Quest of the Ancient Map

In the midst of the streets of Sadala, Rhuba found himself floating just above the ground, his energy loose, allowing those who can sense energy to stay away. His patched-together robe from his home planet draped over him, a tangible reminder of his past and the scars he bore. As he glided through the streets, his presence only feared due to the encounters those witnessed. Rhuba at times would get into a scuffle and even when taken down, he'd stand until he couldn't. Although they stared, Rhuba, indifferent to the wary glances, navigated the city with a certain ease, his hooded figure drawing a perimeter that kept most at a distance.

Raised in the harsh environment of a slave planet, Rhuba's moral compass was unconventional, shaped by a history of guarding fellow slaves and fostering a resentment for the very individuals he was tasked with restraining. Though those that met and fought Rhuba might assume he didn't fear death, but that was far from the truth. A fear of death lingered within him, an uncertainty about what awaited beyond, driving his quest for survival. His constant contemplation of mortality led him to roam the streets, a wandering soul in search of something, be it conflict or novelty.

As Rhuba strolled, his attention was suddenly captured by a gathering crowd forming a circle or, at the very least, a half-circle. Intrigued, he pushed through the onlookers, only to grow bored and ascend into the air. From his elevated vantage point, he noticed the focal point of the crowd – a figure that stood out starkly against what he felt was a more modern Saiyan armor, resembling the knights depicted in his books. The vision of a living, breathing knight ignited Rhuba's imagination, his eyes gleaming with possibilities seeping into his conscious.

Descending to the ground, he approached the knight, unaware of the significance of the gathering or the identity of the individual before him. The murmurs of both admiration and negativity surrounding the knight reached Rhuba's ears, but his fascination with the attire that reminded him of his planet's fantasy novels overpowered any skepticism. Landing in front of the crowd, he walked toward the knight, eager to meet the knight.

"The princess is on a quest, I heard that's why she's here..." a passerby informed Rhuba, his ears perking up at the mention of a princess on a quest. "You're on a quest?" Rhuba addressed the knight with a mixture of enthusiasm and formality, drawn from the pages of his fantasy books, taking a few more steps toward her, he fixed his posture stiffening his stance he then placed his fist on his heart in a saluting fashion.

"May I have the honors of assisting you in your quest, m'lady?" Rhuba's words echoed the chivalrous dialogues he had encountered in his fantasy novels. The hushed whispers of mocking could be heard from the crowd, some thinking he is mocking the her, some mocking him for his behavior. Rhuba didn't even flinch, and awaited the response, excitement in his eyes.

Antisense: Off

WC: 507

PL: 15,000
HP: 0/250%
KP: 6/6 
MP: 0/6
Traits: Saiyan Pride | Burning Ki | Zenkai

Rhuba found himself immersed in an atmosphere that echoed the tales he had read in The Grandmaster's books. The Grandmaster, was the one whom introduced him to the enchanting stories of knights and dragons from Earth. Unbeknownst to Rhuba, these were rewrites of Earth tales, transformed to fit the narrative of Hurtless, his 'home' planet. The books transported him to a world filled with legendary adventures, and to Rhuba, these tales were as real as his own abilities to control ki, and based on his abilities and others it was likely it was all true!

As the word "Ronin," reached his ears, a spark of recognition and excitement ignited within Rhuba. The term resonated deeply with him, echoing a character he had encountered in one of The Grandmaster's tales, "The Swordless Ronin." In this story, a lordless Samurai, deprived of his sword, rose against an evil Emperor and his samurai, leaving without a trace. Rhuba, standing at attention, couldn't contain his enthusiasm, his eyes sparkling with the joy of connecting with a character from his cherished books.

"Ronin? You know?" Rhuba inquired, his excitement peeking through the carefully controlled demeanor. This word carried weight, embodying a character he had often pretended to be in front of his mirror. The mirror, his companion in late-night role-playing sessions, witnessed Rhuba's imaginary struggles and fierce attacks as the swordless ronin, a persona he embraced without a hint of embarrassment.

Without hesitation, Rhuba swiftly kneeled, a gesture practiced in solitude based on the stories he loved. His robe brushed against the dirtied floor as he assumed the position, embodying the essence of the ronin, he sat on his legs, his knees on the ground in seiza style. "I would rise, but I must offer my services correctly," he confidently expressed, drawing from the tales that fueled his imagination. "I'm a ronin without a sword, but I will always help someone in need." Rising from his kneeling posture as the situation demanded, Rhuba smiled, fully committed to playing the part.

