Chapter 23: new threats
Kade's gaze fell on a gruesome tableau: Zira, her own battle armor marred but intact, loomed over a defeated Saiyan warrior. The latter's armor lay in tatters, her body bruised and exposed. The woman's chest heaved with labored breaths, her eyes filled with a fiery determination that had not yet been extinguished by defeat. The stark contrast between her fierce spirit and her vulnerable state was jarring, and it stirred something primal within Kade.
"You're wrong, Zira," the fallen warrior spat through bloodied lips. "We can be...so much more."
Kade's eyes narrowed, his muscles coiling like a spring. The scene was a grim reminder of what lay in store if they didn't act fast. He didn't know the Saiyan's name, but he knew her spirit. It was a spirit that resonated with his own, a spark of hope in the shadow of destruction.
"Hey, Zira!" Kade called out, his voice echoing through the ravaged streets. "If you want to knock things down, let a professional do it, okay?"
The cocky grin on his face didn't quite reach his eyes as he took the situation in. The city lay in ruins around him, the stench of burnt rubble and desolation thick in the air. It was a stark reminder of the true power of destruction, and the gravity of his role weighed heavily on his shoulders.
"Looks like you've been playing in my sandbox," Kade said, his voice carrying the authority of a god. "But I'm the one who gets to decide what stays and what goes."
With a seriousness that had been building since he first set foot on Sarada, Kade began to charge his purple aura, a fierce glow that grew brighter by the second. The intensity was palpable, his body a beacon of power that seemed to pulse with the very essence of destruction itself. His eyes narrowed, and he could feel the weight of his divine responsibility pressing down upon him. He was a God of Destruction, and it was time to prove it.
"What the—" Zira began to taunt, but she was cut off as the aura grew too intense to ignore. Her smug grin faltered as the ground beneath her trembled. The buildings around her groaned and shifted as the air grew thick with energy.
Kade's transformation was complete. His black sclera with glowing purple irises pierced through the dust and smoke, his purple hair standing on end like a living flame. The swirling destruction energy around him coalesced into a terrifying aura that seemed to crackle with the promise of obliteration. The faint purple marks on his skin looked like veins of power, pulsing with the might of a god.
"This... ends... now," he growled, his voice deep and thunderous.
Zira's eyes narrowed as she took in Kade's new form, her smirk faltering for a brief moment. The air grew tense, the very fabric of the city seeming to quiver in anticipation of the impending clash. The Saiyan warrior at her feet gasped for breath, clinging to consciousness as he watched the scene unfold.
"You need to get the hell out of here and stop terrorizing my people" Kade says sternly.
"Your people?" she echoed, amusement coloring her voice. "These ants? They mean nothing to a god like you. Surely you don't care about such insignificant lives."
Kade's expression hardened. "Every life has value," he declared, his fist glowing ominously with purple Hakai energy. "And as the God of Destruction, it's my job to ensure balance, not to be a mindless tool of annihilation."
The air crackled as Kade charged his first attack, his fist now a sphere of fiery purple and black aura. Zira's eyes widened as she sensed the unbridled power that surged through him. She hadn't expected this level of strength from a being who'd been so casual moments before.
With a roar that seemed to shake the very foundations of the city, Kade shot forward, his fist aimed directly at Zira's chest. The ground beneath them ruptured, creating a chasm as the sheer force of his approach sent debris flying in every direction. The Saiyans and inhabitants of the city watched in awe, their eyes glued to the battle between the two titanic beings.
The moment of impact was explosive. Zira's cocky smirk was wiped clean as Kade's fist met her sternum with the force of a meteor. The sound of cracking bone and the sickening splatter of blood filled the air as she was sent hurtling through the sky, a crimson trail painting her path. She slammed into the earth with a thunderous boom, the ground around her cratering upon impact.
The Saiyans and bystanders watched in stunned silence, the reality of Kade's power sinking in. His fist was still outstretched, the remnants of the godly aura fading from his knuckles. He looked down at Zira, now a crumpled heap of armor and bruised flesh, and his playful smirk was replaced by a stern expression. "You've overstepped," he declared, his voice echoing through the ruins of the city.
Zira, stunned but not defeated, pushed herself up with a snarl. "You think you can just waltz in here and play god?" she spat. "You're nothing but a child playing with powers you don't understand!"
Kade's eyes narrowed, his smile gone. He knew she was right—his power was still new to him, but he also knew that with great power came great responsibility. "Maybe," he said, his voice calm yet firm. "But it's not just about power. It's about what you do with it."
He raised his hand, a tiny, glowing sphere of Hakai energy forming in his palm. It grew smaller, concentrating until it was the size of a marble. "Hakai," he murmured, flicking the ball of destruction at Zira.
It struck her forehead with a soundless pop, and she vanished. The world around them paused for a moment, as if holding its breath in anticipation of the explosion that never came. Only a faint, lingering shimmer remained where she once stood, the only evidence of the once-fearsome warrior.
The dust cleared to reveal the aftermath of their battle. The city lay in ruins, buildings crumbled like forgotten sand castles, the streets cracked and contorted. The once bustling marketplace was now a silent wasteland, the stalls and their goods scattered in the winds of destruction.
Kade turned back to his normal state, his hair returning to its usual black hue. He let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing through the desolate landscape. "Whew, got a bit too serious there," he said, cracking his knuckles. The tension in the air dissipated as the Saiyans stared at him in awe. His ability to wield such power and then shrug it off with a laugh was both baffling and fascinating to them.
Turning to Aria, his expression grew serious. "Listen Aria, I need you to do something for me," he instructed. "There's no need for any more death today. Use your angelic powers and heal all the Saiyans who got hurt here. And..." He paused, considering the gravity of his next words. "And revive the ones that Zira has killed today."
Aria raised an eyebrow at him, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "You're sure about that?" she asked, her voice calm and measured. "Those are your orders, God of Destruction?"
"Yeah," Kade said, a smile playing on his lips. "Let's not make a habit out of this whole 'destroying planets' thing. Besides, I've got a feeling we're going to need all the strong fighters we can get."
Aria nodded solemnly, a glimmer of pride in her eyes. "As you wish, my lord." With a wave of her hand, a gentle golden light enveloped the city, and brick by brick, it began to reconstruct itself. The Saiyans watched in amazement as their once shattered homes and businesses were restored to their former glory, as if the battle had never taken place. The light grew stronger, extending to the fallen Saiyans, their lifeless forms stirring as the warmth of life seeped back into them.
As the light dimmed and the dust settled, the Saiyans looked around, bewildered. Kade turned to Aria, a mix of admiration and gratitude in his gaze. "Thanks, Aria," he said, his voice earnest. "You're pretty handy to have around when things get messy."
The angel rolled her eyes playfully. "It's all in a day's work, my lord," she quipped.