The icy wind swirled around the mountaintop as Mark sat before me, legs crossed and fists clenched. He didn't know what he was getting into, not yet. Teaching someone like him was going to be an exercise in patience. I wasn't exactly known for that. But for some reason, I saw potential in him. He kinda reminded me of Gohan and the great saiyaman. it had been a week and it was time for the first lesson.
"Alright, kid," I said, leaning forward slightly. "Lesson one. You don't know shit."
Mark blinked, his face scrunching up in confusion. "Uh… what?"
"You heard me." I stood up and cracked my neck, my tail flicking behind me as I walked a few paces away. "You've been fighting like a brick with fists. Viltrumites are strong, sure, but strength doesn't mean anything if you don't know how to use it."
"Okay…" He was still trying to keep up. "So, what do I do about that?"
I turned back to him, crossing my arms. "First, I'm gonna show you what you're missing. Then, I'll teach you how to stop sucking so much."
"Great," he muttered under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "This already sounds promising."
I grinned, unable to resist the smirk tugging at my lips. "Trust me, you'll thank me later. Or maybe not. Either way, get up."
Mark scrambled to his feet, brushing snow off his suit. He still had that boyish determination, the kind that made you root for him even when he had no chance. I liked that about him, even if it made him frustratingly naive.
"Alright," I said, raising my hand. "I'm gonna show you something. Don't freak out."
Before he could ask what I meant, I reached out with a tiny, and I mean tiny, sliver of my ki. I let it flow into him, just enough for him to feel the energy, to understand what he was missing. His reaction was immediate.
Mark's eyes went wide, and he staggered back, clutching his chest. "What the—?!" His voice trembled, but he didn't seem scared, just… overwhelmed.
"That," I said, watching him carefully, "is ki. It's in you, but you've never tapped into it. Viltrumites rely on brute strength, but this? This is something they don't have. You learn to use it, and you'll start closing that gap."
He stared at me, his breathing uneven as the energy surged through him. "This… this is insane. It feels like I just drank a dozen energy drinks."
I chuckled. "Yeah, it'll do that since I'm so much stronger. Don't get used to it, though. That's not your power. That's me giving you a taste of what's possible. You've gotta find your own."
"How?" His voice was shaky.
I tilted my head, considering. "Well, I was taught by some of the best teachers in a different universe. They didn't go easy on me, and I won't go easy on you. You're gonna learn the basics first, how to breathe, how to move, how to stop being a walking punching bag."
Mark's expression shifted to something like disbelief. "Breathing? Seriously?"
"Don't underestimate it," I said, my tone sharp. "Your body's tough and your stamina is good because of your race. If you don't learn how to control your breathing, you won't be able to bring out all your strength. Trust me, I've seen it happen."
He nodded slowly, still trying to process everything. "Alright. What's next?"
I grinned, dropping into a Muay Thai stance. "Next, you're gonna hit me. Try not to embarrass yourself too much."
Mark hesitated, his fists clenching at his sides. "You sure? I mean, I don't think I can—"
"Just hit me," I interrupted, holding out my hand. "Right here. Give it everything you've got."
He sighed, clearly not convinced, but he stepped forward and threw a punch. I caught it with my pinky finger, barely moving as his fist connected with my hand. The look on his face was priceless.
"That… didn't work," he muttered, staring at his fist.
"Nope," I said, smirking. "Try again."
He threw another punch, then another, each one harder than the last. I blocked them all with minimal effort, barely even shifting my stance. After a few minutes, he was panting, his breath fogging in the cold air.
"See what I mean?" I said, lowering my hand. "You've just throwing wildly no skill, no stance. If you want to stand a chance against someone like me, or any of the Viltrumites, you've gotta learn how to fight like a fighter, not like you are in a street brawl."
"Alright. So, how do I do that?"
I stepped back, motioning for him to follow. "We start with footwork. Your punches don't mean shit if you can't put all your weight behind it properly. Watch me."
I moved slowly at first, demonstrating how to shift my weight, and how to keep my balance even on uneven ground and even in the air. Mark watched intently, then tried to mimic my movements. He stumbled a few times, but he kept at it, his determination shining through.
"Not bad," I said after a while. "You're clumsy, but at least you're trying. Keep practicing that, and you might actually start to look like a fighter."
He shot me a glare, but there was a hint of a smile in his eyes. "Thanks, I guess."
As we continued, I couldn't help but notice the faint traces of ki starting to flicker around him. It wasn't much, just a spark, but it was there. The kid had potential, even if he didn't realize it yet.
Suddenly, my focus shifted. Far off in the distance, I felt something, a cluster of power levels. I straightened, my senses sharpening as I counted them. Twelve. All Viltrumites.
Mark noticed my change in demeanor and stopped moving. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
I glanced at him, my expression serious. "We've got company. A whole squad of Viltrumites headed this way."
