DRAGON BALL Z
AT ANY COST
CHAPTER XI: QUARTERFINALS
BY
Sgamer82
Frost watched from his private chambers as the battles for the Quarterfinals were announced. It came as no surprise to him that the Z-Fighters had all made it into the final rounds. Though that fact in itself was unimportant to him. He was just glad that the one fighter he'd wanted managed to make it. All this, this tournament, his actions before creating it, it had all been for that one fighter. The one fighter above all else Frost wished to battle. With everything he had done, Frost didn't have a doubt in his mind that his chosen opponent would make it through the round. Making past all of the difficult battles that awaited. Frost knew a strong warrior when he saw one, and this person was far stronger than anybody thought. Frost let out an evil smile as the thought of his upcoming battle made him shake with pleasure.
FIGHT 1: KRILLIN VS. 18
Krillin and 18 walked into the arena side by side. It was a tense moment for the two fighters. Neither one had predicted this outcome. They had expected that they might have to fight each other, but both 18 and Krillin were shocked it was happening so soon. Krillin had already agreed to let the far stronger 18 continue in the tournament if they did battle. But he had at least wanted more than a single good fight. He had hoped he'd get a little farther before he had to get out. This, above all else, is what dissappointed Krillin.
"Don't worry, I'll let you have a chance." said 18, seemingly reading Krillin's thoughts.
"But you should be the one who advances." Krillin told his wife.
"Probably won't make a difference. This tournament has a pissed off, revenge seeking Vegeta in it. I for one don't plan to do something stupid like get in his way."
"Great, so even if, by some chance, I beat you I might still have to face Vegeta?"
"Maybe. Though that's still if you beat me." 18 told him.
Krillin let out a sigh and stepped into the arena for the fight. It was twice the size of the Tenkaichi Budoukai arena back on Earth. It was one big room and, unlike the Earth Budokai, didn't end. So falling out of the ring was not an option for ending the fight. The only way a fighter could take victory was to knock out or kill their opponent. Krillin and 18 both watched a light that was positioned above the north end of the ring. The light would shine a hot white when it was time to start. Krillin was amazed at how everything in this station was automated. The only living things in the whole place were the competitors. With the detail that had gone into the station it seemed as if Koola had been planning this for a long time.
Krillin didn't get much more time to think on that because the light became white and 18 wasn't in the mood to waste time. She charged Krillin head on and Krillin had to move as fast as he could to dodge and parry each hit. Krillin blocked punch after kick after punch. After about two dozen of these hits Krillin finally made a move. He launched a high kick right into 18's chin, causing the Artificial Human to step back a few steps before recovering. Krillin wasted no time in attacking. He started his own salvo of punches and kicks. However, unlike 18, Krillin wasn't trying to land a blow. He was instead trying to see how his wife blocked his moves. To see just what she would do to a certain action. After a few seconds of this, three seconds in which 18 came close to successfully counterattacking five times, Krillin broke away and held out his arms in front of him. As 18 began an assault of her own Krillin launched two slow, but powerful, Ki beams from his hands. 18 extended her hands in preparation to repel them. When the beams came within inches of making contact Krillin brought his hands together, pushing the two separate beams into one large beam. The single blast came together in the point directly in center of the gap between the two original beams. 18's eyes registered shock as the large attack hit her head on.
As the smoke from the large explosion the attack caused began to clear, 18 stood only 2 inches away from the spot she had been standing in when the Ki had hit her. Her clothes, a recreation of the clothing she wore when she and Krillin first met sans the Red Ribbon logo, were torn to shreds. Her shirt was almost completely gone below her chest. Krillin let a smile appear on his face as he thought of Kamesen'nin back home desperately trying to get as good a look as the all but exposed 18 as possible. 18 smiled herself and spoke to Krillin.
"Well, at least you're making me work for this." she told him.
"If I have to lose, I'm at least going to look good doing it." Krillin replied.
"Be careful, you're starting to sound like a certain "World Champion" back home."
"You're going to pay for that little comment." Krillin said in mock-anger.
"No I won't." she said simply. 18 renewed her assault on her husband. She got in a solid kick to Krillin's midsection followed by an uppercut. As Krillin flew into the air 18 jumped up ahead of him and sent a punch right into the base of the back of his neck. For a normal human, such a blow would have caused paralysis, if not death. But for Krillin, it would simply knock him unconscious for half an hour. Krillin hit the floor with a thud with 18 landing on the ground ahead of him. 18 was surprised when she noted Krillin's eyes were still open.
