-On Earth
The sky over West City darkened without warning, clouds swirling unnaturally as if commanded by an unseen force.
At Capsule Corporation, six defenders stood in protective formation around the gathered Namekians and their Dragon Balls.
Piccolo's antennae twitched, sensing the approaching malevolence. "Something's coming," he warned, his cape billowing in the sudden wind. "Something powerful."
Gohan tensed beside his mentor, "We'll protect the Dragon Balls from this Lord Slug, Mr. Piccolo."
Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu formed a perimeter, each facing outward as the unnatural darkness intensified.
"I don't like this, we should've just scattered the Dragon Balls all over the world. Would've made things more difficult for them, and maybe given us more time to counter them." Krillin muttered, beads of sweat forming on his brow despite the sudden chill in the air.
"You know why we didn't do that. This guy may knows even more about the Dragon Balls than us. If they're not with us to protect, he could maybe take them all instantly, like Toji does with everything he can sense." Piccolo countered, this having been brought up as a possible capability of Super Namekians.
"I know, but-" Krillin began.
A massive spacecraft suddenly broke through the clouds interrupting their conversation, hovering ominously over the Capsule Corporation compound.
Its design was ancient yet advanced, covered in symbols none of them recognized. The vessel cast a shadow that seemed to drain the color from everything beneath it.
A hatch opened in the ship's underbelly. A figure descended slowly, wrapped in a black cloak with an orange and brown scarf.
Despite his hunched posture and apparent age, the elderly Namekian's presence made the air itself feel heavy.
"Fellow Namekians," the figure called out after a long silence where observed everyone present.
His voice was deep and resonant despite his aged appearance. "Your long-lost brother has... returned." His gaze swept over the gathered refugees before settling on the seven orbs behind them. "The Dragon's treasures... how fortuitous."
Piccolo stepped forward, positioning himself between the elderly Namekian and the others. "You're no brother of theirs. I can sense the malice in your ki. These guys are too soft to be related to the likes of you."
The ancient Namekian chuckled, the sound like grinding stones. "Such... presumption. Lord Slug walked among the stars when your progenitor was but a tadpole in the pools of Old Namek."
"Lord Slug?" Elder Moori whispered, his eyes widening in recognition. "I heard it, and see it with my own eyes, but it cannot be true. The ancient texts speak of your banishment. You are supposed to be gone."
"Legends often... diminish with time," Slug replied, his wrinkled face splitting into a cruel smile. "Reality is far more... impressive."
From the ship behind him poured dozens of soldiers, led by three distinct figures – a winged humanoid, a blue-skinned giant with horns, and a small, frog-like creature with multiple arms.
"Wings, Angila, Medamatcha," Slug announced without looking back. "Secure the perimeter. Allow none to interfere."
Suddenly, King Kai's voice echoed in the defenders' minds: "Listen carefully everyone! Don't think you can challenge him! Old he may be but he is still a Super Namekian! You guys have to hold him off! Hold him off for one hour! One hour! Toji is on his way!"
To everyone's shock, Slug tilted his head, as if listening to a distant sound. "How... interesting. The directional gods still meddle in mortal affairs? Lord Slug remembers when they were but newly appointed guardians."
"He intercepted our telepathic communication!" Krillin exclaimed in horror.
"Your thoughts are as transparent as glass to one such as I," Slug explained, tapping his temple with a gnarled finger. "The North Kai? South? It matters not. Long ago, even the Supreme Gods of Creation trembled before The Dragon."
Gohan, unable to contain his fear, worry, anger - not being able to just stand around - launched forward with a battle cry. Slug didn't even look at him, simply extending his arm to impossible length, catching the boy mid-flight and slamming him into the ground.
"Children should be... seen, not heard," Slug admonished, as if scolding an unruly toddler.
"Gohan!" Krillin shouted, rushing to help.
Seeing that the time for talking was over, Tien stepped forward, forming a triangle with his hands. "TRI-BEAM, HA!" The powerful energy blast carved a massive crater where Slug had been standing, but the ancient Namekian appeared behind him, untouched.
"Your techniques are... quaint," Slug observed, before he suddenly appeared behind him, striking Tien with two fingers at a precise point on his neck.
The triclops collapsed instantly, his body twitching. "Pressure points developed by the Metamorans... primitive echoes of arts Lord Slug mastered millennia ago."
Chiaotzu floated upward, hands extended. "I'll hold him!" The small fighter's telekinetic power wrapped around Slug, who stood motionless.
"Telekinesis?" Slug sounded almost amused. "A child's toy." With a casual gesture, he reversed the telekinetic flow, sending Chiaotzu crashing into a nearby building.
