Post by Taiga on May 1, 2016 2:22:23 GMT
Twice... thrice... four times more... the small soul of the once proud soldier of Arcose attempts to find a way to regain his physical form, as his Empress Wyntre had done. And all times, he failed...
How long... the Arcosian soul wonders, his entire being fraught with a harsh mixture of doubt and determination. How long have I been cursed to this prison? As my soul rots here, what has become of the Empire? How many more worlds have the Saiyans eradicated? Or have they been stopped?
Yet again, Taiga thinks back to the events leading up to his own death... He had taken command of Kanassa, intending to rally what forces he could, and hopefully attract other senior officers... generals, admirals, SOMETHING!! But no, no, no, no... He was alone... left to lead a confused and panicked Empire against a foe that was far more prepared, and far better in terms of sheer military power. His actions allowed some survivors of Arcose to find him, namely Polar. Immediately, he took his fellow Arcosian under his wing, and began pulling things together.
And then, as if from no where, a being claiming high rank and status appears, with such an incredibly high power level! How hopeful he had become as he treated the so-called officer to the best hospitality he could muster... And yet, as if the universe only sought to see his hope shatter, the Saiyans came to Kanassa. Or, at least, two of them did. But what did it matter, if it were two or two thousand? Against the power of a Super Saiyan, Taiga's own meager power could not possibly save the planet, let alone his beloved, crumbling Empire.
And, where had that powerful officer go?
No... I know the truth... But I was blind. Blind and stupid. the Arcosian soul belittles himself. I did not see her for what she was; a beast of morphing skin. I was tricked, and so, I died.
But, Taiga supposes, it was not a terrible death. He died with his honor in tact. Rather than flee again, as he did from Arcose, he chose to face his foes head on. Was it a spectacular battle? No, no it wasn't. But it was fought nonetheless. Against that trickster of morphing flesh and a Super Saiyan, he dared to stand in their path, regardless of how little effect it had on the Empire's fate. Perhaps the Empire was lost with Wyntre's death, perhaps not. But in the company of his troops, he faced the invaders. Death was his only destiny that day, but it was one he had been sure to burn into the trickster's memory, he was sure. But one day, he would have his redemption...
"He-e-e-y~!" calls a rather high-pitched, screechy voice. The small soul cloud that is Taiga turns to face the source of the noise, and spots a short, lanky, red frog-like demon. "I hear-tell that you are one of those restless souls looking to get your body back... Is that true?"
If he still had his eyes, they would have narrowed with irritability.
"Yes. What of it?" Taiga asks coldly.
"Ah, well, I figured I'd come and tell ya, there is a way to get it." the demon presses slyly.
"I already know there is." Taiga grunts. "Do you have anything useful to tell me about it?"
The demon edges closer, slowing its pace, now staring at the soul before it with an unnerving focus.
"Yeah... You gotta steal Shoki from other souls!" the creature screeches with zeal, prompting Taiga to tilt in puzzlement.
"Shoki?" he asks, uncertain.
"Yeah, it's a kind of energy. Think of it as something that essentially is the soul, or at least, an energy that gives souls form here in the afterlife." the demon explains, edging slowly closer, leering at Taiga. "Some have figured out that it is possible to steal that energy from other souls, and eventually gain a physical form!"
"Is that so?" Taiga replies, genuinely surprised. A flame lights once more in his being, again, a hope has emerged! But, how can he steal this energy from other souls?
No sooner had Taiga started to ask, did the demon leap at him, seizing the small soul in its claws, cackling manically.
"Just a little thing to know; once a soul has been drained of its Shoki, the soul completely ceases to exist!" the demon excitedly crows, squeezing Taiga's soul. "And you know what? Shoki is delicious!"
In one, horrific motion, the demon consumes Taiga's soul whole. No matter how he wriggled or cursed, in his current form, he is utterly defenseless...
Proud of its capture, the demon burps and sits against a large spiked stone.
"Ahhhh... That was a good meal... It's been ages since I've caught... one of... urgh... What... What's this pain?" the demon squints against a sudden aching in its stomach. "Hurgh... what, did I eat an unprocessed soul or something..?"
As if someone had just ran up and whacked the creature in the gut with a bat, the being begins to groan and yelp against pangs of pain.
"Not... yet!!" came Taiga's voice.
"Wha-?! H-How are you - AaaRGH!!" the demon's body suddenly begins loosing random jolts of crackling, crimson forks of electricity. "What's... going on?! What are you DOING?!"
"Taking your advice." came Taiga's voice again, this time, more smug and dripping with hatred. "Shoki... I just need to absorb enough Shoki, and I can get my body back, isn't that what you said?"
"GuuughhAAAAaarrrgh!!" the demon screams, wrapping its arms around its body and collapsing. It writhes on the ground in sheer agony.
"If souls sent to Hell are made of this energy, then surely you demons consist of a similar energy, if not the same, correct?" Taiga taunts as the demon continues to shudder and scream in pain. The jolts of electricity instantly intensify, searing the demon's skin and makeshift clothing. "You will be my first victim to that end... I will regain my body, and escape this prison! Nothing will stand in my way ever again! I wont rest... not until I have become the most powerful being in the UNIVERSE!!!"
The demon is completely enveloped in a burst of swirling black and red... Within moments, the aura fades, and Taiga's soul floats passively where the demon once stood. If he had a body, his skin would shiver. This sensation... this... feeling of existence... How he revels in it! But, to his dismay, the sensation fades, leaving the Arcosian soul in a ponderous state.
"I understand..." the soul whispers. "Not the souls alone.. but demons too... I need their Shoki... I need it..! I will absorb all the Shoki I have to..."