"I...guess my...training...didn't do any good...this time...either..." said Krillin before passing out. The wall with the starting light displayed 18's name in various languages. Declaring her the victor.
18 she put Krillin over her shoulder and delivered him to the infirmary.
FIGHT 2: PICCOLO VS. TUII'TA
Piccolo looked at the gangly looking bird creature standing before him. It seemed to have an arrogant demeanor that was almost as bad as Vegeta's. But Piccolo could sense he didn't have anything near Vegeta's power, so he knew the fight would not last long.
"I plan to keep this fight short." Piccolo told the avian bluntly.
"As do I." Tuii'ta said.
Piccolo started to charge the instant the light changed. But he only got a few feet before an ear-splitting noise caused him to collapse to the floor. Blood started to squirt about of his ears as the noise blew his eardrums. Tuii'ta approached Piccolo slowly, when Piccolo looked up he noticed the creature's throat was vibrating. Tuii'ta was causing the sound that was immobilizing him.
Tuii'ta landed a kick square into Piccolo's temple. Everything went black for Piccolo as his head collided with the ring.
Piccolo was taken to the infirmary and Tuii'ta decided the winner.
FIGHT 3: NOMEI VS. RUTEGA
Rutega examined her opponent carefully. Nomei was a reptillian creature who appeared to have a faraway look in her eyes. Her figure was similar to a human woman's. Rutega assumed her fighting stance while Nomei stood silently. When Rutega was prepared to battle Nomei bowed her head and spoke to Rutega in a deep, throaty voice.
"Do not bother, friend." She said.
"You're not going to tell me that you've already foreseen you winning, are you?" Rutega asked, expecting just such a tactic from someone known as a psychic.
"No, because I know I will lose."
That threw Rutega. She stood dumbfounded at Nomei's statement.
"I have seen the past, and know your reason for being here is more true than mine. I have seen the future, I see that the one who makes it to the end will be one of your blood."
"Will it be me?" asked Rutega.
"I can not say." Nomei answered, "The future is covered in the clouds of chance. I know the champion will be one of your clan, but I can not say if it is you or another among those you came with."
With that Nomei left the ring, automatically disqualifying herself and moving Rutega to the Semifinals.
FIGHT 4: RYOUSHI VS. OKURIMONO
Bounty Hunter first-class Ryoushi stood in front of the reptile Okuimono. This creature had killed hundreds of beings back on his homeworld of Heruma. Four hundred, ninety eight to be exact. Among those killed had been Ryoushi's family, his parent, his siblings, all dead because of this beast. Ryoushi promised himself that one day he would kill the animal, or join his family trying. He had tracked the reptile to this strange tournament and entered hoping to encounter his foe. Okurimono stood there, dressed in elegant battle robes, an arrogant smirk crossing his features. Ryoushi, appearing as a female human though actually a male of his species, wore a red bodysuit with several guns and knives holstered for use in battle. Ryoushi was very glad this tournament allowed weapons, it might give him the edge he'd need.
"After you," said Okurimono to Ryoushi, "I'll only need one more person to make my kill record an even 500." he let out a small laugh.
"And after you," said Ryoushi in reply, "my family will rest in peace."
"We'll see." said the lizard with a laugh.
The starting light shone, Okurimono began his attack. He swiped with his claws but Ryoushi was able to stay a step ahead and eventually got an opening to attack. He let out a high kick that sent Okurimono into the air. He unholstered his main blaster pistol and fired several shots at the reptile creature. However, Okurimono was able to recover from his enemy's kick in time to dodge all of the blaster shots. Not to be discouraged, Ryoushi flew into the air and renewed the close-up battle. This time he was on the offensive and landed many of his kicks. But Okurimono slashed with his claws and raked them accross Ryoushi's stomach. He fell to the floor. Okurimon landed grabbed Ryoushi by the neck and held him up at his eye level.
"It's time to claim victim four hundred ninety nine." Okurimono twisted his wrist sharply, cracking Ryoushi's neck, killing him instantly. Ryoushi's final thoughts before Okurimono killed him was an apology to his family and the promise that he would soon join them.
Ryoushi was dropped to the ground. A pair of robots picked up Ryoushi's corpse and took it to the stations morgue.