When Queen Zuqetta, inquired about his name, a momentary panic gripped him. The ronin from his books was never named. Quick on his feet, or rather, his knees, Rhuba crafted an alias, albeit a dumb one, "Rhuba, I'm a Saiyan from a very distant planet. My master taught me everything I know." The truth was present, yet veiled in ambiguity.

When Queen Zuqetta mentioned her role as the reigning monarch, Rhuba, still navigating the intricate dynamics of Saiyan society, confessed, "I'm new here, so apologies for not knowing that you were the rightful ruler immediately." His disjointed thought process miraculously didn't betray him, and his words flowed seamlessly, concealing the gaps in his understanding.

Antisense: Off

WC: 449

PL: 15,000
HP: 0/250%
KP: 6/6 
MP: 0/6
Traits: Saiyan Pride | Burning Ki | Zenkai

Rhuba, maintaining his stoic demeanor, observed Zuqetta with an intensity that hid his own excitement. His tail would have mirrored her enthusiasm, swaying around violently had it not been tied to his waist like a ceremonial sash. Unaware of the shared energy, he briefly struggled to keep up the persona, drawing from the tales he'd read. The Swordless Ronin's image loomed large in his mind, guiding his actions, invisibly, intangibly, and swordless.

Zuqetta's explanation of the quest only fueled Rhuba's imaginative connection to the fantasy world he'd so often delved into. The Swordless Ronin, now deprived of his sword, had traversed the land to seek a new purpose. Rhuba embraced this narrative, intertwining it with his own existence. As she presented the map, Rhuba, unfamiliar with such navigational tools, regarded it like ancient hieroglyphs. Maps were a foreign concept; he'd only seen illustrations at the end of his Earth-inspired novels or depictions of Hurtless.

"Ah, well, perhaps your quest is real. You must learn the new Sadala, that sounds like a quest to me," Rhuba commented, attempting to decipher the map. His smile conveyed sincerity, yet his eyes held a distant sadness, as if mourning the absence of a tangible sword. Adjusting his tail belt, he was momentarily lost in a private memory, replaying moments that shaped his fictional persona. Realizing his "sword" was absent, a brief melancholy crossed his face. However, he shook off the momentary sadness and glanced behind him, Rhuba, now fully immersed in character, "I've been here searching for ne'er-do-wells, and I can tell you that they are not in short supply on this planet."

He now fully returned his attention back to Zuqetta, expressing gratitude for the history lesson. "If you are referring to the old ways, I apologize again. I am blind and deaf to it," he confessed, words carefully chosen from his fantasy novel recollections. His disappointment seemed genuine, aligning seamlessly with his role. "I do appreciate your history lesson. If you could explain more, that would help my understanding of the old ways and the new. I would love to hear more as you surveyed."

Motioning ahead, he subtly urged her to lead, emphasizing his willingness to follow and learn. "I'm sure navigating the city will be much more enjoyable with company, no?" he inquired, closing his eyes briefly and smiling. His statement more so about his enjoyment rather than hers, as his last few encounters started with a fight.

Antisense: Off

WC: 408

PL: 15,000
HP: 0/250%
KP: 6/6
MP: 0/6
Traits: Saiyan Pride | Burning Ki | Zenkai

Rhuba observed with delight as Zuqetta marched forward, her words reminiscent of the commanding generals he had read about in stories. Though the reasons differed, the spirit of the command resonated with him. As the duo traversed the city, Rhuba received a comprehensive rundown of how things worked in Sadala. Attempting to retain the information, much of it seemed of little use to him, destined to be forgotten. Surprisingly, however, a significant portion of the information piqued his interest. Given the usual Saiyan demeanor, approaching random individuals to learn about the landscape wouldn't be effective.

During Zuqetta's explanations, Rhuba maintained the persona of The Swordless Ronin. Striving to exude confidence, he walked with purpose, adopting a stance that signaled his alien from another planet origin. His right hand remained within the front of his kimono, poised as if ready to draw a sword at any moment. To onlookers, this might seem peculiar, but Rhuba attempted to emulate the samurai movements described in his books. His square yet relaxed shoulders and slightly bent knees contributed to a smooth gait, distinct from the rigid, fully extended knee walk. Rhuba kept this up the whole time they traversed the city.

As the sound of clanging metal grew closer, Rhuba wouldn't recognize the unfamiliar noise. It led them to a place filled with weapons and armor, indicating the presence of a smith—a craftsman working with metal. While his knowledge on the subject was limited, Rhuba was aware of the existence of such skilled artisans from his readings. It excited him internally, his tail-sash vibrating slightly as his eyes landed on the three blacksmiths using their forge. The oldest blacksmith turned toward them, not overly warm but acknowledging the potential for business.

