Chapter IV: Brewing Feelings [Private, Inv. Only]

Lotuce watched from just outside the range of the gravity field that seemed to pull the boy down, a chuckle leaving his face. He had only recently gotten back from exterminating a bandit camp and was so very tired of morons, but this child falling face first made him laugh a bit. Lotuce was wearing his usual outfit, the loose fitting black pants with white lining inside them, the maroon tank top with the ripped off sleeve denim jacket. On his feet were a pair of yellow and black boots, his hands taped up to help them withstand the impact forces his punches could deliver.

Lotuce tossed his empty disposable cup full of a dark caffeinated beverage into a nearby trash can as he slowly approached him. He could feel the pull of the gravity field but thankfully the building that it was in dampened it greatly and as such it was only as if he were walking through some mud as he neared the boy. Lotuce’s black orbs locked on the sword, a strange sight to see in the city as most either had a firearm of some description or let their bodies do the talking for them.

“So...having some difficulties in standing and walking? How did you live this long if you can’t even do very basic multitasking like that boy.” Lotuce then let out a loud laugh, his senses telling him that the boy in front of him was relatively close to Lotuce’s own in terms of pure power. The day was only just beginning for many people, shops were still in the process of opening up and setting their wares out, only the small cafe that he frequented had a tendency to be open before the shops.

Lotuce looked down at the boy, wondering what sort of backwater village on the planet he had come from, it could not have been anywhere near the capital since most people here were already wearing some more trendy clothes, even the so called warriors of the village. As he sensed the power within the boy, he could feel it was that of a Saiyan. The child had a great deal of potential as a warrior in him, that much was certain. Lotuce decided to be nice to him for now.

Lotuce then extended his right hand to him “Come on, get off the ground kid, its embarrassing to look at at this point. What kind of Saiyan are you to be on the ground for so long?” Lotuce wondered if the child would take his offer or if he would try to stand up with his own power. The gravity chamber was still affecting him to a degree, but he seemed so much stronger than the boy but it took everything he had to simply stand there and offer to help the kid up thanks to the effects of the gravity chamber.

Lotuce wondered what it would be like to have his own gravity chamber, maybe one stronger than this one was so he could use it for training...That would be some good training he supposed, a good chance to truly let himself grow as a warrior...

Lotuce let out a hearty chuckle as the boy in front of him used his sword to help him gain purchase on the ground and slowly pushed himself up. Lotuce smirked a bit at his comment about being able to do this as he slowly pushed himself up. Lotuce took the opportunity to get a good look at the sword he had, it was of a quality that was beyond what the mass producers could realistically make. This interested Lotuce greatly, for this child to be able to afford the blade he wielded meant either he had connections or money.

These were both things that Lotuce could use more and more each day, for each day he saw the Saiyan species diluting itself more and more, moving ever further from their true warrior heritage so much so that the Saiyan King was dethroned for wanting to gather more power not only himself but his people. The thought that passed through his mind gave Lotuce a sigh, and with a light shake of his head the Saiyan looked back to the boy who was now saying that he looked about the same age as Lotuce.

This statement elicited another laugh from the rather weak looking boy and said “No, we are not speaking of physical age boy, we’re talking of warrior age. You look very wet behind the ears still, likely barely had more than friendly spars with your local fighters, probably haven’t taken a life yet...ain’tcha?” Lotuce then began to stare the boy down, wondering just what he power he truly had, sure he felt around the same strength as Lotuce but that meant little when it came to actual combat prowess and one’s ability to survive let alone win a fight, in and out of friendly spars.

Lotuce had an idea all of a sudden, a pretty good one, he would give the boy an offer to test his skills out in a manner befitting a Saiyan. Slowly walking forwards a bit to the empty field before them, Lotuce would turn around, letting his body get used to moving in the weight, though anyone carefully looking at him would see that he was already beginning to perspire a bit from the effort of walking in the enhanced gravity of that was leaking out of the nearby building. This was going to be a quick spar he figured.

“How about we see just how strong you are without that sword? A friendly spar between Saiyans, to test just how strong you truly are, any moron can swing a sword after all. But to be strong in your own fists and have confidence in the energy within yourself? Well...Thats what it truly means to be a Saiyan.” Lotuce wondered if the boy truly had a Saiyan Warrior Spirit in him or if he had been long since tempted by such weak ideals as peace and a calm life. Lotuce licked his lips a bit, excited by the potential taste of this fight.

