Chapter 4: The Year Everything Changed

Akuma's POV

Year 762.

The year I turn 18. The year I'm finally considered an adult. The year everything changes.

Now, don't get me wrong. My life so far hasn't exactly been boring. A few hiccups here and there, sure—like that one time I accidentally looked at the full moon and transformed into a 500-meter-tall giant ape, nearly wiped out half the planet, scared the entire population, and—most importantly—scared the hell out of myself.

And you know what the worst part was? I don't even remember it! I blacked out and only woke up after I'd reverted back to normal. It was only later that Pops filled me in on the details:

I went on an unstoppable rampage.

The entire planet freaked out and tried to kill me.

I had to outrun them at light speed for hours before I finally controlled the form.

Pretty dope, right? Wrong. Turns out, using that form drains me so badly that I pass out afterward. Not exactly ideal for combat.

But that was years ago. Since then, I've been steadily gaining control over my ridiculous power. According to Pops, my battle power has been doubling every single year, even when I wasn't doing anything. It got to the point where I couldn't even exist peacefully without breaking things. So, Pops—being the genius he is—built me this high-tech gravity watch that suppresses my power by manipulating gravity. Every year, I quadruple the gravitational pressure on my body to keep myself in check.

And now? I'm afraid to take it off.

Life's been peaceful. Too peaceful. I've been itching for a fight my whole life, but my parents outright banned me from training. I don't care if I'm stronger than the average Tuffle—that's no excuse to keep me from testing my power. It's been a total drag.

Until today.

Because today, I finally got my wish.

Cryella's POV

After hearing my brother rant to himself like a lunatic, I noticed his expression change. He looked up at the sky—serious for once. Following his gaze, I saw it too. A spaceship.

Not one of ours.

I didn't waste time. I bolted straight home.

"Mom! Dad! We've got trouble! Pirates are invading, and Akuma's gonna fight them!"

Mom's eyes narrowed. "Good. Let's go watch."

Wait, what?

I stared at her in shock. "You're not worried?"

"Pfft. If anything, those pirates are in trouble."

"…I mean, you're not wrong."

Still, something felt off. I wasn't sure if it was the way Akuma had looked at the ship, or just the fact that it was too quiet. But I knew—this wasn't going to be some ordinary fight.

We ran outside, just in time to see the pirates land.

And Akuma? He was already moving.

Space Pirates' POV

"Hey, Bergamo," Basil muttered, scanning the city below. "I thought Lord Sidra gave us a hard mission this time. But capturing a single survivor from an extinct race? That's easy money."

"They aren't just rumors," Bergamo replied. "Lord Sidra confirmed it with Mohito. There's a Saiyan here."

Lavender scoffed. "Didn't the last God of Destruction wipe them all out?"

Bergamo's eyes narrowed. "That's what we're here to find out."

They landed smoothly, stepping out into a city full of wary eyes.

Basil checked his scouter. "Nothing impressive here. The strongest power level I'm reading is barely over 3,000. Are we even in the right place?"

"Don't trust the scouter," Bergamo muttered. "The Saiyan is hiding his power. Let's lure him out."

With a dark smirk, Lavender raised a hand. A purple mist seeped from his palm, spreading through the streets. The moment it touched people, they gasped—choking, convulsing—before collapsing, their skin turning a sickly shade of blue.

Then, as expected, he arrived.

A gust of wind blasted through the city as a blur appeared before them.

A tall, silver-haired warrior stood there, his arms crossed, glaring at them with fiery orange eyes.

"Leave," Akuma said flatly. "Now."

Lavender cackled. "Oi, check his power level."

Basil's scouter beeped, then—

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Error. The number was too high.

"…Hah? That's impossible." Basil tapped it in disbelief. "It's just—just sixteen billion? Pfft! Kid, that's nothing! You can't beat us with—"

SMACK!

Lavender flew fifty feet into a wall.

"Idiot," Bergamo muttered. "We're capturing him, not killing him. But now that I've seen him up close… I don't think this will be easy."

Akuma cracked his knuckles. "Neither will leaving this planet in one piece."

Akuma's POV

Can I beat them?

I wasn't sure. I still had my gravity watch active. I hadn't even transformed.

I looked around. People were choking on the gas, their bodies trembling as they passed out. My home. My people. My family.

"What's wrong with them?" My fists clenched. "What have you done?!"

No response. Only smirks.

I felt something inside me snap.

My blood burned. My vision sharpened. My Ki flared wildly around me, golden streaks crackling through the air.

"I told you," I growled. "LEAVE."

Basil scoffed. "Or what?"

BOOM!

The ground shattered beneath me as I transformed.

Fierce, fiery power surged through my veins. My hair darkened to jet black. My pupils burned orange. A golden aura roared around me like a raging inferno.

I was no longer suppressing my strength.

I dared them to make a move.

Bergamo's eyes widened. "Basil. Lavender. We might be in trouble."

Basil grinned. "Nah, let's just use hostages—"

And then, I saw him.

Lavender was holding Cryella and Mom.

By their necks.

He grinned, his teeth bared. "They look pretty tasty. Maybe I'll—"

BOOM.

Everything went white.

Rage—pure, seething rage—exploded from my body. The air cracked. The ground caved. A shockwave so powerful it shattered buildings ripped through the city.

I had never felt anger like this before.

I barely recognized my own voice when I roared:

"I F*CKING DARE YOU."

Lavender didn't have time to blink.

I moved.

The fight was over before it began.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Find out next time on Ancient Legends!!