"I have no money to my name," Rhuba responded candidly to the blacksmith's inquiry about needing a sword. His right hand remained in the opening of his kimono, signaling his economic struggles. The well-done patches on his kimono, though of different fabric and color, hinted at a resourceful attempt to maintain his attire despite financial constraints. The money wasn't the real issue, he actually feared getting a blade as Zuqetta might want to see some of his moves. While, yes, he did in fact practice in the mirror with a wooden stick, his skills reenacting blade swings wasn't nearly as good as emulating a walk or voice.

Antisense: Off

WC: 395

PL: 15,000
HP: 0/250%
KP: 6/6
MP: 0/6
Traits: Saiyan Pride | Burning Ki | Zenkai

Zuqetta took control of the situation effortlessly, engaging with the blacksmith as Rhuba observed the exchange. The blacksmith's brusque demeanor, Rhuba noticed, seemed more like an ingrained habit rather than a direct form of disrespect towards the queen. The realization intrigued him as he examined Zuqetta's summoned rapier with genuine fascination.

"This is amazing. I've only ever seen curved blades and longswords. What is this blade called?" he inquired, his enthusiasm evident as he displayed a keen interest in the unique weapon. Rhuba's experience had been primarily with curved swords, and the rapier was a novelty to him.

The conversation shifted abruptly as Rhuba's curiosity veered towards magic. He questioned Zuqetta, "Is this magic? Some guy with half a purple face told me about this. Can you also change your face like he can?" His inquiry demonstrated a mixture of innocence and genuine curiosity about the magical capabilities he had encountered before. While the Blacksmith responded to her earlier question, Rhuba slinked over to the displays set up to showcase armors, weapons, and equipment otherwise made by blacksmiths.

Rhuba, ears twitching, tuned into the background conversation between the queen and the blacksmith. The blacksmith's complaints about past rulers caught his attention, but his focus wavered when his eyes settled on a large shield displayed on the wall. Intrigued, he approached it, temporarily oblivious to the ongoing discussion, but keeping his ears trained on keywords to try and at least be able to respond if necessary.

As if Zuqetta realized he was zoning out, she called out for Rhuba's input. Zuqetta's sudden redirection of attention towards him startled Rhuba. Hastily trying to replace the objects he had taken from the displays, and was wearing haphazardly and mostly incorrectly. He inadvertently caused a major mess with his reckless replacements, knocking over an armor stand, and mixing multiple items in areas they weren't previously. Unperturbed, he approached the queen, a serious demeanor replacing his initial reaction.

"Well, it depends on the situation at the time. War calls for sacrifices, but if it was not war-time, then it would have been dishonorable not to pay someone for their services," Rhuba explained with a measured tone, conveying a sense of understanding regarding the nuances of payment and respect in different contexts. Despite the gravity of his words, his innocent smile persisted, masking the chaos he had unintentionally caused in the background. As if to mock his cover-up, the shield he had lingered on previously fell from the wall, loudly clanging on the ground. Rhuba didn't flinch, he pretended as if none of that had even happened.

Antisense: Off


WC: 420


PL: 15,000

HP: 0/250% ()

KP: 6/6 ()
MP: 0/6 ()


Traits: Saiyan Pride (Inactive) | Burning Ki (Unused) | Zenkai
Items: Battle Armor (1/1) | Battle Liner (1/1)

Rhuba paid little heed to the mess he inadvertently created behind him, more focused on the conversation with Zuqetta. As she took his words to heart regarding the payment for commissioned items, he couldn't help but offer her a genuine smile. Though he often played the fool, Rhuba had moments of clarity, and when he applied his mind, he could articulate sound reasoning and strategy.

However, as Zuqetta brought up the concept of changing her appearance through magic, Rhuba's expression turned to one of perplexity. The terms 'shin-jin' and 'demon' seemed foreign to him, and he struggled to grasp their meaning. While he recognized the word 'demon,' he wasn't certain if it held the same connotations on this planet as it did in his experiences. As for 'shin-jin,' it was entirely unfamiliar.

"No, I don't think so. He took the form of a man, at least. He looked like he could handle himself," Rhuba replied, delving into the inner layer of his kimono to retrieve his journal. Despite being singed and torn, the journal held together well. Flipping through the pages, he landed on a black-and-white sketch of a man he referred to as Yangcong. The drawing showcased Yangcong's disfigured face, and, although lacking color, it bore a striking resemblance to the real person, as Rhuba didn't just re-enact plays in his room, he also would paint and draw. "He gave me a Saiyan greeting, and then fed me an apple. Nice man." Yangcong, in Rhuba's eyes, was a nice man who had given him a Saiyan greeting and shared an apple, unlike others who when giving him a Saiyan greeting would keep 'greeting him' until Rhuba left the area or killed them. The idea of a Saiyan greeting to Rhuba was attacking someone upon meeting them. He assumed it must have been a Saiyan custom as a lot of Saiyans would attack him, unbeknownst to Rhuba he had done specific things to cause the attack most of the time.

