NON-CANON MATCHUP: Liari vs... Whoever...?

[Liari]

Ah, yes... The time has come again. In a world where you have ultimate power and nothing to hit... One Majin must do what she has to to get the entertainment she desires. Standing in the middle of the wastes, towering rock pillars holding fast against strong desert winds, Majin Liari stands atop the tallest one, her aura flaring violently. She let her energy SURGE FORTH, a beacon to any and all who would sense it. She waited... and she could afford to be patient. If recent events indicated anything, when Liari let her power go the way she did, it wouldn't do for the safety of the humans to let it go for too long.

...Because when Liari started getting bored, she tended to MAKE her fun instead of simply wait for it.

She had just absorbed a Saiyan, a powerful one at that, and was just ITCHING for an opportunity to use this power. She wanted NOTHING MORE than to cut loose for a while, test out each and every little toy, trinket, bobble and trick she had up her sleeves JUST to feel alive. She scanned the environment back and forth at a lazy pace, Eschal, for all his faults, granting the Majin the patience she needed not to mess things up TOO soon. After all, she had come to understand that sometimes the people around her could be a little slow... in the brain as well as body. They usually didn't get the obvious until it was flying at their face at a threatening pace.

...And so Liari would wait a while for her prey to come running.

"I hope they think they can win..." LIari sighed, tapping her foot against the rocks. "Wouldn't it be the funniest thing if they believed they actually had a chance...?"

...In truth, she genuinely hoped they WOULD. As part of the MANY gifts Eschal had given her with his... donation, he had given her a PRIMAL SAIYAN HUNGER for a real challenge. BEFORE, it was just fun, a way to scrape off the monotony of the day with a nice rousing round of pounding someone's face in. Now... it was almost a need, a CLAWING underneath her skin to get out and FIIIIGHT! Boredom was one thing... but this was something else, an itch that was never satisfied with just one round of scratches.

"C'mooooon..." Liari beckoned, eyes flicking from one notable signature to the next. "Take.... the... BAIIIIIIT...."

 

[Rutaba]

Far off in the distance, a streak of blue shot across the sky, getting faster by the second. The desert winds shifted violently as Rutaba burst over the canyon ridge and skidded to a stop in mid-air, his eyes immediately locking onto the massive energy flaring from the tallest rock pillar.

And his grin spread instantly.

“…There you are.”

Instead of looking nervous, Rutaba looked thrilled. His tail whipped behind him as Liari’s overwhelming pressure rolled across the wasteland in heavy waves, kicking dust and loose stone into the air. Most people would’ve turned around already. Rutaba leaned forward instead, eyes shining as blue ki sparked around his arms in tight little bursts.

“Whoa…” he muttered. “…You got even stronger.”

Back then, fighting her had felt like getting smashed by a storm he couldn’t even understand. Now, though… he could actually push back against that pressure. Not by much, but enough to feel the difference. And that alone made his blood burn with excitement.

When Liari’s taunting voice echoed across the desert, daring anyone to challenge her, Rutaba immediately pointed at himself.

“I’m dumb enough!”

He burst out laughing at his own joke before quickly shaking his head. “Wait— I mean, I came here to fight you!”

His grin sharpened after that, more feral now, small fangs showing as his aura pulsed tighter around him. The wind howled between the towering rock pillars while Rutaba rolled his shoulders and lowered into a fighting stance mid-air, his eyes locked onto Liari without wavering.

“You keep saying nobody can beat you,” he called out loudly. “So I came to see if that’s still true!”

A pulse of ki cracked outward beneath him as blue energy wrapped tightly around his body, orange-red sparks snapping through the aura like lightning. His tail lashed once behind him as his grin widened even further.

“You smashed me last time,” he admitted bluntly. “But I got way stronger since then… and I wanna see how much stronger I am now.”

He pointed directly at her.

“So c’mon, Blue Lady…”

“…Let’s go again!”

 

[WarriorofSpaceBooty]

Inugami flew past many buildings, rocky pillars, and forest upon sensing an enormous Ki signature just beckoning so he opted to investigate it. He was flying with enough force that it kicked up dirt and wind, which sent everything flying everywhere, intending to reach this person who is letting everyone with the ability to sense ki to track them down, but he knew this signature, having nearly been humbled and surviving an insane battle, this time, he hoped to repay her with a beating he had planned for her. Arriving and sensing another person he also knows, Rutaba, a kid he come to like as a little brother, "Hey Rutaba" he flies over and pat the kid on his head then turns to Liari "I'm here, i see you've grown in strength bu-" he stops upon seeing her outfit and raise a finger, pointing at her "Where did you that attire" he ask with a dangerous edge to his voice.​

 

[The Doomguy]

Listen And Read
The Majin revealed in its newfound power as if it were effervescent. It spilled forth like overpowered wine from her cerulean flesh. A siren to any and all who were daring to test their might against such an unfathomable abomination as herself. Those who had so far had been either brave or foolish in believing they were capable of besting the newfound dragon of the earth. One a boy far too big for his britches and the other a man who still lacked the strength to fully protect those he cared for.

