Battle For Earth - Solo RP - Completed

-West City; 7 Years in the future; Trunks's timeline-

The sky churned with dark clouds and flashed with jagged streaks of lightning. There were six maelstroms, each with a plumes radiation blooming out their swirling maws. Winds far greater than any hurricane battered the metropolis below, skyscrapers swaying and crumpling under the cataclysmic pressures. Power lines and transformers exploded in great flashes, showering sparks and flames across streets. Cars were upturned by violent gusts, and hurled into the face of buildings, as if they were nothing more than little toys. The citizens hid within their homes, or in the the subways, any nook or cranny they could find. No one dared to face the apocalypse, all fled its wrath.

From the maws thousands of Vora were jettisoned into the atmosphere, dispersing across the city. Trunks watched from the sky, fighting to keep himself afloat in the chaotic winds. It was not easy, he felt pathetic. Blackfire floated, seemingly unfazed by the storm, just watching the devastation. She was the Vessel of Lightning, unfazed by the storms that were her inheritance. Her amethyst eyes showed no emotion, smoldering with silent ferocity.

“Master, where are the rest of the Conclave?” Trunks shouted through the winds.

“They're not coming,” Blackfire said. “It's just us.”

“What about Shana?” Trunks asked. “Surely she wouldn’t' abandon her homeworld.”

“She's on the other side of the city, awaiting my command to commence the offensive.”

Trunks grimaced. This was not good. A full blown Vora invasion and they only had two Vessels—Fire and Lighting. He knew that without Earth and Water he feared their chances of survival were slim, if none at all.

Behind him he could hear a ripping sound, as if they atmosphere was being shredded like paper. Turning his head, he saw a swarm of glinting metal and shimmering lights headed their way. They were androids, thousand upon thousands of them. As they neared the city, Trunks could see they bore the emblem of the Capsule Corpration and of the insignia of the King of Earth.

“Mom,” Trunks said with a prideful grin. “She did it. I can't believe this.” Few had taken the warning of the Vora invasion seriously, but Trunks's mother had been quite active in preparing the Earth's defenses. They were Mark II Capsule Corp Battle Androids.

The androids hit the wall of churning wind and were scattered, quickly adjusting to their new environment. Trunks watched them regroup in smaller platoons. The Vora retaliated immediately, with beams of ki, globs of acid, bone spikes—all sorts of weapons. Some of the Vora looked looked like human children, white the others had evolved into insidious beasts.

“This is impossible,” Trunks said, feeling deflated. Two minutes had passed and the entire army, which had taken months of preparation by the Capsule Corporation to create, had been reduced to scrap.

“Your mom was foolish,” Blackfire said. “She sent the androids in too early. The storm is not over yet. The androids had an advantage in their numbers, which was wasted when they were scattered by the winds. We can't attack until the storm ends and their portals close.”

Trunks felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. “By that time there will be nothing left to West City.”

Blackfire's eyes narrowed. “I knew he couldn't resist coming here.”

“What?”

The six maelstroms had begun to move, swirling around each other until they formed one giant black cloud that blotted out the sun. As darkness swept across the land, the winds died down to an eerie stillness. The center of the storm cloud separated, spilling out a shimmering yellow pillar of energy and a spray of interstellar debris. The discharge was centered over downtown. The remaining concrete buildings melted from the immense heat, and meteorites, with tails of flame, peppered the already devastated suburbs.

From the center of massive hole in the clouds, a single figure dropped down, landing on a slagged rooftop. Blackfire grunted with frustration. A deep purple aura exploded around her as she blasted off, heading straight for him. Not wanting to be left behind, Trunks chased after, his own white aura cutting a streak through the shadows. She was too fast though, leaving him in the dust. It took him a long while to catch up.

Blackfire hovered above the smoldering building, glaring down at the man that stood there. Trunks came to a screeching halt next to her, his white aura dissipating in an instant.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed it was no mere man. His flesh was pallid, with thick black veins beneath the surface. His long hair fell in greasy curls, looking like he hadn't washed it in weeks. Both of his eyes were an insidious green, and seemed to be encrusted with a pussy amber ooze. He wore a black trench coat, ripped up and stained with a pair of tattered blue jeans and cowboy boots.

“Vengence,” Blackfire said, her voice thick with anger. “I knew you would show up.”

“Komand'r,” Vengeance said with a wide grin. Trunks watched him tilt his head to the side, as if he were listening to something. “Oooh, Iz'roth too. Two vessels defending this little rock? I'm surprised.”

