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Post by Tarch on Jan 9, 2021 14:27:40 GMT -6
Tarch PL: 225,000
Energy Setting: 60,000
Tarch never was a fan of winter. But this one was special. His first winter since his revival. Naturally he spent the holidays with his family. By far it was the best Christmas of his life, surrounded by both presents and his entire extended family welcoming him back to life. But the cold chill that dragged its icy nails down his spine was an unwelcome shiver. He sensed something impossible. A dead man. Granted so was he, but this saiyan was supposed to stay dead.
“I’m going out Dad!” The young hybrid called out to his very human father. All things considered he was very composed. He didn’t show an ounce of worry. A small content smile on his lips, and a slight hint of adventure in his near cyan eyes.
“Where you going kiddo?”
“Up north. Sensed something funny up there. Shouldn’t be anything serious but I’ll bring Chromo along just in case.”
“Tarch…” Mar threw his son a deadly glare. “Last time you sensed something funny you died.”
“I was alone then. And being stubborn. I’ll have help this time. Look if I so much as bleed I’ll head home.”
His father let out a long sigh before walking over to place a hand on starch’s shoulder. “Listen. You’re a fighter kid. I know that much and think it’s great. I mean look at your mother, both of them. Kohlra is one hell of a fighter, strongest woman I ever met. Hell even Suda is, what, one sixteenth saiyan? Sometimes that little bit of Vegeta blood shows. Whether I like it or not, you were born to fight. Just promise me two things.”
“Anything!”
“One, come home alive. I can’t stand losing you twice. Two… and I know you have been and always will… when you do fight, do it for whatever you think is right. Can you do that?”
“I promise.”
“Atta boy. I love you Tarch.” With that his father pulled him into the second biggest hug of his life, even planting a scratchy kiss on his cheek. After that, Tarch walked out the door, his aloof smile replaced with a determined stare.
“Love you too dad.”
Now it was time to see the man he once thought of as his saiyan father.
His hope was all he’d see was a mound of snow or, as morbid as it was, that all he’d find was a corpse. But after sending him he had to check for himself. If Vocado was really back he had to make sure. On the bright side, if he really was alive then he would finally receive some closure. No one was going to stop him either. Tarch would go through every fighter in the universe if he had to before he let his former mentor run amok.
“Hey Chromo, I’m up at Mt. Frappe. I may be wrong but I think I sensed Mr. Vocado. Head up whenever you can. If I go silent… head up faster. Otherwise, I’ll keep you posted bud.”
So there he was. A young half saiyan standing in the snow on a surprisingly clear day in the mountains. Indeed all he could see for miles were white hills of powdery snow. Of course it was difficult finding someone when all he had to go off of was the little information he heard back up in heaven. The only thing Tarch found was that faint power level. Faint but unmistakable.
Using UT Telepathy to talk to Chromo but that doesn't necessarily he'll be here etc etc.
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Post by Vocado on Jan 9, 2021 16:52:27 GMT -6
Thread Power Level: 241,250
There was a darkness in the air. A cold, callous venom bred into each falling snowflake in the ice cold mountainside. Tarch knew something was coming, but the world itself seemed just as aware. Like the Earth had suddenly gotten very queasy at the mere idea of this intruder— nay, this monster’s rebirth.
Tarch followed the scent well, considering its dim nature, but as he closed in it grew. And grew. And grew. It expanded on itself until it eclipsed Tarch and forced a shudder from the mountain. When Tarch found his way to a massive, snowed-in canyon, he’d feel the world’s shuddering turn to a quake. It was small at first, missable. But soon it grew mighty and impossible to ignore. Much like the man itself. From the sky, clouds coalesced into grey smears, and a thunderclap echoed in the distance. Did the tundra usually get lightning?
In a sudden and sporadic display, the snow was struck in front of Tarch by a bolt of lightning, burning away mounds of sleet and turning it to a puddle beneath him. From far below, the snow shifted.
-HMMPH!-
A fist punched through the snow, and grabbed a handful of the ground to push itself free. Slowly, but surely, the grey armor of a familiar warrior broke through his makeshift arctic tomb. With a gasp for air, Vocado freed himself from death. He gave his hands a curious look, and cackled maniacally.
”Bahahahahah! I can’t believe it! That foolish Kai gave me a free ride! What a moron! I’ll have to thank him by sending a thousand weary souls his way!”
For a moment, he enjoyed the elation. Glee filled his system as he looked down at his gloved hand. The ring underneath worked its magic well. What else could it do?
But his celebration was short lived. Someone else was here. Someone minuscule and familiar and all-too annoying.