In the distance, trekking into the rocky expanse, was a hooded figure hunched over. Frail fingers wrapped in black bandages gripped a walking stick so tight that beneath their knuckles went white. Each step they took was unhurried, respectful even, as they slowly but surely answered the call. Not having felt the thrill of battle in ages long-since passed.

Pathetic and humiliating as it was for himself, the Majin or the other combatants may have taken it as disrespect. He was far too small a fry to even stand against them it seemed. A fact pronounced by the way their Ki was wholly undetectable. It looked like a death march. The final chance for an old man to die in glorious combat as the old ways demanded. It seemed impossible for it to be anything else.​

 

[Liari]

(PL: 11,725)
Aaaaaaaaaaand like that, the Majin was disappointed that THESE two showed up. It could have been anyone: That human girl with the tingly skin, one of the other contestants from the arena... HECK, maybe Eschal had family and THEY would come looking! What stood before her now were two people she had beaten SO THOROUGHLY (one directly and the other by extension) that looking upon them now wasn't even FUNNY... It was more frustrating.

What, did nobody else think she was worth more than THIS? Seriously?

Bah.

Rutaba was still his annoying, boisterous self, a bag of hot air with not a scrap of anything behind it. He was DETERMINED to see if the Majin's power was still up to snuff. Liari said nothing. Her expression flared into a half-snarl.



As much as she... APPRECIATED the boy's spunk, he didn't have a single bit of anything to show for it. Even now, having made the foolish decision to challenge the most mighty thing on Earth, he STILL spoke to her like an equal, like they were FRIENDS! ...And what was worse, he was MORE bold now than he was before! Did ANYTHING stick to this kid?

Inugami wasn't much better. He approached the Majin as casually as anyone ever did... at least, until he noticed her change in outfit. At that... Liari grinned.


"Like it, Inugami...? Remember Eschal... I ATE HIM..." She would then run a hand down her breastplate, emphasizing her new form. "...Turns out he made the foolish decision to try and do ANYTHING on his own and I took advantage. Now... you're standing before power ITSELF." She cocked her head and ran her tongue along her lips, fangs glinting in the light of the desert.

"He's all mine... and you're next, monk. I WAS hoping you'd have more than this to offer when I inevitably came for you... but hey, beggars and choosers and all that..."

Suddenly, Liari would ZOOM forward, appearing to almost instantly zip behind Inugami and Rutaba, back to them both, silver eyes piercing. If they moved at all, Liari's tentacles would whip out and STRIKE the both of them across the back of the head, aiming to send them stumbling away from her! If this connected, the Majin would backflip through the air with her immense speed, appearing behind them once again before reaching out, grabbing their heads and SLAMMING THEM into the ground face first!

....All the while, somewhere vaguely in the distance, a shape was meandering through the desert. With such insignificant energy and nothing visual to make him obvious, Liari might've mistaken him for a rock from where she stood. She paid him no mind... Insignificance was insignificance, after all.

 

[Rutaba]

Rutaba’s grin never faded the whole time Liari was talking. If anything, it got even bigger. He barely had time to react when she suddenly zoomed behind them. A tentacle cracked across the back of his head like a whip.

“HUH—?!”

The hit sent him flying forward, skipping across the sand before a hand slammed onto the back of his head and drove him face-first into the canyon floor.

BOOOOM!!

The ground cratered hard around him. For a second everything went dark and dusty.

Then Rutaba started laughing.

“Heh…! Okay, that actually hurt!” he shouted, voice muffled by dirt before he exploded upward in a burst of blue ki and orange-red sparks.

He skidded to a stop, coughing and covered in dust, but his grin was wider than ever. Blood trickled from a small cut on his forehead, yet his eyes were sparkling with excitement.

“HAHA! You hit way harder than last time!”

He wiped his face with the back of his hand, tail lashing wildly behind him as he dropped back into a fighting stance.

“You’re still crazy strong… but I got stronger too!”

Blue ki flared tightly around his small body as he launched forward again.

“So c’mon, Blue Lady—!”