Trunks saw a flicker of red light as Shana's flight came to a stop behind Vengeance. He saw her look to Blackfire, but the Saiyan didn't look back. Her eyes were practically boring holes into Vengeance. Trunks could feel her ki steadily rising as her anger swelled up.

Vengenace floated off of the rooftop, until he was level with Blackfire. He folded his arms. “You were a grave disappointment on Planet Vegeta. Let's not have a repeat, shall we?”

Trunks was knocked back by a pulse of power originating from the Saiyan. He caught himself on a cushion of ki, preventing his body from spiraling into the hellish Vora infested ruins below. Turning around, he he saw a pillar of golden light surrounding Blackfire. Her hair, shimmering with golden energy, was practically busting out of its pony tail as it tried to stand on end. Both of her amethyst irises had changed, now brimming with emerald energy.

The sheer size of her ki signature practically took Trunks's breath away. She was the warrior of legend, the Super Saiyan. She had been trying to teach him to ascend too, and he longed for the day he would reach that level too. Right now, he felt so helpless, so useless.

Run boy, the voice of Skoll, the God of Lightning resounded within his mind. Things are about to get dangerous.

---

WC: 1,097

“Blackfire is going to try and kill Vengeance before he gets a chance to leave his humanoid form,” Okibi's voice boomed as Trunks and Shana landed on a nearby rooftop. “He made a foolish mistake coming here in that suppressed form. He's vulnerable. This is her chance.”

Trunks saw the frustration etched on Shana's face. The young Vessel wanted to be of use, but up against an opponent like Vengeance, she would only get in the way. The same went from Trunks, but he was nowhere near their league. He folded his arms in front of his battle armor and watched the flashes of gold and purple light. Blackfire was delivering punishment, that was for sure.

Vengeance’s body was already covered with a checkerboard of thin lacerations. Blackfire's sword carved through his flesh with great ease. The Super Saiyan moved at an ungodly speed, flitting in and out of existence all around him. The two spectators weren't able be able to make out her movements, but each time her blade landed home the sky reverberated and clouds dispersed in all directions, letting them know where she was.

One final upwards slash sent Vengeance hurtling off towards the horizon. Blackfire vanished and re-appeared beneath him, using both of her legs to launch him into the thick black clouds instead. She sheathed her sword with her off-hand, and in a single swift motion brought her right hand forward, her palm flat.

From the center of her palm an amethyst bead of light bloomed and began to swell until it was a as big as a basketball. But, instead of making the orb grow larger, she continued pour energy into the little space, until the ball was super condensed and pulsating with a dull purple light. Vengeance began to fall back towards the ruined city and Blackfire took aim, unleashing her attack. The Big Bang Attack met its mark and the entire city was bathed in in ultra-violet light.

Trunks and Shana covered their eyes and hunkered down as the shock wave tore the building they were on to shreds beneath them. When the light and smoke cleared, the entirety of downtown West City was nothing more than a massive hole in the ground. They floated above it, staring down into the dusty murk. Blackfire appeared above the center of the crater, her sword drawn again, as she waited.

“He's dead,” Trunks said. It was more of hopeful statement, perhaps a question.

Shana's eyebrows narrowed as she focused on something. “Dammit. That wasn't enough.”

Like an alligator lunging out of the water at its prey, the true form of Vengeance emerged from the depths of the crater, maw opened wide. Trunks's eyes widened in both fear and amazement. Never before had he seen a Vora so massive. The beast would have dwarfed an army of Oozaru's, and Blackfire's golden veiled form was a mere shiny speck in comparison.

Blackfire's tucked her knees in and crossed her arms in front of her as Vengeance’s massive jaws enclosed around her, swallowing her whole.

Vengeance's gargantuan body was a few hundred feet in the air before gravity brought it back down. He landed several hundred yards away from the crater, on top of some already wobbly looking buildings. They crumpled into dust beneath the weight of his massive claws.

“What do we do?” Trunks said and balled both of his fists. “We can't just stand here while he digests Komand'r.”

“Patience,” Okibi said. “Komand'r and Skoll are fine. In fact, I think I know why Komand'r let him swallow her. She could have easily of dodged that.”

Trunks didn't really know how being swallowed whole by fifty story tall Vora would be a good idea, but there was nothing he could do about it. Shana seemed to be getting antsy, but Trunks was sure Okibi was holding her back from doing anything brash.

Trunks could feel Blackfire's ki signature growing. The growth of her power was so fast and so immense he knew something bad was about to happen. Rays of yellow light began to shine from the inside of Vengeance, coming out of his nostrils and from the gaps between his gnarled fangs. He began to shake his big head, as if he had an uncomfortable itch in his ear.