"If that was a demon or Knee-Shin or whatever, then yeah, that's whom I met," Rhuba concluded, unaware of the significance of the information he had just revealed to the Saiyan Queen. "Oh yeah, I remember. His name is Young Kong." He turned the journal back toward himself, scanning the page. He chuckled a moment, as his finger landed on the name he wrote in his journal after meeting him. "Yangcong, that's what everyone was shouting at the bar. He must be pretty famous, everyone knew him..." Turning the journal around once more, his finger underneath the name he had written for Yangcong at the top of the page.

Antisense: Off


WC: 439
TWC: 2,618


PL: 15,000

HP: 0/250% ()

KP: 6/6 ()
MP: 0/6 ()


Traits: Saiyan Pride (Inactive) | Burning Ki (Unused) | Zenkai
Items: Battle Armor (1/1) | Battle Liner (1/1)

In the dimly lit forge, Rhuba unintentionally unraveled a thread of information that seemed to unravel within Queen Zuqetta's mind. He stood there, journal in hand, unaware of the puzzle pieces he unknowingly laid out. As Zuqetta processed the revelations, Rhuba took a step back, his innocent demeanor intact.

Zuqetta's focus narrowed on the name 'Young Kong.' Rhuba's unintentional mispronunciation set something off in her, and once he said the correct name, it triggered a surge of ki that manifested as an intense pressure. Rhuba, ever the oblivious one, shuffled backward, sensing the energy but failing to comprehend its depth.

"If I said something unappealing to you, I apologize," Rhuba offered, beginning to piece together the significance of the name. The tension thickened as Zuqetta questioned him using the term 'snake.' Rhuba, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, mused aloud, recalling the man's ability to conjure a snake from his arm. "Well, he did create a snake that came out of his arm..." It dawned on him that the snake imagery might carry a deeper, negative connotation.

Observing Zuqetta raise her tail and slam it into the ground, Rhuba remained steadfast, staying true to his character. The building shifted as a crater formed, yet Rhuba stood his ground, embodying the stoic Ronin. The fact that she was destroying the Smith's shop wasn't something he cared about one bit, it was kind of exciting to him.

As Zuqetta demanded to know where he met this mysterious individual, she released another wave of ki. Rhuba, playing his role with conviction, resisted the impact, but the force propelled him backward. Using his own ki, Rhuba steadied himself mid-air, landing feet-first against the wall.

"Queen Zuqetta?" Rhuba addressed her as she struck the stone counter with her fist. Maintaining his calm façade as he casually descended from the wall to the floor, defying gravity as if it were a mere inconvenience, using his ki to keep himself in a standing position as he transitioned from wall to floor. Rhuba had to exert more effort to keep up his appearances that he'd ever admit to at this point.

"I can show you, but he left already. This was a while ago," Rhuba explained, red bang wildly swaying, his black hair swirling as residual ki circulated in the air. Confident in his assumption that the Queen wouldn't end him, he continued, "I met him for around 30 minutes max, walked into a bar literally down the ways, and then he grabbed me and we flew out into the mountains. No idea who he was." Rhuba kept up his persona's appearances, a trait that was seemingly unaffected by the brewing storm within the forge.

While he had been thrown around, he was able to get used to the area under the effects of Zuqetta's powerful release. Taking up his pen, he quickly began sketching Zuqetta, without colors he would indicate what color everything was supposed to be in small notes beside the sketch. He was quick, with as little lines as possible he drew the raging Zuqetta he saw in front of him, while also trying to keep his journal and pen in place. Next to the sketch in big words he wrote, 'Really cool, need to try' Rhuba wanted to have a moment just like she did, of rage and anger. Seeing it from this side made him realize how cool it was, and even while he pretended to be stoic as the Swordless Ronin, his eyes would betray him, they sparkled with inspiration and perhaps if Zuqetta was more calm she'd realize he was enjoying her display.

Antisense: Off


WC: 571
TWC: 3,199


PL: 15,000

HP: 0/250% ()

KP: 6/6 ()
MP: 0/6 ()


Traits: Saiyan Pride (Inactive) | Burning Ki (Unused) | Zenkai
Items: Battle Armor (1/1) | Battle Liner (1/1)