His eyes flashed with pure Saiyan excitement.

“—It’s my turn!”

BOOOOM!!

Rutaba rocketed forward like a blue comet and roared at the top of his lungs:

“METEOR SMAAAASH RUUUUUSH!!!”

He crashed toward Liari with a flying knee strike first, chaining straight into a heavy double-fisted hammer blow from above, a spinning kick, and a powerful stomping axe kick that slammed down with everything he had. Blue ki and orange-red sparks exploded off his limbs with every strike as he unleashed the full combo relentlessly, grinning the entire time like this was the most fun he’d had in his life.

 

[Monkey D. Kami]

Shinji: "Hey! Idiots! Listen and Read!!"



"HEY, LOSERS!" Shinji Devil Man roared to the top of his lungs, "YOU'RE ALL TOAST"

Descending from the sky and parting the clouds like a crimson comet illuminating the night sky, Shinji couldn't help himself but be overly theatrical, that just who he was. None of it was for attention, however, he was sure to have all eyes on him whether he forced them or not. He was ready to cause some chaos; he surveyed the area from a bird's eye view noticing several individuals. Out of the four he accounted for he could only since ki coming from three of them. The mysterious shadowy figure immediately caught his attention, "hmph.." ignoring that specific person for now as his focus was currently on the majin who issued an open challenge...

Landing in the space between the majin and the other two who seemed to be already acquainted, one was a young and energetic Saiyan, meanwhile the human had a very casual appearance; Shinji could tell that human was pretty laid back by the looks of it. "hmph..." he looked at the human with utter disgust. He pointed a finger directly at the human male while glaring with an intense devilish stare.

"Hey You!!!" He shouted... "Why are you dressed like that," he asked mockingly. His sinister grin suddenly turned into a frown and flame on his tail burst wildly rapidly increasing in size in response to his aggressive behavior. He was genuinely baffled by the human's lack of care about his appearance.

He glared at the human as if he was trying to burn a hole through his chest with eyes, Inugami's presence slightly irritated him. However, the saiyan child seemed fairly interesting, his fiery personality was slightly inspiring. It reminded Shinji of him in earlier youth. Still, he could not break his attention from the human who considered to be poorly dressed.

"Listen nerd! You're gonna get yourself hurt if you don't turn around go home," Shinji already developed a strong dislike for the Inugami "you're just going to end up getting yourself killed" Just as he tried to warn the human it was already too late. The majin had already zoomed forward appearing almost instantly behind the saiyan and the human. She was like a whirlwind, a torrent of energy. She moved swiftly with intention and focus; she managed to knock the saiyan boy off balance following up with a devastating smash...

"Well then..."

Slightly impressed by the majin combat abilities he cast an invisible magical barrier around his body that effects the very laws of space around him, this barrier allowed him to control the distance between him and object repelling any debris sent flying his way. The rocks had come to sudden stop before they could physically bounce off Shinji, he was impressed that the majin was more the capable of being a worthy fighter, but he wasn't really a fan of teamwork, he was strongly contemplating whether or not he wanted to be a spectator or participant, whatever the case he remained vigilant, not letting his guard down forgetting about that shadowy figure he caught wind of before arriving to the battlefield.

​

 

[WarriorofSpaceBooty]

Inugami couldn't help but feel his anger boil over and his heart beat pounding in his ears that cancelled out the noise Liari and some random guy who looked like demon spawn from his appearance with a flaming tail was making, that selfish and prideful smile she is displaying when talking, how she wore Eschal's clothes with glee and claim his powers as her own, he will have to beat the crap of her to force the majin to spit his friend back out, force her to regurgitate him even. Upon his blinding rage building up like a thermometer ready to break its peak until he didn't see Liari no more, sensing her behind him and Rutaba, he went to counter but was struck in the back of the head by her tentacle that sent him hurtling down to the ground, however, he managed to slow and halt his fall, only to sense her behind him again but he came prepared as she reaches out to grab him and Rutaba but activates his Ash Bloom technique that turns a single field view into a area of dozen near-invisible phoenix like cuts that'll slice and cube up her limbs if she manages to detect his attack.

Following up with summoning a phoenix spear, where he multiplies into six seperate then hurl them right at her in hopes to send her flying down towards the ground and pin her to give them breathing room. "Hit back with a strong attack Rutaba!" he turns to his companion, then looks up and now notices the guy, giving him a stern and serious look. "Who are you?" he asks Shinji, like he wasn't there a minute ago talking to them about getting out of there.
​

 

[The Doomguy]

​

The hooded figure traversed the crust of the Earth like an ipnopidae trekking across the sea. Each sharing rather humiliating characteristics. Small, slender entities, barely able to stand against the war that raged before them. Yet the figure did not concern himself with sharks, no, before him were different predators altogether. One came from a distant world, another from damnation itself, the last who stood against the Majin born under the shadow of a mountain of fire.

