringing all of our power to bare in hopes of unseating him? That we lay waste to your apparently backwater planet because it would be more convenient?"

The beating of hooves could be heard behind the Nevadian, emerging for the smoke and rubble.

He hopped into the air, before descending upon the back of Crazy Horn, bloodied and singed from the flaming chains loosed upon his form. It did little to diminish his visage. In fact, it magnified it, revealing the warrior concealed beneath a being of poise and grace.

"And more importantly, haven't you wondered why we haven't done so if that was an option? My comrades and I disagree on...."

He paused. "Numerous things, I'll admit. However, we all are very aware of the threat that man represents for us."

Wordlessly, the Lord of The Sunlit Planes began to trot towards the Lioness as the Nevadian spoke.

"Let's say that all your claims are true. Nevadians, Saiyans, Galaxy Police: We all intend to divide this planet and plunder it's wealth. Let us also grant that somehow, the strongest humans on your planet have also decided this plan was something they could support. If this is so, why would we send so much time parlaying with your president? While I would never claim that your valor and courage are not the equal of my own people, and there are certainly great warriors on earth..."

He sighed.

"A room full of average Saiyan warriors, and a room full of average Human warriors does not usually strike me as a fair fight. If all this is true, then why would we not simply take your planet? It's been less than a decade since Sarada's reforms, and I doubt my own people would lose *too* much sleep, if earth is taken at face value alone. Why are we going through all this trouble, if we could simply settle this issue with That Man in a fort night?"

Feet away from Willa, Crazy Horn came to a stop, the Nevadian towering over her.

"I think you know the answer is simple: The is no other way to oppose him, other than to 'deal' with him. If force alone were sufficient, if your ideas about us weren't rooted in...."

He let the word drop, thinking better of it.

"Either way, if you were to think about how to win, and the nature of our enemy, as opposed to lashing out like a wounded animal you would at least consider allying with us until this business is concluded. You've opposed him longer than any of us, save perhaps Jinzi. You no doubt have an insight that we may lack, in that respect."

The crimson of the Shingan burned bright as Held turned his gaze fully upon the Colonel.

"We're on a tight schedule. Undo the effects of that blade and return it to Jack. From there, we can discuss terms, if you'd wish..."

[KingofPie]

"Well said, my friend," Blizzar complimented. "It's true that we share a common goal, the deposition of That Man. He presents not only a threat to your world but the universe at large. I'll be frank, you were right in assuming I cannot understand your feelings in regards to your devotion to your homeworld. I come from a planet rife with opportunists and would-be tyrants, not too dissimilar to your 'distinguished' president. Those on the lower rung of Arcosian society, such as myself, learned to live like vermin. to glance up at those in control with biting hatred and a desire to one day topple them from beneath as they looked down on us from their pompous magisterial palaces. But it was not so easy"

"If you were not nobility, in order to survive, you would need to learn to game the system. Play politics with cutthroats and slavers before our noble rivals did and make a smart play to grant them a more lucrative offer. I could not escape this, despite fleeing from my world at an early age. Old enemies and hatreds drove me back in some manner. Am I a good person, am I trustworthy? Assuredly not, in regards to the latter. But, all in all, when the scales are tipped in favor of those who grow gluttonous as they feast on power, I can't help but be filled with contempt. These organizations you despised, filled with 'Xenos' and non-humans are working with the most capable of your people to steer your planet back into the right hands."

"Uncouth as they may be, you can certainly trust them. They've bled for this planet just as much as you, if not more so," Blizzar folded his arms and sighed. "And if blood spilt for the same cause isn't common purpose enough, I'm not sure what is."

[grampagen]

The Orthodox Tiger Strikes cut through the ancient patterns of the rival clans, for she had read them before, and began to rend them from the phantom's being. Each strike Kenshiko landed off of a hard read led to a cross counter, every bit of damage she sustained in the exchange, she now shaved off a piece of Toshin no Omokage's power, and with each created opening, Ochazuke, witness to the fundamental patterns of the techniques that yet eluded him, seized upon and absorbed it. Rather swiftly he gained the strength to keep up, even as she slowed, she found the openings to push him forward. A small smile filled her bruised visage, for she recognized the steps, so much like her own; so much like the Shadow's. And by the same techniques of the Genki Dama, Ochazuke had absorbed the energy from their environs, the Leylines of Old Vermillion, into himself. Drawn straight from their opponent, the Shadow amplified itself with the Bear's strength, and the Crane Apostate did the same.

