Sept 24, 2023 21:39:13 GMT -5
Post by Arctic on Sept 24, 2023 21:39:13 GMT -5
While the search for the Dragon Balls had continued, Arctic had made sure to put his fair share of time into his gravity chamber that his ship had installed. He had nothing but the top of the line equipment within his ship and this was to insure that he was able to get stronger. He knew he needed it, it wasn't just an unnecessary step of his plan. He knew that without a doubt and going forward, he was going to need to gather a great amount of strength in order to smite down his foes. This wasn't something that was negotiable or debatable, he required the power for everything to go as smoothly as he could. He knew that once the word got out about what the fate of Planet Vegeta was going to be, there would be those preparing for him. The pathetic heroes of his target planets trying to rally their own strength to defend against him and he was going to make sure that it wasn't something that was going to be possible. He was going to make sure he was able to destroy anybody who stood in his way, no matter the number or the strength of the fighters who rallied against him.
He was going to make a name for himself that was feared more than the gods, that was more known than any name had ever been within the universe and this was a mighty task. This task may have been more difficult than his main goals, the ones that required the most determination or effort in order to succeed.
As far as his overall plan was going, he was well in the process of it all. Phase one of his plan had been put on hold with the new information about the Dragon Balls and this had put him right in the middle of phase two. Which was to acquire power and he knew that once he had gathered the seven Dragon Balls that this was going to go rather fast. Phase three was going to be the devastation of Vegeta and him revealing himself to the universe. It may have been well under way, but it was still something that was going to require a little bit of time though with his forces actively searching for the Dragon Balls daily, he knew that he was but a few months away at most.
It was all going to be worth the wait and the effort and he hadn't a singular doubt about that. He would become more known in the universe than the former rulers of the Planet Trade Organization, he would be both more worshipped and more feared than even the kais. His power would be absolute and the only thing the universe that would be unstoppable. He would be the king of the universe, the conqueror of all and the most powerful creature to ever exist. These weren't doubts in his head, these had all been facts that he knew would come to pass.
Even now, if somebody were to try to intervene in his plans he had been aware that his own strength had currently been more than enough to handle a single powerful individual. Even a Super Saiyan warrior would have a difficult time putting him in the ground. Though he hoped that it wouldn't come to that, he was prepared for it both mentally and physically. He wasn't going to let anybody get in his way. This was everything he had ever desired and it was within an arms reach from him. He could almost feel his hands grasping around the remaining Dragon Balls that he didn't possess. He could see in the not too distant future the wish that would make all bow to him. He was right there, the shift in the universe within sight but there had still been preparations at hand. Still room to grow more powerful and still time for something to go wrong. He needed to insure that it wouldn't and all the power he had within would go towards the success of his plans.
With it all just being a matter of time, Arctic knew that he had to push and stay on task. The faster that he managed to obtain everything, the better it was all going to be. He didn't like the gamble of time against him and though he was confident that he could face any challenge that approached this planet and risked the halt of his progress, the time it may take would leave an uneasy feeling within him. He had come all this way and put all of his efforts and resources into this one planet. It was all or nothing, it was here and now and he couldn't risk failure.
All of his best soldiers had been out seeking the Dragon Balls while he would put the time into his gravity chamber. His strength continuing to grow while the search continued. He needed to acquire both the orbs and power as quickly as possible. He needed to prepare himself for whatever was going to be thrown his way, no matter how unlikely. Arctic had known that the Namekians on the planet weren't going to contribute any sort of threat to his master plan but they had the ability to delay it, and if they were to delay it, it was possible that there would be a brief window for somebody to interfere with his plan. It made him easy even if the risk was low, but he had to take all chances of failure seriously. He had to read all possibly threats and assess them if he was going to succeed, he needed to be as smart as he was powerful for this wasn't something he wanted to gamble with. The universe was about to shift and favor him and he wasn't going to throw that away by being lazy or naive. The Changeling warrior was going to be ready and prepared, doing his best to secure his future and his power and the conqueror of the universe.
Before Arctic would enter his gravity chamber for the days training, he had found himself sitting on top his throne assessing the situation. While he could've been out there looking with the rest of his soldiers, he did want time to himself as well. He wanted to develop himself and prepare himself for the future for what he was going to do, wasn't going to be any light task. The amount of change within the universe and the pressure that would be brought on his shoulders would be very heavy and it was going to be something that he needed to prepare for. This part wouldn't be physical strength but mental and through his thoughts, he would brace himself for the impact of that.
He knew that he was going to have all the power to make change in the universe, to effect any planet anyway he wished and while he was going to try and make Frost thrive with wealth and success again, he knew that the people of his home planet wouldn't support some decision. He would need to be prepared to deal with the negative feedback in a way that benefited him the most and the most obvious answer to this issue was simply going to be to eliminate those who opposed his ideals. If he could kill everybody who disliked what he did and retain only his supporters and those who had no choice but to work for him, he'd be in the most perfect position. This was something he was going to need to require.
Though his soldiers were weak, he knew that he was going to need to multiply his forces drastically. The Planet Trade was currently capable of maintaining the Planet's that they had enslaved with their current work force but it wasn't going to be enough for what Arctic desired. Arctic was simply planning on conquering and enslaving every planet that had a weak species on it. Any planet that lacked a race that could rise up to match him would be enslaved while all others that had the risk of a lingering threat would be destroyed. He would do anything required to secure himself and emperor, to secure his new empire and to secure the future of his design.
He knew that the soldiers within the PTO and those soldiers he would take into his own army wouldn't be anything more than a force of numbers. He was aware that the odd special warrior would appear from time to time but he would make sure that those individuals would remain loyal through being rewarded with riches. The weak could be disposed of upon failure and doubt. If they didn't believe in his cause, he could replace them and execute them at will or simply use them until they ended up dying off themselves. They were expendable and all warriors underneath him would be. If they hadn't been strong enough to survive the missions or tasks at hand, Arctic would be one to argue that they wouldn't deserve the life that Arctic had been providing to him. Only the best would flourish within his new empire and those that put their all into it, would be wealthier than they could've ever thought possible.
He knew he was going to need to retain the powerful and loyal subjects because there was a very simple fact. Arctic knew he couldn't be present to run his planets at all times for there had only been one of him. He was going to need trusted generals to do that for him. They would be responsible for maintaining the planets slave for effectively and maximizing profit while reducing the loss of productivity. It wasn't going to be a simple task for some and for others, it may very well be simple but this was going to be something that Arctic would need to plan for. Those who deserved those positions, would surely be rewarded with them.
With all of his ideas in place and plans set loosely, Arctic felt prepared to step into the position of his new role. Though it wasn't quite ready for him yet, it was just a matter of time. He had the direction of how he was going to run it as the overlord and how he was going to assign the conquered planets a leader in his place. This was going to be run like a business where he would make the most profit at the expense of others. He would come first in every single situation he found himself in while Frost would simply be placed at second right behind him. For his own people, he wanted to be worshiped before being feared, though being feared was a very close second that he wasn't going to argue with. So long as he had the ability to get things done and have those underneath him follow his lead, he would be satisfied with it. Whomever may resist, would be dealt with accordingly in a very public display to reduce the frequency of it.
He knew that there would be those within his own faction that would plot against him, wish to see his downfall and those were people he would need to deter as well. He wasn't even beyond killing the families of the offenders first to get the point across not to cross him. Though he would try to rule firmly and fairly within his own world, he would rule with an iron grip if he had too. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do to retain his power once he got it, for political power could be a far greater power than the physical abilities that Arctic had been growing rapidly. It was another tool that he would need to use within the future, maybe even as a possibilities to gain loyal and trusted allies that wouldn't be forced to fight under him. Though it was just a simple thought, it was something that needed to be highly considered. As a intelligent individual, Arctic was gonig to play whatever card he could in order to secure the Empire that he wished to lead and there wasn't going to be anything off the table depending on the situation. He was going to be here to last, this wasn't going to be for the short term. His rein would last his entire lifetime and he wasn't going to let anybody, singular or within a faction prevent or cut his rule short. The universe needed his empire and he was going to force it upon them without and hesitation or regrets. This was his time, time for him to step out of the shadows and become who he was supposed to be. It was truly that simple, it was just about getting to that point.