A massive torrent of golden ki and electricity erupted from the top of Vengenace's skull, barreling towards through the clouds and out into space. Trunks watched as most of the Vora's head dissolved away in the heat and pressure of the beam. It eradicated what would have been the beast’s upper skull and brain. Black blood poured out of its nose and mouth like a waterfall, washing over the rubble filled streets below.

Blackfire floated up out of the smoldering hole, brushing off some greenish black smile and goop covering her body. Her Super Saiyan aura faded, her hair and eyes returning to their normal color. Trunks felt her ki drop significantly. He was feeling very excited, that she had just killed Vengeance, one of the Vora's few commanders. But, he stifled his cheer. The Vora were full of surprises and he knew it was better to not assume things until you knew for sure.

Movement brought his eyes to the ground. An entire heard, hundreds—no thousands—of Vora, all of them barreling down the streets towards Vengeance's smoking corpse. They ran up his snout and began to dive into the hole in his head.

In a flicker of golden light, Blackfire turned into a Super Saiyan again. She began to pump her arms wildly, firing dozens upon dozens of ki blasts in rapid succession, trying to destroy to Vora before they reached Vengeance.

“Both of you, get your asses over here and help me!” Blackfire shouted.

---

WC: 978
TWC: 2,075

Trunks pumped his arms in rapid succession, unleashing a machine-gun torrent of ki blasts upon the horde of Vora below. Shana and Blackfire were doing the same, the three of them creating a rain of death and destruction that put the Air Force's bombing runs to shame. West City was already in shambles from the entry of the Vora and the subsequent destruction caused from Vengeance and Blackfire's duel. But after this, Trunks knew there would be little left to his home.

“They're breaking through!” Shana shouted through the rumbling of the explosions. She swiveled around, firing at a group of Vora who were bounding up Vengeance's corpse.

Blackfire let out a scream of frustration and brought both of her hands forward palms flat. Two shimmering blue orbs, double Big Bang Attacks appeared, and she launched them at the masses below. Trunks braced himself for the impact and covered his eyes from growing dome of light and fire. He was practically blown out of the sky from the force of the shock wave, but managed to steady himself and regain composure after it passed.

His arms sagged at his side and he was breathing heavy. Beads of sweat rolled down the side of his face. It was all he could do to keep flying at that point, as he had burned through too much ki, way too fast. Shana looked no better herself.

Blackfire, on the other hand, looked like she had barely scratched her reserves. Her brow was scrunched and her emerald eyes staring at the two pillars of smoke and debris rising into the air. She began to power up, her golden aura flaring all around her, causing more wind to batter Trunks. He just wanted to lie down for a little while. It would be nice if he could do that. Just a little nap.

The reemergence of the Vora snapped him back to reality very fast. The horde resumed their charge, breaking through the smoke and dust, making a bee-line for Vengeance once again.

“There's no way,” Trunks said, defeat lingering in his voice. Blackfire's ki was exploding like none other, but even in the presence of her great power, he was saddened. The Vora were nearly unstoppable. He had given it his all, and so had Shana, yet they hadn't even scratched their numbers, just slowed them down a bit.

“Did you think I would die that easily, Super Saiyan?” bellowed a baritone voice from behind, so loud that it reverberated within Trunks's chest. He turned to see Vengeance rising from the ashen battlefield, the massive hole in his was head gone, his flesh rewed once again.

Once he was on his feet, Vengeance swiped his massive claw, slapping Shana down as if she were nothing more than a pesky fly. The Vessel of Fire plummeted out of sight, landing somewhere on the other side of the city.

“Shana!” Blackfire shouted in dismay.

“Your attack, while gutsy, wouldn't have killed me anyway,” Vengeance said. “Within a few hours I would have fully regenerated. Those Vora just accelerated the process my sacrificing themselves. I am immortal, my young Vessel. Neither you, nor your gods can kill me.”

Trunks was worried about Shana. She hadn't risen yet and he could see the horde of Vora had taken a turn and were headed straight for her. His white aura enveloped him as he rocketed off towards her position. She had landed in what looked like a ruined parking lot, creating a large crater in the center. The burnt out remnants of cars surrounded her on all sides, most of them knocked on their sides, or lying on their roofs.

The God of Fire, Okibi, stood sentinel over Shana's tattered body. Vora lunged at her, only to be diced to crispy pieces by his flaming claws. Trunks came to a halt above her, priming ki into each hand. Vora started flooding in on all sides. Both Trunks and Okiki struggled to keep them back. For each of the beast the killed, it seemed two or three more took its place.

His rage reaching a peak, the God of Fire let out a bestial roar before shouting. “Up Trunks! Go up!”

