The mechanical breathing of Toji's Vader suit filled the vast amphitheater as he held Pikkon suspended by the throat.
The green-skinned warrior's feet dangled helplessly above the golden floor, his hands clawing ineffectively at Toji's grip.
Throughout the enormous crystalline chamber, the assembled heroes and deities of Heaven stood frozen in shock.
The remaining four directional Kais huddled protectively around the Grand Kai, their expressions ranging from outrage to naked fear.
"Release him immediately!" Grand Kai's voice boomed across the amphitheater, his white beard quivering with indignation. The aged deity rose from his ornate chair, his normally jovial face hardened with authority.
Toji's masked head tilted slightly, the expressionless visor revealing nothing of his thoughts. "I find your demand... poorly timed," he replied, his voice carrying effortlessly through the chamber. "Your champion attacked me without provocation. I am merely responding in kind."
Pikkon struggled against Toji's grip, his face darkening as oxygen became scarce. His legs kicked uselessly at the air.
"Please!" King Kai rushed forward, positioning himself between Toji and the assembly. "Everyone needs to remain calm! Violence will only escalate this situation!"
"Calm?" West Kai sputtered, his monocle nearly falling from his face. "This... this mortal has violated the sacred barrier between realms! He's brought Hell creatures into Heaven! And now he assaults our champion!"
Toji's mechanical breathing continued uninterrupted as he studied Pikkon. "Your champion pulled me through the Gate against my will," he observed coldly. "An action that, I believe, merits... equivalent exchange."
With a sudden, vicious motion, Toji's prosthetic hand shot out and gripped Pikkon's right arm – the same arm that had grabbed him through the gate. Before anyone could intervene, he wrenched it from its socket with a sickening crack.
Gasps of horror echoed throughout the amphitheater as Toji casually tossed the severed limb aside. It landed with a dull thud on the golden floor.
"An arm for an arm," Toji stated matter-of-factly, dropping Pikkon to the floor. The green warrior collapsed, clutching at his dissolving shoulder, his face contorted in pain and disbelief.
"MONSTER!" West Kai shrieked, his purple face turning nearly black with rage. "WARRIORS OF HEAVEN! DEFEND US!"
From the assembled ranks of heroes, dozens of fighters surged forward. Champions from countless ages and civilizations, each having earned their place in Heaven through heroic deeds in life, now moved as one to confront the dark intruder.
Toji stood motionless, watching their approach with eerie calm. His mechanical breathing remained steady, undisturbed by the impending attack.
"Don't do this," he warned, his modulated voice carrying a note of almost bored certainty. "The outcome is... predetermined."
A muscular warrior with four arms reached him first, wielding gleaming energy blades in each hand. With a battle cry that shook the crystalline walls, he launched into a whirlwind attack, his blades a blur of motion.
Toji didn't move until the last possible moment. Then, with a casual gesture, he extended his hand.
Instantly, an invisible wave of force erupted from Toji's palm, expanding outward in a perfect sphere.
The four-armed warrior was caught at the epicenter, his body compressing as if crushed by an unimaginable weight.
His scream died in his throat as he was driven into the golden floor with such force that he created a warrior-shaped crater.
The shockwave continued outward, catching the front line of attackers and sending them tumbling backward into their comrades. The entire formation collapsed into chaos, warriors tripping over each other as they struggled to regain their footing.
"I advised against this course of action," Toji observed dispassionately, lowering his hand. "Your persistence is... unfortunate."
A female fighter with skin like polished bronze recovered first, launching herself at Toji with a graceful flip. Her leg extended in a perfect axe kick aimed at his helmet.
Without looking directly at her, Toji made a subtle gesture with two fingers. The woman froze mid-air, her body suddenly rigid as if gripped by an invisible vise. With a flick of his wrist, Toji sent her hurtling into three other approaching warriors, bowling them over like pins.
"Your technique is commendable," Toji commented, his head turning slightly to track their movements. "But inadequate for this encounter."
A massive warrior resembling a minotaur charged next, lowering his horned head with the intention of impaling Toji. The floor trembled beneath his hooved feet as he built momentum.
Toji waited until the beast-man was almost upon him before sidestepping with ease. As the minotaur passed, Toji's prosthetic hand shot out, gripping one of the massive horns. Using the creature's own momentum, he redirected its charge, guiding the bewildered warrior face-first into a pillar.
The impact shattered both horn and pillar, sending fragments raining down on the battlefield.
"Predictable," Toji observed, "and disappointing."
