Tournament Saga
Chapter 61: Choices
The ground crackles below the very feet of a hybrid boy, a blue aura flaring outward which seemed to put pressure on the very air around him. Ken glared at his opponent with raging emotions at whom dared to harm his twin sibling, nobody harmed Kira, not while he was around!
With the fear of Ki usage forgotten, Ken screamed.
"Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!" The eight year old yelled, arms at each side, hands clenched into fists as his blue aura burst around him.
"This must be some sort of spiritual concentration!" The announcer shouted over the display of power emitting from the child.
Scorpan crossed his arms, "So, are you ready to take me seriously?" He questioned.
Ken answered him very simply, both hands cupping in front of his body toward the mysterious fighter, reeling back to the boy's side as he began to chant.
"Ka... Me.... Ha... Me...!" Ken yelled, a blue glow of condensed Ki energy formed with his cupped palms, barely contained within the hybrid's hands as it seemed to grow larger in size.
"What is this-?" Scorpan was interrupted before he finished his sentence.
"Ha!"
A blue beam of raw Ki energy shot forward from the palms of Ken as he thrust his arms forward toward Scorpan's position, the technique soared through the air, breaking apart the stone tiles with its sheer speed and overwhelming power as it continued its course.
Scorpan's eyes widened as he found a devastating technique his way, quickly, his muscles budged as he released his suppressed energy to deal with the hybrid's Kamehameha wave. He brought his fist back, and shot it forward exactly at the point when the blue beam of Ki reached him.
The Kamehameha Wave impacted against his fist, splitting apart in many different directions, harmlessly into the air and tearing unto the ground. But Ken continued pushing his technique, pumping more and more Ki energy to continuously press on Scorpan's defenses.
"I'll show you! Aaaaahhh!" Ken yelled toward Scorpan, his power level doubled, energy output into his technique grew larger in instant, the beam itself bursting outward in a showcase of force. The very position where Ken stood cracked apart, a crater forming seemingly out of nowhere.
Scorpan found himself actually hissing in pain, the technique searing his fist's fur and skin. He noticed the output of the energy suddenly increased in size, and he hastily pulled his fist back and crossed his arms protectively in front of himself.
*BOOM!*
"What a powerful technique!" The announcer yelled as barely held himself on the ground from the sheer winds generated from the explosion.
Ken released a held in breath, his power level decreasing to a more stable state. After recollecting himself, the half saiyan boy looked up toward the direction of his opponent, the smoke still covering the area from his Kamehameha wave's explosion.
"Maybe he was knocked out?" Ken questioned hopefully.
"While I applaud you for surprising me with such a attack, I wouldn't assume your opponent's defeat just yet."
Ken's eyes widened as the smoke cleared before him, revealing the entire figure that made Scorpan. It was quite a shock to our young hero, the being before him was unlike anything he ever seen before.
Scorpan had the appearance between the mix of a minotaur and a pony, his bottom half was that like a buff, brown, rough furred four hoofed being, the muscles toned for quick movement, yet holding huge strength. The top half however, was like that of Copper Will, with his entire fur colored that of a gray hue, yet a bit of a red mane all round his neck. And it packed a lean amount of muscle, refined, and quite intimidating.
"He's huge... And scary looking..." Ken said, taken aback by his opponent's true appearance. "What is he?"
'A Centaur would be the closest description,' Ken's father, Chris, spoke up.
'A Centaur?' Ken thought back to his dad.
'Yes, a more literally term of hybrid. The top half takes a human body, while the bottom half is a horse. Except, with Scorpan's case, it's a minotaur instead of human.'
'So... Pretty much like a minopony?' Ken replied.
'Ah.. Uh... Yeah sure if you think that way- Dodge!'
"Wait what-?" Ken said as he finally paid attention to reality.
*WHAM!*
Ken went flying as a punch sent his entire form into the air, the hybrid saiyan winced in pain before he recollected himself and made his feet skid along the stone. This action made Ken slow down, before he looked back up to Scorpan, whom was charging right at him with breathtaking speed.
"Aaaah!" Ken shouted as his blue Ki aura erupted into existence once more, he charged forward right at his opponent.
The loud sound of a powerful impact echoed throughout the tournament ring, the two combatants engaged each other in a barrage of melee attacks, punches, kicks, and all.
And disappeared.
*BANG!*
*BANG!*
*BANG!*
*BANG!*
Ken reappeared behind Scorpan's back, the hybrid spinning forty-five degrees as his right leg collided with Scorpan's left raised arm. The ground crackling apart once more, the entire arena appeared to be a field of craters. It was a miracle anyone could distingush the arena limits anymore.