Taiga stares up at the ceiling of golden clouds. One day... soon... He will be reborn, and reforge the Arcosian Empire, stronger than it has ever been. Yes.... soon...
How long... the Arcosian soul wonders, his entire being fraught with a harsh mixture of doubt and determination. How long have I been cursed to this prison? As my soul rots here, what has become of the Empire? How many more worlds have the Saiyans eradicated? Or have they been stopped?
Yet again, Taiga thinks back to the events leading up to his own death... He had taken command of Kanassa, intending to rally what forces he could, and hopefully attract other senior officers... generals, admirals, SOMETHING!! But no, no, no, no... He was alone... left to lead a confused and panicked Empire against a foe that was far more prepared, and far better in terms of sheer military power. His actions allowed some survivors of Arcose to find him, namely Polar. Immediately, he took his fellow Arcosian under his wing, and began pulling things together.
And then, as if from no where, a being claiming high rank and status appears, with such an incredibly high power level! How hopeful he had become as he treated the so-called officer to the best hospitality he could muster... And yet, as if the universe only sought to see his hope shatter, the Saiyans came to Kanassa. Or, at least, two of them did. But what did it matter, if it were two or two thousand? Against the power of a Super Saiyan, Taiga's own meager power could not possibly save the planet, let alone his beloved, crumbling Empire.
And, where had that powerful officer go?
No... I know the truth... But I was blind. Blind and stupid. the Arcosian soul belittles himself. I did not see her for what she was; a beast of morphing skin. I was tricked, and so, I died.
But, Taiga supposes, it was not a terrible death. He died with his honor in tact. Rather than flee again, as he did from Arcose, he chose to face his foes head on. Was it a spectacular battle? No, no it wasn't. But it was fought nonetheless. Against that trickster of morphing flesh and a Super Saiyan, he dared to stand in their path, regardless of how little effect it had on the Empire's fate. Perhaps the Empire was lost with Wyntre's death, perhaps not. But in the company of his troops, he faced the invaders. Death was his only destiny that day, but it was one he had been sure to burn into the trickster's memory, he was sure. But one day, he would have his redemption...
"He-e-e-y~!" calls a rather high-pitched, screechy voice. The small soul cloud that is Taiga turns to face the source of the noise, and spots a short, lanky, red frog-like demon. "I hear-tell that you are one of those restless souls looking to get your body back... Is that true?"
If he still had his eyes, they would have narrowed with irritability.
"Yes. What of it?" Taiga asks coldly.
"Ah, well, I figured I'd come and tell ya, there is a way to get it." the demon presses slyly.
"I already know there is." Taiga grunts. "Do you have anything useful to tell me about it?"
The demon edges closer, slowing its pace, now staring at the soul before it with an unnerving focus.
"Yeah... You gotta steal Shoki from other souls!" the creature screeches with zeal, prompting Taiga to tilt in puzzlement.
"Shoki?" he asks, uncertain.
"Yeah, it's a kind of energy. Think of it as something that essentially is the soul, or at least, an energy that gives souls form here in the afterlife." the demon explains, edging slowly closer, leering at Taiga. "Some have figured out that it is possible to steal that energy from other souls, and eventually gain a physical form!"
"Is that so?" Taiga replies, genuinely surprised. A flame lights once more in his being, again, a hope has emerged! But, how can he steal this energy from other souls?
No sooner had Taiga started to ask, did the demon leap at him, seizing the small soul in its claws, cackling manically.
"Just a little thing to know; once a soul has been drained of its Shoki, the soul completely ceases to exist!" the demon excitedly crows, squeezing Taiga's soul. "And you know what? Shoki is delicious!"
In one, horrific motion, the demon consumes Taiga's soul whole. No matter how he wriggled or cursed, in his current form, he is utterly defenseless...
Proud of its capture, the demon burps and sits against a large spiked stone.
"Ahhhh... That was a good meal... It's been ages since I've caught... one of... urgh... What... What's this pain?" the demon squints against a sudden aching in its stomach. "Hurgh... what, did I eat an unprocessed soul or something..?"
As if someone had just ran up and whacked the creature in the gut with a bat, the being begins to groan and yelp against pangs of pain.
"Not... yet!!" came Taiga's voice.
"Wha-?! H-How are you - AaaRGH!!" the demon's body suddenly begins loosing random jolts of crackling, crimson forks of electricity. "What's... going on?! What are you DOING?!"
"Taking your advice." came Taiga's voice again, this time, more smug and dripping with hatred. "Shoki... I just need to absorb enough Shoki, and I can get my body back, isn't that what you said?"
"GuuughhAAAAaarrrgh!!" the demon screams, wrapping its arms around its body and collapsing. It writhes on the ground in sheer agony.
"If souls sent to Hell are made of this energy, then surely you demons consist of a similar energy, if not the same, correct?" Taiga taunts as the demon continues to shudder and scream in pain. The jolts of electricity instantly intensify, searing the demon's skin and makeshift clothing. "You will be my first victim to that end... I will regain my body, and escape this prison! Nothing will stand in my way ever again! I wont rest... not until I have become the most powerful being in the UNIVERSE!!!"
The demon is completely enveloped in a burst of swirling black and red... Within moments, the aura fades, and Taiga's soul floats passively where the demon once stood. If he had a body, his skin would shiver. This sensation... this... feeling of existence... How he revels in it! But, to his dismay, the sensation fades, leaving the Arcosian soul in a ponderous state.
"I understand..." the soul whispers. "Not the souls alone.. but demons too... I need their Shoki... I need it..! I will absorb all the Shoki I have to..."
Taiga stares up at the ceiling of golden clouds. One day... soon... He will be reborn, and reforge the Arcosian Empire, stronger than it has ever been. Yes.... soon...