His eyes widened. "What? How many?"
"Twelve," I said, cracking my knuckles. "Looks like your father's little empire's sending reinforcements. Guess they weren't too happy about what happened to your dad."
Mark swallowed hard, his fists clenching. "Can we handle them?"
I smirked, my Saiyan blood surging with anticipation. "Handle them? Kid, this is gonna be fun."
The cold wind rushed past as I stood at the edge of the snowy peak, staring into the distance where those faint power levels were coming from. They weren't close yet, but I could feel them getting closer, their speed increasing as they honed in on Earth. I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face.
"Mark," I said, not turning to look at him as he stood behind me, catching his breath from the training session. "We've got work to do."
His face looked more focused slightly. "Twelve? That's… that's a lot. Can we—"
I cut him off with a sharp glance. "I can handle them. The question is, can you handle yourself?"
His fists clenched at his sides. "I… I don't know. My dad was already way out of my league but this is my home and I'm not letting them harm earth."
"Good," I said, stepping closer and tapping him on the chest with two fingers. "This is your chance to learn. I'll deal with the strongest ones but you're going to take on one of the weaker ones. You're stronger than you think Mark and with time you will only get stronger, and Now that you started to learn ki maybe one day you might be able to give me a proper fight. but be ready to kill Mark."
Turning away and kicking off the ground. My aura flared around me as I shot into the sky, the snow swirling in my wake. "Because they won't hesitate to kill you."
I didn't wait to see if he followed. I knew he would, eventually. The kid was scared, but he wasn't a coward. He had a good heart, annoyingly so, but I needed him to understand the reality of what we were about to face.
As I soared higher, Mark finally caught up. He didn't have an aura like mine but it would be interesting to see one day.
"What's the plan?" he asked, shouting over the wind.
I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. "The plan is simple. I beat the hell out of them, you take out one, and we leave one alive to take me to their planet."
The closer we got, I could feel their arrogance radiating even from this distance. They had no idea who they were flying toward. This wasn't going to be a challenge, not for me, but it would be fun.
Finally, I spotted them in the distance. A cluster of figures hovered in the upper atmosphere. They weren't spread out, keeping close as they approached Earth. At the center were Conquest and Anissa.
Mark saw them too, and I felt his hesitation. "That's… a lot of them."
"Good," I said, smirking. "More for me."
As we closed the distance, the Viltrumites noticed us. Their movements slowed, and I could see them sizing us up, their postures shifting to one of confidence. Conquest, the old bastard with a scarred face and a white mustache was the first to step forward. His voice was deep as it reached us.
"An unknown alien," he said, his eyes narrowing as he focused on me. "And the son of Nolan. This is interesting."
"You have no idea," I said, crossing my arms as my aura crackled faintly around me. "I'm guessing you're here for revenge? To take Earth in his place?"
Conquest's grin was wide and toothy, his arrogance palpable. "Something like that. But you… we've never seen anything like you. Tell me, what planet are you from?"
I let out a sharp laugh. "Nice try. But I'm not here to negotiate. I'm here to put you in the ground."
His grin faltered for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "You're confident. That's good. I like a challenge."
"Oh, you'll get one," I said, cracking my knuckles. "Just not the kind you're expecting."
Anissa stepped forward, her eyes scanning me carefully. "You're not Viltrumite. what are you."
"Smart girl," I said, my grin widening. "But I won't help figure that out yet."
The rest of the group began to fan out, their confidence evident in the way they moved. They weren't taking me seriously, not yet. That would change soon enough.
"Mark," I said without looking at him. "Take the weakest one. And don't hold back."
That seemed to light a fire under him. He took a deep breath, then shot toward one of the Viltrumites on the edge of the group, a younger one who clearly wasn't as experienced but then again this was a Viltrumite so that really didn't mean much. but from what I could sense he could handle that one.
As for me, I turned my attention back to Conquest and Anissa. The rest of their lackeys started moving toward me, but I didn't bother reacting yet. Let them think they had the upper hand. Let them try.
"Alright," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "Let's see what you've got."
The moment I cracked my knuckles, their faces twisted into a mix of confidence and curiosity. They thought they had me figured out. Eleven Viltrumites, strong and proud, against one alien they'd never seen before. They thought they could overwhelm me with their numbers.
Big mistake.
I floated forward as I moved closer to them. My arms were loose, my body relaxed, but my eyes? My eyes were locked onto them.
"Alright," I said, my voice low but clear, carrying easily through the thin air. "Who's first? cause I'd prefer it if you all came at me at once."
One of the younger Viltrumites, a cocky-looking guy with a smug grin plastered on his face, shot forward. He didn't hesitate, didn't think, he just went straight for me with a wild punch aimed at my head.
I didn't even flinch.
