cornbringer

Dragon Ball Z: The Beast Within - CH19

Added 2025-02-28 04:17:18 +0000 UTC

[Escarot POV.]

The wind was still.

Sometimes, it almost felt as if the planet was alive. As if it could feel like something bad was going to happen.

I had trained with Nail this last week, non-stop. And I had grown stronger… but, there was only so much it could be done in a week.

Nevertheless, I was stronger, and that’s all that mattered.

Arms crossed, I stood atop a rocky plateau, waiting, my eyes locked on the horizon. Slug was far, but he had sent a few of his soldiers down. Most likely to collect the Dragon Balls.

They were coming.

I had felt it ever since they entered Namek’s atmosphere—a cluster of power signatures, moving fast, splitting into teams as they descended toward the planet’s surface.

I exhaled slowly, my tail flicking behind me.

This was it.

The moment I had been waiting for.

I had trained for months, pushed my body beyond its limits, honed my instincts in ways I never thought possible.

And I was excited for this. My first, real fight.

I still had a few moments before their ships landed. So, all I had to do was… wait.

Patience wasn’t exactly a Saiyan virtue, or a human one for that matter, but I had learned something during my time on Namek.

So I stood still, my energy carefully repressed, my breathing even. Surge was active, pushing my power beyond its limits. Still, I kept my power buried beneath the surface, hidden just enough to keep my enemies from realizing what they were walking into.

The element of surprise was always a good thing to have.

I could feel Nail, far to the south, waiting for his own opponents. He had taken the weaker pair, while I had chosen the strongest signature for myself.

Why?

Well, Nail had lost three matches of rock, paper, scissors. In row.

So the honor of facing these two, was mine.

Smiling, I turned my gaze to the sky, as a low rumble echoed in the distance, faint at first, but growing steadily louder.

Engines.

My fingers twitched, as the distant black dots in the sky grew larger, sharper, until I could make out the sleek, round shapes of two attack ships cutting through the air.

I smirked.

Finally.

The ships slowed, thrusters flaring as they angled downward. Then, with twin booms, they touched down a short distance in front of me, kicking up dirt and dust in their wake.

I didn’t move.

I just watched as the ships hissed, steam venting as their doors cracked open.

And for the first time, I laid eyes on my enemies.

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[Third Person POV.]

The sky of Namek darkened as a couple of ships cut through the sky, breaking the clouds as they descended. The ships were old, outdated, covered in battle scars and tears from past travels, but still functional enough to serve their purpose.

Dust and debris kicked up from the ground as the ships landed in a flat, open area near a cluster of rocky hills. The hatch to the ships hissed, releasing steam, before slowly lowering to the ground, as two figures stepped out.

The first one to step out of the ships was a large, hulking brute, with bat-like wings folded against his back. His thick arms and massive fists flexed as he cracked his knuckles. His skin was a dark, muddy brown, and his wide grin revealed sharp teeth.

Beside him stood a tall man with cyan skin, pointed ears, small horns and shaggy long blonde hair, wearing a light purple toga, a purple bandana, red earrings, blue bracers, a purple cape, white pants and dark orange and blue boots.

“It seems someone was sent to wait for us,” Angila said, smiling.

A lone figure stood several meters ahead, arms crossed, tail swaying slightly behind him. A child by appearance alone, but the energy radiating from him told a different story to Angila and Dorodabo.

“So, who’s first?” The child asked, his dark eyes locked onto them with a predatory look.

Dorodabo let out a booming laugh. “A kid? This is who’s standing in our way?” He stretched his wings slightly before folding them back down. “Lord Slug’s going to be pissed if this is the best Namek has to offer.”

Angila, however, didn’t laugh. His eyes remained on Escarot. His brute of a friend might have been to stupid to notice, but he wasn’t stupid. He could sense it; the kid’s power, and the threat he represented wasn’t something to ignore.

“Don’t be stupid… can you feel this isn’t an ordinary brat,” Angila said as he took a step forward, his gaze narrowing. “You. Saiyan. What are you doing here?”

The saiyan didn’t answer right away. He simply kept his arms crossed, standing his ground. The ship had landed exactly where he thought it would. He had sensed them coming long before they entered the atmosphere.

“I’ll make this simple, and only because Guru asked me to,” Escarot said, voice firm. “Turn around. Leave. You’re not getting the Dragon Balls. Stay, and you will die.”

Dorodabo’s laughter erupted again, but Angila’s smirk faded. He had heard empty threats before, but there was something different about this kid. Something about the way he stood, the way he spoke.

A part of him could tell this saiyan was dangerous. But still... his power was greater, so there was nothing to worry about.

“Tch. Cute,” Angila chuckled. “But we’re not leaving.” He raised a hand, palm facing Escarot. A small, glowing orb of ki formed in his hand, crackling softly. “You’ve got ten seconds to step aside. After that, we kill you.”

The saiyan still didn’t move. His tail twitched once as he smiled. “Now… that’s cute.”

Dorodabo huffed. “Forget the countdown. Let’s just squash him now, you know Lord Slug doesn’t like to wait.”

