Chapter 25: A What?!
Aria couldn't help but chuckle. "It seems your human side is still quite present," she said, patting him on the back. "But we have more pressing matters to attend to. We mustn't forget your true purpose here."
Kade nodded solemnly, pushing aside his personal distractions. As they approached the grand Sadara Saiyan Palace, a sudden, ominous sensation washed over him. He felt a dark, unmistakable energy signature—one that resonated with the destructive power he had come to recognize as his own? His eyes narrowed as he focused on the source.
The royal hall's massive doors swung open, revealing the grim sight within. The once gleaming marble floor was now stained with blood, and the grand tapestries that adorned the walls hung in tatters. In the center of the room, King Thalos and Queen Caleia were slumped against their thrones, their bodies bruised and battered. Thalos's crown had been knocked from his head, and Caleia's regal garb was shredded, revealing the raw power beneath.
Radak, the white-haired beast, loomed over them, his cruel smile belying his true intentions. His armor, a twisted amalgamation of ancient Saiyan craftsmanship and the bones of his conquests, glinted menacingly in the flickering torchlight. His eyes, cold and merciless, flickered with a hint of amusement as he took in the newcomers.
"Well, well, well," he boomed, his deep voice echoing through the chamber, "if it isn't my traitorous twin brother."
Kade's heart skipped a beat. Twin brother? This was the first he'd heard of such a revelation. His eyes searched Radak's face, looking for any semblance of truth in the monster's words. The resemblance was undeniable, yet the malice in Radak's gaze was a stark contrast to the warmth and camaraderie he'd known from Aria.
"Impossible," he spat, his fists clenching tightly. "You're not my brother."
Radak's laughter reverberated off the stone walls, sending a shiver down Kade's spine. "Ah, but I am," he said, his smile growing wider. "Thousands of years ago, we shared the same ambition—to ascend beyond mere mortals, to become divine, to bend the universe to our will, and to cast down the gods who dared to oppress us."
He took a step forward, his booted feet thudding against the cold floor. "But you, Kade, you betrayed our cause. You became one of them, a mere pawn in their grand design, while I remained true to our heritage, to the legacy of our ancestors." Radak's eyes gleamed with a mix of anger and disappointment. "You're not just my enemy, you're a stain on the very fabric of our existence."
Kade's mind raced as he tried to piece together the puzzle that was his forgotten past. The whispers of a life spent in the shadow of divine power and the thirst for vengeance grew louder, but he pushed them aside. "I am what I choose to be," he replied firmly. "And I choose to stand with Aria and the Saiyan people."
Radak threw his head back and roared with laughter, the sound echoing off the ancient stones. "Choose?" he scoffed. "You think you have a choice in this?" He leaned in, his eyes narrowing to slits. "I have spent centuries mastering our Saiyan power, digging into the very core of our existence, and unlocking forms that would make even the gods quiver in fear." His muscles flexed beneath the fur and bone armor, and for a moment, a flicker of something primal and terrifying shimmered around him. "I have become a force of nature, unchained by the constraints of your 'divine' laws."
Kade couldn't help but smirk at the dramatics. "So, what? You're my Raditz?" he quipped, invoking the legendary tale of the Saiyan hero and his turncoat brother. The reference was not lost on Radak, who paused, his expression darkening. "You dare compare me to that...that weakling?"
Radak spat, his fury palpable. "You think you know the story, don't you? Raditz was a pawn, a mere footnote in the grand tapestry of our history. But I have studied, I have learned from the ancients! I know that in other realms, our paths diverged. In some, perhaps, I am the hero you speak of, and you are the one lost to darkness." His eyes glinted with malice. "But here, in this universe, I am the true heir to our legacy. The Saiyans bow before me, and together with the White-Hair Clan, we will purge this galaxy of the unworthy and rule as gods among lesser beings."
Kade's humor faded, his eyes narrowing as he took in his brother's words. "You've got it all wrong, Radak," he said, his voice low and serious. "This isn't about being the strongest or the most feared. It's about protecting what's right."
The air around them grew tense, charged with the energy of their opposing wills. Kade's mind raced with the revelations—alternate destinies, forgotten histories, and a legacy tainted by the desire for power. He thought of Raditz, the tragic figure from the tales of his old life, and how his own path had diverged so sharply. "What happened to the Saiyans who didn't bow to you?" he asked, his voice cold.
Radak's grin was like a wolf's snarl. "They were deemed unworthy," he said simply. "Their power was absorbed, their essence claimed to strengthen our own. It is the way of the universe—the strong consume the weak to evolve."
Kade's amusement was short-lived. He could feel the weight of his brother's power, and it was immense. But he had come too far to be cowed by a twisted version of his own potential. He cracked his knuckles, his eyes lighting up with the thrill of the challenge. "Well, if this is how you wanna play it, I guess we'll just have to see who's the strongest, won't we?"
Just as Radak opened his mouth to respond, the air grew tense. The scent of ozone filled the chamber, and a figure appeared—Vex, the Tactician. His lean form was a stark contrast to Radak's bulk, his spiked blue hair standing out against the crimson backdrop of the throne room. His analytical grey eyes swept over Kade, taking in his new opponent without a hint of surprise.
"Ah, the entertainment continues," Radak sneered, his red eyes flicking between Kade and the newcomer. "But I have no time for such trivialities. Our mother's blood runs thin in you, brother." With a dismissive wave, he vanished, leaving the air heavy with the promise of future battles.
"Take care of yourself, Kade," Aria said, her voice a gentle breeze amidst the tension. She knew the gravity of the situation, the weight of the impending clash. But she had faith in Kade's power and her own duty to protect the innocents caught in the crossfire. With a nod, she took to the skies, her white hair trailing behind her like a comet as she sped off to aid the beleaguered Saiyans.