”You.”
”Of all the people to welcome me back, it had to be you.”
Vocado pushed himself out of the ground, standing and looming above the young boy. Vocado was different now. The metallic arm he’d sported was long gone, and the tail flowing dangerously behind him betrayed that the rest of his body had been repaired too. The only remaining sign of combat was a single scar over his left eye. Deep and jagged, it looked as though even death could not remove. Either that, or he kept it subconsciously. Even he did not know the answer, nor did he care to. The little one sported a scar too. So strange.
”What could possibly have possessed you of all people to come across my rebirth, hm? Fate perhaps? Surely no. She’s too fickle a mistress to grant me so little a greeting party.”
Kneeling down, he gave the boy a curious look. He felt strong. Stronger than he remembered. Maybe he could be useful. The scowl he sported turned to a warm smile. Fake, sure, but warm.
”Say, I’ve got a grand idea. Why don’t we work together? I could help you unlock the fullness of your potential. We could become the strongest together! What do you say?”
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Post by Tarch on Jan 9, 2021 18:49:47 GMT -6
A truly remarkable sight even for one as adventurous as Tarch. He would have been in awe if it wasn’t for the gargantuan power level dripping with a malice so thick he could cut it with a knife. The poor child almost screamed in terror from the mere memory of the previous time he felt anything like it. But there he was. With both of his arms, and no halo. Vocado did it, he broke out of the afterlife. How he did it was far beyond him, but the how’s didn’t matter right now. What did Tarch do now? With his mouth agape in a stupified expression he could only watch the man he once looked up to make his way over and kneel in front of him.
Tarch was also different. This wasn’t the same nervous little boy the former Prince took under his wing. He had grown in the past three years. While standing he was still taller, but seeing him like this actually put Tarch a good head taller than Vocado. Beyond physical growth though, stood a young teenager, still as naive and innocent as he was when they met, but strong enough to stand on his own two feet. Both of these saiyans experienced more than anyone would ever dream of. The question was, did these experiences define or refine them.
The younger of the two didn’t speak at first. He gathered what courage he could, closing his still gaping mouth and giving Vocado an almost blank look. Even with both arms, there was something that plagued his thoughts far more, one feature that sent a wave of dread pounding in his mind. Silently, Tarch dragged a finger down the single line marking his own left eye. Was he looking into the future? Was this what waited for him when he grew up?
“I sensed you,” he said matter-of-factly before adding a surprisingly sincere, “sir.” Maybe there was still hope. Maybe death taught him to be good again. The hybrid doubted it, but he would hate himself if he didn’t at least try.
“Work together…” how he would have loved to once. But the Vocado he admired was the one that told him to stay home and be safe instead of galivanting off to namek.
“I do want to get strong,” not like this,
“Just like you,” used to be,
“...are.”
It was a good fantasy to be sure. But could it be anything more? Did this Vocado want Tarch to be something more than a lackey or worse a protégé? Or is there any shred of the Vocado he idolized still in there? For now he would do what he did best, hope. All the while showing him that there was still some of the ‘old’ Tarch still in him.
“If I did work with you, what would we do…? sir.”
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Post by Vocado on Jan 11, 2021 18:30:48 GMT -6
The boy was star struck. Maybe that was the wrong term. Frozen in fear? Shocked beyond reasoning? There were a hundred ways to describe the look on Tarch’s face, none of which were positive. It seemed he was still the altruistic, hopeful young boy he’d always been. The old Vocado would’ve been ecstatic at the revelation. This one, however, was bent on finding a way to solve this problem. To recruit at least one warrior who wouldn’t betray or disappoint him.
Finally finding his voice, Tarch questioned the offer Vocado gave. An understandable query.
”Thats just it. We can do whatever our hearts desire!”
He put his hand out to touch the top of the boys head, his smile seeming more and more sincere.
”Anything at all would be ours for the taking. The universe as our infinite playground. Nobody to tell us what to do or how to do it. No presidents or queens or mothers to scold us. Just fun for the rest of our days. Sounds pretty good, right?”
Vocado nodded. He thought that sounded pretty good. Hell, if he were Tarch he’d definitely sign up. Only problem was he wasn’t Tarch. That boy was something else, which was precisely why he wanted him off the board. Dealing with Carro and Kayen and Typha was one thing, but Tarch was trouble for a different reason. He was something to protect. To fight for and care for. Kids were the future!
Standing up, he looked to the horizon, hands on his hips as he nodded to himself. ”I can sense them even now. The heroes of the world. They’d hate that we talked. How harsh is that? Just one conversation would draw ire. We could show them a thing or two. Settle some scores and such, right? You got anybody you don’t like? We could go over there and beat them up right now if you want.”