Trunks followed his command, rising into the sky. Looking down he saw Okibi erupt like a volcano. A swirling mass of fiery ki spread out in all directions, blanketing the Earth, melting everything in its path. Hundreds of Vora were disintegrated in an instant, giving Shana and Okibi a brief respite. For a mile radius, on all sides, the cityscape had been reduced into what looked like thin layer of glossy black glass, streamers of smoke rising up into the atmosphere.

Trunks floated back down and landed next to Shana. She was conscious, lying back with her eyes closed tight and face drawn into a terrible grimace. He could see the bone sticking out of her leg, right above the knee, blood tricking out in a steady stream.

Okibi looked at Trunks, and for a moment Trunks saw fear in his crimson eyes. “Take her to safety,” he said. His tall fiery form flickered and dissipated as he returned to his host.

Trunks nodded and hoisted Shana up, letting her use his shoulder as a crutch. “I have a Senzu Bean, he said and started to reach for the little pouch on the inseam of his armor.

“No,” Shana said through gritted teeth. “Save it for Blackfire, or for yourself. I'll be fine.”

Trunks watched as she forced herself to float into the air, flying up. He followed after her, staying nearby in case she started to fall again. It was hard enough standing with a broken leg. Flying with one was no piece of cake. It was sickening to him how the leg dangled from her frame like a limp noodle. Trunks wanted to protest and tell her to sit down, but the sky was the safest place with the Vora crawling below.

Across the city, the sky darkened. Trunks saw bolts of electricity coursing through thick black clouds. In the center of the mass was a single golden ball of light., which he sensed was actually Blackfire. The ki she was putting out was like nothing Trunks had ever felt before.

“It's like she doesn't have a limit to her power,” Trunks said. “She just keeps on getting stronger.”

“She does have a limit,” Shana said. Her voice sounded sad and for the first time Trunks saw just how young and vulnerable she seemed. “She is mustering everything she can to fight Vengeance.”

“Do you think it will it be enough?”

“We'll just have to wait and see. For Earth's sake, I hope so," Shana said.

---

WC: 1,146
TWC: 3,221

The ki rushing through Blackfire's body was emerging at such a pace that she couldn't help but scream. Her limbs burned in pain as her muscles swelled beyond their natural size. It was both exhilarating and painful. She admittedly found herself reveling in it.

What are you doing? Skoll's voice, stern in manner, penetrated her sanctity of her mind. His voice was familiar, as he had been part of her as long as she could remember, always inside her head. In fact, she didn't even remember what it was like to have her mind to herself.

“I am going beyond a Super Saiyan,” Blackfire said aloud.

Remember when you discovered that form in Eden's Realm? You will be sacrificing speed for power. Are you sure you want to do that?

“It doesn't matter at this point,” Blacfire said. “I'm already much faster than he is. He is nearly indestructible. I need all the power I can get right now.”

“That is a pretty light show,” Vengeance called out. “You think I am going to stand around and let you achieve your full power?”

Blackfire looked down at his massive form bounding across the city, leaving behind a trail of desolation. His giant maw opened and he saw green light flickering at the back of his throat. Knowing what was coming, she vanished. An immense emerald wave of ki lit up the sky in the place she was once floating. She re-appeared a few hundred yards away, behind the jagged remnants of a skyscraper, watching the wave trail off into space.

“He's not going to let me transcend,” Blackfire said, her aura still blazing around her. “I need you to help.”

In a flash of azure light Skoll, the God of Lightning, appeared atop remnants of the building, sitting on his haunches. He was a massive lupine beast with spiky cobalt fur and bolts of electricity traveling up and down the length of his slender figure.

“Can you handle holding him off while I ascend?” Blackfire said.

Skoll's eyes, glowing blue white with power, narrowed at the challenge. “You might be powerful, but I have been fighting the Vora for eons.”


Skoll turned and bounded off the top of the skyscraper, landing among the rubble laden streets. Being the God of Lightning, his speed was nearly unrivaled. He ziz-zagged through the ruins, nothing more than a blue blur to the naked eye.

The Vora was searching for Blackfire, his large head swiveling back and forth, his massive claws crushing cars and two story buildings as he moved. Skoll passed beneath his large claw, as it came crashing down in the middle of the street, eventually sliding to a halt on on his left flank, in the parking lot of a large factory.

The Elemental God's mouth opened, blue energy coursing across his canines and creating a small orb in front of his snout. From the orb a giant bolt of lightning erupted forth, cutting a deadly arc across the sky. It slammed into Vengeance hindquarters, wracking the beast for a good ten seconds before the power resided. With a pained groan, Vengeance collapsed, his body convulsing from the remaining charge.