Three warriors attacked simultaneously from different angles – a swordsman from the front, a martial artist from behind, and one with a Ki attack from above. These three had spent centuries fighting together in Heaven's tournaments.
Toji- without moving from his position, extended both hands and his telekinesis. The swordsman's blade was torn from his grip and driven through the martial artist's shoulder. The Ki attack user found his own blast redirected back at him, sending him tumbling through the air.
Throughout it all, Toji's breathing never changed rhythm.
"Is this truly the best Heaven can offer?" he asked, his modulated voice carrying a hint of genuine curiosity. "I expected... more."
A new challenger stepped forward – a warrior in ancient samurai armor, his Ki forming a visible aura around his translucent form. He drew a katana that gleamed with light.
"I am Yoshimitsu, Heaven's Blade," he announced formally. "I have defeated ten thousand demons in single combat. Prepare yourself, intruder."
Toji inclined his head slightly. "Your reputation is noted. Your chances remain... unchanged."
Yoshimitsu moved with blinding speed, his katana tracing patterns of light as he executed a flawless series of strikes. Each cut was precisely aimed at vital points, the blade humming as it sliced through the air.
Toji met the assault with minimal movement. His left arm deflected the first strike, the blade skittering off the advanced material with a shower of sparks. His right hand intercepted the second cut, catching the blade between his thumb and forefinger.
"Impressive technique," Toji acknowledged, holding the katana immobile despite Yoshimitsu's straining efforts to free it. "But ultimately... irrelevant."
With a sharp twist, Toji snapped the blade in half. Before Yoshimitsu could react, Toji's hand shot forward, the palm striking the samurai's chest.
The impact was deceptively gentle, but its effect was catastrophic. Yoshimitsu's body convulsed as power cascaded through it, temporarily disrupting his form. He collapsed to his knees, his armor cracking and dissolving.
"Rest warrior," Toji commanded, already turning to face his next opponents. "Your courage is acknowledged."
Five more warriors converged on him simultaneously, each wielding different weapons and techniques.
Toji raised both hands, fingers splayed, and lifted all five telekinetically. They hung suspended in mid-air, struggling against invisible bonds.
"Your coordination is commendable," Toji observed, studying their futile struggles. "However..."
With a sharp gesture, he slammed all five warriors together with bone-crushing force. Their bodies entangled in a knot of limbs before Toji hurled the entire mass into an approaching group of reinforcements.
Throughout the amphitheater, warriors who had not yet engaged watched in growing horror. What had begun as righteous defense was rapidly becoming a one-sided massacre.
"ENOUGH!" West Kai shrieked, his monocle finally falling as he gesticulated wildly. "ALL WARRIORS, ATTACK AT ONCE! OVERWHELM HIM!"
Nearly thirty champions rushed forward, forming a hemisphere around Toji. Energy blasts, thrown weapons, and direct attacks all converged on him simultaneously from every angle.
Toji's response was simple.
He raised both hands above his head, then brought them down sharply. The air itself seemed to compress around him before exploding outward in a dome of telekinesis. The shockwave caught every attacker, lifting them off their feet and slamming them into walls, pillars, and each other.
When the dust settled, Toji stood alone in the center of a circle of broken, groaning warriors. Not one had reached him.
"Your strategy was sound," he commented, surveying the destruction around him. "Your execution was... inadequate."
A flicker of movement caught his attention. Pikkon, despite his missing arm, had regained his footing and was approaching from behind. His remaining hand glowed with fire.
"Admirable persistence," Toji noted without turning. "Tactically unsound."
As Pikkon launched himself forward, Toji pivoted with immense speed. His damaged right leg didn't hinder him, with his telekinesis. He caught Pikkon's fire fist in his prosthetic hand, the impact creating a shockwave that cracked the floor beneath them.
"Your determination merits recognition," Toji said, his grip tightening around Pikkon's fist. "Your judgment... does not."
Toji began to break Pikkon's remaining arm. First the fingers, each joint snapping with audible cracks. Then the wrist, twisting it until the bones separated. Finally the elbow, bending it backward.
Pikkon's face contorted in agony, but he refused to cry out. Even as his arm was systematically destroyed, he attempted to kick at Toji's damaged leg.
"Predictable," Toji observed, catching Pikkon's ankle with his hand. "But commendable."
With a sharp twist, he shattered Pikkon's knee, the joint giving way with a sickening crunch. As the warrior collapsed, Toji delivered a precise strike to his other leg, rendering it equally useless.