The half saiyan child was excited, his saiyan blood boiling, his instincts giving him a great deal of satisfaction that the hybrid could barely recall his previous fear of using his own Ki energy. And thus, Ken held little back when facing the centaur before him.
Scorpan shot his fist at the boy's position, only for it go right through Ken's body, which dissappeared into a afterimage shortly after. Said boy appeared in front of him in a burst of speed, a kick directed into his lower abdomen which sent the centaur staggering back slightly.
Seeing this oppotunity, Ken shouted, "Let's turn it up! Kaio-ken attack times three!" the eight year old said, a reddish fiery aura burst around him, power increasing dramatically as his muscles strained from the deprived usage of such a intense technique.
Ken slammed into his opponent, his punch impacting against the centaur's massive form, he continuingly followed up with a kick, elbow strike, uppercut punch, and a straightforward one. The hybrid's enhanced attacks began to push back on Scorpan, he could feel his hooves skidding across the ground as the power before the child's blows struck him.
"Tch!" Scorpan grunted, he grasp hold of both the saiyan's hands before him, whom interlocked with his own.
The ground shook, the arena flooring cracking apart even more, before a sound a loud clash of power echoed throughout. At that instant, the tiles below them became a small crater under the pressure emitting from them.
Scorpan decided to raise his power level a bit more, Ken noticed his as the child's head shot up in alert, finding himself being pushed back. Ken's feet dragged against the crater-formed arena, stone breaking up around him.
"Grrtcch..." Ken clenched teeth, 'He's strong,' the hybrid thought as his Kaio-Ken technique vanished from sight.
"Gah!" Ken suddenly shouted as Scorpan pulled the half saiyan child towards himself, before whamming down a fist of pain at his face. Ken winced as he felt a sheer amount of pain erupt, drops of blood dripping from his nose as he was sent flying, and then skidding along the ground.
Ken Altarmore-Heartstrings brought himself back up to his knees, taking in deep breaths through his mouth as he recovered. However, Ken's Ki senses alerted him of incoming danger, and the hybrid pushed his knees up and leapt into the air.
This action avoided a energy blast directed his way, the hybrid looked to not see Scorpan in his vision. His senses indicated he was right behind him, and that cost him as he was sent back to the ground harshly by a double fist slam down.
"Dang it!" Ken said before rolling to the left, avoiding Scorpan's crushing hoof that slammed unto the ground, breaking it apart. The hybrid boy spun himself up with a small burst of Ki, and landed upright and standing.
Scorpan turned to him, "Is that it? Is this all you can muster, saiyan?" He said with disappointment. "Where is the so-called Super Saiyan transformation?"
'How does he know about that?!' Ken thought in worried concern.
"If you won't show it, I'll force you too!" Scorpan yelled as he charged at the hybrid.
"He's too fast!" Ken cried out as he powered up to the maximum level of his Ki, he leapt into the air, only to find the centaur already reach him. Ken felt himself forcefully pulled down, his energy draining rapidly as he slammed on to the ground.
'Why... Am I feeling... Weaker?' Ken thought to himself, as he looked up to see Scorpan's hand having hold of his saiyan tail. 'Didn't... Didn't I train it?'
Chris answered him, 'You didn't train this new one, Ken, and it has been such a long while that your body wouldn't remember training it. A downside of your human half unfortunately.'
Ken, knowing that he would lose more energy the more Scorpan held it, quickly conjured a Ki blast and launched it toward Scorpan's face.
The centaur let go to avoid the attack, stepping back as he did. Ken hand-stood himself, before flipping back upright.
"Kaio-Ken!" Ken yelled, fully aware,, a reddish aura erupting around him, then he-
*Lup dup*
Red.
*Lup dup*
His Ki aura is red.
*Lup dup*
Red, the aura surrounding him, his Ki was red, it pressed again and again on his mind. The half saiyan's hand shaking in front of his eyes, before the technique gave up due to the sudden lack of concentration. But the problem already arose, and the hybrid stood motionless, he had a red aura! He was going to go berserk! He is going to hurt everyone!
'Ken! Calm down! Ken! Ken! Listen to me!'
'I'm... I..." Ken sputtered over his words, before he was sent flying as a fist slammed into him. He rolled out of control on the ground, before coming to a halt. But Scorpan, unaware of the situation the hybrid was going through, reappeared besides Ken and kicked him upward, before unleashing a magically enhanced strike against the child's torso.
Ken went skidding along the ground again, blood spurting from his mouth as he coughed it out. He shakily climbed on his knees.
'Ken, you have to get up! Ken! You can't just sit there!'