“Skoll!” Vengeance shouted as he lumbered to his feet once again. “How foolish of you to separate from your host. You will be mine now.”

Vengeance's tail cracked like a whip, breaking the sound barrier as it heading straight for Skoll. “Child's play,” the god said, and with a single leap, bounded over the tail, landing on the flat roof of a nearby department store.

The tail came whirling around, demolishing building after building, pushing a tsunami of rubble towards Lighting God's position. Skoll waited patiently for its approach and jumped again, ping-ponging off the moving debris until he landed on Vengeance's tail. He ran up the length of it onto his spine. Feeling Skoll there, Vengeance began to roll, attempting to buck him off. Not wanting to lose his position, the Lightning God dug his fangs in and held on. His long blue body flailed with each of Vengeance's movements, but his jaws were locked tight and not letting go.

“A mere pin prick,” Vengeance chided.

Skoll growled in frustration and let loose a discharge of lightning from his fangs, into Vengeance's thick hide. The behemoth Vora roared in agony as the volts coursed through his body, forcing spasms. Satisfied with with the damage, Skoll released his maw, dropping down. He landed atop of a car, crumpling the hood and roof with his paws.

“You might be tough. But, you will never be able to land a single hit on me,” Skoll said.

Vengeance let loose a deep throaty laughter that seemed to shake the entire city. “For a god, you sure are foolish.”

Vengeance's massive body began to deflate and distort, as if someone hooked a vacuum cleaner up to him and started sucking out all the air. Within moments he had compacted down to size relative to Skoll's. Satisfied, he bellowed with laughter. Although surprised with his outcome, Skoll offered no emotion, his eyes only narrowed into thin blue slits.

And the two were off, moving across the ruins of West City at inhuman speeds, kicking up great plumes of dust in their furlough. Their jaws clashed as they gnashed at each other. Pressing the attack, Skoll rolled and ducked beneath the heavy swings of Vengeance's thick tail, using the brief pause between strikes to make large chomps into the Vora's armored hide. In his compact form, Vengeance was still unable to match the God of Lightning's speed. But, it also seemed like Skoll's attacks were little effect against him, not even forcing a grunt of pain out of Vengeance.

Great, so he can change size? Blacfire said though their telepathic link. This transformation might be a bad choice after all.

No, keep powering up. He's more vulnerable when he shrinks and knowing your power he wont risk staying small. I'm not strong enough to destroy him in this form, but he is playing my game. This is what we want, at least until you can reach your full power.

“Pay attention!” Vengeance roared. His tail, for the first time, slammed into Skoll. The force of the impact was so great it caused the street to buckle and collapse, sending Skoll plummeting into a watery grave in the sewers below.

Jagged blue bolts of lightning shot back from the hole in the ground at Vengeance. The Vora used telekinesis to pick up a large slab of concrete, putting it in front of him. The bolts shattered the hunk into a thousand pieces, but gave Vengeance enough time to move aside. The God of Lightning emerged, rocketing through the air. He skidded to a stop behind Vengeance, growling in frustration. His cobalt fur was matted down with red blood, which flowed steadily from a large gash on top of his head.

“So, it looks like I was able to hit you after all,” Vengeance said. “What say you now Skoll?”

“A lucky shot,” Skoll grumbled.

“You looked distracted,” Vengeance said. “Hatching some plan with Komand'r? Not that it matters. I can sense her ki, you know. She is ascending past the level of a Super Saiyan.”

“You should be afraid then.”

“Actually, I welcome the challenge,” Vengeance said; his tail smashed large slab of concrete behind him. “I grow bored with your silly antics. You're not even putting forth a full effort against me, if you want my opinion. Where is the mighty Lightning God I heard of? Tell me, where is the one who would not bow to the Goddess?”

Skoll titled his head back and let loose a long howl, meeting Vengeance's challenge. “You wish to see my power, allow me to show you Rapture!”

Skoll, no! Blackfire said telepathically. Trunks and Shana are nearby and who knows if the Earth can handle that attack.

I don't know about you Komand'r, but I've had enough of this monster's antics. I am the God of Lightning and I will not be disrespected by the likes of this fool.

Now you're playing his game. Skoll. Listen to me. Just buy me a bit more time, I'm almost there.

It was too late. The God of Lightning had already summoned forth his greatest attack.

