"TAVOR!" Colossus cried as he shielded his eyes from the intense light emanating from the tear in space, the young Saiyan disappearing from the alleyway and leaving Piotr and Ukelele alone in the alley.
Colossus delivered an elbow between the two wings on Ukelele's back, causing the demon to nearly collapse, roll to the side, and sweep his leg into Colossus's ribs.
Ukelele leaped to the side and attempted a mad dash for the tear in space, but before he could reach halfway to his destination, the demon felt a cold metal hand squeeze around one of his shins and stop him cold in his tracks.
"OH... NO!" The demon thought before he saw the ground becoming distant, his body being lifted into the air before he was smashed furiously into the ground on his back.
The tremendous impact generated a rippling wave of fractured pavement radiating outward from the epicenter, while Ukelele's beak gaped in a soundless cry.
A dense mist of dark blood and spittle burst forth, propelled by the shock as the force reverberated through every part of his body.
Ukelele shook off the pain and pivoted sharply at the hips, delivering a precise, forceful kick to the side of Colossus's metallic head.
The impact sent the towering figure reeling, forcing him down onto one knee, yet his grip on the demon's calf remained unyielding, his immense strength still exerted in a vice-like hold.
"LET!"
POW!
"ME!"
POW!
"UP!"
POW!
Ukulele executed a series of forceful elbow strikes, each producing a resonant sound reminiscent of a small gong, continuing the assault until Colossus, disoriented and dazed, finally relinquished his grip.
The demon, having wrenched himself free from Colossus's grasp, surged skyward in a blur of speed, ascending beyond the highest ceilings.
With sudden and deliberate precision, he halted midair, his immense wings unfurled to their fullest span, casting a vast, ominous shadow over the ground below.
Slowly, he began his descent, drifting with measured grace before alighting a few yards from Colossus, one finger extended, a malevolent gleam burning in his eyes.
"You are brave to face me, human, so I will let you have the taste of a technique my dear father taught me as a show of appreciation!"
Suddenly, a visible curtain of shimmering dark air began to emanate from the demon; the shimmering air took on a thicker quality, looking like some gaseous rubber, choking the very air around him.
Ukelele's expression tightened, and his eyes went bloodshot as he opened his mouth towards Colossus.
WENG!
A brilliant yellow sphere of light flashed into existence, its surface alive with crackling arcs of electricity as an ever-mounting surge of energy coursed into it.
Each flicker and flare emanated a foreboding aura, carrying with it the chilling promise of inevitable death and catastrophic devastation.
Colossus suddenly started dashing towards the demon, his steps starting out light before he sped up and the ground began to crack under him.
The metal mutant quickly closed the distance and was mere moments away from colliding with the demon.
"DIE MUTANT FOOL!" Ukelele said with his eyes before unleashing the orb of energy from his mouth.
FWOOOOO!
Colossus suddenly felt his instincts scream danger as the beam was unleashed, crossing his arms in front of his head and chest, his speed still increasing as he moved forward.
It did not take long before the Colossus and the beam of energy met.
BOOOOOM!
The immense force unleashed by the initial impact radiated outward, shattering the glass in its path and intensifying the panic among those outside.
The sharp sound of the blast gradually yielded to the wailing of sirens drawing nearer, signaling the arrival of emergency responders.
Colossus glanced over his shoulder, his massive frame still serving as an unyielding bulwark against the relentless beam.
His expression grew resolute as the grim reality set in; if he faltered for even a moment, the lives of those behind him would be imperiled.
Colossus clenched his jaw and exerted a force greater than he had ever summoned, driving himself to take a single step forward, the impact of his footfall echoing with a deep, resonant rumble akin to the distant roll of thunder.
Ukelele maintained his relentless focus, channeling every ounce of his energy into the beam attack; yet, despite the exhilaration he derived from the chaos and devastation, a subtle twitch at the corner of his eyes betrayed the strain of overexertion.
