Homeward Bound

The concept of neutrality was a difficult one, but he could figure out that not necessarily a soul would be interested in learning what Nasu or another guy had to offer, so at best there was always a third option. If not even that was good, then just do not get trained, simple as that. Of course, though, when it came to the concept as to why any of this had been deemed necessary was something that really escaped his full understanding, like he told Cheri, he did have some ideas but none of them he could one hundred percent be sure of without questioning the very basic concept of that idea.

He knew what Cheri was talking about, he felt rather in a similar position back when he had first turned into a Super Saiyan at the time. Something that had dawned upon him was how potentially this power had the very strength to stop anything at that point in time, if it was an individual morally different to the swordsman, by now who knows what could have happened in those days.

A weight on his mind. Perhaps with great power also came great responsibility?

"You are. However I also have no doubt that you could be even stronger. Strong enough to rival a Super Saiyan no doubt."

He had seen it. People that managed to grasp a new power to compete in this life cycle that was seemingly out of nowhere, or perhaps fruit of all their hard labors, whatever could have been the way or reason they achieved that level of power, he believed it was connected to the theory that most of the universe was being stitched together by the strong, causing weaker individuals that would put the effort, to grow faster than they ever did.

"I do not know if it is a cycle. I have heard things from an ancient, vengeful individual, that perhaps might suggest that the Kais may indeed have this kind of control, at their whim or when something has gotten too out of control for them. But that is not something I really have solid proof over beyond someone else's word."

Nasu figured that he had good chances to neutralize destron as it was, but he did not actually get to attempt that bit just yet, still he had all the tools to do so. The swordsman then retained his attention on the lager, just to drink the last of it and have it run down his throat before his eyes shifted to stare at her briefly. She was enjoying this, he could see that much. Not that he minded, but of course before swamped with work as she was, and probably uncertain as they were, he had never seen her tease like that.

"I didn't know my Cheri had that kind of side."

He put down the empty glass and smiled back at her, the hazelnut haired swordsman seemingly finished with his own part of the meal.

"So, what plans do you have for today? Is there a gap for me?"

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The uniqueness of Cheri's way of looking at things was still impossible for him to match, of course he had no idea what she meant by the definition of 'I' but, in any case, she appeared to have agreed with him so all was good in the world, he could nod his head and assumingly so she did indeed have some kind of plan. He did not know how she planned to ascend and break that barrier that had been formed between all these individuals and their massive power, but it did fit Cheri to have been working towards that for sure.

"To plan? Hmm, so you are working on something."

His eyes curiously inspected her and tried to at least figure out what it could potentially be. Was it another armor? Perhaps, but that was not something that he knew much about to begin with, in any case he doubted she would tell him about it if there was not something concrete about this, so he was definitely interest.

"I can't wait. If you need help with a test run, you can count on me. I am already excited."

He said with a confident smile, as much as, it felt strangely very Saiyan for him to be excited about a fight. He supposed he had also learned to accept more of what he was, other than just being honored to be who he was, so he let a little loose. But, well, whatever she said next made zero sense to him. Sinusowhat? He just blinked, and tried to grasp whatever she was coming up with, but he figured he could at least calm down that trail of thought.

"Oh no. That is not it. It definitely won't happen. The major factor that might play in galactic genocide, is us, inhabitants of this world. Of course, everyone steadily growing in power might make that easier to actually take place. I am not sure what the Kai would do in that manner. They might do just what I heard about and wipe the slate clean? No clue. This is all just a big guess."

The swordsman leaned his arm onto the table and just rested it there, with a smile looking over Cheri. Admittedly his smile grew a little, when she called him in such a way, but probably because he was just not used yet to hearing Cheri like that.

"Oh. I will tell you later. I am but witnessing it just now. I will need a better look before I can tell you more about this side of yours."

He replied before eventually, he let her just check what she was up to that day, to which she continued yet again to tease him, and he chuckled a bit, as tempting as it was to just shrink himself to the size of a fairy, he was also not one to show off his abilities too much.

"It's alright. I am sure if we try hard enough we can make me fit."

Nasu appeared a tad more calm and collected this time, but smiling yet, staring daggers into Cheri's eyes.

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The moment she confirmed his hypothesis of a plan in the works, well, he was rather intrigued. Much as he had witnessed Amara herself attempt to handle the Super Saiyan power and make something out of it, he had seen virtually nothing else from her on that potential use of his power. But even then, Amara was half a Saiyan so it was more likely it would have just awakened her own bright golden form, or some other color! So, other than that, he could only wonder what kind of awakening the Tuffles could achieve. The Saiyan leaned closer, perhaps if she would have shared something, but of course it appeared that it was that much of a secret.

"You can try. It would be fun."

He chuckled a little bit, of course he was a Saiyan. Now, aside from the fact Nasu had basically become uncaring of whether he lived or died, for his will would never falter, in the end a statement like that was just enticing to a Saiyan, after all, but with a smile he confirmed his understanding when she said he would only get a spar when it was ready.

"Very well! I will keep my hands to myself for now. But I definitely want to try you out again. Any times we had a bout you would usually outsmart me."