He turned away, frowning now that the boy couldn’t see his face. This wasn’t going to work. He needed a better strategy. If only he knew how to talk to children.
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Post by Tarch on Jan 11, 2021 19:27:20 GMT -6
Anything he wanted? Any kid his age would leap at the chance to truly do whatever he wanted. Tarch was no exception. It was actually a truly satisfying thought. Just him and his mentor as an unstoppable duo. But that only answered half of his question. As open ended as it was, Tarch asked in hopes of learning what it was Vocado wanted to do. The answer seemed fairly obvious from his tone. He wanted his own revenge, likely on whoever killed him. Hence the offer for Tarch to have the same no doubt.
For now it was his turn to answer a question. “Honestly, harsh doesn’t cut it. It’s a load of bullcrap is what it is.” Despite his own fierce words his tone remained as steady as a rock. The odd thing was he meant every word too. “If some hero is gonna get mad just because I talked to someone then they can screw off.” A near swear from Tarch, even now an oddity. One he may be able to use in his favor. “Oh… sorry, you’re probably not used to me swearing.”
This half saiyan had his own plan. It was clear that Vocado saw him as the same little boy he always was. In many ways he was. Tarch was as caring and kind as he always was. But now he was older, maybe not wiser per-se but certainly more experienced. He’d seen enemies killed from afar, watched loved ones die before his eyes, and felt the unbearable sting of betrayal from the person he cared for above all others. From those harrowing traumatic events he gained strength, and the ability to cherish the precious moments of peace and happiness. Most importantly though, he was not helpless anymore. Even after his own death, he got back up. So why did the same things twist someone as noble as Mr. Vocado?
“To be fair though, I am fourteen now. Technically fifteen but I’m doing that year over again since I… died…” No matter how hard he tried to mask the pain, his voice shook with fear upon speaking of his own demise. “But I guess I’ve grown up a bit. Been through a lot of things. I’ve learned that not all ‘heroes’ are what they cracked up to be. So if those ‘heroes’ would be angry at us talking then yeah screw them. Harsh is putting it nicely. Sir.”
“Although…” Tarch began to idly walk around the snowy clearing, letting Vocado keep his back turned to him. He didn’t need to see his expression. Hell, he didn’t even need to sense his emotions. This man was an open book filled with twisted macabre pages he wished he could ignore. Still, he couldn’t leave that offer alone. “Those fake heroes never did anything to hurt me. And the real ones definitely didn’t hurt me. Hmm…” Tarch put a finger to his chin, giving this thought an honest contemplation. Who HAS hurt him. “Kayen gave me a scar on my chest. But I worked that out already. Sensoa…” another shudder, “killed me… but he’s dead. Chromo I kinda adopted as my brother so that’s family drama. Kon is just kinda… confused? Actually there’s only two people I actually hate.” And he was talking to one of them. “Yeah. I guess that’s something else different about me. I actually hate certain people. Though technically they’re both dead.”
Now it was time to prepare the proverbial cold water amidst this snowy mountain top. For starters, another question. “You know who I want to beat up? I want to beat up Cress and Mr. Kalabas. Would we be able to do that? Sir? I don’t want to kill them, one’s a ghost anyway. But what they did,” even with his back turned, Vocado would no doubt feel the now teal orbs piercing through the back of his head. “Is unforgivable... Sir.” Finally, though only minimally noticeable, Tarch's 'sir' carried with it a hurt and betrayed tone.
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Post by Chromo on Jan 11, 2021 19:53:12 GMT -6
HATRED'S CORPSE
CHROMO'S PL: 1 (200k BASE | SUPPRESSED)
'I have no idea who this Vocado guy is, but... Just don't get in trouble, idiot- or else.'
Chromo's response earlier to Tarch had been blunt and to the point, but the beetle's current mental state hardly reflected that. The name Tarch mentioned had been telepathically spoken with a sense of... dread? Chromo wasn't sure if that was the word, but the name brought the same sort of feeling as the mention of the boogeyman. It definingly was familiar to him... And if Tarch of all people was uncertain about someone's character, then that spoke more than any of his brother's words ever could.
The bio-android had been rallying his swarm, helping each of his Lessers position themselves around the mountain. If this could turn into another Sensoa incident, he needed eyes everywhere. Some laid buried in dirt and snow, jaws ready to snap onto danger like beartraps while others were concelead behind rocks, in scattered shrubbery, or patrolling above the clouds.