The child was definitely living in a world all his own, this would need to be corrected. He looked up to the Sadala Defense Force? That made Lotuce want to laugh, in the ideal Sadala there would be no use for a Defense Force. An army however? That would be useful. Yes, when he became the ruler of the Saiyan people, he would create a proper Saiyan Army once more. This child had inspired him greatly without even realizing what he had done in just a few words. The only sign that he had been listening at all was the small smirk on his face.

When the child told him to bring his best, Lotuce knew that he should show him the sort of mercy of a quick defeat. Lotuce then charged forth, he began to suddenly charge some Ki into his fists. His fists would begin to glow red with the passion burning brightly within his very soul. “You want my best? Alrighty then, I don’t wanna hear any regrets from you later when you’re layin’ flat on yer back!” Lotuce had no plans to show mercy to the child. The man would close the gap between them in a short amount of time.

Keeping one eye on the sword, Lotuce knew better than to let that thing escape his vision, he was going to have to be smart about this to some degree. Lotuce then let his fists start talking for him, the time for conversation was over suddenly. The first punch was a right aimed straight at the center of the chest of the boy. Without waiting for even a brief moment a left was aimed at the boys gut, followed by a blazing right to the face. Lotuce was going to put the pressure on him from the beginning of the fight.

Occasionally he would include a quick swipe of a kick but was mostly trying to use his fists for right now. He was letting his Ki flow into his fists with each punch, each one searing the air as it passed through hopefully finding a home on the boys body. Lotuce had a wicked smile on his face, contorting his features into a primal look of enjoyment. He was going to enjoy this fight to its fullest, the meat was ready to be tenderized.

Lotuce grimaced and was suddenly pushed a bit back by the sudden attack, sure he could have utilized a skill to dodge the damage overall, but he knew that to see Lotuce take the hit in its entirety and keep going would surely be a blow to the boy’s morale. Lotuce then allowed a small grimace of enjoyment to fully contort his face as the realization of what the boy was wearing hit him. “So...You were wearing weights in this heavy gravity? You cocky little shit! I like your guff! Lets see what happens when we both do the same!”

Lotuce had been bluffing of course, he was not wearing weighted clothing, but the child did not know that, he then grabbed part of he denim jacket yanking it off as he spun fluidly, now beginning to get a bit used to the gravity. As he spun he threw the jacket at the smaller male, the throw belaying its true weight. The jacket itself was to be used as a distraction and to hide Lotuce’s movements. Lotuce then charged forwards again. He attempted to drive a right uppercut right into the boys stomach, a move that was designed to knock the wind out of him.

However, this was not his real attack, regardless of if his fist had found its way home or not, Lotuce would suddenly spin around, bringing his right foot up and then across his opponents face in a roundhouse kick. His aura would begin to flare up once more as he did, this time tinged with black as he did so. The kick was a powerful blow that he had charged with his own Ki in an attempt to knock the boy away or to the ground and then stun him.

Lotuce was attempting to create an opening, one where he could show him who truly was the victor in this fight. Once the boy was down or had dodged he would begin to unleash a flurry of regular punches and kicks, attempting to keep him off guard long enough for him to see a path to victory. He wanted to beat this child down, if he did he would offer him a place in his crew. “Ya ain’t half bad pipsqueak! That attack from before made me tingle with excitement! SHOW ME MORE!” As he continued the flurry, keeping all his senses focused on the fight now, he licked his lips.

Lotuce watched the man meet his blow again, he could tell that he had a more refined control of his body and techniques than the Saiyan knew. It was at that moment that Lotuce jumped back several meters suddenly and lowered his guard, a smile on his face. The fight was short, but it was informative, telling him that he had much room to grow still. He let out a hearty chuckle at the boy and nodded his head “Good! Good! So you are a Saiyan at heart! You fight well, your body despite being not as strong as my own was trained in a different way, more refined.”

Lotuce slowly walked up to where the remains of his jacket were and picked them up, littering was bad after all. He then dusted it off and threw it over his shoulder. “You have potential child. You still have a great distance to go though before you’re ready to truly be a Saiyan Warrior, even I could tell you were holding back in our little fight there, in the future you might not want to do that, to truly gain the strength of a Warrior.” Lotuce’s aura had long since faded from the visible spectrum.