WC: 1,409
TWC: 4,630

Blackfire was on the precipice of transcending past the level of Super Saiyan, to a power much greater. Sure, it came with a sacrifice, as she would lose much her speed and mobility, but she knew it had the sort of power she needed to bring down Vengeance. Fist balled, she felt her muscles bulge, almost to a grotesque size. Her aura was rampant, bolts of golden electricity skipping across her body. Her emerald green pupils seemed to vanish as the power overwhelmed her. She let out a scream that would have put a banshee to shame. Below her, the ground shuddered buildings crumpled from the pulsating waves of ki emanating from her.

The stiffened strands of golden hair on her head began to expand with so much force that that they snapped the rubber band she had been using as a hair tie. Now free, the spikes of hair fanned out, forming a wild mane behind her head.

In the distance, Blackfire could see thick black clouds forming over the southern part of the city, where Skoll and Vengeance were currently engaging in battle. The clouds began to spread, rapidly, in all directions, until the entire city was bathed in shadows. Skoll had summoned forth Rapture, his most powerful technique. Despite the fear that was coursing through her, Blackfire continued to power up, just hopeful Skoll would hold back enough to not destroy the Earth with the attack.

Moments later, the bolts of lighting started to fall all around her. She had reached her full power, so decided to get a move on. Massive currents of blue-white electricity, some wider than entire buildings, tore up thethe city, cutting wide and deep trenches. They moved in a circular pattern, disintegrating everything in their path as they narrowed in on their target, Vengeance.

It was as if the heavens and earth were caught in a wrestling match. Giant pieces of the crust, hundreds of yards wide, started breaking way and floating into the air, buildings and all. The pressure of Skoll's ki pulverized floating hunks into thousands of little bits, which dispersed into the rolling clouds and buffeting winds.

Blackfire zigzagged as she flew up, dodging stray bolts of lightning. She broke through the thick layer of clouds. The condensed moisture built up inside of them soaked her clothes, but she kept pushing onward til she reached the upper atmosphere and was free of the death zone. Nearly reaching space, she came to a stop, turning around to gaze back down at the black layer. From her position she could see that it took up half of the continent. Blue flashes of light illuminated the clouds and she knew there more bolts making their way to the target. The epicenter was over West City, a twisted bulge in the clouds of flickering light and churning death.

She sought out Trunks and Shana, finding their ki signature somewhere over the large ocean west of the city. She sighed in relief, they were free of the destruction.

Just as quick as the storm clouds came, they receded, leaving behind an empty blue sky. Being so high up, she could only see a massive pillar of steam rising up from the gray speck of the city. She flew back down, her gold aura leaving behind a long trail. As she neared the ground, she could see the destruction was far worse than she had imagined it to be.

Other than a few scattered buildings and pieces of rubble around the edge of the crater, there was little to indicate a city once stood there. The hole in the crust was so deep that lava had bubbled through to the surface, and was spilling out into the sea—creating the cloud cloud of steam. She sensed Skoll's ki signature on a slab of rock protruding out over the crater and changed directions, flying down and landing beside him. The lupine god looked exhausted, but she could tell he was pleased with the destruction his attack had rendered. Her aura faded as she walked past him, looking down at the roiling lava.

“He's down there somewhere. I can feel his presence still,” Skoll said.

“Thank you for not destroying Earth,” Blackfire said.

Skoll grunted. “That form does not suit you Komand'r.”

Blackfire looked down at herself. Her clothes were still soaked form passing through the thick clouds, but it was her giant muscles that he was talking about. She shrugged, and then drew her sword, lowering into a fighting stance.

Skoll's ears perked up and he hunched forward. “He's coming.”

Blackfire's aura flared up around her once again as she prepared herself for battle. Vengeance, still in his compact form, burst forth from the lava, landing on the opposite edge of the crater. He shook himself off like a wet dog, globs of super-heated lava flinging in all directions. Blackfire grimaced, he looked unfazed. She had hoped Skoll's strongest technique would have done a little more damage.

Vengeance swelled back to his gargantuan size within seconds and let out challenging roar. “Is that all Skoll? Your ultimate attack, bah—I am sadly disappointed. ”

“We do this together,” Blackfire said. Skoll disappeared in flicker of azure light, merging with her once again..

The Host of Lightning hovered into the sky, pointing her blade at the massive Vora. She vanished and when she re-appeared behind the large beast, bringing the sword above her head. The blade was forged by Goddes sAlexstrasza and made of a mighty alloy that could cut through nearly all physical materials with ease.

As Blackfire brought the sword down on top of Vengenace's tail, it bit deep into his flesh, cutting through his thick nearly impenetrable hide. Black blood gushed out as she withdrew it, going for a second slash, a third, and a forth, until her arms were a blur. She was carving through his tail as fast as she could. Her body became drenched in his blood as it spurted everywhere. When she finally found bone she hear a loud pop and withdrew her sword.

