Chereads / Dragon Ball Re:Birth / Chapter 20 - Return to Earth

Chapter 20 - Return to Earth

Pulling my ragged and worn body from the ground, I looked to the distant landing pad, smoke and fire raging across its form.

Slowly drawing myself from the ground, I flew to the landing pad, noticing many soldiers who had yet to escape.

Dropping to the ground with a thud, the more perceptive soldiers spotted me.

A large soldier shouted to his companions, "He's wounded, kill him!"

A swarm of enemies rushed toward me like a raging tide, however, a swift ki blast scattered them into lone warriors with ease.

The most ambitious of them continued, charging toward me without inhibition.

"You'll die for this!" the same large soldier from earlier yelled as he lunged at me.

Lunging toward me his punch slammed into my chest, unmoving, a quick slug to the face sends him careening into the facility.

As debris is scattered around me with each clash, I start to turn my attention to finding my ship.

After five minutes of the sparse assault, the attacks thin for a moment, and I spot my ship is smashed to bits, its form now reduced to little more than scrap metal.

"Fantastic..." I grumble to myself.

As I look for another ship, I spotted movement under a pile of debris.

A hand stretches out from the depths of the mounded rubble, clawing at the air in desperation.

Dropping to the ground next to the hand, I quickly lift the debris off of them.

Crawling out from under the debris and rubble, the man is covered in soot and light burns, before looking at me and thanking me, "I appreciate it man, those other guys had left me for dead."

As the man's gaze shifted to me, his expression changed, noting this I quickly demanded, "I need an operational ship, fairly certain mine was destroyed."

Putting his hands up, the man looked around for help, before responding, "Look man, I'm just a junior, I don't know where any more ships are."

Pointing my hand toward him a heavy breath falls over me, soon after a bright ki blast flares into existence in my hand, illuminating his face, "Don't lie to me."

Hesitant at first, he reluctantly agrees, taking a small ship to a nearby shipyard.

After an hour of calm flight, we arrive. The place is in disarray as mechanics are running amok, some choosing to fly away in their ships, while others are attempting to mend the situation.

Spotting a decent-looking ship, I approach it, turning to the man from before, asking, "Pilot this for me."

"I got a place to go to you know," he said quickly.

Pointing my hand toward him again he sighed as he approached the ship, flipping a hidden lever, "Get in," he said.

***

When I awoke, we had already arrived, I was laid in the capsule corp ship's bed and Syn was changing one of my bandages.

Noticing my awakening, Syn turned away, loudly saying, "He's awake."

Several figures came into view, notably the saibamen, with the previous chieftain looming above everything else.

Slowly my eyes adjusted, raising up in bed, Syn reprimanded me instantly, "Don't move too much!"

"Was I asleep for a long time?" I asked.

Syn half-shakes his head, "You've been asleep for two days."

Grabbing a nearby glass of water, I drink it all before responding, "That's good, I should be fine by the time we reach Earth."

As I hopped up out of bed, Syn carefully helped me, "At least let me give you some painkillers first."

"I don't need them," I retorted.

The saibamen and moginaians look on in awe, Syn commenting, "It didn't dawn on me how many scars you truly had."

Looking in a nearby mirror, I realized his comment was warranted, I had far more than before my fight, it seems my beating had given me new trophies.

Shrugging, I toss my shirt over my shoulder, stepping outside I'm shocked to see a proper village and a flourishing farm.

"How did you manage this in four months?" I asked.

Walking up next to me, Syn explained, "There are a lot of Moginaians and they actually learn quicker than you'd think."

"Think they'll manage on their own?" I asked.

Nodding, he quickly responded, "We'll probably just hinder their growth if we stay at this point."

That's good to hear, I thought to myself.

"Think you can assemble them all one final time?"

Looking at me, Syn is confused, "Sure, but why?"

"You'll see," I said in confidence.

Quickly, Syn gathered the entire village in front of us, eagerly they waited for our commands.

"Hey Mango," I announced, "Come here."

Obediently, Mango stood in front of me.

"Let's fight to see who should become chieftain," after a short moment, my scouter translated for me, and a look of shock was smeared across his face.

However, my expectations were subverted, and Mango politely refused.

"Syn taught us, leader must be smart," Mango explained.

Amazing, for them to come this far after just four months... I thought to myself.

"Well, my doubts are gone now," I said as I turned and walked back to the capsule corp ship.

Throwing my arm up, I wave, "Sorry to waste your time, it was an insult to you."

Syn quickly approached, asking, "When are we leaving?"

Thinking for a moment, I eventually respond, "Right now."

Shocked Syn quickly asks, "Why!"

"Oh, do you have stuff in the village?"

A bit taken aback, Syn explained, "No, I just figured you would want to rest a bit more."

"I'll rest on the trip to Earth," I retorted.

"Well, if you say so..."

After a year, we finally set off toward Earth in a week-long trip, of which I was essentially forced to rest since Syn wouldn't let me use the gravity equipment, which made the trip feel that much longer.

As quickly as it came, it left, and within no time a week had passed as we had begun to land.

The ship soon touched down, outside several strong powers swirled about, and anticipation swelled.

The hatch opened and in front of me stood many familiar faces once more.

As I walked down the ramp, I noticed Tien and Goku arriving.

"It's been a while Adder!" Goku said in a chipper tone.

Syn uncomfortably stood behind me, glancing back, I stepped to the left, "This is Syn, he's a friend of mine."

Nervously, Syn waved, saying, "Nice to meet you all..."

Bulma walked out from the capsule corp building with her father, holding Bra in her arms, Yamcha close by.

Scratching my head, I let out a sigh, "So, how's everyone been?"