Even now, the slave labor on the Planet Namek was being threatened and slowly being reduced for all the Namekian's that had tried to slow his plan were simply being killed off. He had told his soldiers to get the Dragon Balls no matter the cost and if that meant killing off a few dozen slaves, they had every single right to do so. The Namekian labor had started to slow, not only because their numbers were reducing but their had been a fear in there hearts like they hadn't experienced before. Some of the Namekian slave labor was even willing to take this way out, they saw it as a righteous opportunity to die doing something meaningful, to protect their sacred Dragon Balls and have their answer to escape the life that was forced upon them. It wasn't the prettiest of sights but it was an effective method of flushing out and removing those who would be trouble some. Though some had sacrificed their own life to protect the Dragon Balls, it had inspired a few more to do the same but with the current situation of the Planet's resources, Arctic didn't quite care. If he needed too replenish the slave labor on Namek, he could transfer Earthlings to do the work the Namekian's once were. He wasn't against bringing entire races to their extinction if they had made the attempt to cross his plans or even slow them at best.
Though even without the interference of the Namekian's that thought their actions would mean something, the process of finding the Dragon Balls was rather slow even while being attended too by dozens of soldiers. They Namekian's had hid the Dragon Balls rather well and made it a struggle for the soldiers to find, even if they could lock in on a loose location. There had been a simple fact that the soldiers of the Empire weren't the smartest or the strongest. A lot of them were fools but in numbers that had typically worked well for other types of tasks. In this case, the simple fact was that they hadn't had the opportunity to hone their skills for a situation like this. They were often redirected and outright lied too and it would slow their progress down dramatically. It was something that Arctic would suspect but he didn't expect it to this extent. The troublesome Namekian's were doing a great job with slowing down the progress but they wouldn't stop it fully.
Though while Arctic was thinking about this, one of his generals had entered the throne room. This soldier was of demon decent and his name had been Salazar. He was a very powerful warrior and one of the best ones that Arctic had managed to recruit. Of course this demon had simply been invested in the cause for his own benefit such as riches,wealth and his own form of power but he did a good job every single time that he was asked to do something. He had also been one of the soldiers that Arctic had been training with as of late as he was more than capable of going toe to toe with Arctic in his first form. This fighter was truly something else and if he kept up the good work, even a possible candidate to lead one of the enslaved planets.
Salazar would approach the throne and take a knee, his right arm crossing over his chest as a sign of respect to his lord. With his head tilted towards the ground and his eyes on the floor Salazar would've spoken to his lord. "Lord Arctic, I'm requesting that we train together once again within the gravity chamber. My own power has grown beyond my wildest dreams by training with you, and it would be beneficial to myself and your forces for my power to grow. If you would consider it for all but a moment, I would forever be grateful."
Given that Salazar was one of Arctic's most powerful and effective soldiers, Arctic wasn't going to say no and it was also this soldier who had seemed to take the place of his right hand since Daru's mysterious disappearance. Of course, he had been no Daru but he was proving himself to be a very valuable asset to the plans. Not only was he very useful in most situations, but he was also a very good help with giving Arctic a challenger to train with inside of the gravity chamber. This soldier had also never shown any signs of doubt about Arctic or his plans, nor did he ever question anything. When he had been asked to do something, he had simply got it done and he did it fast and effectively. It was soldiers like this that Arctic desired by his side to lead his planets and it was soldiers like this who were rewarded with far more than wealth and riches. He was rewarded with Arctic's time and tools, he was allowed to get much stronger and given the opportunity to shine above most of the other soldiers within the ranks. He was given a chance to become something within the new empire and this wasn't something that was offered to most. Only the best would earn these rewards.
Arctic couldn't help but get a grin on his face from ear to ear. He was fully intending on entering his gravity chamber today for some training but he didn't expect that he'd have company to do so, let alone company that could keep up with him in his first and most basic form. Though his first form was rather weak in comparison to where he truly was in his True form but training that way had still provided him with a massive benefit in to which he wanted to use to the maximum. The faster that Arctic got stronger, the better off he was going to be and he was going to use every possible advantage that he could in order to attain the greatest amount of power quickly. There was no method that would be beneath him if it meant that he'd be the strongest thing in the universe.
"I must say, Salazar. You've got quite perfect timing. I was just about to head to the gravity chamber and it would be a pleasure for me if you were to join me."
Of course, the only reason that Arctic was pleased about this was that he'd have a live target to spar against and since h is dummy was no longer effective, this was the most effective way for him to increase his power level and become a better fighter. The more fighting styles that he exposed himself too, the better he'd be prepared when he fought the next person. Every race and every fighter had very unique tricks up their sleeve and he wanted to be prepared for everything and anything. The more exposure he got, the less of an effect that these unique abilities would have on him. Fighting somebody like Salazar and seeing more of a demonic style with his own unique racial traits would benefit him on so many levels. Of course, he has sparred with Salazar before but there was never any way to know whether or not the demon would demonstrate new techniques or abilities.
It was at this point that Salazars gaze lifted up from the ground and rested on Arctic's own beady red eyes. Though he was quite please with the answer that his lord had provided to him, he wasn't exactly one to demonstrate that emotion on his face. Salazar was a demon that was in full control of his body and his own emotions and would never display anything to his enemies or allies. He would much rather keep them guessing. It was a safer way to live and that way, his emotional attachments could never be exploited because they wouldn't be obvious to anybody except for himself. He truly believed that this was the smartest way he could go about it.
"Perfect, I shall follow your lead my lord. Though, I will make you rather aware that I don't intend to pull my punches or hold back. I do plan on defeating you within your first form."
Now this statement was something that may have been concerning to Arctic IF Salazar was talking about his true form but for a soldier of his to have goals of defeating him within his first form was rather reasonable. Arctic didn't quite know what this demon had in terms of transformations but if he did have some, defeating his first form would make him a more valuable asset, one that Arctic couldn't even predict. Given the nature of the goal, it was a non-issue for now but it was something that was going to be noted for the future. He would observe Salazars path and words in the future and make sure that nothing was leading towards the potential to overthrow his ruler. He didn't expect this to be the case, but Arctic was a very cautious one. He didn't work this hard to have it all be taken away in a matter of minutes. Everything he obtained, was going to be his for the duration of his life and that life wouldn't be cut short by an overachieving soldier.
"I would be rather impressed if you had managed to defeat my first form, Salazar but do believe me. You're a long way away from managing that."
It wasn't that Arctic didn't believe it was possible, he had lost battles in his first form before but from what he saw of Salazar currently, it was going to take some time. Salazar would need to train in the gravity chamber for months before he could pull that off, or unlock some sort of transformation or power boost that Arctic wasn't aware of that.
"Though, you are welcome to try your best to fulfill that desire. I assure you, I shall not make it easy for you."
It was at this point that Arctic would get up out of his seat and put his arms behind his back. With his feet on the ground. He would begin making his way towards the door. It was also in this moment that Salazar would get off his knee and make one more comment before he would follow Lord Arctic towards the Gravity Chamber.
"I wouldn't expect such a goal to be easy, my lord. Especially not against you."
Salazar always chose his words carefully and spoke his truest intentions. It was true that he only desired to defeat Arctic's first form, it was a goal that very few would ever accomplish and he knew that there were no others within the Galactic Empire of Frost that could achieve this and he wanted to be the first. He had been tracking Arctic ever since he went public with his new political party and had kept close tabs on his growth and he was growing at an incredible rate. This would make it almost nearly impossible for most but Salazar was a very determined individual. He wanted to achieve that level of power and with his own transformations, he was very likely to pull it off much easier than most, even if it would still be of great difficulty to accomplish.