Chromo had spent more than half of his life living in the wilds. He knew how to be light on his feet, how to hunt and stalk and sneak. Each little footprint of his only remained for a few seconds before the snow concealed his prints. The smell of death and danger got thicker and thicker in the air the farther he ventured into the icy wastes.
Eventually, Chromo could make out a voice. Quickly burrowing into the earth and re-emerging silently behind a boulder close to the scene, Chromo silently thanked his Namekian genes for his enhanced hearing as he listened in onto the conversation...
This Vocado person talked of play and freedom and fake heroes- at surface level, the offer was something Chromo's past self would spring to join in on. It was eerily reminiscent of his own father's justification of their horrific acts, sending a shiver down the beetle's spine as old memories resurfaced. No- now wasn't the time for that. He had to be ready if this person tried to hurt his brother. "..." Chromo was relieved to hear Tarch's voice, though he could feel the tension in his tone. The air was thick enough with suspense that Chromo could cut it with his claws. Though he kept himself visually hidden and his ki as low as it could be, Chromo would send a ping back to his friend to their telepathic link. 'I'm here. I'm staying hidden for now, just let me know if you want me to bite his face. Seriously, this guy's giving me some heebie jeebies... Besides, 'y'know I can give Craps and Kalabutts a whoopin' also just fine.' Chromo chirped in, entertained at his own nickname for the two people Tarch hated. Chromo was surprisingly adept at stealth, but there was still the possibility of discovery- no doubt this guy would be on guard...
'Just make this quick, please... If this goes badly, you owe me another fifty Hetaps because I told you so.'
Chromo's [UT1] SUGARCOAT suppresses his sense-able PL from 200,000 to 1
Chromo talks to Tarch through Tarch's [UT1] Telepathy.
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Post by Vocado on Jan 12, 2021 4:09:56 GMT -6
Talk about interesting. This kid had been through lots that Vocado never heard about. Talks of Sensoa murdering him, of something called a "Chromo" becoming adopted family, and another thing called Kon. Lots of stories that were very important to Tarch, but little more than annoyances to Vocado.
It became clear fairly quickly that this was going to be a hard sell. He was too kind-hearted. The way he talked of vengeance was tell-tale. He spoke of it like a hero thought it'd sound. Missing key words and the emotion needed to really pull off the whole revenge act. He had to admire the kid's heart, though. Trying to trick Vocado was tall order, but he tried anyway. Or perhaps it was just to cover until he found a way to escape Vocado's vicinity? Whatever the case, he'd play the part and pretend to play along.
Turning, he'd nod, staring back at Tarch's eyes with the same unbreakable intensity.
"I'll snap their necks like twigs if need be. Throw them to the wayside and light a match to be sure, if that's what you want. That is what you want, right? To see them suffer? They're unforgivable, aren't they?"
His frown hadn't been hidden. Eyebrow twitching, the dam began to break. Something about the boy prattling on struck a nerve somewhere deep.
"That's what I am, too. A monster to hate. A mountain to climb. A talking point at the next party. 'Look at me,' you'll say. 'I slayed the terrible Vocado. Shower me with praise, oh pretentious heroes!'. No no, you're about to correct me though. You'll say its not like that. You'll say I'm surely off base. I'm thinking of it all wrong. You're not gonna stop me for that reason. It's for this that and the other. For the mountains of men I've killed. It's not for glory when it's Vocado the Monster. It's just what has to be done."
Well, the jig was up now. It was over when he crawled out of the dirt, truth be told. Record timing, the Apparition would've chided. Too bad he'd conquered that part of himself.
"So tell me, who did you call for backup? You and yours love to stack the odds. Can't bear to finish a fight without a dozen watchers, and a thousand more to help you pin your foe's arms down while you drive the knife in deeper. Carro maybe? I could run him through again. You'd get to see it firsthand this time." Vocado chuckled darkly. "Watching the light fade from his eyes was one of the best days of my life. Maybe your eyes dimming will take first place instead..."
His wrist flicked, and a razor-sharp blade of Ki erupted from his palm. It danced around his hand, swirling around his wrist and solidifying into a dagger-like implement.
"Enough games. No more beating around the bush. You want in or not? We can part ways if you'd like." He brought his weapon up, smirking. "And I can think of a few ways to make it happen."
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Post by Tarch on Jan 12, 2021 11:04:10 GMT -6
So there it was. Any trace of the man he once worshiped as a hero snuffed out long ago. This Vocado has no care for the people he once called his allies. Who was to say that the same lack of care would come to bite Tarch as well. Truly this was a pitiful man standing before him. Tarch was ready to tear down his blind stupidity until he heard something far more sickening.