The blade was nothing more than a useless stump now, and she could see remnant glinting through the thick black blood, it had become lodged in the bone.

What the hell is his skeleton made of? Blackfire thought.

I don't know, Skoll replied within her mind. But move it!

One of Vengeance's gigantic claws was headed straight for her. Blackfire dropped the now useless hilt of the sword and turned around facing the strike head on. Instead of dodging, as she normally would, she brought her hands and stopped the claw in mid-air, not even budging a millimeter when it made impact. She could feel Vengenace trying to push back, but he couldn't move her one bit, not with her ascended strength.

“Impressive, it seems you are much more powerful than Skoll. You might even be a real challenge,” Vengeance said as he continued to apply force against her. She could hear the strain in his voice.

Blackfire wrapped both of her beefy arms around one of his long fingers, and then with a single swift jerking motion, tore it out of the joint. Vengeance roared in pain, a fountain of black blood spraying out of the gaping wound. He stumbled back flailing his claw, his wounded tail flailing in all directions behind him, busting down the already charred remnants of a suburban district.

Blackfire next threw the finger into the air and brought her hand up, letting loose a massive blue wave of ki that incinerated it.

“I will destroy you one way or another monster,” Blackfire said. “Even if it means cutting you up into little pieces and disintegrating them one by one.”

WC: 1,282
TWC: 5,912

Trunks, with Shana riding piggy back, landed on the rim surrounding the immense crater. The gaping wound in the earth had once been West City. On the other side, lightning fell and thunder crashed. However, there was no storm, it was Blackfire in her Ascended Super Saiyan form, launching an all out offensive against Vengeance. Trunks set wounded the Vessel of Fire down softly. Shana's face twisted into grimace as she adjusted her broken leg so that there was no weight on it, balancing on one foot.

Looking to his right, Trunks could see where lave from the center of the crater, like puss out of a wound, had overflowed into the sea. The water had cooled the super-heated rock, forming a black wall of hardened obsidian, which served as a dam.

“Her ki is dwindling fast. She's using too much energy in that form,” Shana said, her voice strained.

Trunks saw her eyes moving back and forth as she followed the movements. He couldn't see a thing, so he checked his senses. A few minutes ago Blackfire's power had been beyond anything he had ever sensed before. Even though her power was growing faint, the Host of Lightning did not relent her assault.

“What will we do now?” Trunks said.

Shana's eyes set upon the bubbling lava below. While she shed no tears and displayed no emotion, suffering was evident in her eyes. “We'll have to retreat.”

Trunks balled his fists. “Retreat—to where? This is our home Shana!”

“We go to the next planet and regroup. Just like we have been doing.”

Anger began to swell up inside of Trunks, so much so that he felt his limbs trembling.

“Come on Komand'r! You can do it, don't give up!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. The fate of Earth was in her hands. She had to win.


Vengeance lumbered to his feet. Sure, Blackfire's last ki wave had created a good sized patch of blackened flesh, but it had not been enough to put him down. She roared in frustration, mustering what little ki she had left. She wasn't about to let him rise again, he would stay down for good. This time she flattened both of her palms in front of her. Ki rushied from her core, down the length of her arms and into her hands, forming golden beads of light in the center of her palms.

Two massive waves of ki erupted from her palms, combining into one, as they plummeted towards Vengeance. The gargantuan Vora bucked his head around, opening his maw wide. A torrent of emerald ki shot forth from the back of his throat, twice the size of her own. The two waves met halfway with a blinding flash of light and a loud crack of thunder. Their collision generated a massive shock wave that leveled the remnants of West City's suburbs for dozens of miles in all directions.

“Never!” Blacfire screamed as she pumped more power into her wave, pushing Vengeance's back.

The mighty Vora groaned, retaliating with a surge of ki so strong that Blackfire was nearly blown away. Peeking over the shining gold light emerging from her hands, she could see his wave was only a few feet away. Within moments she would be overcome, and most likely dead.

Skoll, lend me whatever you can, Blackfire said telepathically. I'm going to need it if I want to survive this.

With pleasure, Komand'r. Rapture drained most of my ki. But, I shall give you as much as I can muster, Skoll responded.

She felt a rush of power within her body. Her golden aura flickered a few times before turning electric blue as Skoll's power filled her. Her wave bulged, doubling in size as it ground Vengeance's back to the midway point.


It was everything Trunks could do to keep his balance in the whipping winds. He dug his boots deep into the soil. He couldn't see the two pillars of energy colliding, as light from their collision was so bright it nearly blinded him. However, he could see feel it. For a moment he had thought Blackfire to be a goner, but somehow she was still holding on.