Angila didn’t object as his energy blast flared to life, growing in intensity.

Cracking his neck, the saiyan uncrossed his arms and shifted his stance. His feet dug into the ground slightly, his fingers curling into fists. His muscles tensed, his energy flickering for a brief moment. The ground beneath him cracked subtly.

The wind howled as silence fell between them. For a brief moment, the only sound was the hum of Angila’s energy blast.

Then—

The Saiyan vanished.

Dorodabo’s grin dropped. “What the—”

A sudden shockwave burst between them as Escarot reappeared mid-air, directly above their heads. His right hand was already glowing with a charged ki blast, aimed straight at the ground between them.

“I warned you.”

He fired.

Dorodabo and Angila leaped back, skidding to a stop as the attack engulfed the entire area in a massive explosion, leaving nothing but a smoking crater.

Angila straightened, brushing dust off his shoulder. “He was supressing his Ki.”

Dorodabo growled, flexing his fists. “So the kid’s got some fire.”

The Saiyan hovered above them. “I have to say, I am glad you didn’t take the peaceful way out. But don’t tell Guru that, it would break his old heart out. The name’s Escarot by the way, not that you bothered to ask.”

Angila let out a slow breath, rolling his neck. “No more talking.”

Dorodabo cracked his knuckles. “Yeah. Let’s rip him apart.”

“Finally,” Escarot replied, grinning.

Dorodabo moved first.

With a single flap of his wings, he propelled himself forward at surprising speed for someone his size. His fist cocked back, ready to drive it straight into the Saiyan’s face.

Escarot didn’t move.

Dorodabo swung—a wild, heavy punch that could cave in solid rock. But at the last second, Escarot tilted his head slightly, letting the punch whiff past his cheek.

Then before Dorodabo could react, Escarot’s knee smashed into his jaw, the impact sending a cracking echo through the air. The brute’s head snapped back, blood flying as he tumbled downward like a rock, crashing into the ground below with a loud BOOM.

Escarot barely had time to breathe before he felt movement.

Angila was already behind him.

A streak of blue light erupted from Angila’s throat—releasing his signature technique, The Devil Throat Beam at point-blank.

Escarot twisted mid-air, barely avoiding the blast as it shot past him, singeing part of his shoulder armor. However, before Escarot could counter, Angila’s arms suddenly stretched out, grabbing both of Escarot’s wrists.

"Gotcha."

Angila yanked the Saiyan forward, his elongated arms pulling like snakes before twisting him around and slamming him straight into the dirt.

The ground shattered, dust flying up as Escarot let out a grunt.

Angila wasn’t done.

Still gripping his opponent’s arms, Angila lifted him up and swung him hard, flinging him into the nearby hills. Escarot’s body smashed through boulders, shattering them like glass before he finally skidded to a stop.

Dorodabo, shaking off the earlier blow, took to the sky again. “My turn!”

He opened his massive mouth wide, energy building inside.

"Eat this, brat!"

A massive red energy blast erupted from Dorodabo’s mouth, lighting up the sky as it hurtled toward the downed Saiyan. The attack exploded on impact, engulfing the hill in a blinding fireball. Rocks and debris scattered in all directions as flames flickered around the impact zone.

Angila crossed his arms, smirking. "That should keep him down."

But the moment the smoke started to clear—something moved.

A energy ball came screaming out of the smoke, aimed straight at Dorodabo.

"WHAT—?!"

The blast collided with the winged warrior before he could dodge. The explosion sent him spinning out of control, slamming him into the dirt with a sickening crash.

The air grew silent for a moment.

Then—Escarot stepped out of the smoke.

His battle armor was cracked, and there was a cut on his cheek, but he looked otherwise unbothered. If anything… he looked excited.

"Not bad," Escarot admitted, rolling his shoulders. "Didn’t expect you to be able to extend your arms like the Namekians."

Before Angila could reply, Escarot vanished.

A sudden change of wind behind him, told him that Escarot had appeared mid-air, already charging a storm of energy blasts in both hands.

"Let’s see you dodge this!"

He threw dozens of energy blasts in rapid succession, raining down onto Angila and Dorodabo. The sky and ground lit up as explosions as each ki blast erupted, the ground shaking from the sheer volley of attacks.

Dorodabo barely had time to throw his arms up before he was hit head-on, his body blown back through the terrain.

Angila twisted and weaved between the blasts, his speed allowing him to avoid a few—but not all. A sudden blast struck his shoulder, knocking him off balance, followed by another hitting his leg. He crashed down onto one knee, panting.

Angila wiped blood from his lip, his smirk slowly returning. “This… shouldn’t be possible, no Saiyan should be this strong!”

Dorodabo groaned, forcing himself up. He was battered, his breathing heavier, bleeding but still standing. “Stop playing around Angila! Kill the little bastard!”

Angila cracked his knuckles. “Yeah. No more games.”

“I could do without the idle chat between you two,” Escarot said, watching the two with a smile.

Angry. Dorodabo moved first; with a flap of his wings, closing the distance between the two in an instant, while Angila extended his below the ground, aiming to catch Escarot off guard.