The hybrid’s eyes widened as the truth of Mr. Carro’s death came to light. So he was the one who killed him. He clenched his fist, a small spark of blue lightning crackling around it. Maybe he should call the president over. Give the diminutive saiyan a chance to avenge himself. It was a good thought but not how Tarch did things.
“You know me better than that. At least you used to. Sir. I never killed anyone and I never will. Not even you. But I’m still at least half saiyan. I don’t call people for help because I’m a stubborn idiot who thinks he can fight on his own.” As he spoke, his clenched fist would start to tremble. He could feel his heart threatening to burst out of his chest. Was he really about to do this? There was no way he could bring himself to fight even the man he hated. Especially when he was armed with something as traumatic and a blade.
“Yeah I called someone, just one person though. My brother. I promised him I wouldn’t put myself in danger without him. But I don’t want him to help me yet.” Chromo was demon, monkey, and lizard right? Were any of those known for good hearing? Really it was irrelevant when you were a living walkie talkie. He'd ping his little bug brother back.
“Do me a favor and I’ll make it a hundred. I need to at least try to fight this guy alone first. I wanna show him I’m not some kid he can push around. Just please don’t let him kill me, else you’ll owe ME fifty. Deal? Afterwards I'll tell you all about this guy.”
“I’m sorry Mr. Vocado,” he began, voice now clearly shaking. Was it fear, anger, or betrayal that shook the boy to his core. Seeing his former idol clearly threatening him with the one thing that now scared him more than anything was literally sickening. But Tarch couldn’t back down. His charcoal black hair slowly began to rise before spiking upwards entirely.
With a small roar he forced as much of his power to the surface as he could. “I’m not joining you. So p-please... Let's just walk away before this gets ugly. Y-You can leave Earth and do whatever it is you really want to do.” Despite the golden aura and pale blonde locks, he had to try just once to avoid any unnecessary bloodshed. Long shot was putting it naively lightly. This broken idol was beyond reasoning, an eerily familiar feeling to his previous life or death struggle. "P-Please, i-if there's any good left in you, even a little bit, just leave this planet and let go of... a-all this hate." At that, his stutter vanished, the fear in his eyes for a brief moment shifting to resolve. "Because I'm not letting you hurt me or anyone else."
A scared Tarch activates his super saiyan.
Energy set to 2,400,000
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Post by Chromo on Jan 12, 2021 12:38:03 GMT -6
CHROMO'S PL: 1 (200k BASE | SUPPRESSED)
'AAAAAAAAAAAAA YOU STUPID DUMB IDIOT WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU ARENT SUPPOSED TO TELL HIM MY HIDING SPOT!!' Chromo screeched telepathically into Tarch's eardrums as his brother made the mistake of mentioning he'd brought backup. There went his element of surprise... Things turned from bad to worse when Tarch proved himself to have even less brain cells that Chromo, wanting to stay and fight Vocado- WITHOUT the backup he'd so bluntly mentioned earlier. 'W-wha-?! Are you CRAZY?! Then why am I even here if it's not to help you fight this dummy, you dummy! I swear when I drag you butt out of this I am TELLING on you the moment we get home and you're going to be SUPER grounded! Even I'm smart enough to know this guy's not just gonna leave Earth!'
Vocado turned from sounding slightly reasonable to completely insane on a dime. Something about being a monster, that weird talk about heroes again- seriously, Chromo didn't understand why so many people had beef with them like this- and a lot of talk of murder and death. Like, so much talk of killing people. Chromo growled quietly to himself. He was going to give Tarch a piece of his mind after this stupid stunt. What did his brother have to gain from this besides even more mental anguish? It was objectively the best choice to walk away from the crazy murder saiyan, wasn't it?!
'You have sixty seconds to do whatever before I go for his neck. I'll be counting! See?!- one, two, three, four...' One minute of one-against-one was all Chromo would permit-- that was, if Vocado didn't turn and run like that coward Cress did... Chromo's [UT1] SUGARCOAT is still active, keeping his detectable PL at 1.
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Post by Vocado on Jan 13, 2021 1:49:31 GMT -6
"How foolish of you. Suicide is one thing, but Fratricide? And I thought I was the villain."
So there was another here. Where was he? Tarch's words implied that this supposed brother wasn't on his way, but already arrived and waiting in the wings. In the mountains, maybe? No, somewhere in the snow. Sneaking and conniving like a good murderer ought to. He tried to reach out his senses, but it was no use. Tarch's Ki was beginning to rise, and it drowned out the ambience of the world far too much.
