33 Chapter Thirty Three

You awaken, not exactly clear how much time later, but you do. And with sweat rolling down your forehead you gasp as you sit up.

Nervously looking around you realize you are in an unfamiliar place, a small log house.

Tension rises as you try to figure things out when a figure enters the room you're in and you raise your hand towards it. "Whoa whoa... easy there pardner." A man wearing a cowboy hat walks in. "I'm not gonna hurt you."

For a moment you try to piece things together but come up with nothing. In your confusion you start asking questions from the man.

"W-Who are you? Where am I?"

"I'm the one that found ye washed up on the shore. Thought it might be pretty cold outside so I brought you in. Hope you don't mind."

You reach for your mask cautiously and let out a sigh of relief once you feel it's still on.

"Don' worry. I don' get why you'd want to hide your face like that... but I respect your privacy."

The man walks over to you and puts down a tray with some hot soup on it. "There we go. You look like ye'r a bit hungry. It ain't much. But I'll gladly share it."

"Thank you." You graciously accept the food and begin slowly sipping away. It's not the best but right now it feels so good after that tiring fight that you simply don't care. As you chow down your host starts further explaining things to you.

"You were pretty banged up back there.

I tried patching you up to the best o' my abilities but I'm afraid I can't do much without some proper medicine." You look at your right arm and see that it was put into a splint.

"Sadly... I don' think you'll be able to lift it for a while. Can't imagine what you had to do to get it like that though..."

"It's okay..." You respond. "How long was I out?"

"I 'unno... Bout an hour or so. That is... I found ya an hour ago. Don't know how long you've been knocked out."

Just as he finishes explaining that another figure rushes in, one much smaller than him.

"Daddy? Is the angel awake?"

"He ain't no angel pumpkin. Just a man...a real freaky one."

"Angel?" You ask him.

"Aye. Some real strange things been goin' on lately. Darn aliens and such... Then that nasty tornado that was headin' here that blew up.

Ain't never seen anything like it... Lil' sunshine here says he saw you falling from the sky.

That you an angel sent to save us from the wind and that freak... That true?"

You look over to the little boy and try to smile even though your mask is obscuring your face. "I'm no angel. I'm human. Just like you."

That gets a chuckle out of your host.

"Human? No friend. I am human. We are human. Been that all my life. But I must admit... You ain't one. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just that you shouldn't belittle yourself like that."

You look down at the sheets still covering you, saddened. It is true that you are quite far from what one could consider human. But hearing it still... hurts a little.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm not human. But I'm a man. That I know." You toss the cover off of your body and stand up.

"Whoa whoa! Easy there pardner! You shouldn't be up and about like that."

"You said it. I'm not human. You shouldn't worry about me." Tightening your belt you walk over and extend your broken arm to shake your hosts. He takes it after a bit of hesitation and he sees that you don't as much as wince. "Thank you for your hospitality..."

"Oh don't thank me. It's the least I could do to the fella that saved us. But... what are ya gonna do now?"

"I have an announcement to make... The world needs to know that they are safe."

"You mean-"

"Yes. Frost is dead. I took care of it."

"So it is true... Well good luck then stranger."

Saying goodbye to them you left and giving the mans son a coy little look you took off the ground with a burst of power like fucking Superman. As you look back you see the kid waving his hand for you. Smiling you reach for your scouter to see if it still works.

"Cabba?"

"Eric! Thank god! I felt Frosts power disappear and then yours... I thought the worst has come to pass!"

"Luckily no. Frost is dead but I got knocked out."

"He's... dead?"

"Yeah. I killed him."

"I... see." He mumbles to himself something which you can't make out entirely. "I... I gotta report this. We'll talk later!" And just like that he cut the line. He sounded upset for some reason...

Shaking it off you return your attention to your destination and make your way back to where Frost was hiding, Washington. Landing in the now decently bustling city you landed right in front of the building and entered without letting anyone get in your way. Just like you expected the big man himself was sitting there anxiously.

"You're back... Does that mean-"

"Yes. Frost is no more."

He sighs with relief. "That's good to hear.

I don't want to know what he'd have done if he came back."

"Well you can relax now mister president.

But I have something to ask from you."

"What is it?"

You look outside. "The people are scared. They don't know what's happening out there.

They desperately need clarity. Now more than ever. Can I count on you to tell them what happened? To tell the world what happened?"

He stands up and looks you straight in the eye. "Of course! I'll let them all know what you did son!"

"Thank you."

"But tell me... who are you? Where are you from?"

You pause for a moment and consider what to say. "It doesn't matter. I'm just a fellow man doing what needs to be done."

"I see. Then that's what I'll tell the people. That it was one of them that stood up in our darkest time and saved us! But I'm afraid I can't let such an act go unrewarded. Tell me: Is there anything I could do for you? To repay you even if just a little?"