How did the Old Hermit believe he had a chance to stand against them? Especially when he seemed reliant on his staff to carry him when his feet could not. It was difficult for any to comprehend that this figure on its death march had ever known violence. Let alone had the capacity for it in his old age. Little did they know that he understood something few did. That violence was the true nature of the universe.

All one had to do to learn it was look at the vast cosmos rather than the world in front of them.

He did so in ages long before the great shattering. He watched cataclysmic violence that put anything they were capable of producing to shame. Destroying a celestial body was a feat, true, but nothing compared to the torture of changing a world’s geological nature. That is a strength that hardly anyone possessed in this age where totalitarian destruction mattered more than preservation or alteration.

Did they know that before their bout the world had been nameless? That the tectonic plates had ground the continents together, their collision so powerful, that it pushed up mountain ranges that protruded upward like spears through the heart of the earth? That far beneath the blue seas, white-hot magma shed light in the darkness of the ocean floor, spewing forth raw minerals and gems that tore through the currents above them? Or that this planet’s first rulers had been microorganisms that waged a war for survival that lasted longer than any in their histories?

It is a violence that he understood on a fundamental level. A violence he planned to impart on them this day. As his beige cloak fluttered in the wind from the impacts far beyond him he shoved his staff into the rocky terrain. Upon his face the ghost of a smile formed on his lips as he tasted the air of their conflict.

His freehand lifted slowly, fingers curled into a claw as his palm faced the skies. Invisibly he writhed in unfathomable might that forced the clear blue above to gloom. From out of nothingness clouds formed. Swirling with its epicenter high above the combatants, stretching out beyond where the sun would set, blotting its light out in all directions, cardinal or otherwise.

Then for the first time in its history this desert a drop of rain fell from the sky. Though it had not been the same that graced the crops of farmers in their field or that which drowned others in torrential floods. It was inky black and clung and melded into the sands and the rocks like a fly in a web. In the microsecond that followed so too did more droplets, then even more, until finally it seemed as if the heavens were crying midnight tears across the area.

One might have thought it to be acidic or some other form of immediate danger. Instead, it did nothing but smell like a sweet carcinogen, an aroma that permeated the battlefield as it sought to soak the combatant’s in its slick and sable fury. For the time being they were safe. Unaffected by the downpour that overtook them at this moment. If anything some might have viewed it as a cool, refreshing escape from the harsh desert expanse they found themselves in.​

 

[Liari]

Liari would slap both Inugami and Rutaba away in one swift demonstration of power, the Majin simply UNIMPRESSED with the lot of them. They couldn't even DETECT her bee-line approach, nor react to her tentacles and they thought... they could WIN!? She would turn to face them and, before they could attack, a NEW GUY entered the fight: He was far rougher-looking that either the kid or the monk, his teeth fanged and hair white, his body language reeking of arrogance. He would land between Rutaba and Inugami, mock them both, remarking on Inugami's appearance in particular before looking like he'd actually join the fight!

"Now THIS is what I'm talking about!" Liari declared, gesturing at the new guy with both hands. "HE actually has power, unlike you two jokers. Why can't you be like this guy here?"

Well, as if to demonstrate similar arrogance, at least, the two would attack! First would come Rutaba, CHARGING IN, as always, with a flurry of blows! The Majin would just stand there... and take them, her body rigid, unmoving, absorbing every blow as if it were the simplest thing in the world. Before, she felt nothing when he struck her, like each punch and kick were but irrelevant bugs landing upon her flesh. This time... she felt each one. Still painless, still meaningless in the grand scheme, but still a vast difference from his first appearance.

"You're still not strong enough, kid." Liari would grumble, exasperated. "Do I have to beat you to DEATH before you get it...?"

Inugami would strike next, conjuring flaming spears and hurling them at the Majin! Liari would roll her eyes at this onslaught... She could take the flames, more easily than the boy's strikes, in fact, but instead... she would reach out lightning fast through Rutaba's barrage, GRAB the boy's head and WHIP him in front of her in an arch, forcing each of Inugami's spears to strike Rutaba's back instead! Rutaba was strong enough to take the impacts... but it wouldn't be so cozy for the kid. He would feel the burn of the fire, the impacts of the spears, the repetition of each blow at least 6 times... before Liari would then cock her arm back and hurl him at the stranger!