Now, it would not have much sense in doing so, he could suppress his power but he felt like both of them could have done a lot better than that with their full powers unleashed.

Of course Nasu understood that neither end that could lead to a galactic reset was well, uh, not pretty, and the possibility alone was not the best. But of course these were all thoughts and whatnot, he could not actually provide tangible proof or understanding of what any of this was.

"I suppose the power balance in this world is kind of like a rubber band. It takes one hand to stretch it, then it will follow suit. I do not know if that made sense."

He smiled a bit, before of course being given the chance to promise to her that he would not destroy the galaxy. That was, simply a granted fact but in any case he chose to tease her a bit.

"Depends. If something happens to you I might snap."

Nasu tapped the table idly, before of course he would nod. There was no way he would see this place destroyed, it hosted a number too great of beautiful and dear things to him.

"I might be from far away originally. But by now this galaxy has become home to me. Of course I will keep a close eye to make sure it will not fall into chaos. Even earlier, I was called to Arcose because a group of terrorists were trying to take over the world. But that I would repeat anytime, especially for the planet that hosts the one dear to me."

Cheri eventually clapped back with, a rather powerful statement- or tease rather, and even there the Saiyan appeared amused, indeed there was no surprise that she was simply that intelligent, he doubted he could really catch her off guard simply with his words.

"You seem eager to know."

But alas, often times, it was the shortest reply that would work best, as he just looked at her with a smile and a fixed gaze, before eventually he was met with the dilemma. Where to go from here? Well, he did not think that far, honestly.

"I admit I did not plan that far. The moment I arrived I just knew I wanted to see you. Well, we are a mature couple of soldiers that have fought for nearly their entire lifetime, we have no kids to look after and all this time and the stars to ourselves, what could we possibly do?"

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He tilted his head a bit, apparently whether or not one could potentially mistake his words for anything else, that was definitely beneath him and not something that he realized at all. In a few nods, he confirmed the fact that in the end he was not going anywhere for the foreseeable future so it was much more than likely he would get to have his own test with Cheri. Before he chuckled a little bit, well, he did not think like she really needed to try.

"You have a talent for it. I remember some of our earliest spars. You have always been great with your technique and strategy."

Which was true, while Nasu was more of an all rounder, or well, engraved in more martially physical senses of the art of the war, when it came to brute strength and sword wielding. There was no doubt that the way he could handle his weapon was unlike most, just by its own sheer weight.

His own eye looked up at her when she apparently called him sweet or some such, undoubtedly he did not know what he could answer to that, uhm, it was probably a bit too vague for him to really figure out what she meant by that. But well, if anything, he figured he could just try to be as vague?

"I am confident enough it will handle the pressure. What about yours?"

Soon he looked over some of the snacks by the table, and well, of course he picked one of them and just began idly munching on it, he did not seem rather averse to the idea of course.

"No need for a restaurant. I feel like we can stay here a little longer. When we are done I will take the invite to your place. It was rather cozy last time."

Besides just relaxing with her, just felt a hundred times better than yet another public space. But he did not have any rush either, so he just completely focused on her instead for now.

"But other than all of that. The Namekian politics and the weird invasion on Arcose. Hmm. I have been training. I am trying to get past this limited Super Saiyan power, but it has not been really easy just yet. It feels like I am still so far away. First I tried using harsh conditions to get myself used to the actual golden form. Like, fight massive beasts in lava pools. I could not think any more extreme than that. It was hot, terribly so. But I think it gave some results, but ascending further remains yet a problem."

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Flattery? Uhh, yes and no. After all if his mind served him right, any time the two of them fought she had kept the upper hand and had bested the Saiyan, but well it was true that in the end it only took enough of a power gap for a certain victory, there was no fun in that. That much he could figure out and boil down to perhaps her genes, but that was not really just the case.

"I have no doubt about it. But they are all what make you who you are. There could not be a second Cheri in this world that is equal to you in every right. With the experiences we make, they define each and every one of us differently."

Alas, he nodded, but he had sort of no idea what she meant by snapping the rubber band to begin with, so well in the end it was a clever way to just kept the conversation going and make sure he did not look like he did not understand one bit of it.

"Good! I should actually try and strain myself more. I might be powerful, but I hear some others have also been keeping up with their training. Sadly, the whole Otherworld business and all managed to keep me busy for a while. But well, I have plenty of hope, in many of the people I have met so far."

Truly, there were some of the most foul scoundrels that he had yet to meet in this part of the universe in that list of acquaintances he had made, but there were also some of the most fantastic friends he got to talk and work with in the past few months.

"So, even though I should not make it at some point, I am sure the galaxy is in good hands."

Even though he was determined enough to keep fighting, harder and harder.

He smiled and just quickly blinked his eyes when she was apparently shocked that he was already aiming past the Super Saiyan stage, but well, truth be told. It was both a realistic thing, and a personal matter at hand. The truth of it was, that one day the legend itself was associated with the worst period of his life, the countless deaths by those that would try to summon a hypothetical Super Saiyan were something that he could not forget. Truly, he would not have to deal with it, but admittedly he despised the idea of having to go on just by this power alone, the one of a figure that many beings and realms have ruined themselves for... but he nodded.

