"I can see your defensive stance, but my interest is straightforward. I require a separate space for some experimental purposes," Orach clarified.
"Experiments? What kind of tests would warrant a visit to such a place? Tartarus is a prison, Orach, filled with extremely dangerous entities!" Diana exclaimed, confusion and concern etched on her face.
"Huh??? Diana, these creatures pose no threat to me," Orach replied, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"Orach, I understand you are powerful, possibly one of the strongest beings in this realm, but you must not be overconfident!" Diana warned sternly, her concern for him evident in her voice.
"…It seems I need to show you what I intend to test." Orach's gaze softened as he looked at Diana. He could see the worry in her eyes, feel her concern for him. She truly cared. Since being forced to come here, Diana had been the most welcoming presence, the most comforting aspect of this unfamiliar world. He was undeniably attracted to her, but he was treading carefully, trying to understand if this was more than just an attraction caused by their shared divine energy.
"Bruce, may we use your garden? I would like to demonstrate something to Diana...actually, it will be beneficial for all of you to witness. Yes, you too, Clark!" Orach addressed everyone. He had noticed that Clark had awakened during his conversation with Diana and had been quietly listening.
Intrigued, Bruce agreed, and they all made their way to the garden. On their way, Orach explained more about the Saiyans.
"Saiyans are one of the most feared races throughout the realms. The reason being, we don't have caps on our potential. As long as we work hard and push our limits, we can continuously grow stronger," Orach declared with a loud, resounding voice that echoed throughout the area.
Victor, who had been listening intently, couldn't hide his disbelief. He had heard of powerful beings, of races with incredible abilities, but this was beyond anything he had ever encountered. The idea of a race with no cap on their growth potential, a race that could become stronger indefinitely, was mind-boggling to him.
"No caps? How is this possible?" Victor blurted out, his voice filled with doubt and fascination. The concept was alien to him, a violation of the natural order as he knew it. Yet, the certainty in Orach's voice, the confidence with which he spoke, made Victor question everything he thought he knew about power and potential.
"Orach, why do we need to be in the garden for this explanation?" The Flash inquired, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"Because what I am about to demonstrate might frighten you and could potentially harm you unintentionally," Orach responded, his words shocking everyone. However, after a moment of silence, a sense of anticipation and excitement filled the air.
"Now listen, as I said, we Saiyans grow stronger as long as we have the drive to do so. We can tap into the depth of our strength by transforming into something greater," Orach continued, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
"Transforming into something greater?" Clark finally broke his silence, his voice tinged with intrigue.
At this point, Orach used his left hand to remove his scouter from his left ear.
Orach paused, his gaze fixed intently on Diana. "Diana, please, remain still for a moment," he requested, his tone gentle yet firm. Diana looked at him, puzzled by his sudden request, but as he extended his hand that held the small device - the scouter that he constantly wore on his left ear - toward her, she understood. He wanted her to wear it.
Diana didn't object. In fact, she was intrigued by this foreign piece of technology, curious about what it might reveal. Moreover, this gesture from Orach was a clear sign of his trust in her, and this realization brought a warm smile to her face. As Orach carefully adjusted the scouter on her ear, a strange sensation washed over him. Seeing Diana wearing the scouter, her lithe, muscular form accentuated even further by the device, she seemed to resemble a Saiyan woman, and this sight left him momentarily stunned. His mind began to wander, creating vivid images of Diana clad in various Saiyan armors - the lightweight stealth armor of his vice-captain and big sister Frisee, the elegant armor worn by his mother, or the battle-hardened armor of his father's squad mate, Tessura. These images set his heart pounding in a rhythm he had never felt before, and for the first time, a distinct glint of desire sparkled in his eyes.