"Here, catch." She would call as she tossed Rutaba at him! If the man let down his little barrier to catch the kid, Liari would then level a hand and FIRE a blast at him, aiming to get it through the window! She had seen how rubble and rocks seemed to bounce off him, different than how ki normally repulsed loose objects.

However, if he didn't and Rutaba bounced off, Liari would let the kid fall where he may and simply gesture for the new potential challenger to come at her with a flick of her finger.

"You just gonna stand there looking like the biggest tease I've seen today?" The Majin would question, a crooked smile spreading across her face.

Liari would then blink as a drop fell upon her wrist from above. It was thick, almost like oil, sluggishly sliding down her arm as if it were in now hurry.

"Ew..." The Majin grunted. She then looked up, reflexively shutting an eye and cringing in disgust as another drop fell upon her cheek just beneath. Clouds? Where did CLOUDS come from? It became obvious in a moment where the drops were coming from, the Majin raising a hand over her head as a pink half-barrier manifested above her, the new... "rain" falling upon it and leaving the Majin dry. She would take a thumb and wipe the black from her wrist and face, smudging it between that thumb and accompanying forefinger, still cringing at the darkness.

"Great. It had to rain OIL the day I decided to do this. Just my luck." The Majin would gimmace. She would then look over at the new guy. "Well? Hurry up! Don't be a disappointment like these two and HIT ME with something special."

 

[Rutaba]

Rutaba’s combo never even slowed Liari down.

That was the part that really hit him.

Every punch, every kick, every burst of blue ki slammed into her with enough force to shatter stone, yet she barely moved. He could finally feel the difference clearly now.

And somehow, that made things worse.

His grin flickered for the first time when Liari suddenly grabbed him.

“HUH—?!”

The world spun as she swung him around like a ragdoll. Then Inugami’s flaming spears slammed into his back one after another.

THUNK! THUNK! THUNK! THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!

Rutaba cried out as the explosions blasted him forward, launching him through the rainy canyon like a cannonball. He spun wildly through the air before forcing himself upright with a burst of blue ki.
He skidded to a stop, breathing hard, smoke rising from the burns on his back. Rain poured down his face.

For a second he just hovered there.

Then he started laughing.

“Heh… hehehe… HAHAHAHA!!”

He clutched his side, laughing louder even as pain shot through his body.

“She used me like a weapon! That’s so unfair!!”

His tail lashed wildly behind him. Instead of looking discouraged, his eyes were glowing with even more excitement.

Rutaba looked back at Liari standing under her pink barrier, her power still feeling crushing and endless.

But that only made his blood burn hotter.

Blue ki flickered tighter around his body, orange-red sparks snapping through the rain as he dropped into a fighting stance.

“You keep talking like I’m supposed to quit!” he shouted across the canyon.

He pointed directly at her, grin turning feral.

“But every time you hit me…”

His aura exploded outward violently.

“…I just wanna fight you MORE!!”


BOOOOOM!!

Rutaba burst downward through the black rain, zigzagging wildly between the rock pillars. Then he suddenly appeared high above her.

Both hands pulled back to his side in the classic wide stance. Blue ki began swirling violently between his palms, rapidly forming a large, unstable energy sphere that crackled with messy orange-red sparks.

“BOMBA…”

The sphere grew bigger and brighter as he poured more power into it, the energy spinning faster and faster.

“FIREBALL!!!”

He thrust his hands forward and hurled the massive blue fireball straight down at Liari with everything he had. The explosive sphere roared through the rain like a blazing comet, leaving a trail of wild orange-red sparks as it hurtled toward her at point-blank range.

 

[Monkey D. Kami]

"Don't you dare ignore me four eyes!!!" roaring at Inugami frowning in utter disgust. However, it seemed Inugami had not had time to respond, Liari's assault had already begun, she attacked ruthlessly without any regards for what her opponents were capable of enduring. This made Shinji smile from ear to ear, grinning menacingly, for he thought this was a spectacle to be ever so grateful to witness.

Majin Liari: "Now THIS is what I'm talking about!"

Shinji raised an eyebrow quizzically.

Majin Liari: "HE actually has power, unlike you two jokers. Why can't you be like this guy here?"