His fist connected with my cheek. I didn't budge an inch, my head unmoving as his knuckles slammed into me. The sound was more like a dull thud than the sharp crack he'd been hoping for. His confidence faltered as his hand trembled, pain radiating up his arm.
"That all you've got?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He growled, clearly frustrated, and tried again, throwing a flurry of punches. I didn't even bother dodging. Each hit landed harmlessly against me.
Finally, he stepped back, panting, his hands shaking from the strain. His confidence had cracked, replaced by confusion and frustration.
"Let me guess," I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "You thought that'd work because you're a Viltrumite? Because you've never faced someone who could take a hit like that and not even blink?"
He didn't answer, but the glare in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. I sighed, shaking my head. "Alright, kid. My turn."
Before he could react, I closed the distance between us in an instant. I didn't even use my full speed, no point in ending this too quickly. My fist collided with his stomach, and the air exploded from his lungs in a choked gasp. He doubled over, eyes wide, and I grabbed him by the collar of his suit, lifting him.
"You should've stayed on your planet," I said flatly before slamming him into the ground below. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the area, the trees swaying. He didn't get back up.
"One down," I muttered, turning back to the others.
The rest of the group wasn't smiling anymore. They exchanged glances, clearly reassessing their approach. Conquest's eyes narrowed, his scarred face twisting into a scowl.
"Enough games," he barked. "Everyone, attack at once!"
"Finally," I said smugly.
The group surged toward me. I let them come, waiting until the last second before moving. The first one swung at me, aiming for my ribs, but I caught his fist with my pinky finger, holding him in place. His eyes widened in disbelief as I smirked.
"Really?" I said, twisting his arm and sending him flying into two of his comrades. The three of them tumbled through the air like bowling pins, their momentum carrying them far out of the fight for a moment.
Another Viltrumite came at me from behind, trying to catch me off guard. I didn't even look, spinning on my heel and slamming my elbow into his face. His nose shattered with a sickening crunch, blood spraying as he crumpled to the ground.
"Two," I said, glancing at the others.
Anissa stayed back. She was sizing me up, watching how I moved. Smart.
Another pair of Viltrumites rushed me from opposite sides. I sighed, stepping back just enough to let their punches miss. They collided with each other instead, their heads slamming together with a loud thud.
"Three and four," I said with a smirk. "You guys really need to work on your teamwork."
One of the stronger Viltrumites, a bulky guy with a shaved head, growled and charged at me. He was faster than the others, his punches carrying more weight behind them.
"You done yet?" I asked.
He roared in frustration, throwing one last punch with everything he had. I caught it easily, holding his fist in my palm. "My turn," I said, driving my knee into his chest. The impact sent him flying backward, crashing into a mountainside with enough force to leave a crater.
"Five," I said, brushing off my hands.
The rest of the group hesitated now, their confidence shaken. Conquest growled, clearly irritated. "You cowards!" he snapped. "She's just one person!"
"One person," I echoed, cracking my neck. "But way out of your league."
Another Viltrumite tried to blindside me, coming in fast with a flying kick. I caught her ankle mid-air, spinning her around before tossing her into another one of her allies. The two of them collided, their bodies bouncing off the ground like ragdolls. As I followed up with a ki blast.
"Six and seven," I said.
Anissa finally moved, she came at me with a series of strikes. I blocked her attacks.
"You're better than the rest," I admitted, deflecting a punch aimed at my jaw. "But not good enough."
She didn't respond, She aimed a kick at my ribs, and I caught her leg, twisting her off balance. Before she could recover, I grabbed her by the collar and slammed her into the ground, hard enough to daze her.
"Eight," I said, stepping back as she struggled to her feet. "You're not bad, Anissa. But you're out of your depth."
Conquest snarled, finally stepping in himself. "Enough of this!" he roared as he charged me.
I grinned, bracing myself. "Alright, old man. Let's see what you've got." As we fought, I couldn't help but notice the arrival of Earth's remaining heroes. They came in groups, their brightly colored costumes almost laughable. I recognized some of them from the comics I used to read, Eve, Black Samson, and even Cecil Stedman's contingency of soldiers, all scrambling to lend their aid. But their presence only made me sigh.
"This isn't your fight," I muttered under my breath, watching them scramble to assist Mark. He was holding his own, but barely. He didn't have the strength to end it.
Eve hovered in the air, throwing energy constructs to distract the Viltrumites. Black Samson tried to move in with his powered suit, his attacks were pitifully weak in comparison to these warriors. And those soldiers? They were barely cannon fodder. I almost felt bad for them.
The Viltrumites, of course, didn't care. They laughed as they swatted the heroes aside like insects. One soldier was caught mid-air by a Viltrumite's crushing grip, his scream cut short by the sound of bones snapping. Another hero, a man in a sleek, silver suit I didn't recognize, rushed in, only to be impaled through the chest by a Viltrumite's bare hand. Blood sprayed like a fountain.