This change in Orach did not escape Diana. She was taken aback initially, as Orach had never shown any explicit desire for her until now. But soon, she pieced together the puzzle. The appearance of the scouter on her face must have triggered something in Orach, perhaps making her resemble a Saiyan woman, and that had unleashed this dormant desire within him. As these thoughts swirled in her mind, her attention was drawn to the screen of the scouter. She couldn't understand the alien words that flashed on the screen, but the target ring that appeared, aimed at Orach's heart, and the rapidly rising numbers that accompanied it, painted a clear picture - Orach's heart rate was skyrocketing. Connecting the dots, Diana understood that the sight of her had sparked an arousal in Orach, a realization that sent a strange thrill coursing through her. Despite feeling like she was under the intense scrutiny of a beast, a smug smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. It was a satisfying revelation, confirming that Orach did indeed harbor desire for her, and that he appreciated what he saw. This realization filled her with a sense of anticipation and boosted her confidence, especially since Orach had, until now, only shown an interest in her eyes. Unconsciously, they had gravitated closer to each other, their faces mere inches apart, their breath mingling in the space between them.
An exaggerated cough suddenly echoed through the silence, shattering their shared moment and pulling them back to the harsh reality of their surroundings. They turned in unison to find Bruce, the source of the interruption, while the rest of their companions gawked at them, their expressions a mix of surprise and amusement. Orach and Diana quickly separated, a hint of a blush coloring their faces.
Orach took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling with the effort to regain his composure. He felt a strange sensation, an unfamiliar heat spreading through his body. He admitted to himself that he had nearly lost control of his desires, that he had been on the verge of succumbing to his primal instincts and taking Diana then and there. This realization hit him like a punch to the gut - he had fallen head over heels in love. While the initial attraction might have been sparked by the resonance of their Ki, his desires were now fueled by his own emotions and thoughts. As this realization sank in, the way he looked at Diana evolved, transformed. It was no longer a mere glance; it was a gaze filled with longing, admiration, and a love that ran deeper than the deepest ocean.
"Alright, now that you have the scouter on you, I want you to turn your gaze towards me and press the middle button on the ear interface," Orach instructed, his voice steady and patient.
Diana acknowledged his instructions with a nod, her fingers finding the button on the interface while her gaze remained locked on him.
BEEP
A ring locked onto Orach's face, and a string of numbers began to climb on the tiny screen, finally halting at 2.43 million!
Diana's gaze flickered between Orach and the scouter, a frown creasing her brow. She didn't understand what the string of numbers implied. Orach's voice filled the silence, offering the explanation she sought. But the enlightenment that came with his words also brought a shard of fear that pierced through her calm demeanor.
"You should see a string of numbers pop up by now, correct?" Orach asked, his gaze never leaving her face.
"Yes, I see a string of numbers. It reads 2.43 million," Diana responded, her voice echoing her confusion. "But I don't understand what it implies?"
Orach offered her a reassuring smile, then pointed to Bruce. "Now, look at Batman and tell me the number you see for him."
Following his instructions, Diana turned her gaze towards Bruce. The scouter, now in automatic mode, immediately displayed a number as soon as her gaze landed on him. The number was 279.
"It's 279, but I don't see how..." The words died in her throat as realization dawned upon her. Remembering Orach's earlier comment about Batman's power level being 279, she finally understood what the numbers meant. The revelation left her shell-shocked. Bruce, who had been quietly following the conversation, was equally stunned. The usually composed Bruce Wayne wore a stupefied expression for the first time in a long while.
Bruce quickly asked, "Diana, take a quick look at Clark and tell me his reading." Diana turned to Orach, who smiled and nodded at her. She then turned her gaze to Clark. His power level was displayed as 25,000.
The number left Dianna speechless. Even Bruce, upon hearing the number, leaned against a wall for support. Clark, on the other hand, looked horrified. The rest, still confused about the numbers, watched as the realization dawned on the faces of Diana, Bruce, and Clark. The three of them took a step back, their faces pale. The friendly and co-operative Orach, they had been conversing with, was now a formidable force to reckon with.
"Orach, this... this can't be right, can it? How... how are the results calculated?" Clark asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"The scouter is a device that can measure and quantify the life force or Ki of any individual, with only a very small to minuscule margin of error. The quantified number is what we call power level," Orach replied calmly.
Everyone present was visibly shaken. They now understood why Diana, Bruce, and Clark looked so pale. They realized how close they had been to a deadly confrontation, and thanked their lucky stars for Diana's intervention. Orach, who was once a potential ally, was now a force of nature, a harbinger of death. They were grateful he had been co-operative and had shown restraint. But the realization of the power he held made them all shudder in fear.