Chuckling and dawning a sinister smile Shinji, knew that Liari was referring to him. "Hmph... flattery will get you nowhere with me ya overgrown mutated gumball, but I will kindly accept your compliments," the sarcasm in his voice was more than obvious in his voice that he clearly enjoyed being acknowledged. However, this short joyful moment for him would be cut short, Inugami and Rutaba would this time rush at the majin with a flurry of attacks. First came a frontal assault by Rutaba who rushed Liari with barrage of useless attacks, Liari stood unphased by a single blow; next came Inugami with a ranged attack conjuring fiery spears. Shinji's eyes widened as the flaming spears shimmered and spiraled into its complete shape to him it was a divine spectacle, "Now that's not half bad" he said grinning from ear to ear. However, Majin Liari, had made a fool her opponents. Not only did she endure every single one of Rutaba's attacks without flinching, but she also used him as meat shield holding him in place with her tentacle-like hair blocking the flame spears. It was easily to that this majin was ruthless and possessed every intention of domination her opponents while enjoying every second of it, however the stronger the opponent the more she could enjoy dominating them.

Majin Liari: "Here, catch."

She tossed Rutaba like a he was nothing more than a balled-up piece of paper, his body hovered in the air for a moment as he was on a crash course towards Shinji who contemplated attempting to catch him or watch him crash and burn. The decision was fairly easy for Shinji to make however it was always fun for him to imagine playing the hero or the villain was fine for him. He scratched his chin with one hand while the other allowed him elbow to rest in its palm, however with a simple hand gesture toward the torpedoing saiyan would find himself at a sudden stop hovering in front of Shinji uncontrollably against his own will (Telekinesis). "Hey, brat!" shouting aggressively at the young saiyan "You've got spunk kid, but you're too weak... so I want you to stand back for a second and then once you get the hang of it repeat after me! Got it!" Shinji was indeed impressed with the saiyan child's fiery spirit but there was no power behind his attacks. But before he could begin his lesson, he would turn his attention to Inugami.

'Hey Idiot! Watch where the hell you shoot those fiery spears or else I'm gonna kick your ass next." for some reason Inugami was the target of Shinji's wrath. Something about him just rubbed Shinji the wrong way, all he could think about giving him a face full of fist. Meanwhile a ki blast hurdled towards him, normally this would be something he deflect however he quickly tossed the young saiyan aside so that he won't be used as a meat shield again. As soon as the kid was out of the way the ki blast collided with Shinji's barrier with explosive force however neither Shinji nor his barrier was unphased. The impact created a dust cloud engulfing Shinji; he's stood their looking like shadowy figure with glowing red eyes, when it cleared, he was revealed standing there menacingly smiling and grinning at Liari. Who was flicking her finger taunting him to come at her.

Majin Liari: "You just gonna stand there looking like the biggest tease I've seen today?"

She stood their mockingly and adopting a similar smile to that of the devil man himself. He smirked, impressed but just as he was about to respond he notice a change in the weather.

"Black rain??" This unnatural occurrence was a strange phenomenon indeed; however, Shinji had an idea of who might be responsible for this sudden change in the atmosphere. He looked around to see if this was either Inugami or Rutaba's doing but the two hadn't attempted anything out of the ordinary; and Majin Liari was just as confused as well as disgusted.

Majin Liari: "Great. It had to rain OIL the day I decided to do this. Just my luck."

"Oil? That old man... tch" he muttered to himself, no wonder he was getting wet...

Normal rain just passes right through his barrier-like hair does the crack in a door or condensation from a cup full cold water. However, this oil seemed to bounce right of his barrier, whoever was responsible for this must have had some sort of trick up their sleeve. As much as he wanted to investigate, he wasn't sure if whether or not he should stay and fight because had he not found the source of this problem their fight could come to an abrupt end. But before he could make a decision, he noticed Rutaba planning for another attack and by the looks of he was slowly but surely trying to conjure a massive fireball a small spark what the beginning of a soon to be a massive orb of fire. "This idiot" before his sphere can get any larger Shinji appeared in front of him faster than he could track with an open hand he reached to slap the boys palm to prevent him from using this technique in such conditions. "Boy are you a fool..." he stated with a calm voice, the shift in energy was serious "you should play closer attention to your surroundings" had he succeeded in disrupting Rutaba he would possibly prevent an early tragedy for the young saiyan. Letting down his guard in order to save someone or so it had seemed. This wasn't like Shinji rarely stepping into other people's battles. Had the boy created the sphere of fire a single drop of oil could his disrupt his control of the flame possibly engulfing himself in his own fire.

Majin Liari: "Hurry up! Don't be a disappointment like these two and HIT ME with something special."