"I have an announcement to make... The world needs to know that they are safe."

"You mean-"

"Yes. Frost is dead. I took care of it."

"So it is true... Well good luck then stranger."

Saying goodbye to them you left and giving the mans son a coy little look you took off the ground with a burst of power like fucking Superman. As you look back you see the kid waving his hand for you. Smiling you reach for your scouter to see if it still works.

"Cabba?"

"Eric! Thank god! I felt Frosts power disappear and then yours... I thought the worst has come to pass!"

"Luckily no. Frost is dead but I got knocked out."

"He's... dead?"

"Yeah. I killed him."

"I... see." He mumbles to himself something which you can't make out entirely. "I... I gotta report this. We'll talk later!" And just like that he cut the line. He sounded upset for some reason...

Shaking it off you return your attention to your destination and make your way back to where Frost was hiding, Washington. Landing in the now decently bustling city you landed right in front of the building and entered without letting anyone get in your way. Just like you expected the big man himself was sitting there anxiously.

"You're back... Does that mean-"

"Yes. Frost is no more."

He sighs with relief. "That's good to hear.

I don't want to know what he'd have done if he came back."

"Well you can relax now mister president.

But I have something to ask from you."

"What is it?"

You look outside. "The people are scared. They don't know what's happening out there.

They desperately need clarity. Now more than ever. Can I count on you to tell them what happened? To tell the world what happened?"

He stands up and looks you straight in the eye. "Of course! I'll let them all know what you did son!"

"Thank you."

"But tell me... who are you? Where are you from?"

You pause for a moment and consider what to say. "It doesn't matter. I'm just a fellow man doing what needs to be done."

"I see. Then that's what I'll tell the people. That it was one of them that stood up in our darkest time and saved us! But I'm afraid I can't let such an act go unrewarded. Tell me: Is there anything I could do for you? To repay you even if just a little?"

With things taken care of and set into motion you excused yourself from the area and headed back where Sala and presumably your friends are. Along the way however you caught a few... interesting tidbits of information. Not just what they are but HOW you managed to acquire them.

Simply flying above the city at mach 10 allowed you to see and comprehend stuff happening below. More specifically on one TV screen where the news networks were all filled with talk about You and your battle with Frost. "Numerous people reported the sighting of the alien overlord Frost fighting with another figure. However their movements were too fast for even high shutter cameras. So we only have very few images to show you of the incident."

"Uh-oh... Good thing I was wearing a mask.

Would be bad if someone recognized me."

Landing down in the park near your former flat you come across your friends who are positively loosing their shit. "What the fuck Eric?!" Sam asked.

"What?"

"It was like the coming of the fucking apocalypse down here! Earthquakes, windows shattering, FUCKING STORMS! What the HELL?"

Sala gives him an odd look and you calm her down. "It's just an expression." Before turning back to Sam. "There was a problem and I took care of it."

"By ALMOST wrecking the planet?!"

"That jerkoff could've blown it up with a sneeze! So yeah... this was a better outcome."

Your friend then shuts up as he's stunned by this little factoid. Meanwhile Sala just stretches her arms out as she addresses you. "Mmmmmm.... Not to be ungrateful D but can we get going? I like this planet and the clean air but it's a bit boring to me. Not to mention the locals not liking me much. Nice job on wrecking that guys shit by the way."

"Thanks."

"How about we stay a while? It's been a while since I was here. And besides, I promised you a meal, didn't I?"

Sala stares at you for a moment and she breaks out in laughter afterwards. "Ahahahaha! You're just as crazy as in the Makai D! Okay. Let's hang around in the place where people want to kill me!"

Cracking a smile you grab her by the hand and drag her back to your apartment. "That's the spirit!"

The rest of the guys follow you moreso out of necessity rather than any actual desire to do so. You can't blame them though, they've seen some shit today. You wonder if you looked just like them when you started out with all this crazyness. But it doesn't really matter.

Once back inside the confines of your former home you seated your "guest" down and got to doing your work. The lack of your usual equipment as well as most ingredients you've come to like made you a bit disappointed in your friends but then you remembered that you used to share their bad taste. Doing your best with what you got you quickly made some spaghetti, the same food you managed to woo Champa with and served it to your friends.

Sam and Dominika naturally started taking the piss but you shut them up and told them to eat. Even as they raised their food to their mouths they remarked how shit it must be and how they'll die from it. However once they filled their pie holes they fell silent real quick.

"Victory is mine!" You say in a cocky manner.

The skills you've attained serving the most dangerous being in the universe clearly shone through your cooking and managed to enthrall your friends. And as they found themselves enamored by your cooking Sala also started getting more curious about the dish in front of her. After smelling it thoroughly she carefully took a little bite out of it and her eyes started to glimmer as she squee'd in excitement.