The shock waves had begun to stir the lake of lava, sending giant waves that slapped and eroded away the rim.. Globs of super-heated rock rained down all around them, a few miniature drops hitting the exposed flesh of his cheek, searing him.

“Trunks!” Shana shouted, her voice was drowned out in the roaring sound of the two beams. He wasn't sure how Shana hadn't been blown away yet, standing on one foot. She held up one arm up in front of her face, squinting as she stared into the light. He walked over, standing beside her.

“You must lend me whatever ki you have left. I am going to save Blackfire.”

“I-I don't know how,” Trunks said. If he could, he would have kicked himself in the head. He still had so much to learn.

“It's easy,” Shana said. “Here, just don't resist, allow yourself to be open, like a stream.”

Shana's hand touched his forehead and he felt a strange sensation within the core of his being. Fatigue washed over him, but he didn't resist. She drained ki from him, bolstering her own and took nearly all of it. Within moments he felt his eyelids growing heavy, as if lead weights had been tied to them. Satisfied, Shana pulled her hand away. Trunks staggered forward, out of breath. His whole body ached and he felt dizzy, as if he had been fighting for hours.

“Now go Trunks, get out of here,” Shana said. “Get somewhere safe. I took way too much of your ki, but I'll be needing it.”

A crimson aura exploded around her as she blasted off, flying straight into the blinding light. Even though she had told him to leave, Trunks couldn't move. He had to stay, had to see this through, no matter what. Sure, he couldn't be much of a help against Vengeance, but he wasn't about to run away when his friends were going to their graves.


S-Skoll we've been through hell and back together. Thank you, for sticking through with me, Blackfire thought as her power began to slip. Vengeance's wave was moving back towards her. Skoll had lent as much energy as he could, but it hadn't been enough, they were doomed.

I have had many hosts in my day, but never before have any been as tenacious as you. It has a been an honor.

She could feel the heat, green light flooded her vision. She closed her eyes, but could not feel happy about her fate. She was a Saiyan and dying in battle was supposed to be the most glorious of ends. But, the fact that she had been bested by a Vora was unbearable.

She had been the Conclave's best hope, yet she had failed them. The thought of losing was worse than the thought of death. Shana and Trunks had depended on her to protect their world and they would have to watch it fall, as she had watched Vegeta. Seeing the demise of her home-world had left a hole in her heart that could never heal. She doubted either of the two would recover from the hole that was about to be punched into theirs.

Just as she was about to be engulfed, Vengeance's wave bucked hard to the right, streaking past her and into the sky. The hit was so close that it burned through part of her armor, and created swath of blisters across her arms and legs.

Had Vengeance pulled his death blow?

No, she felt another power, one far greater than she ever imagined. Shana, wreathed flames, appeared at her side, her great power fading almost immediately. Below, Vengeance was lying on his side, twitching. Half of his head was gone, flames still dancing all around him.

Blackfire realized that she was no longer a Super Saiyan. Her chest heaved as she gasped for air and she could barely keep herself afloat in sky. She had been a goner, but Shana had saved her this time. Shana had done so with a broken leg, at that. The Host of Lightning eyes dropped to gnarly wound, spotting the bone protruding out.

She swelled with pride for Shana—the young human had learned well. Sometimes, Shana fought with a fierceness that would have rivaled some of the best Saiyan warriors.

“Komand'r, we have to get out of here before he regenerates,” Shana said.

“Trunks, where is he, I can't sense him?” Blackfire said, her head snapping back and forth as she scanned the ruins below.

“You're tired, that's why, you can't focus your energy. Don't worry, I can feel him, he's still here. We have to get you out of here,” Shana said and hovered over, letting Blackfire use her as a rest.

The two made a very wobbly flight to the rim of the crater, where Trunks stood. The young Half-Saiyan was studying them both with a great concern.

“It's not over, is it?” Trunks said.

“No, he'll be awake soon,” Blackfire said as her feet touched the ground. It felt good to stand, she was so drained.

“Here,” Trunks said reaching into a pouch sewn into the inseam of his armor. He had a single Senzu Bean. He broke it in half, handing one piece to Shana and the other to Blackfire. The bean was very crunchy and very bitter tasting, but Blackfire was happy to feel its restorative magic weave its way through her body.

“Come, we will regroup at Kami's Lookout and decide our next move,” Blackfire said.

Shana and Trunks put their hands on her shoulder. She brought two fingers to her forehead and within a blink of the eye they were gone, vanishing into thin air.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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WC: 1,672
TWC: 7,584