Bringer of Death

Cold Saga - Part 7: Triptych

Cold Saga - Part 7: Triptych 

Cold felt his armored exoskeleton stiffen as the transformation started to overtake him. He barely remembered what it was like, being in his true form. As the shell around him grew hard, he felt his body morphing, consciousness becoming cloudy. 

The last time he had been in this form - nearly a century before - it had been all he could do to maintain control. Unlike the lower suppressed forms, he could easily alter the power of his true state; losing control would be as simple as one second of agitation. At minimum, he was only slightly stronger than his last transformation and easy enough to manage, but he had never put any appreciable fraction of its power to the test. This battle would take every ounce of concentration he possessed. 

The frost demon felt the turbulent flow of energy stabilize, and pain ripped through his still-blurred consciousness. All the transformations were excruciating, but this final one was by far the most acute agony of all. He could feel every crack propagating through his brittle outer shell, new smooth skin bursting through. He could see nothing, hear nothing, feel nothing. Surely these were the pangs of death itself. 

As suddenly as the pain had come, it was gone. He was instantly aware of everything - every muscle completely whole. Latent power rippled through his body, a reminder of just how careful he had to be. The transformation was complete. 

"Come. Attack me both together."

Vegeta grinned. "So, you think your new power will be enough to save you? I guess we'll see." The Super Saiyan prince cracked his knuckles, filled with anticipation. It was his turn. 

The giant crossed his arms, his expression unchanged. "I told you to attack me together now. I'm giving you one chance. It is your only hope for survival." He had forgotten how easy it was to regulate his energy in this form. The lower transformations impeded the natural flow of ki, preventing it from overwhelming him, but in his true body all his power flowed freely. He relaxed, lowering his power output to its absolute minimum. 

Vegeta charged, grinning as his muscles tensed for the attack. He flew upward in an arc, then slashed down with a vicious chop, knocking Cold a few feet back. The prince immediately launched a series of powerful punches and kicks that resounded off the frost demon's blocks like cannon fire. 

"Come now, fight me as hard as you can!" 

Vegeta could tell that Cold wasn't taking this seriously. Though the giant blocked each attack easily, he wasn't even maintaining a fighting stance. "You're pissing me off, Demon!" 

The frost lord's lips parted in a sly grin. "Very well. But remember, you asked for it." Energy instantaneously erupted around him, and he spun around with a kick that sent the Super Saiyan tumbling. 

"That's more like it!" shouted Vegeta as he recovered and dashed back toward his opponent. He got in a half-dozen blows before Cold counterattacked with a rapid burst of punches that he only barely blocked. Their force pushed him back quickly. Twisting in midair, he slid under the frost demon's defenses and landed a kick to his opponent's chest with all his force. 

THUDD! Vegeta looked up, expecting to see Cold doubled over in pain. To his surprise, the infuriating smirk was still painted on the demon's face. His feet had rammed into the unflinching iron torso of his foe, but the only pain felt by the attack was that his toes and heels were now aching. 

"So this is the best you can do? I'm disappointed, Super Saiyan."

Bulma landed her ship where the Z Fighters were watching the battle and quickly hopped out of the cockpit, accompanied by the bronze android. "Hey, guys!" The annoying tone of her voice twisted upwards in pitch, causing Piccolo to turn away brusquely. The battlefield was no place for a woman.