Hell's Titan: You worms have no spunk! Go home already... *The Titan's mocking laughter shook the building. It could be felt in the floor. It could be seen in the walls. The sound prickled at their spines just before it died out.* ...or die by my claw!
Goten's vision swam—his body screamed for rest, but his Saiyan blood refused to surrender. The guardian raised its massive claw again, this time aiming straight at Melody.
Goten: NO!
With a roar of pure defiance, Goten launched himself forward—not fast enough to fully block the attack, but fast enough to share the impact.
Caught completely off guard, the Titan stopped mid-air instead of swinging the brutal claw. The guardian froze, its weapon hovering inches from them. Its glowing blue eyes narrowed, studying Goten's desperate lunge and Melody's horrified expression. For the first time... it seemed confused.
A tense silence filled the tower. The creature didn't attack—not yet. It was as if its instincts had short-circuited at their reckless bravery. It took a measured step backward, not out of fear, but calculation—sizing up his opponents before making the final move.
Goten and Melody didn't move. Breaths ragged and bodies aching, they waited, muscles coiled for whatever came next. The guardian's head tilted slightly, then its claw twitched—not to strike, but to reposition itself into a brand-new stance. This wasn't over yet. It was reassessing them, as if they were suddenly worth more than mindless slaughter.
Hell's Titan: Ah... you must surely be related to that prideful monkey breed, *the Titan said as it summed them up.*
Goten's eyes widened. This thing knew about Saiyans? That explained why it had suddenly stopped. Beside him, Melody straightened slightly, curiosity cutting through her deep exhaustion. If this guardian recognized their species, maybe there was history here... and she wasn't referring to Vegeta's training days.
Hell's Titan: *The Titan's voice dripped with disdain as it spoke again:* The monkey race always fights dirty.
Melody: Well then, you must not have met too many decent apes before, *Melody's statement came with a little more sass than intended.*
The guardian's eyes narrowed—a flicker of something almost like offense... or amusement?
Hell's Titan: Decent? *It scoffed, the word laced with centuries of hatred.* The last Saiyan who stepped foot here was a brute. A destroyer.
Goten: You must be referring to Vegeta, *Goten stated, exhaustion dripping from every word.*
The guardian's entire demeanor shifted. Its posture stiffened, its glowing eyes flashing with intense recognition.
Hell's Titan: Yes. *The word was a growling snarl. Then, after a beat:* He came here once… long ago. To train in this frozen Hell.
It seemed Vegeta had made quite the impression... and definitely not a positive one.
Hell's Titan: On second thought... recuperate. Fighting you worms while you look like that will only scar my reputation. *It considered the thought for a moment before adding with another roar of laughter:* I'm not planning on letting either of you leave anytime soon.
Goten and Melody exchanged a quick glance. This wasn't mercy—this was the guardian giving them time to suffer properly before finishing them off.
The Titan turned its back on them, strolling toward the center of the room where the black zircon still sat untouched. It didn't seem to be in a hurry anymore, merely amused by their impending doom.
A cruel pause. A breather before death.