"Come now, Salazar. There's no point in wasting any more time. I'm eager to get stronger."
With Salazar now following Arctics lead all the way into the gravity chamber within the training room, he was eager to get this training underway. He knew that he had a privilege holding this position within Arctic's regard and knew that it didn't come easily. It was something that he was grateful for and something that he didn't want to waste. He wanted to use this position to acquire every possible opportunity to become better than he was the day before, to become as strong as he possibly could be. While he had his own goals of becoming a planetary leader within Arctic's future universe, he knew that just like Arctic he had a way to go before he would achieve it and it would take a lot of work. He just had the advantage of having Arctic's resources, tools and his ear. He was in the best position within the Galactic Empire of Frost to reach these goals. Now, only if he could find a Dragon Ball, he would be in a far higher regard than he already was but that was an assignment for himself that he could achieve tomorrow for right now, he just wanted to train with his Emperor.
With the two warriors now in the gravity chamber, it was turned up to the maximum level of gravity. Arctic was well attuned to it and didn't show much signs of struggle initially while Salazar had felt the weight in a much more significant manner. He had trained in gravity before but never in anything that was to this level. He was training with Arctic and he didn't expect much else aside from the harshest and most ruthless conditions possible, yet he was grateful for all of it. Grateful for the change to face these hardships and attempt to overcome. It was these types of situations that made a warrior powerful in both body and mind. He was more than willing to accept the challenge and do his best, for no other reason that for his own benefit and to prove himself to the only one that really mattered, himself. While he wanted to impress Arctic, that wasn't nearly enough to push him to this extent. Salazar was focused solely on his own future, his own position within the Empire and that was more than enough to drive him to do this.
Before they would meet in combat, Arctic couldn't help but explain something to Salazar. "I have managed to attain a large force within such a short period of time and out of all my soldiers, I must admit Salazar, I welcome you here the most. I must say, I do enjoy these little spars we have, you do entertain me and bring me some additional value that most couldn't even attempt to do."
Though Arctic's words were rather quick, they did mean something and this was about the highest level of praise any soldier could get from their emperor. He wasn't often too kind with his words but he was more than willing to give out these kind words when somebody had earned them, when somebody had deserved them and it was rare but Salazar, he stood out. He was different than the rest and Arctic wanted to keep him on the right path to power and use that power for himself. The more powerful his soldiers the more options he would have to enforce his rule after he claimed the universe.
Salazar couldn't help but nod his head at this point. There wasn't much more he could do with such words of praise. He was well aware that these types of compliments were rather rare to receive but he didn't want to be overly ecstatic or grateful about them. He felt he did earn them and they were deserved, so all he could do was say one simple line of thanks.
"I appreciate the confidence you have in me Lord Arctic, and I shall continue to prove my value to you."
It was with that, that Arctic would grin once again and take his fighting stance. In comparison to the demons size in his first form Arctic had rather been short and a spectator that didn't know either would most likely bet on the demon but they'd have been wrong.
Arctic was a force to be reckoned with, a power house created and forged by pure motivation and training. He was after everything he desired and nothing was going to get in his way and all it took was a little push in the right direction.
"Let's begin."
It was strange what determination could really do in such a short period of time. Up until the last few months Arctic was more than content working for the Planet Trade Organization and working his way up the ranks for his own wealth. It wasn't until the swift decline of the PTO's reach and activity throughout the galaxy that made him want to change the status of Frost and the faction for the better. Of course he was still a the source of all the benefit and efforts but he got tired of working for a stale faction. He remembered when they'd scan for new planets actively and continue to reach for new heights and wealth but under the current leadership, it came to a halt. Their resources had stayed relatively the same through the years but the whole purpose had declined and Arctic was shown that he was worth more than that. It was just a stroke of luck that an attacker took siege of one of the Planet's greatest locations to give him the opportunity to make this public as a political party. It provided him with not only the opening to get within the publics eye but the reasoning for this and most had supported his cause. He wanted to keep the planet safe, it was his home after all and all those who lived on Frost wanted a planet that was safe from a strong threat, safe from somebody with unbelievable power and currently, Arctic was the only option for that safety.
Since then, his growth had been incredible and his power had multiplied tenfold and with no interest in stopping or even slowing down, he was going to be pushed to be the greatest threat in the universe. It was a strange twist of fate, but one that was welcome.
Though now that the training situation was set up and the gravity was on with his opponent in front of him, it was time to get right into it. Arctic didn't want to waste anymore time, he craved more power and more strength. He wanted to become so much more powerful and knew that he wasn't even close to reaching his potential. He was only scratching the surface. In time, he would be something unrivaled, something godly.
With the training session now in progress and the spar beginning, it was nearly impossible to determine who made the first move on the other. Both warriors clashing directly in the middle of where they had both stood previously. Arctic of course holding himself back from using his full might of his first form while Salazar was going all out. It was a match that was in favor of the future ruler of the universe by a landslide but that didn't mean that this wasn't still going to be beneficial.
Both the warriors would rapidly pop around the room, clashing their fists, arms and legs as each of them dished out attacks while also defending against attacks. Both warriors having their own purpose for being here, both with the intention of being much stronger than when they walked in. It wasn't a surprise that this was the goal as it was essential for everything they wanted. While Arctic wanted to serve himself and take the entire galaxy by storm, Salazar wanted to take a position on a planet and remain a ruler while Arctic did other things. The only way the two of these warriors could gain these objectives was through intelligence, determination and power and some of that could only be acquired through ruthless training such as this.
While neither of the fighters were eager to slow their pace, the effects of the gravity was taking it's toll on Salazar first. He was feeling the effects far faster due to the lack of power he had in comparison to Arctic and the lack of exposure to this level of gravity. While he had used gravity before, he had never used it to this extent nor with this level of opponent at the same time. His movements had to be sharp and fast and he was pushing his own muscles beyond their limits in order to keep up with this level of a spar and his muscles felt it within every fiber of their being.
Meanwhile, Arctic would feel the gravity to a much lesser extent but this wasn't nearly his first time in a gravity machine cranked up to the maximum and the fact that he was holding back within this spar had made it so much easier for him to handle the weight. He simply wasn't exerting himself to the same level of his opponent, nor to the extent of his training in the chamber when he was alone. Though there was one thing this spar provided with him that training alone couldn't and that was perspective and new techniques and movements to react too.
The spar itself might've been lacking for Arctic as the struggle wasn't present but he knew that this was beneficial in many ways. Not only was he building up a soldier who appeared to be one of a kind but he was also building himself up. He knew that in order to expand his reach throughout the entire galaxy he was going to need capable leaders, and generals to run his soldiers and give orders and he would need those to grasp their designated planets in an iron grip and keep it in control of the faction. If he needed to be directly involved in the preparation of those soldiers, then so be it but he was going to gain something for himself too and that was even more power.
Arctic wasn't ever going to decline more power, it was now the essence of his being as it was the most required thing in order for him to achieve everything he had set his eyes on. If he could do it without gathering a great amount of power, he would've done it by now and surely countless others would. This power was something that was going to mean something for the Planet of Frost, Frost would gain plenty while all other planets would start to struggle. He would ravage all other planets for every resource if he had too, even if the planet would implode on itself. He knew that some planets would be beneficial to keep around and expand Frost's population and he knew others would simply only be as valuable as their natural resources and once those resources were depleted, the value would be gone.