Lotuce looked the boy over once more, then looked at the good little gash he had left on his arm, wiping some blood that was dripping from the cut. “I don’t know where you are training or what your goals are, but you’re wasted there. Join me, become a member of my little...gang I am forming and we shall show the universe how strong we Saiyan’s truly are, we shall show them why they should never have thought us the meek people that they obviously do.” Lotuce was letting his plans be spoken aloud for the first time ever at this point.

Lotuce extended his right hand, a bright smile on his face now, his appetite might not have been sated in that little spar, but he knew for a fact that the meal was quite tasty. If he wanted to fight more, the two probably could have fought to a draw or even till the boy had won, that much was certain. Lotuce might have had the raw strength, but the boy had a better idea of how to apply what strength he did have.

“Join me and together we can lead the Saiyan’s to their true place in this galaxy, we can lead them to the place of true power. Join me and together we shall show the universe that the Saiyan’s should be feared and respected!” Lotuce had a look in his eyes, a fire that showed he was passionate about bringing the Saiyan’s standing in the universe up to heights greater than they had ever been before, a place where a Saiyan lead not only their people but the entire universe, by peaceful or forceful means. A universe where might made right and where combat for the sake of honor could return.

His hand stayed extended, the look on his face staying the same all the while. “So, what do you say...wait, I don’t think I ever got your name? I’m Lotuce, whats yours?” He was excited for the boy to say he would take his offer, assuming his answer before the man in front of him even uttered the words. The black haired Saiyan stared at his compatriot, a waiting and expected look upon his face, hoping...no knowing that he would agree to the offer presented. What warm-blooded Saiyan could turn down such an offer after all?

---

HP: 12,579
Stamina: 2/3
Attacks: None.

Lotuce would scoff at the idealistic boy. He had so much hope for him too, but it seemed he was determined to be just another lamb for the eventual slaughter. He noticed the hand in the boys pocket, but decided that he was too...good, to do too much or to be much of a threat to him. Shaking his head somewhat somberly he began to turn away from the child slowly. His aura still completely died down, his body feeling like it could move a bit more fluidly now in this stronger gravity.

“You are but a child...Why should I expect you to understand the machinations of those far more experienced in this world...You are wasted in where you came from boy, you could be so much more...” Lotuce was disappointed in him for his lack of foresight, but it was still a choice that the child had to make on his own, and if he should choose poorly then that was his fate. The wind was gusting a bit now, buffeting the Saiyan Warrior who was half turned away from the other. A small smirk on his face, the boy acted as if Lotuce was some sort of villain or evil force.

“You say you will earn the respect of others, but yet when I gave my name you failed to return the small show of respect it would take to give yours, you are just a child play acting. A symbol of hope? HA!” The idea of symbols of hope was a joke as far as Lotuce was concerned. He found the whole idea laughable, to think that only one person could protect the others. No, the world was not as nice as some weekend animated serial for children would have you believe.

“When you want to learn how the world really works, when you have been beaten down by life, feel free to seek me out. The offer to join me will remain open for as long as you call yourself a Saiyan...” Lotuce then fully turned away and began to walk towards the edge of the gravity zone, where he had first met the boy. He knew that on this day he gained either a new follower or a new rival, either way the interest of how he developed would greatly intrigue Lotuce. Lotuce had at that moment resolved to have some of his future lackies keep an eye on the boy’s development.

Lotuce then stopped about midway between the boy and the edge of the Gravity area, keeping his senses tuned to the child in case he tried to be a coward. “Conversely to joining me, if you wish to seek me out and try to stop me from achieving my goals, bring your best shot. I will take it on in earnest next time we fight.” Lotuce would then continue to slowly walk away, making it seem like the gravity was affecting him more than it was in actuality. He even let out a small grunt of exertion.

Right at the edge of the gravity field he turned his head back to the boy and said “Next time we fight, there will be a true and decisive victor, one that leaves you or I on the floor bleeding, broken...or dead. I for one cannot wait for that moment!” Lotuce would then, if not stopped by the boy would leave the gravity field and slowly rise up into the air, his body no longer burdened by the weight of the false gravitational pull, no longer bound by the weight it felt like it produced on him

---

HP: 12,579
Stamina: 3/3
Attacks: None
[Leaving Thread if not stopped, PL is my reward of choice]