Yamcha charged forward, hands forming claws. "WOLF FANG FIST!" His attack connected with Slug's chest, a flurry of strikes that would have incapacitated most opponents.
Slug didn't flinch. "Interesting form. Similar to the Beast School, Southern Quadrant... long extinct." His hand shot out, grabbing Yamcha's throat. "Your stance reveals three weaknesses." Three precise strikes later, Yamcha collapsed.
"DESTRUCTO DISK!" Krillin's energy blade whirled toward Slug's neck from behind.
Without looking, the ancient Namekian caught the disk between two fingers. "Energy control requires... precision." He flicked the disk back at Krillin, who barely dodged his own attack. "Yours lacks... refinement."
Krillin backed away, hands trembling. "This is insane! He's not even trying!"
"SPECIAL BEAM CANNON!" Piccolo's spiral beam shot toward Slug, who simply tilted his head, letting the attack graze his cheek.
"At last," Slug smiled, touching the small wound. "A technique worthy of... acknowledgment."
Green blood trickled down his face, but the wound closed almost instantly. "Impressive... for a child."
"I'm no child," Piccolo growled, removing his weighted cape and turban.
"To one who has lived a million years," Slug replied, "all are children."
Piccolo charged, engaging Slug in hand-to-hand combat. His strikes were precise, powerful – but Slug blocked each one with minimal movement, studying Piccolo with growing interest.
"Fascinating," Slug murmured, catching both of Piccolo's fists. "You possess the fighting style of Katas... yet your ki signature is... fractured. What have you done to yourself boy? Why have you been so foolish?"
Piccolo broke free, leaping backward. "You know nothing about me!"
"Lord Slug knows... everything." The ancient Namekian appeared behind Piccolo, placing a hand on his head. "Your memories... are mine to read."
Piccolo screamed as Slug invaded his mind, images flashing between them – the birth of King Piccolo, the separation from Kami, the battles with Goku, the allying against Raditz, the training with Gohan.
(But he stopped there, for Piccolo continued to fight- too forceful and he may fracture his soul.)
"Ah," Slug released him, eyes wide with understanding. "A Super Namekian... split into light and dark. Kami and Demon King... two halves of what should be one."
Piccolo collapsed to one knee, panting heavily.
Meanwhile, the other Z Fighters seeing they were no help against the Lord, were engaged with Slug's henchmen.
Krillin and Gohan fought Wings, whose aerial attacks kept them constantly on the defensive.
Tien and Chiaotzu, recovered enough to fight, battled against Medamatcha's multiplying forms.
Yamcha faced Angila, whose horn-generated energy beams carved trenches in the Capsule Corp grounds.
"SOLAR FLARE!" Krillin's technique temporarily blinded Wings, allowing Gohan to land a powerful kick that sent the winged warrior crashing into Slug's ship.
"Light-based techniques against beings who have witnessed the birth of stars?" Slug mocked, his eyes unaffected despite being in the attack's range. "Predictable." A casual long armed backhand sent Krillin through several walls, who for a moment appeared like his neck was broken.
"Mr... Krillin..." Gohan muttered in shock, before he roared in anger. His rage triggered a powerful burst of energy that actually forced Slug to block.
The ancient Namekian's eyes widened slightly. "Potential... untapped. You would make a fine addition to Lord Slug's army."
With ease, and precisely, Slug neutralized each fighter, careful not to kill them. "Death is... wasteful. Strong warriors should serve."
Soon, only Piccolo remained standing, breathing heavily as he faced his ancient counterpart.
"You alone remain... how fitting," Slug observed, circling Piccolo. "A Super Namekian, split into light and dark. Fascinating... but fundamentally flawed."
"What are you even blabbering about?" Piccolo demanded, wiping blood from his mouth.
"Your origin. Lord Slug sees it clearly. Once whole, then divided. Kami and Demon King... two halves of what should be one."
Slug extended his hand. "Join me, young one. Lord Slug can reunite what was sundered. Together, we could rule the universe as... father and son."
Piccolo spat blood. "I already had a father. He was evil, too. Was killed by a friend of mine. Showed me that people like you will always be alone and die alone."
Piccolo gave Gohan who couldn't get up a side glance, as he then turned his gaze back to the Lord, "I don't want that. Not anymore. So no thanks."
Slug's expression darkened. "Disappointing. But Lord Slug is patient. You will... reconsider."
Their battle intensified, Piccolo drawing on every technique in his arsenal. For a moment, he seemed to match Slug's power, landing several powerful blows that actually staggered the ancient Namekian.
"Impressive," Slug acknowledged, regenerating a damaged arm. "But futile. Even under the Reaper's Scythe, Lord Slug's power eclipses yours."