There was a part of him that knew, even back when Tarch had died, that he could achieve the Super Saiyan state. Even so, seeing it in person on such a young boy left a dirty taste in Vocado's mouth. The good that Tarch was trying to reach retched at the sight. To know such an innocent boy was brought to such a traumatic low in his life already. On the other hand, the second thought that came to mind was on the opposite end of the spectrum. How dare this boy sully the Super Saiyan state by using it? He didn't deserve its glow. He didn't earn it like Vocado did.
"Leave? You want me to leave? You'd give me that chance?"
Vocado stared, a pensive look in his eye. The offer was tempting, but something about its owner stifled the enticing nature of it. The boy was so hopeful. Full of light and love. It felt cartoonish to put the thought to words, but he could keep it to himself all the same. It was like a mirror; Tarch's mere existence reminded him too much of how he started his journey. The struggle was immense, but he never gave up hope.
In another time, maybe he would've kept that hope. Clung to it like the stubborn princeling he was. Tarch had done it. Why couldn't he?
"Okay," he said, throwing his arms up. "I only wanted to settle a few scores. My plans are nowhere near so grandiose that I need to pummel a young boy to get to what I want."
Turning on his heel, he gave a boring two-finger salute behind his back, and walked away.
"Seeya kid."
EXIT
... Just kidding!
For a moment, it seemed as though maybe things would resolve peacefully. Vocado would go somewhere else, brood for a while, and finally turn back to the light. In a perfect world, that might've happened.
Vocado turned his head to smirk at Tarch, and in the briefest flashes of a second, the boy would be able to see the once-king's hair stand up, flashing a brilliant gold, before he vanished from sight completely.
Using the Time Ring was strange. For them, it would be instantaneous, but for Vocado, he perceived it as akin to forgetting the last few seconds. He knew where he wanted to end up, and how he wanted to end up there, but the deeper intricacies of its power were still lost on him.
He'd reappear behind the boy, hand already grasping at the back of his neck. Should he get a solid grip, he'd reel his arm back, before hurling the young boy toward the ground. Should he succeed, Tarch would be rocketed past the surface, digging into hundreds of feet of snow and ice and dirt; jagged rocks would splinter, and frozen puddles would shatter to shards in his wake.
Laughing, Vocado loomed over the hole in his own Super Saiyan state. "Fooled ya good, didn't I? People say I'm a fantastic actor-- Nashua and her broken heart can certainly attest to it!"
Whatever the outcome of the next few minutes ended up being, Vocado would enjoy every minute of it.
Vocado transforms into Mastered Super Saiyan (x16P)!
PL: 3,860,000!
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Post by Tarch on Jan 13, 2021 13:52:53 GMT -6
Sensing emotions was much more of an art than a science. Technically it wasn’t emotions that he sensed. What Tarch looked for was how the energy itself reacted. Even the most adept liars can’t disguise the flow of power throughout their bodies without suppressing it entirely. Still, seeing Vocado’s energy subtly radiating toward him was not enough to douse the hope that maybe the former prince was sincere. The teen dared not speak, afraid that it would shatter this oh so wonderful fantasy.
“Seeya kid.”
For a moment he could swear he heard the old Mr. Vocado talking to him. Though his eyes never left him, Tarch was wondering if maybe there was hope after all. Then there it was, the first super saiyan he ever saw transforming in front of him once more. It was easily the second most monstrous power level he had ever sensed in his entire life. As scary as it was, as much as it dwarfed his own, it was not quite as high as the one that killed him. Then for a brief moment it was gone.
Tarch’s eyes widened. He had never seen anyone completely disappear. Even if Vocado suppressed his power there was no way he could be in his super saiyan form. But Tarch was a master of sensing energy and a speed demon. So why couldn’t he tell where his old mentor disappeared to. He wouldn’t get the opportunity to think long before feeling a firm grip on the back of his head. He quickly put his lessons from Kayen to good use, creating his thin stony barrier before being shot through the ground like a drill.
However, it wasn’t the dull pain that stung, or even the taunts. Something he said though… What did he mean by it? Tarch blasted through the ground back up, looking no worse for wear. He shook his head, prompting drips of melted snow and bits of gravel from his hair. Then he only had one more question. His tone was low, growling in a much more menacing bite than anything he had ever used in a long time. One his onlooking brother would probably find frighteningly familiar.
“What… did you do… to Nashua?”
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Post by Vocado on Jan 14, 2021 19:35:59 GMT -6
The kid was quick, that much was certain. Tough, too, by the look of it. What Vocado expected when the boy broke free was fear or perhaps steely resolve, but instead he was met with a cold question. Arguably, this was a more engaging outcome. He’d get to see the true depths of Tarch’s fury. See how strong he could really get.