"Your combat capabilities are now... neutralized," Toji stated, looking down at the broken champion. "Further resistance would be... illogical."
Pikkon glared up at him, defiance burning in his eyes despite his ruined body. "I... serve... Heaven," he managed through gritted teeth.
"A noble sentiment," Toji acknowledged. "Poorly directed."
With deliberate steps, Toji placed his boot on Pikkon's head, applying just enough pressure to pin him to the golden floor without causing further damage.
"Your dedication is noted," Toji said, his mechanical breathing filling the sudden silence of the amphitheater. "Your superiors have... failed you."
'Is he... Acting like that Darth... Viser? Varor? What was his name again. Va- something person, right now?' Bardock questioned himself shocked, confused, amused, but also finding it very tactically sound.
'I suppose it is a quite the intimidating character. I myself liked him a lot when they showed the movie. Fits his whole, father going through Hell for son thing also.' Bardock thought to himself, arms crossed, eyes closed nodding to himself.
"A very good choice." Bardock muttered.
'What's he on about?' Skirk thought to himself with a sweat drop, seeing how weird Bardock was acting.
From across the chamber, King Kai watched with a mixture of horror and fascination. The Toji he had come to know – the powerful but ultimately compassionate warrior who fought to protect Earth – seemed transformed.
This methodical, almost surgical application of violence was new, calculated in a way that spoke of fundamental changes to his character.
'Most likely because of Slug,' King Kai thought to himself clenching his fists, remembering how badly Toji was injured, and how worried he was then.
Yet King Kai could sense that Toji was holding back. Despite the brutality of his attacks, he had not killed – or rather, erased – a single soul.
His lightsaber remained deactivated at his belt, unused despite its efficiency. Every broken bone, every shattered joint would eventually heal in the afterlife.
Toji was making a point without causing permanent damage.
This realization did little to comfort the assembled deities as Toji turned his attention from the defeated Pikkon to the Grand Kai himself.
"Now," Toji said, his voice carrying easily across the silent chamber, "I believe we have matters to discuss."
The four directional Kais formed a protective circle around their superior, their faces masks of determination despite the fear radiating from their forms.
"You will not approach the Grand Kai!" East Kai declared, her robes billowing as she gathered her Ki.
"Your actions are unconscionable!" South Kai added, his rotund form trembling slightly despite his brave words.
"You face the combined might of Heaven's leadership!" North Kai – King Kai – stated, though his voice lacked the conviction of his colleagues. It was more acting in duty than anything- not out of want.
"DESTROY HIM!" West Kai shrieked, spittle flying from his lips as he pointed a trembling finger at Toji.
Toji's head tilted slightly, the expressionless mask somehow conveying mild amusement. "Your protective instincts are... commendable," he observed. "Your tactical assessment is... flawed."
With a casual gesture, Toji sent out a wave of telekinetic force that pushed the directional Kais aside like toys. Only King Kai remained unmoved, Toji having spared him.
The path to the Grand Kai now clear, Toji advanced with measured steps. His mechanical breathing echoed ominously in the silent chamber as he approached the old thing.
Grand Kai attempted to maintain his dignity, straightening his sunglasses and stroking his beard as if unconcerned. But the slight tremor in his hands betrayed his fear.
"Now see here," he began, his voice cracking slightly. "As Grand Kai, I demand-"
His words cut off abruptly as Toji's left hand shot out, gripping him by the throat and lifting him from his ornate chair. His feet dangled helplessly as Toji raised him to eye level.
"Demands require leverage," Toji observed coldly. "You possess... none."
The Grand Kai clawed ineffectively at the mechanical hand that held him, his sunglasses askew on his face. "You... can't... do this," he gasped. "I'm... the Grand Kai!"
"Titles without substance are... meaningless," Toji replied, his grip neither tightening nor loosening – just enough to restrain without causing unnecessary pain. "You sent your champion to attack me without provocation. You attempted to deny me passage after I rightfully earned it through the Gate of Life."
The mechanical breathing filled a pause as Toji studied the struggling deity. "Give me one reason why I should not destroy you."
Grand Kai's eyes widened in panic. "You... can't... destroy a Kai!"
"An assertion without evidence," Toji countered. "I seek a reason, not a claim. Perhaps you are a good friend to King Kai? Or a helpful, supportive superior to your subordinates? Or perhaps you occasionally assist those in need?"
The Grand Kai's expression shifted from panic to confusion, clearly unable to claim any of these qualities with conviction.