Escarot dodged Dorodabo’s first punch, sidestepping it with ease. But Angila’s elongated arm wrapped around his ankle, pulling him downward.

Before Escarot could react, Dorodabo slammed both fists into his chest, sending him flying back.

BOOM!

Escarot crashed through a rock formation, the debris collapsing around him.

Angila didn’t waste time. His mouth expanded, and with a loud roar, he fired another beam straight into the rubble.

The beam ripped through the debris, creating a massive explosion. Dust and smoke covered the area, and for a moment, there was silence.

Dorodabo grinned. "He has to be dead!"

But Angila didn’t lower his guard. Something didn’t feel right.

Then—a flicker of light.

A ki blast came shooting out of the smoke, barely missing Angila’s face. He dodged, but another came right after—then another, and another.

From the cloud of dust, a barrage of energy blasts erupted in all directions, forcing Angila and Dorodabo to scramble to avoid them.

The smoke cleared just in time to reveal Escarot, mid-air. "I really have a problem dodging those types of attacks."

Dorodabo growled and lunged again, throwing a massive right hook. Escarot blocked it with one hand, barely flinching.

Dorodabo’s eyes widened. "What—?!"

“Sorry to burst your bubble big guy, but you are… outclassed.”

Escarot’s fist smashed into Dorodabo’s stomach, the impact causing the giant warrior to cough up blood as his eyes bulged.

Then, in a blur of movement, Escarot delivered a barrage of punches, each hit making a sickening thud against Dorodabo’s body, ending the barrage with a devastating uppercut— that sent the brute soaring into the sky.

Angila’s eyes twitched, realizing their fight had turned against them. He extended his arms once again, aiming to grab Escarot from behind.

However, Escarot spun mid-air, blasting Angila’s arms with ki, forcing them back.

Angila snarled, landing on the ground and skidding back. He wasn’t done yet.

Taking a deep breath, he opened his mouth again, preparing to fire another attack, this time at full power.

A mistake.

Escarot saw it coming. Before Angila could fire, the Saiyan vanished—then reappeared right in front of him.

Angila’s eyes widened. Too fast!

Escarot’s fist buried itself into Angila’s stomach.

CRACK.

Angila coughed up blood, his eyes bulging as pain shot through his entire body.

Escarot’s next move was merciless. He grabbed Angila by the face, rocketing forward and slamming him into a nearby cliffside.

The rock wall shattered as Escarot dragged Angila through it, tearing through layers of stone before hurling him away like trash.

Angila tumbled, rolling across the dirt before struggling to stand.

Escarot landed a few feet away, looking in a different direction. "It seems Nail already killed the other two.”

Angila wiped blood from his lip. His rage boiled over. This kid was humiliating them.

Dorodabo, barely able to move, coughed from the crater he was stuck in. “A-Angila…”

Angila took a shaky step forward, his vision blurred from the pain. He could barely believe it.

They were losing.

No—worse.

They were completely outmatched.

Escarot clenched his fists, his energy flaring around him. He was done playing.

“This is over,” Escarot said coldly.

Angila’s teeth gritted. He refused to accept it.

His hands clenched into fists. If they couldn’t win, then they’d take the brat down with them.

Dorodabo weakly began to charge a final desperate energy blast from the ground. And Angila did the same.

Angila took aim, using both of his hand and every drop of energy within him; he screamed. “DIE!”

Releasing his attack, at the same time as Dorodabo.

A massive combined blast of red and blue energy erupted from both warriors, twisting together into a single devastating wave. The force of the attack tore up the ground beneath it, ripping through the area as it hurtled toward Escarot.

The Saiyan didn’t move.

He simply raised one hand.

A blue light flared around his palm. A tiny energy ball formed.

Then–he fired.

A single beam of energy shot forward, cutting through the air like a spear.

The moment it collided with Angila and Dorodabo’s combined attack, there was a brief struggle—an instant where it looked like they were matching Escarot’s power.

Then; reality set in.

Escarot’s blast tore through their energy wave as if it were nothing.

Dorodabo’s eyes widened. “What—?!”

Angila’s pupils shrank. "NO—!"

The beam ripped through their attacks, cutting straight through the energy and hitting them directly.

A massive explosion swallowed both warriors, their screams drowned out by the sheer force of the blast. A violent shockwave followed, sending debris flying as the entire area was swallowed by light.

For a few seconds—there was only silence.

Then, the smoke cleared.

Dorodabo’s charred remains collapsed, his body lifeless. His massive frame hit the ground with a dull thud, unmoving.

Angila was still barely alive, much to Escarot’s surprise, kneeling, shaking violently. His armor was shattered, his body burnt, his eyes dull with shock. He looked up at Escarot, unable to comprehend how completely they had been outclassed.

Escarot slowly walked forward, standing over him. His dark eyes stared down coldly.

"You should have left when I told you to."

Angila opened his mouth—maybe to beg, maybe to curse him—but he never got the chance.

Escarot lifted a single hand. A bright sphere of ki formed.

Angila’s body tensed, eyes widening in pure fear.

“W-Wait—!”

BOOM.

The blast erased Angila completely.

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