FIGHT 5: SHUISHOU VS. MANESURU
Shuishou's crystal-like body gleamed in the lights of the arena. It, Shuishou was neither male nor female, knew it would be in for a difficult battle. It had seen this heavily clothed creature, Manesuru, fight and saw that he was a formidable opponent. It seemed as if Manesuru could mimic and use the attacks of anyone who fought him. When the starting light flashed Manesuru just stood there, waiting for Shuishou to make the first move. Shuishou went along with this startegy and ran accross the arena. As he started Manesuru started to run. They met in the center of the arena. Every attack Shuishou made Manesuru reflected. Shuishou couldn't get in a single hit because Manesuru's attack interrupted it.
This process continued for a solid twenty minutes. Shiushou was beginning to lose strength, it couldn't hold out for very much longer. Meanwhile, Manesuru was still going strong. Deflecting attack after attacking by mimicking it. Finally, Shuishou's strength gave out. It fell to the floor and fainted. Manesuru stood there, as if nothing had happened.
The arena's monitoring system decided that Manesuru was the winner.
FIGHT 6: VEGETA VS. HAIBOKUSHA
Vegeta stared at his opponent, who was apparently a friend of Goten's. the creature didn't have a very hight battle power, especially when compared to Vegeta's. He almost convinced himself that Haibokusha would fall easily until he remembered Piccolo's battle with the avian creature. What many of these fighters lacked in true power they made up for in ingenuity and technique.
When the starting light flared Vegeta attempted a kick at Haibokusha's head. But when he reached it he hit air. A cloud of smoke moved away from his foot and gathered behind Vegeta. Haibokusha appeared there and punched at Vegeta. Vegeta dodged easily and backhanded Haibokusha into the eastern wall. When Haibokusha got back on his feet, Vegeta fired ki blasts at the pale-skinned creature. When the ki attacks' explosion faded, there was only smoke where Haibokusha stood. Vegeta was ready this time. He pushed his hands forward in what seemed an open palm slap at nothing. But the air pushed foward by the slap blew the smoke back into the wall. Haibokusha reformed and fainted, the air frm Vegeta's slap apperently doing as much damage as a solid punch would have. Vegeta's name shone on the northern display and he was declared the winner of the match.
Haibokusha, as he went to the infirmary, smiled. For, while he had lost, he felt he had done something to help his new friend, Goten.
FIGHT 7: PUROPOSHON VS. KIRERU
The two fighters of the seventh battle, the giant-torsoed, small-legged Puroposhon and the bear-like Kireru, stood silently, awaiting their time to fight.
When the starting light shone both combatants flared to life and attacked one another with a fury worthy of a Super Saiyan. Puroposhon hit Kireru with several punches strong enough to break through solid diamond. But Kireru was able to withstand the hits and, when he saw an opening, extended his great claws and slashed at his enemy. Puroposhon was able to dodge the first swipe but the second swipe caught him right at the neck. Puroposhon, his throat slit open, fell to the ground with a thud.
The short, but sweet, battle ended with Kireru being declared the winner and Puroposhon being taken to the morgue.
FIGHT 8: SHUN VS. SON GOTEN
Shun of the Yardratt and Goten stood in the ring facing one another. Goten was once again wearing his blue tunic with the 'Nyuu' Kanji on the back over a white bodysuit and black boots. He had restyled his hair so that it hung down instead of everywhere else like Goku's did. It seemed as if he had been trying to downplay his resemblance to Goku. Shun had seen only images of the Saiyan warrior who had come to their world after the Battle of Freeza, as Goku's battle with the tyrant had become known as. Shun remembered her agreement with the Z-Fighters. However, she had been given special instructions when it was learned she would fight Goten. The other Z-Fighters feared Goten was out for blood. If he wasn't stopped the boy might end up doing something he would ultimately regret. With this in mind Shun was asked to do everything possible to defeat Goten. They all knew that she could be a formidable opponent because of the Yardratt's special techniques. Shun wasn't as sure of herself, especially since she was fighting the son of the famed Son Goku. But she would do what she could. Shun and Goten withdrew their weapons, assumed their fighting stances, and awaited the light beginning the fight. Goten held the Nyoi-Bo, which Shun had been told had the ability to stretch to great lenghts. Shun held a traditional Yardratt weapon, that Citha. A weapon that looked like a human scythe with a second blade at the opposite end. The white light shone and the battle begun.