"As I suspected," Toji noted, his voice carrying a hint of disappointment. "Leadership carries responsibility for the actions of subordinates. You have failed in this regard."
"Wait!" King Kai rushed forward, placing himself between Toji and the other Kais. "Please, Toji! The Grand Kai may have made mistakes, but destroying him would disrupt the cosmic hierarchy! The consequences would be catastrophic!"
Toji's head turned slightly toward King Kai, the expressionless mask revealing nothing of his thoughts. "Your concern is... noted. However, accountability must be maintained."
"I can... offer... something," the Grand Kai choked out, his face darkening from lack of oxygen.
Toji loosened his grip slightly, allowing the deity to speak more clearly. "Elaborate."
"A technique," Grand Kai gasped, massaging his throat. "Valuable... for your mission."
"Continue," Toji prompted, his mechanical breathing steady and unperturbed.
"Instant Transmission," the Grand Kai explained, his voice steadying as he sensed potential salvation. "A Yardrat technique for instantaneous movement across vast distances. It would allow you to retrieve whatever you need to save your son much faster."
Toji remained silent, the expressionless mask betraying nothing of his thoughts.
"It's true!" King Kai added eagerly. "Instant Transmission would be invaluable for moving between realms! You could return to your son immediately once you have what you need! Not even needing a Gate!"
The mechanical breathing continued uninterrupted for several cycles as Toji considered the offer. The entire amphitheater seemed to hold its breath, waiting for his decision.
Finally, Toji gave a single, curt nod. "Acceptable."
Relief washed over the Grand Kai's face as Toji lowered him back to his chair. The ancient deity straightened his sunglasses and beard with trembling hands.
"The knowledge transfer requires direct contact," Grand Kai explained, his voice still slightly hoarse. "I must place my hand on your... er, helmet."
Toji inclined his head, bringing the black mask within the Grand Kai's reach. He hesitantly placed his palm against the smooth surface, closing his eyes in concentration.
A soft glow emanated from the point of contact as knowledge flowed directly into Toji's mind. The principles of spirit control, the technique of focusing on a specific ki signature, the method of instantaneous movement – all transferred in a matter of seconds.
When the Grand Kai removed his hand, he collapsed back into his chair, visibly drained by the effort. "It is done," he wheezed.
Toji straightened, processing the newly acquired knowledge. The technique was elegant in its simplicity yet profound in its implications.
By focusing on a specific ki signature and properly controlling his spirit energy, he could instantly transport himself to that location, regardless of distance.
"The exchange is... satisfactory," Toji acknowledged with a slight nod.
He turned away from the Grand Kai, surveying the destruction around him. The amphitheater was in disarray, with broken pillars, cracked floors, and dozens of injured warriors scattered throughout.
Pikkon remained where Toji had left him, his broken body slowly beginning the healing process that all souls in the afterlife eventually experienced.
Toji approached Bardock and Skrik, who had watched the entire confrontation from near the Gate of Life.
Bardock's expression was a mixture of awe and wariness, while Skrik's six eyes blinked in different patterns, clearly enthralled by the violence he had witnessed.
"MAGNIFICENT!" the death bird declared, his wings extending to their full seventeen-foot span. "Skrik has NEVER seen such EFFICIENT brutality! Technically speaking, you broke exactly seventy-three spiritual bones in under two minutes! A new RECORD!"
"Touch my arms," Toji commanded, ignoring Skrik's commentary. "Both of you."
Bardock confused, hesitated only briefly before placing his hand on Toji's organic arm. Skrik, after a moment of confused head-tilting, made himself smaller, and perched on Toji's prosthetic shoulder, his talons gripping the black armor.
"Where are we going?" Bardock asked, his voice low and serious.
"To collect what's needed," Toji replied cryptically, raising his organic hand to his forehead. Two fingers pressed against his helmet as he concentrated on a distant ki signature.
"Wait!" King Kai called out, rushing toward them. "Where are you going? What are you planning?"
Toji's head turned slightly, "You'll know later King Kai. I'll need your help. For now, know only that I am going to like I said before, save my son," he replied.
And the three vanished.
---------------------------
(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all liked the chapter!
Do tell me how you found it.
The Instant transmission thing- King Kai knows it, so the Grand Kai should know it too. King Kai showed it off to Goku once if I remember correctly.
Also, the Vader-esque intimidation dialogue, its something Toji's decided to do during fighting enemies to break their wills, since he learned from his mistakes against Slug.
Well, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)