"There is no way that this pathetic mutated human can survive this. Not many demons would either, but it does not matter!"
Suddenly, from deep within the yellow beam, a shadow moved closer, becoming ever larger as it approached Ukelele.
The demon's eyes widened in shock as he attempted to desperately channel even greater energy into the beam.
However, before he could complete the effort, a massive metal hand emerged from the radiant curtain of the beam's light, seizing Ukelele's head in its grasp and driving the demon forcefully into the ground, face-first.
Moments after Tavor disappeared into the tear in space, he found himself in an infinite tunnel of multicolored light that seemed to shimmer with an indomitable energy of its own, an energy that left no delusions of the absolute destruction it would cause if it were ever to be released in reality.
Tavor appeared to plummet endlessly into the unfathomable depths of the tunnel, rotating uncontrollably as he made futile attempts to stabilize himself.
His efforts proved futile, for lacking any point of reference, he was unable to discern the true orientation of down, leaving him with no choice but to exert all his will to avoid spinning uncontrollably as he navigated the disorienting expanse of the peculiar dimensional space.
Eventually, Tavor experienced the sensation of passing through a viscous, gelatinous barrier, after which an intense downward force seized him, pulling him inexorably toward the surface.
A fierce, unrelenting wind tore at the tattered remnants of his clothing and lashed his hair in chaotic streams as he plummeted toward a vast expanse of red and purple terrain.
"HAAAAAAA!" Tavor cried out in panic as the ground swiftly approached, the spinning terrain becoming increasingly large and detailed in his otherwise blurry vision.
Thankfully, as he neared the ground, he was also nearing a set of plump red trees and water that seemingly flowed with a strange purple and gold substance.
Tavor collided with a dense thicket of leaves and clusters of ripe, crimson-hued fruits, which burst upon impact, enveloping him in a viscous, syrup-like liquid.
The substance carried an unusual yet enticing flavor, reminiscent of a harmonious blend of cherry and mango.
SPLASH!
Tavor gritted his teeth as he painfully crashed headlong into the pond of strange water, causing a massive wave of sparkling liquid to spray outwards from the point of impact.
His body floated to the surface, and Tavor took a large, deep, painful breath as he looked up into the flame-choked sky.
"Is this that hell place?" Tavor vaguely remembered a few of the more religiously inclined mutants attempting to convince him to join their flock, but the one that felt appropriate in this instance was the Christian Hell.
Tavor cupped his hand, grabbed some purple water, and poured the liquid into his mouth.
"Hmmm, not bad!" He reached out towards one of the floating fruits in the pond and took a quick bite, the flesh exploding with juicy goodness upon being pierced by the young Saiyan's teeth.
Tavor felt a strange tingle throughout his body as the phenomenal flavor hit his tongue, the cut on his forehead beginning to close at a visible rate and causing the blood flow to cease.
An itchy sensation accompanied the formation of new skin over the wound, and in time, even the scar vanished entirely.
Unaware of this, Tavor absentmindedly continued to scratch at the spot where the injury had once been, completely forgetting that there had been a wound there before.
As he emerged from the pond, the remnants of blood rinsed away from his freshly healed skin and hair, revealing a complexion both pale and immaculate, with a subtle firmness to his form.
Without hesitation, he ascended the tree, his movements deliberate and precise, pausing at the canopy to survey the landscape and assess his surroundings with measured vigilance.
"Impossible!" Tavor's eyes narrowed into pinpricks as he caught sight of many demons, both large and small, dotting the ground as far as the eye could see.
Some were obviously herbivores, but others were very clearly predatory in nature, with sharp beaks, fangs, claws, and other hunting tools to make killing far easier than those without them.
Tavor saw what appeared to be a pack of wyverns devouring a group of small demonic birds that flapped frantically to increase their speed but could not escape their inevitable demise.
He turned his head and saw two utterly massive bipedal demonic creatures brawling in the distance.