"It seems that Ken is in quite a dilemma, the fighter Scorpan seems to be dominating in this match!" The announcer shouted, the crowd partially cheering, ignorant of the current situation.
Ken stood up, finding small faith in his father's words. "I... Can't... I don't want to fight, I was going... I was red..." Ken whispered so softly, no one could hear him, then again, he was speaking to another.
'Ken, you were not going red. It was the Kaio-Ken technique, relax, and focus on the fight.'
"I don't want to be the one the battles always choose..." Ken trailed off, before looking up slightly at Scorpan.
The centaur opponent said, "I won't stay idle!" He exclaimed as he launched a ball of magical energy. It soared through the air, before impacting, exploding outward as Ken was sent into the air, before coming back down to earth near the edge of the arena.
Ken looked toward the out of bounds, 'Maybe I should just give up... I won't have to fight then..'
'Ken, don't.'
'I'm going to give up, I won't hurt anyone then.' Ken reconfirmed his thoughts.
With a great outburst, Chris exclaimed, 'Damnit Ken! Don't you dare give up!'
Ken jerked slightly in shock, his father had never had such an angered voice. 'W-what?'
'Do you think you can give up when something comes? When it threatens everything you love? What then Ken! What then! You may not like it, but you are a line of defense for this world! Discord proved that! There are barely any defenders for such huge powers, and Ken, they will come, they always do!' Chris yelled at his scared son.
'B-But, I'll become the bad guy- I'll-'
'I try so hard, Ken! I try so hard to do everything I can for you! But in the end, it doesn't even matter! I can't be out there, I can't console you physically, be with you and Kira side by side. I'm stuck in here Ken! And by the heavens, I don't regret ever being sealed in you!'
'You... But... You...'
'Did you know I could have left you? They tried to wish me back Ken, but I chose not to leave you! All this, everything I did, all my choices, were for you. Ken... You can't give up. Because if you give up, then your sister is left alone to deal with the dangers. You would grow weaker, fall behind. I don't want that. I want you to live a full life! You can be whatever you want, but don't throw away a part of you just because of fear! Just become of some tragic event trying to choke your soul!'
Tears poured down the hybrid's eyes, he never... He never had his father yell at him like this... It hurt, it hurt...
'But, Ken, regain yourself. Become stronger from that tragedy, train so that you can be who you want to be! And whoever you wish to be doesn't matter, whether it be a artist, musician, scientist, soldier, janitor, waiter, whatever! I'm there to support you, both you and your sister! And I will do with every speck of free will and energy I can muster with this cursed seal to do it!'
Ken felt himself being pulled from the inside, taken inward, he found himself within the Seal-scape, as he felt his father's Ki erupt outward and channel throughout his body. The son of the Z-fighter, Chris Dell, stood in the seal with a shocked expression, as his father did something he had never dared to do before.
The only instance was during the Oozaru incident, but that was a expected, a transformation Ken had no control of.
Outside, Scorpan charge with a fist full of energy, he thrust forward, intending to smash the saiyan child back to the ground.
"Kaio-Ken times five," A calm, serious voice came from the child's lips as a reddish aura erupted forth, and grasped hold of Scorpan's fist with ease.
Chris Dell, had taken full control of Ken's body.
A half saiyan child stood a few meters away from his opponent, but this young hybrid did not have the childish attitude or mindset that usually occupied the consciousness in control. The eight year old appeared to be... Calm, a serious air around him, and the fighting stance he took was not identical to any previous forms.
Scorpan took a cautious approach now, his foe had drastically changed without any warning. In just a few seconds, the saiyan before him had accessed a repository of energy, and beat him back toward the middle of the arena.
And then, he spoke, even if it was a child's voice that came from that mouth, the personality greatly differed.
"I have long waited for this moment, for four years I have been unable to feel the breeze of the wind, taste food, smell the scents, and see with my own eyes the outside world." The young saiyan spoke. "But, it is not me. For I am here for another purpose."
Chris Dell, launched himself forward, a spiking white ball of energy conjuring forth in Ken's left hand. Scorpan, readied to defend himself, but the moment Chris approached, he spun backward. This stunned the centaur as Ken's feet smashed into his arms, causing them to tense in defense, and then the hybrid leapt backward as he stuck the white ball of Ki on his enemy's wrist.
"What the-" Scorpan barely had time to say, before Chris clenched Ken's fist and the ball lit up in a flash.
"Angel Mine!" Chris shouted.
*BOOM!*
A racking explosion picked up dust as it send Scorpan flying into the air. Chris Dell disappeared before reappearing at the same attidude of Scorpan's form, Ken's body erupted forth with a Kaio-Ken attack.