He was going to be smart about all of this but it always depended on the amount of power he could achieve. The Dragon balls were a tool to help him with this and with the Tree of Might, he knew he'd be unrivaled but for now he couldn't count on those, they were the goals for now but he needed to achieve the power on his own in case that the plan didn't fall through. His preparation was the key to his success, and he wasn't going to stop just because he could acquire the power without working for it. All this work meant something and he wasn't going to stop, not now, not later. He would maintain his power and keep increasing it so long as he lived, he would make sure that nobody would rival him, nobody would rise up and take what he was about to earn. It would be his for eternity, for as long as his natural lifespan would allow. Only with his natural death would he lose it and even then, he would surely pass it down to a son and that son, would need to be worthy and just as capable.
with the sparring continuing, Salazar would start to show obvious signs of slowing down. It wasn't just Arctic that was overwhelming him but the weight of the intense gravity that was crashing down on his shoulders, a weight so heavy that it was trying with all of it's power to pull both warriors to the ground and while one resisted much easier than the other, the one fighters muscles were slowly giving in, slowly becoming strained to the point that his attacks were less sharp, less precise and far less powerful than when they would have initially started. Given that this was a spar and the objective was to train and get much stronger and more developed as a fighter, Arctic was going to press this advantage to the fullest extent. He was going to use all these openings to deal devastating blows and work on preparing Salazar for what was to come. The fights that he would be in within the future would be great and Salazar needed to be prepared to dig deep and fight on and there was no risk here. Arctic wasn't going to kill Salazar and the ship had rejuvenation chambers within them, meaning that the demon warrior would be back to full health by the next day.
Without the risk of permanently damaging one of his favored soldiers, Arctic would get to work and start truly exploiting his opponents flaws in his stance and the openings that the gravity had provided. To Salazar, Arctic's hits began to feel as heavy as can be. They had been the hardest hits he had ever experienced up until this point and the speed of them was just too much to keep up too now that his body was tiring. It wasn't just that though, Arctic was much more determined to land more punishing hits, he was trying harder, and putting more effort into this training session. This part of the training was for Salazar though, Arctic wouldn't receive much gain for simply beating his opponent into a pulp.
It was at this point that Arctic would begin to torment Salazar with a new fighting style that he didn't use on him previously. Arctic would confidentally cross his arms in front of his chest and proceed to use his tail for all his strikes now. His tail whips were heavy and brutal. They managed to push through Salazar even when he was blocking. There was nothing he could do to defend against this, though Arctic wasn't going to stop until Salazar was incapable of even withstanding the weight of the gravity pressing down on his shoulders. It was now time for Arctic to display his power and push his opponent into submission.
Though the spar had been going on for quite some time, it was now rushing towards its end and both of the warriors knew it. Arctic had put himself in the position to end it quickly while Salazar was struggling to even manage to stop a single blow. Of course, it was still entertaining for Arctic while he was giving this lesson but he knew it would be over shortly, he couldn't imagine Salazar withstanding this beating for even another five minutes and that would be pushing it.
Meanwhile, Salazar was trying his absolute best to keep his defense up but it just wasn't any use. He wasn't fast enough to compete with Arctic when his muscles were well rested and now that he was exhausted, it was just hopeless but he didn't want to give in yet, he didn't want to go down quickly. He wanted to at least display that he had heart and the drive to push forward no matter what the odds were. This wasn't just about himself at this point, this was about displaying what he could do to Arctic. He already had his Emperors favor, but now he needed to solidify that this decision and praise wasn't misplaced. The last thing he wanted to do now was disappoint the future ruler of the universe.
Finally, after a few minutes of being exposed to an endless barrage of tail whips, Salazar fell to the floor of the gravity chamber with a loud thump with his breathing heavy. The spar was done, he was no longer able to fight while Lord Arctic was still fresh and ready to go. Arctic had barely exerted himself at all and while he could feel his muscles becoming a little sore, he was in no shape close to giving in or quitting.
With it now at an end, Arctic would land before his soldier and glare down at him with his beady reds eyes. The victory was his and Salazar was nowhere closer to achieving his goals. While he did give a good effort, Arctic had noticed that the soldier had a great amount of determination and willpower and pushed through an overwhelming force to continue fighting. It was something that Arctic could admire and respect and something he wished more of his soldiers had. Unfortunately it wasn't the case and Salazar was a rare exception to the fact. If the demon would keep this up, he would be rewarded greatly in the future. Probably be a general and lead his own planet but there was still much time to decide that.
"Deactivate the gravity." With Arctic standing above his soldier he couldn't help but glare down at him coldly. While he was impressed with the display the soldier had given him, he wasn't quite going to show it within his own actions, though he would at least touch on it with some basic words. "You've impressed me yet again Salazar. Most couldn't hold out under such punishment for as long as you did."
His words were honest and straight to the point. There were very few that would've lasted that long and Salazar deserved to know. Recognition was a big thing within the ranks of those who were trying to make a name for themselves, for those who were trying to become something for the Empire. The words that were spoken by Arctic could very well be a deciding factor for a soldier continuing to pursuit a spot and a chance at glory or them completely giving up and with a soldier like Salazar, Arctic wanted to push him towards the right path. He wanted to see how far this soldier would go for the cause, both his own and the one that Arctic would guide him towards. If he had played his cards right and continued to demonstrate this amount of effort within all the tasks assigned to him, there would be without a doubt a promotion in his future. Hell, maybe even replace Daru as his right hand but who knew. Only time would tell along with the actions of the demon.
It was at this point that Salazar had managed to get to his knees and force himself into a stable position. Without the weight of the gravity pressing down against him, it was rather quite easy for him to do so even if his body had been in terrible shape. "Thank you, my lord Arctic. I did my best yet it wasn't even close enough. I knew I still had a long way to go but this had really put the length into perspective." He kept his words true and humble. He wasn't trying to be cocky and would never even hint at Arctic's weakness for he simply valued his life. Even if Arctic wasn't weak, he wouldn't point out any flaws or negatives, he would simply only stroke the Ego of the emperor.
Though now that the training had been concluded, Arctic would give a simple order to his soldier. Given that Arctic had valued Salazar far beyond most of his other soldiers, he wanted him in the best of shapes for tomorrow. "I want you to report to the healing chamber immediately, for tomorrow I have a new task for you. You're capable and it's time you begin to search for the Dragon Balls."
With this order, Salazar arched a brow. He was now being involved in one of the most important assignments to Arctic's cause and this assignment was something that had more meaning that he could ever truly know. Though he had heard rumors about the Dragon Balls and the goal, it was now confirmed to him that it was the main reason they were here.
"Yes, My lord." It was at this point that he simply made his exit with a limp and made his way to the healing chamber to recover from his wounds. He was excited, he wanted to be in the best condition for his new assignment and he was extremely motivated to get to it. This was a moment that he could really prove himself.
With the training concluded for the day, Arctic thought about what he was going to do next. He was still full of energy and ready to keep going with his task. It was more than reasonable for him to go seeking Dragon Balls before he got rest and given the urgency of the hunt, he couldn't help but believe it was the best course of action. He knew he needed to round them up quickly, simply to reduce any chance at something going wrong and ruining his plan. The faster he got them all and made his wish, the better. Once his wish was made, he would be unstoppable but until then, he was vulnerable to others and he didn't want to take any chances. His entire future was resting on the events that were going to transpire on this planet and to stake so much on the events of one planet was very risky.
Unfortunately though, the path that Arctic had chosen has brought him to this planet and this point in time and truly everything had seemed to be riding on this planet. There wasn't anything he could do about it except for push through and get it done. With his power level and the weak namekians, it should'nt be a huge thing but one could truly never know when somebody strong would appear out of the blue. After all, it did happen to his own homeworld of Frost. Though it was unlikely to happen here after years of owning the planet and enslaving it, it wasn't impossible and Arctic would much rather have his power if that happened. He didn't want to gamble his current strength against a super saiyan unless it was absolutely necessary. Though the only thing that would be a deciding factor is time. Would they gather the dragon balls quickly enough to prevent this or would time be against them? Would they be delayed and provide others with plenty of time to stop him or would it go smoothly? There really wasn't anything else to think about. All Arctic knew now was that he needed to haste, needed to rush to complete everything he needed to do otherwise this whole plan could go to waste and all his time and effort would be for nothing. He wasn't going to allow it to come to that if he could prevent it but sometimes the universe had a much higher power than him in control.