"YUMMY!" She screamed.

"I'm glad you like it!"

But as the folks at the table get cheery and their hearts are filled with happiness as they taste the work of your passion something... unexpected happens. The lock on the front door silently unlocks and you only notice it due to your heightened senses. Turning to the entrance you see the door creaking open as a figure steps in.

"Oh no..." You speak up.

A voice can be heard as the new figure steps in. "Hello? Anyone home? Bro?"

Oh God! Oh fucking God! It's her!

You shudder as your mind is overwhelmed by a myriad thoughts, each stronger than the last and together they bind you. Your body feels heavy, your legs freeze in place and you loose the courage to do much of anything, let alone escape. And as you stand there frozen in fear you hear her words snapping you back into reality.

"ERIC!" She jumps forward and wraps her arms around you. Tightly she squeezes you as tears start running down her face. "I WAS SO WORRIED!"

"E-Elena! Let... Let go! Please!"

"I SAW THE TV AND I KNEW IT WAS YOU!

WHY DID YOU DO SOMETHING SO STUPID?!

HOW COULD YOU DO SOMETHING SO STUPID?!"

She starts barraging you with questions as she strengthens her hold, nearly causing your kidney to fail. Your little sister Elena does not share many traits with you, for starters she's very short, meaning that she has her arms wrapped around your sides and her squeezing is not particularly pleasant.

As her hold on you grows unbearable you resort to desperate measures. THIS IS WHAT YOU TRAINED FOR! And in a blink you disappear from sight.

Elena watches and grasps at empty space with eyes full of tears when you gently hug her from behind. "I'm sorry." You whisper into her ear as you pull her in. "I didn't mean to make you worry sis... I just did what I had to."

She slowly turns around and gently hugs you back. "Don't scare me like that again..."

"Of course."

After a few minutes of silence spent in the embrace of your little sister things start to break apart however when reality starts to settle down for her. Things like you disappearing into thin air, the pink bubbly little girl in her peripheral vision as well as her now confirmed suspicion that you just manhandled Frost. Understandably her kind feelings as a sibling disappear as she's overcome by rage and fear.

She pushes you away and takes a good look at you. It doesn't take long for her to realize you look nothinng like how she remembers you, not to mention your outlandish attire.

And if all that wasn't enough Sala also decided to be a pain in the ass by greeting her. "Hi!"

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

She screams at the top of her throat and she starts to wag her finger between you and Sala.

"W-WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT'S GOING ON?!"

Thankfully Sam offers his assistance and tries to step in. "Shocking isn't it?"

"W-What happened to you?!"

"Your brother's been hanging out with aliens."

"A-A-A-"

"And now a demon apparently-" It's at this moment that you bump Sam on the head hard enough to knock him onto the ground but not enough to actually hurt him.

"Thanks for the assistance!" You grumble under your breath. Taking a deep breath you attempt to explain things to your sister.

"Look Elena... I uh-I've been busy lately.

I travel the galaxy with some aliens, experience stuff and... work out a whole lot.

I heard that Frost guy came here so I returned to kick his butt. And I did."

Admittedly this is a LOT for her to take in but the continuous nods from your two flatmates and the presence of Sala helps her acclimate.

"I'm... sorry for not telling any of this to you sooner but... You know how we don't keep in touch. I'd have told you sooner or later once it got easier for me to explain. But... as it turns out this whole shitshow just happened and I had to do something and I-" You pause.

"Look. All I want to say is I'm sorry. Okay?"

She nods understandingly and then looks at Sala. "So who is she?"

"She's Sala, my friend."

"Is she an alien?"

"No she's a demon from He- OH SHIT!"

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

After another couple minutes or so of you trying to prove Salas harmless nature by repeatedly poking her cheek going "See?" Elena finally calms down for good. She looks at your many battle scars as well as your grizzly equipment and asks you this.

"Does it hurt?"

"A little."

"GOOD!" She then punches your messed up right arm at full force and you let out a little whimper as tears swell in your eye.

"O-Ow...."

"THAT'S for making me worried SICK!"

She then punches you again and again, giving her reason for it each time. "THIS IS FOR DISAPPEARING WITHOUT SAYING A THING!

THIS IS FOR NOT TELLING ANYTHING TO ME! AND THIS IS BECAUSE YOU ARE A DUMB SHIT BROTHER!"

"Ooooooooow."

*phew* "That's better." She continues. "So... I assume you don't want me to tell this to them."

"I'd thank you if you didn't."

"Thought so. That I can do. But I'm still not through with you! You got a lot to answer for Mister!"

Sam then steps in. "Erm Elena... are you sure bullying your brother is a good idea? He can bench press the planet after all-"

"I'LL DO TO HIM WHATEVER I FEEL LIKE WHEN HE ACTS LIKE AN IDIOT!"