"Mhm! Of course it is limiting. Just like we were shackled to our previous levels of power. This is what I mean by stretching the rubber band. We got to the level to ascend further, and develop to such extends. But surely this is not the end. I aim to grasp that which lies beyond Super Saiyan. In my case, it might not even be a Super Saiyan."

Nasu folded his arms, and well, that he did not know if it applied to just any Saiyan. It may have very well be a matter of mastering the form, or perhaps, there could be something else entirely.

"Back when Lottus attacked Hatchi. The second time. There was a short moment where I lost the golden hair and yet my power just kept skyrocketing. For a minute or so it felt like I was burning with flames made of my own blood, but I have been unable to replicate that feeling since then."

Alas he had no other way to describe the thing, unless Cheri had public records or some sort of footage back when Tsuya happened to use some deadly agent that had happened to take down most of their forces.

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Of course the fact itself was that this was not something associated to anything in legend, apparently, or well as far as anyone knew. Even in his own family tomes, there was no mention of this, but well that was of course something else entirely.

"I retrieved a family tome. Well, it was not me precisely. But a few friends I made not too long ago had happened to find it in the ruins of my old homeworld apparently. Even then, there is nothing akin to what I experienced that time. Other than that I am not a real expert on Sadalan culture I am afraid."

It could very well be that his own evolution was no longer even dictated by his genes alone, given the amount of influence he had received physically and spiritually to a point where one could even mistake him for a Shinjin at times when he was fully immersed in nature. Or well perhaps even these fiery eyes that he had appeared to master as an ability could have something to do with this.

"Perhaps so. I have no doubt that Saiyans hide further latent power. From what I have seen. Some appear to go off... the norm, in a way. There are factors in life that may influence our roads to deviate, even though we may progress at similar rates, not one power is equal to the other. The common point appears to be this Super Saiyan power which may only be the first gate that we all must trespass first."

Then again, was that true only for Saiyans? He had already witnessed many different other kind of aliens achieve similar powers, so, who could really tell. Other species mostly appeared to fluctuate in power however, not all of them were as strong as a Super Saiyan, for example.

"At this point, it is not even the Super Saiyans one has to worry about. Many other species have already made the jump as well."

At her physical offer, the Saiyan felt again a wave of heat pass through him, or perhaps was it more like a candle whose flames became brighter and fiercer? In any case, of course, the man let his hand touch her own and his fingers intertwine with hers until they would be holding hands. He was not being too tight with it, but rather firm so, wishing to feel her close. But alas, he could not just pull her across the table and embrace her unfortunately. That would have been a bad look in public.

"Hmm. Well."

He began, but alas it had been almost a year or something since that display. And yet there were very few people that he could really ask and that even maybe noticed his short lived change in that moment, but if he was to try and explain it, he could only try and describe more or less what he was witnessing.

"When the demon used her powers to annihilate the soldiers and citizens with some kind of venomous blaze. I suppose I got angry. But I would not say it was the anger that made me ascend, unlike when I turned into a Super Saiyan against Lottus. I would dare say at the moment I was upset I had stopped thinking, and my mere focus was to take her down with all the power I had. That was when I saw those crimson flames burst out of me."

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He folded his arms over his chest before eventually he began to more or less try and explain it in a few simple words. Even though, well, Nervan was all but simple to explain. Back then he believed there was something wrong with his eyesight, but he had no shadow of a doubt that whatever he saw was indeed concerning.

"Well. A group of friends, from what I could gather. Each of different origins, there is even a Saiyan woman way older than me. I believe more or less she might be as old as my grandfather would be by now."

Which prompted the question of whether or not she would know something about Sadala in the first place. Not that they could likely do much with it yet even with that knowledge, but there needed to be some sort of in depth survey at some point to try and understand how to proceed on the matter.

"The few I met that time were Nervan and Prophos. Latter is a Shinjin, the other is- well, a bit difficult to say. Even with my special sight, I could hardly tell. I should be able to see an individual's souls, but Nervan was like he had- a mixture of souls all cramped together in one individual. They happen to travel around a lot, and funny enough they seem to have stumbled upon my homeworld. All in ruins, from what they told me, but they did indeed retrieve a piece of history that is related to my clan."

As for his transformation, well there was sadly no real answer from him, he did not manage to really understand the complexity of it yet but he kept striving further, so at some point he believed he could figure it out. But he wondered if perhaps there was not some connection with his eyes? Well, in any case.

"Oh, let me know how she behaves during her meeting with the Tuffle Chancellor. Admittedly I could not believe it when I heard that she actually made it to the throne, she is a good kid, probably the kind of... you know, daughter you never had- or well, do not have anymore kind of deal, so I might be biased but the throne seems to be a difficult matter for most. The Saiyans have changed monarchs more than some change their clothes in a week."

Sarcasm, of course, this was not mathematically correct or at least meant to be.

"Still I hope to see her bring some change to the Saiyans. Steer them in a different direction. I do not think that is easily achievable in a lifetime, but she could definitely try and plant the fundamentals of such."

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