Word Count: 8,000
First Form Bonus: 15%
Gravity x175 185% (with 10% racial bonus)
Rookie Bonus: 65%
He was going to make a name for himself that was feared more than the gods, that was more known than any name had ever been within the universe and this was a mighty task. This task may have been more difficult than his main goals, the ones that required the most determination or effort in order to succeed.
As far as his overall plan was going, he was well in the process of it all. Phase one of his plan had been put on hold with the new information about the Dragon Balls and this had put him right in the middle of phase two. Which was to acquire power and he knew that once he had gathered the seven Dragon Balls that this was going to go rather fast. Phase three was going to be the devastation of Vegeta and him revealing himself to the universe. It may have been well under way, but it was still something that was going to require a little bit of time though with his forces actively searching for the Dragon Balls daily, he knew that he was but a few months away at most.
It was all going to be worth the wait and the effort and he hadn't a singular doubt about that. He would become more known in the universe than the former rulers of the Planet Trade Organization, he would be both more worshipped and more feared than even the kais. His power would be absolute and the only thing the universe that would be unstoppable. He would be the king of the universe, the conqueror of all and the most powerful creature to ever exist. These weren't doubts in his head, these had all been facts that he knew would come to pass.
Even now, if somebody were to try to intervene in his plans he had been aware that his own strength had currently been more than enough to handle a single powerful individual. Even a Super Saiyan warrior would have a difficult time putting him in the ground. Though he hoped that it wouldn't come to that, he was prepared for it both mentally and physically. He wasn't going to let anybody get in his way. This was everything he had ever desired and it was within an arms reach from him. He could almost feel his hands grasping around the remaining Dragon Balls that he didn't possess. He could see in the not too distant future the wish that would make all bow to him. He was right there, the shift in the universe within sight but there had still been preparations at hand. Still room to grow more powerful and still time for something to go wrong. He needed to insure that it wouldn't and all the power he had within would go towards the success of his plans.
With it all just being a matter of time, Arctic knew that he had to push and stay on task. The faster that he managed to obtain everything, the better it was all going to be. He didn't like the gamble of time against him and though he was confident that he could face any challenge that approached this planet and risked the halt of his progress, the time it may take would leave an uneasy feeling within him. He had come all this way and put all of his efforts and resources into this one planet. It was all or nothing, it was here and now and he couldn't risk failure.
All of his best soldiers had been out seeking the Dragon Balls while he would put the time into his gravity chamber. His strength continuing to grow while the search continued. He needed to acquire both the orbs and power as quickly as possible. He needed to prepare himself for whatever was going to be thrown his way, no matter how unlikely. Arctic had known that the Namekians on the planet weren't going to contribute any sort of threat to his master plan but they had the ability to delay it, and if they were to delay it, it was possible that there would be a brief window for somebody to interfere with his plan. It made him easy even if the risk was low, but he had to take all chances of failure seriously. He had to read all possibly threats and assess them if he was going to succeed, he needed to be as smart as he was powerful for this wasn't something he wanted to gamble with. The universe was about to shift and favor him and he wasn't going to throw that away by being lazy or naive. The Changeling warrior was going to be ready and prepared, doing his best to secure his future and his power and the conqueror of the universe.
Before Arctic would enter his gravity chamber for the days training, he had found himself sitting on top his throne assessing the situation. While he could've been out there looking with the rest of his soldiers, he did want time to himself as well. He wanted to develop himself and prepare himself for the future for what he was going to do, wasn't going to be any light task. The amount of change within the universe and the pressure that would be brought on his shoulders would be very heavy and it was going to be something that he needed to prepare for. This part wouldn't be physical strength but mental and through his thoughts, he would brace himself for the impact of that.
He knew that he was going to have all the power to make change in the universe, to effect any planet anyway he wished and while he was going to try and make Frost thrive with wealth and success again, he knew that the people of his home planet wouldn't support some decision. He would need to be prepared to deal with the negative feedback in a way that benefited him the most and the most obvious answer to this issue was simply going to be to eliminate those who opposed his ideals. If he could kill everybody who disliked what he did and retain only his supporters and those who had no choice but to work for him, he'd be in the most perfect position. This was something he was going to need to require.
Though his soldiers were weak, he knew that he was going to need to multiply his forces drastically. The Planet Trade was currently capable of maintaining the Planet's that they had enslaved with their current work force but it wasn't going to be enough for what Arctic desired. Arctic was simply planning on conquering and enslaving every planet that had a weak species on it. Any planet that lacked a race that could rise up to match him would be enslaved while all others that had the risk of a lingering threat would be destroyed. He would do anything required to secure himself and emperor, to secure his new empire and to secure the future of his design.
He knew that the soldiers within the PTO and those soldiers he would take into his own army wouldn't be anything more than a force of numbers. He was aware that the odd special warrior would appear from time to time but he would make sure that those individuals would remain loyal through being rewarded with riches. The weak could be disposed of upon failure and doubt. If they didn't believe in his cause, he could replace them and execute them at will or simply use them until they ended up dying off themselves. They were expendable and all warriors underneath him would be. If they hadn't been strong enough to survive the missions or tasks at hand, Arctic would be one to argue that they wouldn't deserve the life that Arctic had been providing to him. Only the best would flourish within his new empire and those that put their all into it, would be wealthier than they could've ever thought possible.
He knew he was going to need to retain the powerful and loyal subjects because there was a very simple fact. Arctic knew he couldn't be present to run his planets at all times for there had only been one of him. He was going to need trusted generals to do that for him. They would be responsible for maintaining the planets slave for effectively and maximizing profit while reducing the loss of productivity. It wasn't going to be a simple task for some and for others, it may very well be simple but this was going to be something that Arctic would need to plan for. Those who deserved those positions, would surely be rewarded with them.
With all of his ideas in place and plans set loosely, Arctic felt prepared to step into the position of his new role. Though it wasn't quite ready for him yet, it was just a matter of time. He had the direction of how he was going to run it as the overlord and how he was going to assign the conquered planets a leader in his place. This was going to be run like a business where he would make the most profit at the expense of others. He would come first in every single situation he found himself in while Frost would simply be placed at second right behind him. For his own people, he wanted to be worshiped before being feared, though being feared was a very close second that he wasn't going to argue with. So long as he had the ability to get things done and have those underneath him follow his lead, he would be satisfied with it. Whomever may resist, would be dealt with accordingly in a very public display to reduce the frequency of it.
He knew that there would be those within his own faction that would plot against him, wish to see his downfall and those were people he would need to deter as well. He wasn't even beyond killing the families of the offenders first to get the point across not to cross him. Though he would try to rule firmly and fairly within his own world, he would rule with an iron grip if he had too. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do to retain his power once he got it, for political power could be a far greater power than the physical abilities that Arctic had been growing rapidly. It was another tool that he would need to use within the future, maybe even as a possibilities to gain loyal and trusted allies that wouldn't be forced to fight under him. Though it was just a simple thought, it was something that needed to be highly considered. As a intelligent individual, Arctic was gonig to play whatever card he could in order to secure the Empire that he wished to lead and there wasn't going to be anything off the table depending on the situation. He was going to be here to last, this wasn't going to be for the short term. His rein would last his entire lifetime and he wasn't going to let anybody, singular or within a faction prevent or cut his rule short. The universe needed his empire and he was going to force it upon them without and hesitation or regrets. This was his time, time for him to step out of the shadows and become who he was supposed to be. It was truly that simple, it was just about getting to that point.