"So this is what you wanted..."

It was all so tiresome, so futile. In the end, he realized, they were fighting a subliminal impression.

A ghost.

The wound he received from Excalibur had run out of blood to bleed, and so he knew this was the limit. Ochazuke stopped and folded his weary arms before him. Toushin no Omoikage threw its fist forward and Kenshiko was helpless to do anything but watch.

When the intersection of the souls collided, a great impact shuddered down the entirety of this realm set apart that it reached as far as the the Lion of Vermillion there in the arena of Old Avalon, shaking the walls about Blizzar, Held, and their foe the Colonel even from this distance...

Ochazuke stood there, unmoving as Toshin no Omoikage roused all the powers at his disposal. It welled through the tower of ten thousand years, and animating the shattered facets of those who had come before they had climbed over, as sure as he had shed his blood upon, the apostate could hear them.

Avenge us! came the subliminal cry. The Genius Loci of this place reached into his soul as deeply as he drew from it, and in an instant from these roots that drank deep from the Earth's memory it was as if his wounds drew upon a freshly rendered ocean of pain. They destroyed the originator! Ten Fingers of the Two Hands loosed upon each other!

He glimpsed a vision then, and sensed it was of a time further back than he'd beheld before.

There was a line of Kings, the dynasty of Arthur's throne who followed his vision even as he ascended to the Lookout in the sky. There was a time where he ascended, claimed the petty godhead of Guardian, but when his time had passed, the nemesis that had roused legions of ancient fiends had struck out and the kingdom disappeared beneath the waves. More pertenantly, Ochazuke heard with utmost certainty here below the sunken lands of Vermillion a voice that came from the corners of the Earth ever after, a far more familiar host. The further back the echoes rang, the louder the voice came as they rallied to a focal point.

The Dragon.
The Dragon!
The Dragon!

It lingered, toxins of an ancient curse, stretching back through all the ages of the planet. But there was something else beyond the history of men, for then as now, the world they walked upon carried its living memory, and glimpsed beneath the matter of these natural forms was the collective soul of a world. If even the histories would not remember, the leylines of the world itself would not.

For all who come, 'till all that shall return...

And when he allowed it to pass over and through him entirely, he found the Memory of the Battle God could no longer reach him. Its hand threw a killer's attack and it phased through him entirely as the masked shaped followed. He stood there, back to back with the phantom, and its presence sparked with embers that soon rose into a great veil of dark smoke; a screen of dread that filled the air before at once departing as swiftly as it came.

Though the fight was over, the damage had been sustained as they both sank to the ground. Ochazuke sat, weary, knees drawn up, and Kenshiko shuffled behind him. Leaning upon each other back to back was the only way to stay upright where they sat.

Soon at this barren pinnacle surrounded by the amber crystals of the Leyline they were alone, it was Kenshiko that spoke first.

"Behind the Ten Seals," she said between gasps, "that's what all of this was for? No secret techniques, no answer...?"

"...an answer was what it gave us. We were searching for a weapon, and so reflected in the shadow of long ago days, it took that shape."

"Listen to yourself, you sound like a monk...so that's it then? We did all this and we still have no answers."

"On the contrary."

Though their energy had been depleted, their sensitivities to it remained despite the expenditures and the wounds. Taking her hand from behind, Ochazuke drew upon the presences in the area from where they sat. Despite having fought the manifestation of the Ten Schools, the pinnacle was arraigned with Seven Seals; Signs of some ancient matter that had long been buried in these ruins and had perhaps been around since before the Battle God had taken its first masked manifestation.

"It's something you taught me. When you're in the clinch, in order to break through the bind, first you have to listen."

Upon the pinnacle it fell upon them both, and as their ki mingled with the Leyline Node of Vemiliion, it sundered through foundations of this sequestered realm.