One possessed distinctly draconic features, including immense, imposing wings and a long, scaled tail, which he used to strike with great force against a formidable, muscular mountain-goat demon.
The latter's upper body was clad in patchy fur, creating a check-mark-like pattern, while its lower half was shrouded in soot-blackened fur interwoven with smoldering embers.
These embers glowed with an intense orange-red hue, scattered among the tangled knots like a fiery constellation.
The goat demon delivered a titanic punch, the force of which seemed to generate a wall of high-pressure wind after it collided with the draconic demon's scaled face.
BOOM!
Retreating a single step, the draconic demon tightened its fist and brought a brutal elbow strike crashing down upon the goat demon's head with such force that it split the skin and drew blood.
The sharp pain did not cause the goat to recoil as the draconic demon had thought; instead, its eyes flared with an infernal light, and its horns erupted into orange flames that spiraled upwards and into a massive orb of chaotic burning death.
As if sensing the goat's intentions, the draconic demon flapped its wings and gained some distance while lifting one of its muscular arms into the air.
CRACKLE!
A billowing mass of dark, blood-red clouds surged into view, within which a lattice of vivid purple lightning writhed and twisted in a frenzied dance. In a sudden, forceful strike, the lightning descended toward the draconic demon's extended hand, converging in a brilliant display to form a seething sphere of concentrated, crackling electric energy.
The two colossal demons fixed their gaze upon each other with a deep-seated, almost ancestral hatred, their animosity palpable in the air between them.
The ferocity of their assaults generated an intense heat, rising to such an extreme that solid stone surrendered to molten lava, and ancient legends dissolved into the realm of the forgotten.
As Tavor observed the battle between the two giants, far away in a distant castle, a blonde-haired girl let out harrowing screams as a dark haze seeped into her body through an amulet placed upon her by a mysterious man prior to her abduction.
The sinister artifact now appeared to cling to her very soul like a hungry parasite, saturating it with a malevolent and foreboding energy that transformed her screams into piercing cries of agony at measured intervals.
"What does this horned man want from me?" She thought before another wave of fresh pain swept through her body, causing her to arch, straining against her restraints.
One of her bright blue eyes opened to reveal a tall being with a green, almost gargoyle-like appearance, two wings folded behind it, and its piercing, predatory eyes stared at her with an expectant, hungry gaze.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?" Illyana screamed, unaware of one of her eyes beginning to flash an ominous red and the formation of a flat, slender horn.
The gargoyle demon clicked his tongue in disgust and spat at the floor next to Illyana.
"You are the one fated to liberate my father from his confinement and ensure his escape from this insignificant prison realm!" The gargoyle demon leaned in, so near that Illyana could detect the pungent blend of sulfur and conceit, a noxious mixture that assaulted both the senses and the spirit, leaving her simultaneously unsettled and repulsed.
"And no one, not a single person, will come here to save you. Now be a good girl and scream for me!" His words were followed by another series of unfathomable pain that forced Illyana to scream in pure agony, her tears flowing endlessly onto the bed she was restrained to.
Elsewhere in the strange realm, the two colossal demons continued their brutal exchange.
Tavor remained perched among the crimson branches, his eyes locked onto the distant battle.
BOOM!
The draconic demon's fist slammed into the goat demon's jaw, the force of the impact sending a tremor through the surrounding terrain.
Several scales cracked beneath the blow.
The goat demon's head snapped sideways, a spray of dark red blood erupting from between its teeth.
Yet it barely seemed bothered.
Its burning horns twisted toward its opponent as it lunged forward.
CRACK!
One of the goat demon's horns carved a deep gouge across the draconic demon's chest.
Thick scales split apart.
Beneath them, dark crimson flesh tore open, and a torrent of glowing blood spilled from the wound.
The blood didn't simply fall.
It hissed.
Where it struck the ground, the strange vegetation beneath it withered instantly, smoke curling from the scorched earth.
