Heir to the Empire [Challenge/Conquest]

Mint had been listening to Ticoga’s word and Cato’s words. He had his scouter connected to the recording droids. To listen and watch what was going on. Ticoga had some bold words. He had given quite the history lesson for the empire. The Fall of Azoth, the Attempted takeover by Blizzard which then lead into the Trimuverate. Ise vanishing into the wind, Brumal hopefully fleeing back into the otherworld to never return. But in each step of that history who had been in the shadows or in the light? The mastermind? The true Emperor? In Mint’s mind it had been him. Even before Azoth became the emperor. When Hibernal and Azoth’s fenced for who would rule the empire. He had been playing his games and moving the cards. He had the power to help shape who was gonna rule. Or at least he thought. Indeed, he always found himself truthfully as the second wheel.

When Azoth was the Emperor, he was the right arm. When he had tried to influence Hibernal and Azoth they had ignored him. He was graced with power. And then when Azoth fell. When the throne should of been his? Brumal arrived and took it from him. He proved his power and cunning. He went across the cosmo’s just like Azoth being the face while Mint had to wait in the shadows and keep the empire safe? Now? The Hero of the empire. The shield that he had allowed to rise. Had come to surpass him? To try to become the new emperor. Was it something Mint lacked? Was it something he couldn’t overcome. Was he always just meant to be the right arm? Someone in the shadows. Someone weak and pathetic. No, he understood now as the day went. He had never been bold enough. He had wanted his cake and to eat it too. He had never truly risked it all. When had Mint ever been a position where he could lose all he had? Everytime, he had everything to gain and nothing to lose. He grew in power as the empire decayed and struggled. When the empire rose in power, his power increased as well. But now? That was under threat. This was the end of that. If he did nothing, he’d lose the grasp of power he built up for over two centuries.

“Arbiter?” Mint voice finally cut the clearing as from the ice Mint stepped forward. The Moon was his home, the battle being here was his advantage. The Captial was not the Fortress of the Old Emperor. It was Here! This was his Empire! He’d not give it up so easily! Mint stepped forward his cracked bio gem standing like a beacon. Despite the advice of his doctor’s, Ticoga and anyone with common sense the Emperor was still a wounded man. The wound stood out like a light. However, the man was confident He didn’t seem to be in pain. The injury didn’t seem to bother the emperor. “You cannot decide that. That is up to me and Ticoga. This battle is our battle. No one elses.” Mint glared at Cato. “But if you are his friend, and he accepts then I do as well. I trust Ticoga would not allow someone so dangerous to get so close to try to swoop and grab the empire from under us. Afterall, I am man of the shadow. I know how words can be fickle. Even from someone who passes themselves as honorable.” Mint turned away to face Ticoga though his thoughts lingered on Cato. She was a supers saiyan, seeing it up close the power was amazing. He could hardly stand it. And he knew Ticoga would be just as strong. He had to be yes? Could he overcome that?

Of course. Emperor Mint knew how the battle was going to end, he had foreseen every move in his head. He knew how this battle would end. With the Dawn of a Great New Era for Arcose.

Mint would glare towards Ticoga. Mint was still in his base form it might of been seen as a case of utter arrogance to stride into such a battle in this form. But that was just it. It was the boldness of the emperor. The last one standing of his creation. And facing off with his own creation. Mint would raise his fist to the sky. “This is my Empire. With the other’s vanished, I will decree my last act as member of the Triumvirate. Anyone who refuses to serve the empire, anyone who will turn their backs on the empire regardless of emperor. I’ll personally hunt down. All our loyalty are to Arcose, not an Emperor. Whoever sits the throne, is our Emperor. And they are to be followed. Whether it is myself or Ticoga.”

Mint aura began to rise as he flexed both his arms. A mask appeared over his face and some armor plating extended from his body mainly around his chest. The crest on his head expanded out into with the side his horns were missing were dulled bone as opposed to the crown that formed on his horned side. His size grew to around double his base form. His weakness was not removed. It had merely been given defenses. “I refuse to give up my pride. It is my weakness as Emperor. But, with my Pride, I’ll turn the Empire into my weapon. I won’t hold back ever again! The Empire will be mine to command! I won’t allow another’s ambitions overcome mine! That is the way of the Arcosian People! The Emperor rules with an iron fist for their people! Their wills are not questioned!” Mint would stride forward walking towards Ticoga to try to get right in his face. His scouter had not checked Ticoga’s power, but he knew he’d not come here if he was weak. He’d not just stand against the Super Saiyan if he was weak. He would not be his greatest masterpiece if he was weak.

Ticoga was strong. In terms of title, Ticoga was the challenger but in terms of power, Mint fully believed he was number two once again. But this time? He would become Number one. Not just in his mind. It would be unquestionable.