"Raaaaah!" Chris yelled, as he struck a fist forward at Scorpan.
The centaur, even though in mid-air, sought to lay his own attack as he thrust a magically enhanced strike. But the hybrid saiyan he was aiming for disappeared in front of him with a burst of speed, red flames of Ki dissipating in the air as he went. He turned his head to see Ken's form reappeared behind him, and strike downward with both feet.
"Aargh!" Scorpan roared in pain as he was sent spiraling downward, pain in his backside. But the massive centaur repositioned himself in the air before landing harshly, all four legs crushing the ground as he stopped himself.
He looked up, only to immediately cross his arms in a protective matter as dozens upon dozens of Ki blasts soared toward his way. The energy attacks crashed down upon him, exploding apart bits and pieces of the tournament ring as he braced himself against the many attacks that struck against him.
Chris Dell landed back on the ground after releasing an energy volley, observing the smoke the decorated the entire area.
The Z-fighter inhabiting Ken's body went quickly into his fighting stance as Scorpan came rushing out of the debris at the saiyan. Scorpan swung his fist, magical arcs of energy trailing behind them as they pierced the air. He sent a right, then a left, uppercut, stomach, but each and every blow was redirected, reducing all damage dealt to the child.
Scorpan stepped back, 'What is going on? My attacks are constantly redirected and converted into as much minimal damage as possible. The fighting style is completely different, defensive and quite evasive. Yet when he strikes, he does it quickly.'
Meanwhile, Chris Dell held back a hiss of pain, 'Ken's body is too injured from Scorpan's hits from before I took control. He can't continue much longer even with my own Ki healing him passively.'
'Not to mention, his body does not have the muscle memory for my fighting style or techniques. I'm having to use additional Ki just to keep myself from incorrectly moving.' Chris finished his thought process. 'And I wouldn't dare transform to Super Saiyan, his fear would just make it worse.'
"This battle is one for the ages folks! I never seen such a radical change in tactics! What else does young Ken have in his bag of tricks?!" The announcer shouted.
Chris charged forward, Scorpan conjured him vast amounts of energy within his palms, before firing wave after wave at the incoming saiyan hybrid. The Z-fighter in control weaved his way around the magical attacks, approaching Scorpan despite his efforts to keep him at a distance.
His experience in the battlefield allowed him to pass by Scorpan's defenses, he smashed his fist into Scorpan's check, the disappeared and reappeared behind him. Chris struck at both of the shoulder joints, before cupping his hands and sending the back of Scorpan's head to the ground. The full-blooded saiyan in control of Ken's body then leapt into the air, white energy conjuring on both hands before he brought them together, and launched them down, a spiral wave spinning toward Scorpan.
"Light Spiral Wave!" Chris exclaimed.
A bright white beam of Ki energy erupted around the whole arena, shooting upward into the sky as it impacted the ground. Strong winds blasted back the announcer to the fighter's ring wall, Kira falling off herself and to the ground. While Audience held tight to their seats.
Chris dropped to the floor, and fell on his right knee, breathing heavily as sweat dripped from Ken's body. 'Too much Ki, Ken's never done these techniques... It... Should be expected...'
Ken's body chuckled a little bit, 'Looks like Kira has to be the one to defeat this guy, as much as I want to fight. I won't risk scarring Ken to transform and gain victory.'
The smoke finally cleared, and Scorpan, with his arms crossed still, looked to be a little worse to wear. Red liquid trailed down his body at numerous points, and small burns decorated his figure.
"That..." Scorpan began to say, "Was powerful, why did you hold back so much power throughout most of the fight?' He finished as he looked back up.
"There are more to things than you realize," Chris answered. "I give up."
"What!?" Scorpan said in shock.
The announcer stood back up, and adjusted his sunglasses, "Ken Heartstrings gives up, the winner is Scorpan!"
Chris smiled, before he pulled back Ken's consciousness back in control of the body.
'Dad, I'm sorry!' Ken immediately thought to him once back in control.
The Z-fighter rested comfortably back in the seal, 'I apologize as well, it was not my place to take control of your body.'
'No, daddy, I'm really sorry... I wasn't thinking, you're right. I can't just not do anything, I got to train to protect everyone!' Ken replied, while outside he rested on his knees.
'I'm glad you've been having a thought moment while in the seal-scape, but now, go and rest.'
Ken nodded, and shakily moved toward the fighter's arena, ignoring the roaring sound of the crowd as he made his way toward his twin sister. He would no longer fear his Ki energy, he had a duty, he would protect his home and family from all the bad guys! But also, as his father had said, he would live his life.