"Don't you feel that in the air, their maybe someone stronger nearby and I think I know exactly where to find them. You interested or what?" He stated hoping to inspire Liari to find the person responsible for the black rain, he felt perhaps that old man had something to hide after all, no wonder he couldn't sense any ki from that individual. Had she agreed to accompany him he would lead her towards where he last spotted the old man wearing a tattered hooded robe. There was just something that was off about his appearance that made Shinji feel uneasy, his presence was even more sinister and more ominous than Shinji. At least with Shinji you can tell the devil is coming but this old man was mystery and an unknown threat was the worse kinds of them all, and something that shouldn't be taken lightly. However, he clenched his fist tightly knuckles cracking as they became engulfed with a crimson aura as he turned towards Liari, "If you want throw hands," He took his martial stance which was mixture between boxing and muaythai, his legs slightly shoulder width apart as bounced on the balls of his feet. "Shinji Devil Man, never backs down from anyone." prepared to challenge the majin head on he hoped she had only considered his offer so they can deal with this unknown threat, Shinji had an ill feeling that if this rain didn't let up something bad was about to happen.

​

 

[WarriorofSpaceBooty]

Inugami huffs as Liari used his friend as a meat shield to block then toss him towards Shinji who merely tossed the kid aside but hearing that dick head yell at him only annoyed Inugami more opting the young man to ignore the pissed off individual who also went to smack the fire ball from Rutaba's hands, pointing out the oil rain that began pouring down around them, soaking into clothes, hair and dirt "Strange, oil rain..." he mumbles to himself while flying over to Rutaba while she was talking to Shinji. Checking on the kid and seeing the burns, he sighs at this and shakes his head, "Well, we take this guy on and let Liari find what this guy is talking about" he says measuring their options since Liari has gotten stronger, deep down he wanted to punch that confident smirk off her face but knew that would only result in him getting humbled even more, especially when he can barely keep up with her speed "Best find a way to combine our strengths to win" he says to the younger saiyan.
​

 

[The Doomguy]

​

It is no surprise that the Majin had been first to understand the true nature of the sable rain. Without a doubt it had been crude oil that descended from the skies. Though as she lifted a barrier of Ki above her head it seemed she failed to understand the purpose of it. It had never been the Hermit’s intention to set fire to the rain, let alone soak them in it.

Perhaps their lack of understanding was born from it not being a flashy technique designed to show power. It seemed to be all they understood. A fact proven by the way the young primate ascended into the sky in hopes to charge an attack. Had it not been for the Devil that was smart enough to stop him he might not have been stopped from performing what was inevitable suicide.

That did not mean their death was preventable. Their techniques showed they possessed no martial skill or years of prowess honed by battle. He believed he had been completely and utterly correct in his assumption that they knew nothing of war, let alone how to wage it. That is why he was going to give them their first lesson in chemical warfare. Something that while illegal throughout most of the known universe, was still on the table, when dealing with something larger than oneself.

Beyond the anaerobic decay and fossil fuels needed to create crude oil, the chemical make-up of the sable rain had been hydrocarbons. In the torrential downpour they found themselves in, such high volumes were dangerous. Though not due to the volatility of the substance, not at all, that was child’s play. No, the true terror lied inside the vapors, which they had been inhaling subconsciously. After all, they had never made any active intention to hold their breaths, let alone while they remained screaming at the top of their lungs at each other.

Only the Majin was safe from this as they did not likely have the same weakness of lungs as the others did. A rare instance where having such drastically different physiology was a blessing. Besides they were the only one the Hermit wished to battle. It is why he coated the expanse in oil, to act as a pesticide, eradicating the pests who plagued their arena.

The Ape, The Man, and the Devil were going to feel the effects though. It started simply as breaths becoming labored, followed by dizzying and aching skulls, before nausea began to take over. This sea of affliction that flooded their bodies were the least of their concerns. So long as they remained ‘neath the shadow of the storm they were going to die from the inside. Poisoned by the hydrocarbon vapors in the air without the Hermit even needing to lay a hand on them. To try and dispel it, however, was dangerous. As seen earlier a single blast might transform their environment from a black gulch of desert into a field of flaming glass.

The only thing the Hermit had to do was wait it out. His hands gripping his staff, standing there, as his beige coat became dark as night and made him invisible against the backdrop. Slowly but surely, he poured his magic in the storm to continue its existence, but overall he did little else. He needed to do nothing else. He was the End and the Death of the three pests that laid before them and in no time at all they would likely begin dropping like flies, one by one, until it was just him and the Majin.
​

 

[Liari]

When Liari described the rain as "oil..." She didn't really think it was that particular substance. How could she? That stuff came out of the GROUND! This stuff was coming from CLOUDS... so... the hell was it?