Pointing a finger to his own heart, Vocado imitated a finger gun, and pulled the trigger.
”She was already in death’s grasp to be fair. Oboe might’ve been able to save her if I hadn’t... intervened.”
Vocado laughed. A malicious, sickeningly self-righteous cackle. The kind a Saturday morning cartoon villain would sputter out when he had the upper hand on the foolish heroes. Only problem for Vocado was he wasn’t in a cartoon. He didn’t get the luxury of running away for next time.
”Does that make you angry? Are you thinking about changing your stance just this once? It’s okay to kill if they deserve it. It’s okay to kill if you’re real gosh-darn pissed. It’s okay to kill if you say so. Right?”
Maybe he was pushing it too far. Poking a bear that needn’t be poked. It was probably the high of being alive again that made him push his luck. Besides, Tarch was only a boy. Strong or no, he had no true eye for strategy.
”Face it, kid. You’re no better than I am. The only difference is you haven’t realized it yet. I noticed it all the way back on Namek when you took a swing at me for defending my crown. You were angry and for what? You weren’t even supposed to be there and yet you shoved your way!”
He stepped past the mile-long cavern, clenching his Ki-covered hand into a fist in front of him, swiping his other hand dismissively. ”You’re full to the brim with hatred! It’s boiling. Festering until one day you won’t be able to pretend that you’re some innocent little boy who’s been hurt too much. Why not give up the ghost and tag along? What do you have to lose?”
This whole speech would’ve worked better before he drew a blazing blade on Tarch, but alas. Hindsight is always 20:20, isn’t it? Besides, maybe the spiel would draw out a little more rage from the boy. A little more blinding fury. It might make the whole thing take less time, regardless of whether that meant Vocado would end up back in the ground or not.
His fist reeled back suddenly, before lurching forward and detaching the Ki blade from his wrist. It flew like an arrow across the battlefield, aiming to slice through Tarch like butter.
KP: 2/3
Used [A1] Machine-Gun Salvo combined with [UT] Ki Blades for a long range attack!
33% power for a damage potential of: 1,273,800!
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Post by Tarch on Jan 15, 2021 13:13:05 GMT -6
He was the one… Tarch was lucky, he only died physically. Much like the sad miserable excuse of a Vocado gloating before him, the sad and broken Nashua was not the one he knew and loved. He killed her inside and out. He ruined her. She died inside because of a monster in saiyan skin. Everything he said didn’t matter. It was all just white noise going in white ear and out the other. He was right though. Tarch shoved his way through everything even when he didn’t belong there. If it weren’t for that sword he may have actually followed this thing only so he could inevitably feel what it meant to have his entire world turn on him as well.
“You…”
Said sword was launched toward him, but he paid it no mind. Tarch held up a hand, letting the energy burn into his palm, leaving blackened marks on his arm. His power would raise, his hair becoming slightly more spiked and his muscles swelling.
“You… YOU BASTARD!!!”
The hybrid’s power exploded around him in unstable bursts, sending snow and gravel flying around him. A scream of pain and fury would echo through the entire mountain. No doubt the entire Rugged North would feel this teen and his anger radiating around him. Vocado would certainly feel it in a moment. Tarch would disappear in a sudden burst of speed before appearing directly in front of him. It was time he finally delivered that punch he promised him years ago on Namek.
“Sixty Seconds? That’s plenty.”
Tarch is set off! USSJ and Saiyan Pride activated.
PL: 4,275,000/3,375,000
Takes Machine Gun Salvo in full for about 38%
Uses [MA3] Torrent Break for 4,275,000 PL
KP: 4/7
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Post by Vocado on Jan 16, 2021 0:26:22 GMT -6
There was the briefest of moments to register what happened. Anger did not bubble from Tarch. It erupted in a grand display. His hair sharpened as his muscles pushed past their limits. Earth itself knelt before the coming storm. Tarch was beastly, to say the least, and that fury came about solely thanks to Vocado. The once-king couldn't help but smile. He was more than a footnote; he was a bane. Something to despise.
He'd have gloated about it, but there was a fist in his gut.
The force was enough to force the wind from Vocado's lungs thrice over. Nerves he didn't know he had shot off warning sirens in his chest. Blood spewed from his mouth like a fountain, and the ground beneath him gave way. He'd have fallen into that now-massive hole he'd dug earlier, but the unrelenting deluge of Ki sent him spiraling through the air. Careening perpendicular to the snow, he could feel his nose grate against the ice. Had he the faculties for it, he'd have screamed, but he still couldn't catch his breath.