Wc:1,065
Powerlevel:110,000
Armored Form:1,650,000
Item's:Armor Lining

Cato could tell her presence here wasn't entirely welcome, but she knew to expect that much.

"I never said I was going to decide anything," she stated, simply. "I'm just here to make sure nobody draws in outside help, and nobody intervenes to steal the throne from the winner after one or two too many hits to the head."

She crossed her arms and floated back, a little further out of the way of the coming fight. She kept her guard up all the same, half-expecting to catch a couple stray shots: if not from him, then from Empire soldiers who might have misinterpreted the presence of a Saiyan.

Even so, she couldn't help but feel a shade of annoyance at Mint's reasoning. His declaration that the Emperor would rule with an iron fist, to go unquestioned--it was the very opposite of why she had originally taken to the Empire in her own small way. It spoke to the gulf that had likely existed between Brumal, Ise, and Mint all along.

"Victory in battle seems the only thing that will prove true either of your philosophies," she said, off-handedly. "But take care and remember that what is said here, and done here, may be seen by all of Arcose--and eventually, all the Empire. Whichever of you wins is likely to have your words here taken as an informal declaration of policy."

She was content to let the warning be what it was. Even if she had a clear preference for who should come out on top, she knew full well that if the speeches had been broadcast, the wrong claims or the wrong declarations might do more to inspire resistance than they would promote any kind of stability or progress--ostensibly the raison d'etre behind the challenge in the first place.

Still, there was something odd about the Empire deciding its succession through single combat. It seemed strangely Saiyan for an Empire that prided itself on things like commerce, technology, and diversity. But then, the Saiyan throne had been fought over with uneven numbers and sneak attacks in the past--so maybe everyone was a little hypocritical.

---

His blow devastated Ticoga's own and the blast did send Ticoga flying but he was able to survive the blast and not take massive damage. Still, it was an edge Mint had already obtained. Mint's grin slightly faded as Ticoga pointed out how he was speaking. It was all true. What he was doing was not the behavior of a rational emperor. There was so much he wanted to say, to explain his actions why he was doing all this? Making himself out to be a mad warrior? To be someone who had no chance to rule the empire. But he couldn't do that. If he said it out loud then it all be for nothing. It would be a foolish act. Mint gritted his teeth. But he had to push forward. He had to ignore the feeling growing in his chest. "I suppose, these words mean much without a bit more action. Fine, I'll put you in your place."

Ticoga was quick and caught him off guard with the quick blows! He felt the pain surge in his bio gems as the blows landed. 'Fast! And Strong!' It seems Ticoga had taken the pace at the moment as the blows landed all Over Mint. Blood flew from his mouth as he was knocked around by the combo attacks. It didn't help he was also worrying about what Cato was doing. She was still a Saiyan and probably not loyal to the empire, maybe to the Kingdom or maybe herself, he didn't know. Mint finally formed a guard to block the strikes. 'He is so strong as I expected. But it is alright he is moving at a pace that is fine for me. Just don't lose your focus. You have to make sure you do this right. My Pride won't accept anything else but my complete victory.' Finally, he lashed out his tail swinging first to try to smack Ticoga out of range. Then both arms coiled back to blast Ticoga away with a heavy ki blast!



Wc:338
-
Kp:4/6
Mp:3/6
Damage Meter:0/250
Bio Gem Damage Meter:40/250
Item's:Armor Lining
Trait's: Durability, Supremacy

Cato watched the fight from below, pausing the audio log for the moment--to spare any future listeners a long break of dead air.

It wasn't easy to sit out of the fight. She hadn't been a Super Saiyan for very long, and her blood boiled for her to join--but this was as good a time as ever to learn the restraint that Vocado had wanted her to. She bit down hard on her lip and exhaled sharply. The log would be useful in the future, but it was just as valuable as a distraction for her to keep her from acting on that battle-lust.

Ticoga was a capable fighter, and he seemed to have overwhelmed Mint for a moment there--but she knew better than that. It would take more than that flurry of strikes for him to stay down, and that first blast Mint had managed to get in was still the deciding factor if it came down to such now.

She clicked the recording back on.

"So far, I would have to say that Ticoga and Mint are nearly exact equals in every measurable sense of the word. At a glance, Ticoga might seem faster--but that might have more to do with how Mint fights. This is the second time he's taken the brunt of the assault, only to lash out with a heavy strike once he sees an opening."

"That means," she guessed. "He's a counterpuncher. That also means this fight could end any second, if he gets the right hit in."

Luckily, Ticoga didn't fall for it: the blast went flying past him, and the smoke that rolled from the crater lingered heavy in the air. Cato could have sworn she could have felt it all the way to her pod. She raised her arm in a weak guard, in-case any of the crimson energy blast managed to ricochet down towards her, but she wasn't too worried.

"I was hoping the speeches would last longer," she admitted to the audio log. "At least then I could figure out which way this might go."

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