...That answer would come as the stuff REALLY began coming down sticking and slathering and sloughing off of the Majin's shield in such a way that it almost formed a veil of the stuff rolling down it's sides! The smell hit the air hit the Majin like a punch to the face, the blue woman recoiling a step back and holding her free hand up to clench pinch her nose.

Some how... Some way, gen-U-ine earthly oil was POURING FROM THE SKY like it were the start of a thunderstorm. Liari... looked on in some kind of awe, wondering what could CAUSE this kind of stuff. A geyser of some kind...? Maybe one so big that the stuff coming down only looks like a cloud?

...Nah, that was stupid. They would have SEEN it, let alone FELT something like that go off. But then... How could...

Liari's eyes snapped up to Rutaba who was gathering his energy, making it clear what he was about to do. Her eyes widened.

"Oh, you stupid- STOP!" Liari ROARED! Letting down her shield and sacrificing her dryness, she would shoot out an elastic arm, it snaking through the air to STRIKE Rutaba in a long-range punch, aiming to SMASH him across the jaw and stun him out of his blast before he could complete his move! She would then snap her eyes over to the new guy, still as cocky as anything else and reach out, a pink barrier forming around him to keep his flames from coming anywhere CLOSE to the oil falling upon them! If she was too slow, he would be ENGULFED in a fiery explosion WITHIN the ki-barrier, saving the rest of them. She held that barrier closed just in case.

"You idiots... ITS ACTUAL OIL! That stuff BURNS!" The Majin chided sharply, cringing as her clothes, soaked through with blackness, her once pristine blue figure now soaking in the stuff.

The smell grew thicker in the air, poison to most... but to the Majin, she knew not of it's negative effects. Her body was magical, passively purging the toxin before it could latch onto anything! As a result, she didn't even KNOW the fumes were poisonous! She barely even knew what poison WAS beyond what she could... draw... from Eschal........

...Oh....

...The Majin began to sweat.

Any minute now the air would become too thick with oil for these people to breathe, let alone FIGHT in. If they were to die, Liari would be down THREE playthings, one of which being actually kinda strong! She needed to find this source... she...

...That's when she remembered.

"YOU!" Liari pointed at the stranger, he who was so confident in knowing where the oil's source was. "YOU KNOW WHAT'S MAKING THIS STUFF, DESTROY IT. NOW!" Liari roared. The oil was starting to pool at the soles of her boots now. The very tug of the viscous liquid making her cringe in disgust.

"RUTABA, HELP HIM BUT NO KI. YOU'LL LIGHT US ALL UP! INUGAMI, YOU... stay with me. You'll just get us all killed if you try something. GO... before I blow us ALL UP ON PURPOSE."

With that, Liari would cross her (now) oily arms across her chest and PUFF out a cloud of indignant steam.

...She hated today... She was gonna have to take the longest bathe of her LIFE to get this stuff off her...

 

[Rutaba]

Rutaba was still rubbing his jaw when Inugami flew over. The young Saiyan hovered there, soaked head-to-toe in thick black oil, his spiky hair plastered down while his tail twitched irritably. He coughed hard, the nasty fumes making his chest feel tight and his head fuzzy.

When Inugami suggested teaming up, Rutaba blinked a few times, then nodded quickly.

“Yeah… yeah, okay! Teaming up sounds good!”

He sniffed once and immediately gagged.

“Ughhh— it smells like burnt garbage! Gross!”

Then his eyes widened as the full realization hit him. He looked down at the glowing blue ki still flickering around his hand, then at the giant puddles of oil below, then back up at the black rain.

“…OH.”

His face went pale for a second.

“OHHHHHHHH!!”

He threw both hands up in panic.

“I ALMOST BLEW EVERYBODY UP?!”

For a split second he looked genuinely horrified.

Then he grinned again, eyes sparkling like he was impressed.

“…That’s actually kinda awesome.”

Rutaba shook his head hard, trying to clear the dizziness from the fumes. Even though his breathing was getting rougher, the fire in his eyes didn’t fade. If anything, it burned brighter.

He cracked his knuckles loudly and pointed dramatically through the oily rain toward the hooded figure.

“HEY, GRANDPA!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. “STOP MAKING THE SKY GROSS!”

Without waiting another second, Rutaba blasted forward through the black rain. No big ki blast. No fancy technique. Just raw, angry Saiyan aggression.

He reeled one arm back and twisted his whole body into a brutal flying hook punch aimed straight for the old man’s head.

“If I can’t blast you—”

His fist ripped through the rain with a loud WHOOMPH.

“—THEN I’LL JUST HIT YOU REALLY HARD!!”