Even now, the slave labor on the Planet Namek was being threatened and slowly being reduced for all the Namekian's that had tried to slow his plan were simply being killed off. He had told his soldiers to get the Dragon Balls no matter the cost and if that meant killing off a few dozen slaves, they had every single right to do so. The Namekian labor had started to slow, not only because their numbers were reducing but their had been a fear in there hearts like they hadn't experienced before. Some of the Namekian slave labor was even willing to take this way out, they saw it as a righteous opportunity to die doing something meaningful, to protect their sacred Dragon Balls and have their answer to escape the life that was forced upon them. It wasn't the prettiest of sights but it was an effective method of flushing out and removing those who would be trouble some. Though some had sacrificed their own life to protect the Dragon Balls, it had inspired a few more to do the same but with the current situation of the Planet's resources, Arctic didn't quite care. If he needed too replenish the slave labor on Namek, he could transfer Earthlings to do the work the Namekian's once were. He wasn't against bringing entire races to their extinction if they had made the attempt to cross his plans or even slow them at best.
Though even without the interference of the Namekian's that thought their actions would mean something, the process of finding the Dragon Balls was rather slow even while being attended too by dozens of soldiers. They Namekian's had hid the Dragon Balls rather well and made it a struggle for the soldiers to find, even if they could lock in on a loose location. There had been a simple fact that the soldiers of the Empire weren't the smartest or the strongest. A lot of them were fools but in numbers that had typically worked well for other types of tasks. In this case, the simple fact was that they hadn't had the opportunity to hone their skills for a situation like this. They were often redirected and outright lied too and it would slow their progress down dramatically. It was something that Arctic would suspect but he didn't expect it to this extent. The troublesome Namekian's were doing a great job with slowing down the progress but they wouldn't stop it fully.
Though while Arctic was thinking about this, one of his generals had entered the throne room. This soldier was of demon decent and his name had been Salazar. He was a very powerful warrior and one of the best ones that Arctic had managed to recruit. Of course this demon had simply been invested in the cause for his own benefit such as riches,wealth and his own form of power but he did a good job every single time that he was asked to do something. He had also been one of the soldiers that Arctic had been training with as of late as he was more than capable of going toe to toe with Arctic in his first form. This fighter was truly something else and if he kept up the good work, even a possible candidate to lead one of the enslaved planets.
Salazar would approach the throne and take a knee, his right arm crossing over his chest as a sign of respect to his lord. With his head tilted towards the ground and his eyes on the floor Salazar would've spoken to his lord. "Lord Arctic, I'm requesting that we train together once again within the gravity chamber. My own power has grown beyond my wildest dreams by training with you, and it would be beneficial to myself and your forces for my power to grow. If you would consider it for all but a moment, I would forever be grateful."
Given that Salazar was one of Arctic's most powerful and effective soldiers, Arctic wasn't going to say no and it was also this soldier who had seemed to take the place of his right hand since Daru's mysterious disappearance. Of course, he had been no Daru but he was proving himself to be a very valuable asset to the plans. Not only was he very useful in most situations, but he was also a very good help with giving Arctic a challenger to train with inside of the gravity chamber. This soldier had also never shown any signs of doubt about Arctic or his plans, nor did he ever question anything. When he had been asked to do something, he had simply got it done and he did it fast and effectively. It was soldiers like this that Arctic desired by his side to lead his planets and it was soldiers like this who were rewarded with far more than wealth and riches. He was rewarded with Arctic's time and tools, he was allowed to get much stronger and given the opportunity to shine above most of the other soldiers within the ranks. He was given a chance to become something within the new empire and this wasn't something that was offered to most. Only the best would earn these rewards.
Arctic couldn't help but get a grin on his face from ear to ear. He was fully intending on entering his gravity chamber today for some training but he didn't expect that he'd have company to do so, let alone company that could keep up with him in his first and most basic form. Though his first form was rather weak in comparison to where he truly was in his True form but training that way had still provided him with a massive benefit in to which he wanted to use to the maximum. The faster that Arctic got stronger, the better off he was going to be and he was going to use every possible advantage that he could in order to attain the greatest amount of power quickly. There was no method that would be beneath him if it meant that he'd be the strongest thing in the universe.
"I must say, Salazar. You've got quite perfect timing. I was just about to head to the gravity chamber and it would be a pleasure for me if you were to join me."
Of course, the only reason that Arctic was pleased about this was that he'd have a live target to spar against and since h is dummy was no longer effective, this was the most effective way for him to increase his power level and become a better fighter. The more fighting styles that he exposed himself too, the better he'd be prepared when he fought the next person. Every race and every fighter had very unique tricks up their sleeve and he wanted to be prepared for everything and anything. The more exposure he got, the less of an effect that these unique abilities would have on him. Fighting somebody like Salazar and seeing more of a demonic style with his own unique racial traits would benefit him on so many levels. Of course, he has sparred with Salazar before but there was never any way to know whether or not the demon would demonstrate new techniques or abilities.
It was at this point that Salazars gaze lifted up from the ground and rested on Arctic's own beady red eyes. Though he was quite please with the answer that his lord had provided to him, he wasn't exactly one to demonstrate that emotion on his face. Salazar was a demon that was in full control of his body and his own emotions and would never display anything to his enemies or allies. He would much rather keep them guessing. It was a safer way to live and that way, his emotional attachments could never be exploited because they wouldn't be obvious to anybody except for himself. He truly believed that this was the smartest way he could go about it.
"Perfect, I shall follow your lead my lord. Though, I will make you rather aware that I don't intend to pull my punches or hold back. I do plan on defeating you within your first form."
Now this statement was something that may have been concerning to Arctic IF Salazar was talking about his true form but for a soldier of his to have goals of defeating him within his first form was rather reasonable. Arctic didn't quite know what this demon had in terms of transformations but if he did have some, defeating his first form would make him a more valuable asset, one that Arctic couldn't even predict. Given the nature of the goal, it was a non-issue for now but it was something that was going to be noted for the future. He would observe Salazars path and words in the future and make sure that nothing was leading towards the potential to overthrow his ruler. He didn't expect this to be the case, but Arctic was a very cautious one. He didn't work this hard to have it all be taken away in a matter of minutes. Everything he obtained, was going to be his for the duration of his life and that life wouldn't be cut short by an overachieving soldier.
"I would be rather impressed if you had managed to defeat my first form, Salazar but do believe me. You're a long way away from managing that."
It wasn't that Arctic didn't believe it was possible, he had lost battles in his first form before but from what he saw of Salazar currently, it was going to take some time. Salazar would need to train in the gravity chamber for months before he could pull that off, or unlock some sort of transformation or power boost that Arctic wasn't aware of that.
"Though, you are welcome to try your best to fulfill that desire. I assure you, I shall not make it easy for you."
It was at this point that Arctic would get up out of his seat and put his arms behind his back. With his feet on the ground. He would begin making his way towards the door. It was also in this moment that Salazar would get off his knee and make one more comment before he would follow Lord Arctic towards the Gravity Chamber.
"I wouldn't expect such a goal to be easy, my lord. Especially not against you."
Salazar always chose his words carefully and spoke his truest intentions. It was true that he only desired to defeat Arctic's first form, it was a goal that very few would ever accomplish and he knew that there were no others within the Galactic Empire of Frost that could achieve this and he wanted to be the first. He had been tracking Arctic ever since he went public with his new political party and had kept close tabs on his growth and he was growing at an incredible rate. This would make it almost nearly impossible for most but Salazar was a very determined individual. He wanted to achieve that level of power and with his own transformations, he was very likely to pull it off much easier than most, even if it would still be of great difficulty to accomplish.
"Come now, Salazar. There's no point in wasting any more time. I'm eager to get stronger."