Tien quickly spoke, "We thought you died, but after we were revived we didn't know what to think."

Cutting in, Yamcha spoke, "What took you so long to get back to Earth?" Finishing with a smirk.

"I had shi-" stopping myself since a kid was around, I quickly reiterated, "I had things to tend to."

A slight chuckle washed over the Z-fighters, and soon Piccolo asked, "You certainly have been busy, last I remember your power was exceptional, but I can hardly sense an end to your it now."

Laughing to myself, I scratched the back of my head before responding, "I've been through my fair share of challenges."

Krillin commented shortly after, "I'll say, even Goku's energy isn't like that."

Suddenly crashing down next to the Z-fighters, a wave of force shocked the air, Raditz looked on in shock, quickly asking, "You're alive?"

Shocked by Raditz's presence, the Z-fighters immediately assumed a fighting stance.

Yamcha and Goku took the forefront, Yamcha quickly asked, "What are you doing back here Raditz"

"I'm not here to fight," chuckling to himself, Raditz remarked, "Unless you want to make it a fight."

"We're ready anytime," Goku exclaimed.

Smirking, Raditz charged his energy, its weight brimming through his body, "Feel free anytime."

How the hell do I calm them down, I thought to myself.

Quickly focusing my energy, I unleash a kaioken times 10, the resulting pressure pushing everyone back and leaving them in shock.

Releasing the power, Raditz and the Z-fighters alike have their attention drawn to me.

"I can explain, just don't fight," I demanded.

Soon calming down, I'm given a chance to explain everything, spending the next few minutes breaking it down.

Raditz is shocked, asking, "You took out all three of them!"

"It wasn't easy and I got a lot of shiny new scars because of it, but yeah," I concluded.

Yamcha remarked as he glared at Raditz, "Whenever Raditz appeared back here on Earth, we assumed the worst, especially since he wouldn't tell us what happened."

Looking at Raditz, I chide him, "The hell man, you could've said something."

"It's not like they would've listened, they weren't too keen on listening to me," Raditz retorted.

Letting out a long sigh, I notice Goku is fixated on me.

Looking at Goku, I approach him, slinging my arm over his shoulder, "What's up with you man?"

"I've been thinking about that power you displayed earlier, I haven't mastered kaioken to that point yet, it gets me pumped," Goku remarked.

So that's what it is, Goku was always like that, I thought to myself.

Pausing for a moment, I ask, "Wanna spar?"

"I'm itching for a good fight, bring it on!" Goku excitedly exclaimed.

Looking around for a moment, I soon ask, "Got any place that's safe?"

Bulma interjects from behind, "If you want you can use a large area on the back of the property."

A bit startled by her sudden presence, I quickly respond, "I appreciate it."

As we walked to the back, the remaining hostility for the most part faded away, the crowd gradually moving with us.

Soon arriving, I found a large grassy field, with various amenities scattered throughout.

"Her yard is really well kept," I commented as I walked.

Goku stretches as he walks to the opposing side, saying, "I can't wait to see what you've learned."

Yawning, I quickly rub my eyes, slapping myself in the face.

Focusing on Goku, I snappily say, "Ready whenever."

Zipping across the yard, Goku throws out three kicks in quick succession, each aiming at a vital.

"Playing for keeps are we!" I squeak out, throwing a kick at Goku, who quickly blocks my attack with a knee.

Knocked backward, Goku spins midair, hurling a ki blast at me.

Reaching forward the ki blast smashes into my palm, some of it being absorbed.

"Whoa, how'd you do that!" Goku exclaims as he lands on the ground.

Lunging toward Goku I fire off several quick jabs, clipping him in the chin with one of them, shaking his knees.

Spinning toward him I plant a kick into his chest, sending him flying backward into a tumbling roll.

Rolling into a standing position, Goku surges toward me like a stream, crashing into me like a river.

Blow after blow Goku slows slightly, his moves growing clearer. Ducking a punch, I shoulder-check him, sending him backward before rushing toward him with a point-blank ki blast to the face.

Blinded, Goku instantly flips backward, narrowly dodging a grapple.

Pointing forward, a kiai zips toward him, tagging him in the sternum and forcing him to open his guard.

Kicking forward I drill him in the stomach with a knee, knocking him upward before firing a beam at him.

Slipping past the beam Goku races down toward me, his right eye still watering.

Refocusing, I fly upward toward him, throwing a left hook at him, catching him in the face from his blind spot.

Tumbling through the air Goku recenters himself as I fly toward him, groaning as he catches his breath.

Putting his arms to his side, Goku yells, "Kaioken times 5!"

A reddish hue consumes his aura, racing toward me with a roundhouse kick to the chest, sending me flying backward further into the air.

Goku races toward me, punching me further upward, before flying up over me, swiveling to below me, and thrusting his feet into the square of my back, launching me even higher.

Kaioken sucks to fight! I thought to myself, suddenly spotting Goku above me.

"Kaioken times 6!" Goku yells as he hook-kicks me in the head, sending me plummeting toward the ground.

Smashing into the ground, a plume of dust and rubble is thrown sky-high.

The Z-fighters quickly fire blasts to destroy the rubble, stopping any wanton destruction.

Dropping to the ground Kaioken's energy leaves Goku's body, evaporating with a puff of steam.

"Adder?" Krillin asked concerningly.

A force blows away the steam, an unstable white steam-like aura enveloping my body, and a prickly aura coating my fists.

"'Preciate the attacks, using this transformation is a real pain," I jeered, rotating my shoulder in a stretch as I said, "Can you do that again?"

Grinning, Goku's excitement is smeared across his face, "You can count on it!"