"S-Scary..."

"But I'll forgive you for making your lovely little sister worried on one condition!"

"And what is it?"

"I wanna go to space!" She looks at you with a glimmer in her eyes.

You point at her. "On two conditions!"

"W-What?"

"You do like your big brother and hit the gym. Hard! You don't know what space is like but I do! There are things out there... nasty things... things just as bad or worse than Frost.

And until you do, you get a chaperone! No exception!"

"But-"

"NO BUTS!"

She starts pouting. "Mmmmmmm fine!"

"Okay... We have a deal." You take out your scouter and start making a quick call. "Cabba... are you free?"

"I'm kinda in the middle of something right now! I'm talking with the president!"

"That's cool. He said he owes me. All I want to say is that I want you to call me once you're done."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just call me when I'm done."

"O-Okay."

"Bye." You hang up on him and turn to your sister and hand the device over to her.

"Here. It's a space headset that has a phone app."

"Cool!"

"Some guy is gonna call you on it. Tell him to pick you up. If he gives you any shit tell him: Eric will tell on the princesses."

"W-What princesses?"

"Both." You smirk. "That's all you need to say."

"Uh-huh..."

"Tell him to take you sightseeing. Maybe ask him to teach you a few tricks. It'll be fun. But don't be out for too long. The guy has a job to do."

"Kay. Thanks bro!" She leans in and gives you a hug.

After separating from her however you have to say goodbye. "Well... it's been fun and all but I also have a job to do. I got hired by this one guy as a chef and I kinda skipped out on work for a whole "week". Wouldn't want the boss to get angry." Then you turn to Sala.

"Ready?"

"Yeap!" She pats her tummy. "Thanks for the food. Oh and Earthlings! We'll be in touch!"

Sam awkwardly laughs and waves her off.

Walking outside you asked for the Supreme Kai one last time who then took the two of you back to Champas palace. "And that should be the end of that." He says with some mild annoyance in his voice. "Please refrain from calling me in the future. For I have more pressing matters than transporting others."

You give him a little bow. "Thank you Supreme Kai. I won't forget your kindness."

After yawning a bit Fuwa speaks up.

"Don't mention it. I'm just glad things turned out well. And that your potential finally blossomed! Take care! Kai Kai."

"What did he just say D?"

"I have a decent idea but... I'm not sure I want to test it out yet."

"I see. Well do call me when you're in the mood 'cause I'm interested."

"Will do..." You reach for your arm. "However I'd like to walk this one off first."

"You gonna ask that angel?"

"Yeap. It's been a while since I had an actual conversation with her."

"Okay, cool. I'll just chill here in the woods. Hopefully away from the fucking destroyer."

"Just steer clear of the big fuck off tower and you're good. Champa doesn't like exercise so he hardly ever moves away from it."

Passing on some advice to your friend, you head for where Vados is. Walking through the palace itself almost feels... nostalgic after being away for over two months and makes you realize how attached you've become to it.

Inside the library you find Vados sitting and reading some books all by her lonesome.

"Welcome back!" She greets you.

"Good read?"

"Not really. But I'm done with all the good ones so..." She closes the book and looks up at you. "How did it go?"

"I'd say well. Considering the possibilities."

"Yes I see that. Quite a lot of damage. But managing to fight a Frost Demon and living to tell about it? That's no small feat."

"Killing a Frost Demon..." You correct her.

"Oh. Oh my. But now I get how you could change so much more in the span of a few hours than in two months..." She stands up from her armchair and waves her wand over your arm. "There we go. Better?"

You give it a few little turns to break it in.

"Yeap! Good as new! Thanks!"

"In turn for my services you could show me what you've learned on Earth!"

You pause and give her an odd look before going- "Okay."

Spreading your legs a bit apart you clenched your butt and started yelling really loud, increasing both your ki and psionic energies until they reach the upper limit you can handle. But as you finally arrive at this goal your body seems to "remember" what transpired before and slowly starts to change.

The previous restriction starts to melt away and your power rises even further until.

"HAAAAAAAA!"

Your hair stands up and turns white as a purple aura of energy leaks out of your body.

Radiating with newfound power you look at Vados and ask her this. "So... what do you think? I'm not sure what the fuck it is but... I feel... smarter I guess? And stronger."

"Most impressive. It seems finally you managed to push your body to its limits. But instead of breaking under the pressure you managed to break through the limitations of your own biology and ascend to a new level of power."

"And... by body I assume you mean my brain as well."

She nods. "Since a considerable portion of your training focused on the mental aspect of things when your body adapted to this new level it obviously extended to your mind as well. How does it feel?"

"Not gonna lie. It feels pretty great!

What should we call it though? Saiyans already got the word Super trademarked..."

Vados smiles. "What do you say about... Awakened?"