Some few seconds later, he was part of the farthest mountain. Cratered on the side of the rock, it didn't take long for the debris to bury him underneath. What a scarily familiar feeling...
There was silence, though only briefly. Vocado took the few moments he could to catch his breath, and punched through the rubble. He leaped from the crater, flipping through the air before skidding to a halt in a decent ways away from Tarch. Close enough to chide and retort, but far enough that the boy would need to take some effort to approach.
Vocado looked incredibly worse than he felt. Massive cracks ran across the material of his chestplate, and one of the straps keeping it on his chest had been pulverized to dust. Blood ran down his forehead and across his face in twin streams, and yet he smiled. It was a satisfied, almost cocky grin. The kind you'd have if you were the one landing a punch that strong.
"Heh... Hahah... HAHAHAHAAAA!! Good one boy, better than I gave you credit for!"
He spit a massive glob from his mouth, bright crimson staining the pure white snow beneath. Adrenaline poured through his veins in spurts. He felt alive, truly alive. He'd forgotten what it felt like to fight when death was on the line, and damn did it feel good.
"Not good enough, though. Not nearly." Taking a single step forward, he brought his left hand up to his opposite shoulder, pushing hard. There was a sickening pop as Vocado groaned, pushing his bone back into the socket. He rolled his shoulder, and egged Tarch on by giving him a middle finger. "Can't you try a little harder, boy? Or maybe you're stalling. Yesss, that's it-- You need your big brother to save you huh?"
Tilting his head, the Saiyan lurched forwards, before darting through the air. He needed to keep the boy furious. Angry and aimless was the easiest way to destroy his hopes when it all came crashing down.
Head-on rushes were one of Vocado's specialties, though he wasn't exactly against trickery either. Stopping on a dime just before he struck, Vocado jabbed his foot at the ground between them, kicking up a snowy dust-cloud. It wouldn't do much, since they could both sense Ki, but the irritation helped in more ways than one.
From there, he flipped up and over the boy, aiming to grab his tail and pull it toward him. His other hand was ready to deliver a quick and dirty strike to the center of his spine. Should he succeed, he'd pull back and attack the same way twice over, before swirling the boy's body over his head and tossing him to the wayside.
"C'mon! Show me what you learned! Show me why you deserved to be wished back instead of me, you waste of space!"
KP: 3/3
+1 KP For no action taken
Vocado takes Torrent Break for MASSIVE Damage!!!
Damage taken: 111%
Current PL: 3,860,000
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Post by Tarch on Jan 16, 2021 12:24:01 GMT -6
Was this what he wanted? To take the world’s shining example of a hero and drag him down to his level. No. No, this was lower than Vocado. This was pure hate fueled rage. Blind to everything else around him. This was probably exactly what Vocado wanted. To see the gentle Tarch turn into a belligerent monster of wrath. The scary part was it worked. A clear-minded Tarch would have recoiled at the sight of drawing blood, even wretched at the mere sound of his opponent having to snap his bones back into place.
This was not why he deserved to be brought back instead of Vocado. This was why he should have stayed dead instead of Namek.
But this was barely Tarch. This was anger in its purest form. All because of that broken Nashua he saw. It was one thing to see your idol fall to his own evil ambitions. It was another when that same idol brings down the one other person you hold above all others. Vocado deserved this.
Unfortunately, this haze made it impossible to focus. The teen wasn’t completely unaware of his surroundings though. He could easily see and sense his opponent dashing toward him. Even the wave of blinding white powder wasn’t enough to take his attention off of him. Tarch would fire off a massive blast in front of him, hoping to just blow through the snow and Vocado. However, he was already behind him by then. A small surge of pain threatened to send Tarch to his knees. Luckily the man holding his tail was also the one who helped him train away the weakness. Instead, he would try and turn his palm back and fire off another shot.
Before he could though, Tarch let out a choked scream of pain. In his current state, he was unable to properly defend himself, and a blow to the spine was enough to stun him albeit momentarily. Before long he was tossed back down, skidding across the ground kicking up yet another flurry of snow. It wouldn’t be long before he was back on his feet, already charging toward Vocado still roaring in anger. Loud cracks echoed around as he darted from one spot to the next, appearing in different spots with immense speed. Even if this wasn’t enough to throw off the former prince, Tarch was intent on paying him back for the jab to the spine with his own fiery kick.
Tarch still angy. PL: 4,275,000/3,375,000
Uses [MA3] Torrent Break once more to kick Vocado in the back for 4,275,000
KP: 1/7
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CHROMO - THE BEST BUG