With Salazar now following Arctics lead all the way into the gravity chamber within the training room, he was eager to get this training underway. He knew that he had a privilege holding this position within Arctic's regard and knew that it didn't come easily. It was something that he was grateful for and something that he didn't want to waste. He wanted to use this position to acquire every possible opportunity to become better than he was the day before, to become as strong as he possibly could be. While he had his own goals of becoming a planetary leader within Arctic's future universe, he knew that just like Arctic he had a way to go before he would achieve it and it would take a lot of work. He just had the advantage of having Arctic's resources, tools and his ear. He was in the best position within the Galactic Empire of Frost to reach these goals. Now, only if he could find a Dragon Ball, he would be in a far higher regard than he already was but that was an assignment for himself that he could achieve tomorrow for right now, he just wanted to train with his Emperor.
With the two warriors now in the gravity chamber, it was turned up to the maximum level of gravity. Arctic was well attuned to it and didn't show much signs of struggle initially while Salazar had felt the weight in a much more significant manner. He had trained in gravity before but never in anything that was to this level. He was training with Arctic and he didn't expect much else aside from the harshest and most ruthless conditions possible, yet he was grateful for all of it. Grateful for the change to face these hardships and attempt to overcome. It was these types of situations that made a warrior powerful in both body and mind. He was more than willing to accept the challenge and do his best, for no other reason that for his own benefit and to prove himself to the only one that really mattered, himself. While he wanted to impress Arctic, that wasn't nearly enough to push him to this extent. Salazar was focused solely on his own future, his own position within the Empire and that was more than enough to drive him to do this.
Before they would meet in combat, Arctic couldn't help but explain something to Salazar. "I have managed to attain a large force within such a short period of time and out of all my soldiers, I must admit Salazar, I welcome you here the most. I must say, I do enjoy these little spars we have, you do entertain me and bring me some additional value that most couldn't even attempt to do."
Though Arctic's words were rather quick, they did mean something and this was about the highest level of praise any soldier could get from their emperor. He wasn't often too kind with his words but he was more than willing to give out these kind words when somebody had earned them, when somebody had deserved them and it was rare but Salazar, he stood out. He was different than the rest and Arctic wanted to keep him on the right path to power and use that power for himself. The more powerful his soldiers the more options he would have to enforce his rule after he claimed the universe.
Salazar couldn't help but nod his head at this point. There wasn't much more he could do with such words of praise. He was well aware that these types of compliments were rather rare to receive but he didn't want to be overly ecstatic or grateful about them. He felt he did earn them and they were deserved, so all he could do was say one simple line of thanks.
"I appreciate the confidence you have in me Lord Arctic, and I shall continue to prove my value to you."
It was with that, that Arctic would grin once again and take his fighting stance. In comparison to the demons size in his first form Arctic had rather been short and a spectator that didn't know either would most likely bet on the demon but they'd have been wrong.
Arctic was a force to be reckoned with, a power house created and forged by pure motivation and training. He was after everything he desired and nothing was going to get in his way and all it took was a little push in the right direction.
"Let's begin."
It was strange what determination could really do in such a short period of time. Up until the last few months Arctic was more than content working for the Planet Trade Organization and working his way up the ranks for his own wealth. It wasn't until the swift decline of the PTO's reach and activity throughout the galaxy that made him want to change the status of Frost and the faction for the better. Of course he was still a the source of all the benefit and efforts but he got tired of working for a stale faction. He remembered when they'd scan for new planets actively and continue to reach for new heights and wealth but under the current leadership, it came to a halt. Their resources had stayed relatively the same through the years but the whole purpose had declined and Arctic was shown that he was worth more than that. It was just a stroke of luck that an attacker took siege of one of the Planet's greatest locations to give him the opportunity to make this public as a political party. It provided him with not only the opening to get within the publics eye but the reasoning for this and most had supported his cause. He wanted to keep the planet safe, it was his home after all and all those who lived on Frost wanted a planet that was safe from a strong threat, safe from somebody with unbelievable power and currently, Arctic was the only option for that safety.
Since then, his growth had been incredible and his power had multiplied tenfold and with no interest in stopping or even slowing down, he was going to be pushed to be the greatest threat in the universe. It was a strange twist of fate, but one that was welcome.
Though now that the training situation was set up and the gravity was on with his opponent in front of him, it was time to get right into it. Arctic didn't want to waste anymore time, he craved more power and more strength. He wanted to become so much more powerful and knew that he wasn't even close to reaching his potential. He was only scratching the surface. In time, he would be something unrivaled, something godly.
With the training session now in progress and the spar beginning, it was nearly impossible to determine who made the first move on the other. Both warriors clashing directly in the middle of where they had both stood previously. Arctic of course holding himself back from using his full might of his first form while Salazar was going all out. It was a match that was in favor of the future ruler of the universe by a landslide but that didn't mean that this wasn't still going to be beneficial.
Both the warriors would rapidly pop around the room, clashing their fists, arms and legs as each of them dished out attacks while also defending against attacks. Both warriors having their own purpose for being here, both with the intention of being much stronger than when they walked in. It wasn't a surprise that this was the goal as it was essential for everything they wanted. While Arctic wanted to serve himself and take the entire galaxy by storm, Salazar wanted to take a position on a planet and remain a ruler while Arctic did other things. The only way the two of these warriors could gain these objectives was through intelligence, determination and power and some of that could only be acquired through ruthless training such as this.
While neither of the fighters were eager to slow their pace, the effects of the gravity was taking it's toll on Salazar first. He was feeling the effects far faster due to the lack of power he had in comparison to Arctic and the lack of exposure to this level of gravity. While he had used gravity before, he had never used it to this extent nor with this level of opponent at the same time. His movements had to be sharp and fast and he was pushing his own muscles beyond their limits in order to keep up with this level of a spar and his muscles felt it within every fiber of their being.
Meanwhile, Arctic would feel the gravity to a much lesser extent but this wasn't nearly his first time in a gravity machine cranked up to the maximum and the fact that he was holding back within this spar had made it so much easier for him to handle the weight. He simply wasn't exerting himself to the same level of his opponent, nor to the extent of his training in the chamber when he was alone. Though there was one thing this spar provided with him that training alone couldn't and that was perspective and new techniques and movements to react too.
The spar itself might've been lacking for Arctic as the struggle wasn't present but he knew that this was beneficial in many ways. Not only was he building up a soldier who appeared to be one of a kind but he was also building himself up. He knew that in order to expand his reach throughout the entire galaxy he was going to need capable leaders, and generals to run his soldiers and give orders and he would need those to grasp their designated planets in an iron grip and keep it in control of the faction. If he needed to be directly involved in the preparation of those soldiers, then so be it but he was going to gain something for himself too and that was even more power.
Arctic wasn't ever going to decline more power, it was now the essence of his being as it was the most required thing in order for him to achieve everything he had set his eyes on. If he could do it without gathering a great amount of power, he would've done it by now and surely countless others would. This power was something that was going to mean something for the Planet of Frost, Frost would gain plenty while all other planets would start to struggle. He would ravage all other planets for every resource if he had too, even if the planet would implode on itself. He knew that some planets would be beneficial to keep around and expand Frost's population and he knew others would simply only be as valuable as their natural resources and once those resources were depleted, the value would be gone.