With a sudden burst of speed, Slug appeared behind Piccolo, striking pressure points that left him paralyzed and fallen onto the ground.
Lord Slug looked down upon him with disappointment as he turned towards the Namekians and the Dragon Balls, "Now... witness true power." he said..
He approached the Dragon Balls, casting aside the weakened Piccolo with telekinesis, walking past the other Namekians who were frozen in place from fear, and the pressure of Slug's power.
"At last... after a million years."
"You can't use them," Piccolo gasped from the ground. "They were used recently. They won't activate for months."
Slug chuckled, the sound echoing ominously. "Such... limited understanding." He placed his hands over the Dragon Balls, which began to glow. "The ancient arts of Dragon Ball creation... did you think Lord Slug would not have studied them?"
From his eyes erupted a red beam, striking the Dragon Balls. They began to shimmer and stone transformed into treasure.
Through some forbidden technique, Slug seemed to have forced the Dragon Balls to activate prematurely.
The ancient Namekian uttered the password he glanced from the mind of one of the present Namekians who was thinking of it.
The sky darkened further as Porunga emerged, towering over Capsule Corporation.
After a long moment, the Dragon looking down upon the Ancient Namekian spoke: "WHAT IS YOUR WISH?" he boomed, his tone... angry.
Porunga was never angry at being summoned, but currently... he was.
And he could do nothing about it.
"Due to my interference with your natural cycle, I know you can grant but one wish," Slug addressed Porunga. "Lord Slug wishes for the restoration of his youth and all that time has taken from him!"
Porunga remained silent for a long moment, almost like he was fighting himself, but eventually... lost. Lost against his nature.
"THIS WISH... IS WITHIN MY POWER. IT SHALL BE... GRANTED."
Magical energy engulfed Lord Slug. His hunched form straightened, muscles expanded, wrinkles vanished.
When the light faded, a young, powerfully built Namekian stood in place of the elderly figure. His power level had increased exponentially.
"Yes!" the rejuvenated Slug exulted, flexing his restored body. "After a million years... The Dragon returns!"
Porunga himself for a long moment seemed to look at the sky, with an unreadable expression, before he began to split into light.
The light exploded into a tower, piercing the heavens - almost like a... call, as then the Namekian Dragon Balls began to rise, and turn to stone as they scattered all over the world.
Slug, unconcerned with the Dragon, walked over to and towered over the fallen Piccolo, placing a foot on his throat. "Now, son of Katas... reconsider my offer. Join me and this world and the entire universe will be ours once I complete you."
Piccolo struggled to breathe, but managed a pained smile. "You've made... a mistake."
"Oh?" Slug applied more pressure. "And what might that be?"
"You should have... wished for immortality... instead."
Suddenly, a deafening sonic boom split the air. Something - or someone - was entering Earth's atmosphere at incredible speed, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
Like a meteor, the figure crashed into the Capsule Corp grounds, the impact creating a massive crater. Dust and debris clouded the area, obscuring the what had landed.
But through the haze came an unmistakable sound: the rhythmic, mechanical breathing of Lord Duskborn.
As the dust began to clear, Piccolo laughed despite the foot on his throat. "To defeat a monster... you need another monster. And our monster... has just arrived."
The dust settled, revealing Toji in his full Vader regalia standing at the edge of the crater. His obsidian mask reflected the surprised face of the rejuvenated Lord Slug as they stared each other down - two anomalies, two mistakes of the gods, meeting at last.
The mechanical breathing filled the silence as Toji's cape billowed in the wind, his hands resting at his sides.
"Lord Slug I presume." Toji began as he his gaze drifted to Piccolo on the ground, the other fallen Z Fighters, the terrified Namekians.
"And who might you be?" The Ancient Namekian asked, as he looked at him.
"The Owner of the home you've invaded. One who is quite displeased."
"Ha! The Owner, you say? Who do you think you are? Not only are you up against the mightiest being in the universe - Lord Slug, but you are also surrounded!" Medamatcha stated, as all Lord Slug's minions floated closer, surrounding Capsule Corp, and chuckled and laughed.
Toji's gaze turned towards him.
"Know your place tra-" suddenly he began choking before audibly his neck turned completely, front to back, and he died, silencing everyone present..
As Toji's gaze returned and locked with Lord Slug, he stated, "All I am surrounded by is fear... and dead men."
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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all liked the chapter!
Do tell me how you found it.
So, Toji vs Slug next chapter. I hope this chapter didn't feel too rushed, but I really didn't wish to focus too much on Slug versus the others.
Hope you don't mind that.
Well, see you all later,
Bye!)