Tavor's eyes narrowed.
"That's blood?"
Another exchange answered his question.
The draconic demon swung its tail with enough force to blur.
WHAM!
The massive appendage slammed into the goat demon's side, launching it through several trees.
Trunks snapped apart like twigs.
The goat demon tumbled across the ground before digging its fingers into the earth and stopping itself.
For a moment, everything was still, then the goat demon slowly stood.
Its fur was torn, and its chest rose and fell heavily.
Several deep wounds covered its body, yet its eyes burned brighter than before.
"RRRRRAAAAAAGH!"
The goat demon charged.
Tavor's pupils contracted.
"It's getting faster."
The realization sent a strange chill through him.
The creature wasn't merely ignoring its injuries, it was becoming more aggressive because of them.
The goat demon lowered its head, its blazing horns pointing directly toward the draconic demon.
The flames surrounding them suddenly intensified.
FWOOSH!
Orange-red fire erupted from the horns, twisting around its head like two miniature infernos.
The draconic demon responded by spreading its enormous wings.
The membranes flexed.
Its muscular legs dug into the ground.
Purple lightning crawled across its body.
For one brief moment, the two monsters simply stared at each other.
Then they vanished.
BOOOOOOM!
The collision produced a shockwave that swept across the landscape.
Tavor instinctively raised an arm in front of his face as the wind hammered against him.
The crimson trees bent violently.
Loose stones and chunks of earth were ripped from the ground and hurled into the air.
Tavor's fingers tightened around the branch beneath him.
"They're fighting with their bodies..."
He slowly lowered his arm.
"No weapons. No armor. Just their bodies."
The two demons emerged from the cloud of debris.
The goat demon's fist was buried against the draconic demon's cheek.
The draconic demon's claws were embedded deep into the goat demon's shoulder.
Neither moved.
Neither yielded.
Then the draconic demon's horns suddenly jerked forward.
SKREEE!
One horn tore through the goat demon's side.
A massive gouge opened across its ribs, and red-hot demonic blood poured freely from the wound.
The goat demon responded by driving its forehead forward.
CRUNCH!
Its burning horn punched into the draconic demon's abdomen.
The draconic demon's eyes widened.
Blood erupted from its mouth, and for several seconds, neither creature moved.
Then both pulled themselves free.
The goat demon staggered backward; the draconic demon stumbled forward, blood continued pouring from both of them.
Tavor stared.
His expression had slowly shifted from fascination to something much closer to disbelief.
"What the hell are these things?"
He had seen powerful mutants.
He had fought beings capable of tearing through buildings, but this was different.
These two weren't fighting like people who were trying to defeat one another.
They were fighting like creatures that had been born for war.
The draconic demon wiped the blood from its mouth with the back of its hand.
It looked at the crimson fluid coating its fingers, then it smiled.
A low, guttural laugh escaped its throat, and the goat demon's burning eyes narrowed.
"Finally."
Its voice carried across the distance.
"You're starting to bleed."
The draconic demon's smile widened.
"And you're starting to breathe heavily."
The goat demon's nostrils flared.
Then both demons charged again.
BOOM!
Their fists collided.
BOOM!
Their horns struck.
BOOM!
Their knees crashed into ribs; every impact sent another shockwave rolling across the landscape.
Tavor watched in silence.
His tail slowly curled around the branch beneath him.
For the first time since arriving in this strange realm, something other than fear began to stir inside him.
Excitement.
His lips slowly curled upward.
"This place..."
His eyes gleamed.
"This place is insane."
Another explosion erupted in the distance.
The two demons disappeared beneath a cloud of dust and fire.
Tavor leaned forward.
He wanted to see more.
He wanted to know how strong they were.
And, more importantly...
He wanted to know how strong he could become in a place like this.
Tavor's expression hardened with resolve.
"I will surpass even this!" Tavor said, his eyes flaring with a faint flash of energy that he would soon know as ki or chi.