Goten wasted no time in attacking. He blasted ahead at full steam at Shun. Shun's first move was a special technique. She influenced Goten's mind to make him believe Shun had dodged him and he was about to hit the end of the ring and fall out of it. Goten, thinking he was going to lose stopped his attack well short of reaching Shun. Shun ran towards Goten and landed a hard punch to Goten's gut. Goten fell to the ground clutching his stomach and trying to figure out how he'd been hit. Goten recovered from the punch after a second and got back up. He began to sense out Shun but instead of sense her ki in one place or not all due to her hiding it, he sense Shun's ki all around him. All over the arena he sensed Shun's presense. Goten believed it was another Yardratt technique, instead of giving the opponent one location to focus on, Shun instead made Goten think she was all around him, everywhere at once. Goten dropped his guard momentarily while trying to figure it out when Shun lanched another attack. She swung her Citha and while Goten managed to spot the attack and dodge the scythe-blade the striaght blade at the bottom of the weapon went into this left thigh with a thrust from Shun.
Goten screamed out in pain and fell to his knees again. This time, however, he couldn't get up so easily due to his new injury. He did manage to stagger up to his feet again, but he held most of his weight on his right foot. Before Goten could think of a new attack Shun disappeared from his sight again. Goten tried to see where she went, since her last technique made trying to sense her pointless. Shun attacked again with her Citha but this time Goten managed to parry with the Nyoi Bo. He jumped from a low sweep of the Citha, landed on his right foot and swung his Bo, hitting Shun right in the face. Shun fell backwards, hitting the floor hard. Goten jumped foward, again landing on his right foot and began to punch Shun with everything he had. Shun was unable to get away from the blows. Suddenly, Shun disappeared again from Goten's sight but this time, less than a split second after she disappeared Goten felt a punch hit the small of his back. Goten moved foward, accidentally putting his left foot back on the floor and falling to his knees when his leg failed to support his wieght. Shun vanished again and yet again Goten felt the blows hit him in the back of the head and in the gut. Goten couldn't even sense her move.
Then Goten realized exactly what Shun was doing. She was using Instantaneous Movement to land the hits before Goten could react. Goten took nearly three dozen more of these attacks before he could think of a defense against this tactic. He held up the Nyoi Bo over his head and began spinning it. When Shun reappeared the spinning staff slammed right into her side, knocking her off-balance. Goten grabbed the Bo by its end and swung as hard as he could at Shun, hitting her in the side of the head. Shun swaggered a bit but disappeared again. When she reappeared her Instantaneous Movement took her beside Goten where she grabbed the bo and prepared to take it from him. But Goten simply smiled at her and shouted out a command.
"NYOI BO, STRETCH!!"
The end of the Nyoi Bo Shun was holding on to suddenly shot foward, taking Shun, who had a good grip on the staff, with it. The Bo extended until it hit the a wall with enough force to knock Shun from its grip and causing her to slam into the wall and pass out. When Shun failed to get back up, Goten was declared the winner. Using the staff as a cane, Goten reported to the infirmary, where he would be placed in a medical machine and healed for his next bout with Kireru.
UCUUNAKA'ICHI BUDOUKAI SEMIFINAL ROUNDS
Fight 1: 18 vs. Tuii'ta
Fight 2: Rutega vs. Okurimono
Fight 3: Manesuru vs. Vegeta
Fight 4: Kireru vs. Son Goten
On Earth, Son Goku sat beside Chi-Chi and Gohan as they watched the battles together. Videl had been resting in bed, her pregnancy having entered the later stages and Videl needing as much rest as possible. Though she did drop by to watch Goten's battle.
Goku realized as he watched that fight just how far Goten had come since the battles with Buu. He displayed a lot of cunning in his battle with the Yardratt. And Goku knew that his next opponent didn't have much of a chance against his son. Still, even though he had faith in his son he couldn't help but worry for him. He had never before realized just how hard it was to watch a battle like this. He had done so with Cell and Gohan, but then he could at least sense his son's ki. He always knew that Gohan was alive, that he was okay. This time, Goten was so far away, that no one on Earth could sense him. It really unnerved Goku to have to watch a battle like this. Chi-chi had been there for him, though. Making him feel that he wasn't alone. Goku suddenly had a whole new appreciation for the way Chi-chi had had to watch all of his and Gohan's previous battles. He could only sit there, helpless to do anything as his young son battle for his life, and his friend.
Goten, You can win. I believe in you.
END OF CHAPTER XI
note to readers: Sorry for switching the battle order the way I did. I want the battles to come out a certain way and I had to switch them around to do it.