"Idiots," I muttered, shaking my head. "You're just getting in the way."
Mark, clearly struggling, turned his head toward me, desperation etched into his features. "They're trying to help!" he yelled, blocking a punch that sent him skidding backward.
"Help?" I repeated, my voice dripping with disdain. "They're just adding bodies to the pile."
With a heavy sigh, I turned my attention back to my fight. Conquest came at me, his fists clenched and his teeth bared in a snarl. I waited until he was almost on me before sidestepping, grabbing his wrist, and twisting it with a sickening crack. He howled in pain, but I didn't give him the chance to recover. My free hand glowed with ki as I thrust it forward, piercing straight through his chest. His eyes widened, blood pouring from his mouth as he crumpled to the ground.
"Time to end this," I muttered, already turning to face the next.
I leaped into the air, dodging their coordinated attack. As I flipped, I charged a Rebellion Spear in my hand. I hurled it downward, impaling a Viltrumite through the skull. His body jerked violently before falling limp, crashing into the snow with a dull thud.
"You're not like those other races," she said finally, as she got up off the ground. holding her broken arm.
"No, I'm not," I replied, stepping closer to her. "And you're lucky I still need you alive."
Her eyes narrowed. "Why?"
I didn't answer, letting my silence speak for itself. She didn't move as I turned to Mark, who was still catching his breath after his fight.
"Finish him," I said, nodding toward the subdued Viltrumite.
Mark hesitated, his eyes darting between me and his unconscious opponent. "I… I can't."
"Then you risk them coming back with more men," I said bluntly. The battlefield was quiet now, save for the low hum of the aftermath. Blood soaked the ground, and bodies of Viltrumites lay strewn around. The heroes, what was left of them, hovered nearby, watching me. Mark was still catching his breath, standing over the unconscious Viltrumite he'd fought. His hands trembled, but whether it was from exhaustion or something deeper, I couldn't tell.
I walked over to the fallen Viltrumite. My aura flickered faintly, the faint green glow, I know I was being extra but why not?
Eve floated closer, her face a mix of anger and desperation. "There has to be another way. We don't just… kill people."
"we?" I shot back, glaring at her. "You're not fighting bank robbers or petty criminals."
She opened her mouth to argue, but I turned away and I looked at Mark again. "You wanted to protect this planet, didn't you? To be strong enough to make a difference? Well, this is part of it. You don't get to play hero without getting your hands dirty."
Mark's face was pale, his hands shaking as he stared down at the unconscious Viltrumite. He didn't move.
"Fine," I muttered. Without another word, I raised my hand and charged a small, concentrated Shredding Shot. The ki blast hummed softly before I fired it point-blank into the Viltrumite's skull. His head exploded in a spray of blood and bone, staining the snow beneath him.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Eve gasped, covering her mouth as she floated backward. Samson shook his head, his face grim. Even the soldiers who had been watching from a distance seemed rattled. Mark… Mark just stared.
"You didn't have to do that," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes, I did," I replied, turning to face him. "And so did you. But you weren't ready."
He looked at me, his eyes burning with something between anger and sorrow. "Is this what strength looks like to you? Killing people who can't fight back?"
"This isn't about strength," I said, crossing my arms. "It's about being realistic. If you think letting people like him live is mercy, you're wrong. It's stupidity. And it'll cost you everything if you don't figure that out."
Mark didn't say anything, his gaze dropping to the ground. Eve floated down beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to listen to her," she said softly. "You're better than this."
"Better?" I echoed, shaking my head. "Better doesn't mean alive, little girl. It just means you're the first one to die when things get ugly. But don't worry your virtues were still intact when you die"
I turned my attention to Anissa, who had been watching everything unfold in silence.
"You're going to take me to your planet," I told her, my tone leaving no room for argument. "I'll make sure the Viltrumites never set foot on this planet again," I said, glancing back at Mark. "But you're on your own from now on. You've got a lot to learn, kid, and not a lot of time to learn it. If you want to survive, what's to come."
Mark didn't respond, his eyes still locked on the ground. Samson stepped forward, his expression hard but understanding.
"She's right," he said, his voice low. "I don't like it either, but some threats don't leave you with a choice."
Eve looked at him in disbelief. "Samson—"
"He's got to grow up, Eve," Samson said, cutting her off. "We all do. This isn't about what's fair or right. It's about what's necessary to keep our planet safe."
I turned to Anissa, motioning for her to follow me. "Let's go."
She hesitated for a moment before nodding, lifting off the ground, and floating beside me. I didn't look back as we took off into the sky, leaving the heroes and their messy moral dilemmas behind. The wind rushed past us as we ascended, the air growing thinner and colder.