He was going to be smart about all of this but it always depended on the amount of power he could achieve. The Dragon balls were a tool to help him with this and with the Tree of Might, he knew he'd be unrivaled but for now he couldn't count on those, they were the goals for now but he needed to achieve the power on his own in case that the plan didn't fall through. His preparation was the key to his success, and he wasn't going to stop just because he could acquire the power without working for it. All this work meant something and he wasn't going to stop, not now, not later. He would maintain his power and keep increasing it so long as he lived, he would make sure that nobody would rival him, nobody would rise up and take what he was about to earn. It would be his for eternity, for as long as his natural lifespan would allow. Only with his natural death would he lose it and even then, he would surely pass it down to a son and that son, would need to be worthy and just as capable.
with the sparring continuing, Salazar would start to show obvious signs of slowing down. It wasn't just Arctic that was overwhelming him but the weight of the intense gravity that was crashing down on his shoulders, a weight so heavy that it was trying with all of it's power to pull both warriors to the ground and while one resisted much easier than the other, the one fighters muscles were slowly giving in, slowly becoming strained to the point that his attacks were less sharp, less precise and far less powerful than when they would have initially started. Given that this was a spar and the objective was to train and get much stronger and more developed as a fighter, Arctic was going to press this advantage to the fullest extent. He was going to use all these openings to deal devastating blows and work on preparing Salazar for what was to come. The fights that he would be in within the future would be great and Salazar needed to be prepared to dig deep and fight on and there was no risk here. Arctic wasn't going to kill Salazar and the ship had rejuvenation chambers within them, meaning that the demon warrior would be back to full health by the next day.
Without the risk of permanently damaging one of his favored soldiers, Arctic would get to work and start truly exploiting his opponents flaws in his stance and the openings that the gravity had provided. To Salazar, Arctic's hits began to feel as heavy as can be. They had been the hardest hits he had ever experienced up until this point and the speed of them was just too much to keep up too now that his body was tiring. It wasn't just that though, Arctic was much more determined to land more punishing hits, he was trying harder, and putting more effort into this training session. This part of the training was for Salazar though, Arctic wouldn't receive much gain for simply beating his opponent into a pulp.
It was at this point that Arctic would begin to torment Salazar with a new fighting style that he didn't use on him previously. Arctic would confidentally cross his arms in front of his chest and proceed to use his tail for all his strikes now. His tail whips were heavy and brutal. They managed to push through Salazar even when he was blocking. There was nothing he could do to defend against this, though Arctic wasn't going to stop until Salazar was incapable of even withstanding the weight of the gravity pressing down on his shoulders. It was now time for Arctic to display his power and push his opponent into submission.
Though the spar had been going on for quite some time, it was now rushing towards its end and both of the warriors knew it. Arctic had put himself in the position to end it quickly while Salazar was struggling to even manage to stop a single blow. Of course, it was still entertaining for Arctic while he was giving this lesson but he knew it would be over shortly, he couldn't imagine Salazar withstanding this beating for even another five minutes and that would be pushing it.
Meanwhile, Salazar was trying his absolute best to keep his defense up but it just wasn't any use. He wasn't fast enough to compete with Arctic when his muscles were well rested and now that he was exhausted, it was just hopeless but he didn't want to give in yet, he didn't want to go down quickly. He wanted to at least display that he had heart and the drive to push forward no matter what the odds were. This wasn't just about himself at this point, this was about displaying what he could do to Arctic. He already had his Emperors favor, but now he needed to solidify that this decision and praise wasn't misplaced. The last thing he wanted to do now was disappoint the future ruler of the universe.
Finally, after a few minutes of being exposed to an endless barrage of tail whips, Salazar fell to the floor of the gravity chamber with a loud thump with his breathing heavy. The spar was done, he was no longer able to fight while Lord Arctic was still fresh and ready to go. Arctic had barely exerted himself at all and while he could feel his muscles becoming a little sore, he was in no shape close to giving in or quitting.
With it now at an end, Arctic would land before his soldier and glare down at him with his beady reds eyes. The victory was his and Salazar was nowhere closer to achieving his goals. While he did give a good effort, Arctic had noticed that the soldier had a great amount of determination and willpower and pushed through an overwhelming force to continue fighting. It was something that Arctic could admire and respect and something he wished more of his soldiers had. Unfortunately it wasn't the case and Salazar was a rare exception to the fact. If the demon would keep this up, he would be rewarded greatly in the future. Probably be a general and lead his own planet but there was still much time to decide that.
"Deactivate the gravity." With Arctic standing above his soldier he couldn't help but glare down at him coldly. While he was impressed with the display the soldier had given him, he wasn't quite going to show it within his own actions, though he would at least touch on it with some basic words. "You've impressed me yet again Salazar. Most couldn't hold out under such punishment for as long as you did."
His words were honest and straight to the point. There were very few that would've lasted that long and Salazar deserved to know. Recognition was a big thing within the ranks of those who were trying to make a name for themselves, for those who were trying to become something for the Empire. The words that were spoken by Arctic could very well be a deciding factor for a soldier continuing to pursuit a spot and a chance at glory or them completely giving up and with a soldier like Salazar, Arctic wanted to push him towards the right path. He wanted to see how far this soldier would go for the cause, both his own and the one that Arctic would guide him towards. If he had played his cards right and continued to demonstrate this amount of effort within all the tasks assigned to him, there would be without a doubt a promotion in his future. Hell, maybe even replace Daru as his right hand but who knew. Only time would tell along with the actions of the demon.
It was at this point that Salazar had managed to get to his knees and force himself into a stable position. Without the weight of the gravity pressing down against him, it was rather quite easy for him to do so even if his body had been in terrible shape. "Thank you, my lord Arctic. I did my best yet it wasn't even close enough. I knew I still had a long way to go but this had really put the length into perspective." He kept his words true and humble. He wasn't trying to be cocky and would never even hint at Arctic's weakness for he simply valued his life. Even if Arctic wasn't weak, he wouldn't point out any flaws or negatives, he would simply only stroke the Ego of the emperor.
Though now that the training had been concluded, Arctic would give a simple order to his soldier. Given that Arctic had valued Salazar far beyond most of his other soldiers, he wanted him in the best of shapes for tomorrow. "I want you to report to the healing chamber immediately, for tomorrow I have a new task for you. You're capable and it's time you begin to search for the Dragon Balls."
With this order, Salazar arched a brow. He was now being involved in one of the most important assignments to Arctic's cause and this assignment was something that had more meaning that he could ever truly know. Though he had heard rumors about the Dragon Balls and the goal, it was now confirmed to him that it was the main reason they were here.
"Yes, My lord." It was at this point that he simply made his exit with a limp and made his way to the healing chamber to recover from his wounds. He was excited, he wanted to be in the best condition for his new assignment and he was extremely motivated to get to it. This was a moment that he could really prove himself.
With the training concluded for the day, Arctic thought about what he was going to do next. He was still full of energy and ready to keep going with his task. It was more than reasonable for him to go seeking Dragon Balls before he got rest and given the urgency of the hunt, he couldn't help but believe it was the best course of action. He knew he needed to round them up quickly, simply to reduce any chance at something going wrong and ruining his plan. The faster he got them all and made his wish, the better. Once his wish was made, he would be unstoppable but until then, he was vulnerable to others and he didn't want to take any chances. His entire future was resting on the events that were going to transpire on this planet and to stake so much on the events of one planet was very risky.
Unfortunately though, the path that Arctic had chosen has brought him to this planet and this point in time and truly everything had seemed to be riding on this planet. There wasn't anything he could do about it except for push through and get it done. With his power level and the weak namekians, it should'nt be a huge thing but one could truly never know when somebody strong would appear out of the blue. After all, it did happen to his own homeworld of Frost. Though it was unlikely to happen here after years of owning the planet and enslaving it, it wasn't impossible and Arctic would much rather have his power if that happened. He didn't want to gamble his current strength against a super saiyan unless it was absolutely necessary. Though the only thing that would be a deciding factor is time. Would they gather the dragon balls quickly enough to prevent this or would time be against them? Would they be delayed and provide others with plenty of time to stop him or would it go smoothly? There really wasn't anything else to think about. All Arctic knew now was that he needed to haste, needed to rush to complete everything he needed to do otherwise this whole plan could go to waste and all his time and effort would be for nothing. He wasn't going to allow it to come to that if he could prevent it but sometimes the universe had a much higher power than him in control.
Word Count: 8,000
First Form Bonus: 15%
Gravity x175 185% (with 10% racial bonus)
Rookie Bonus: 65%
