Turles found himself quickly reassessing his initial dismissal of Zero's capabilities. The Frost Demon's second form had already proven to be far more powerful than anticipated, and each exchange of blows made it increasingly clear that the fruit's power boost wasn't providing the overwhelming advantage he'd expected.
"Impossible!" Turles snarled as Zero caught his punch, the larger warrior's transformed state allowing him to match the Saiyan's enhanced strength. "How are you keeping up with the fruit's power?!"
Zero's bestial features twisted into a smirk. "The fruit isn't everything, Turles. My race's transformations aren't just for show!"
Their battle intensified, tearing through the rocky landscape. Each impact created shockwaves that shattered nearby cliffs. Turles would gain a momentary advantage from the fruit's power, only for Zero to adapt and counter with increasing effectiveness. The Frost Demon's second form proved remarkably agile despite its bulk, combining raw power with unexpected speed.
Yet Turles refused to accept defeat. Drawing on more of Towa's dark magic, he consumed another fruit, his muscles bulging as purple electricity crackled around him. "Let's see you handle this, traitor!"
The powered-up Saiyan launched a barrage of attacks that initially pushed Zero back. But as the battle wore on, something changed in Zero's expression. His red eyes narrowed, and a familiar energy began to build around him.
"What's wrong, Turles?" Zero taunted, his voice carrying an edge of anticipation. "Afraid you might need more than stolen power to win this fight?"
Before Turles could respond, Zero's power level suddenly spiked dramatically. His second form began to crack and shift, his appearance morphing into something even more alien. His skull elongated, additional spikes erupting from his bio-armor as his third form took shape. The transformation was unsettling to witness - a reminder of why his race was so feared across the universe.
Turles's confident expression faltered as he felt Zero's power continue to rise. The third form stood before him, its elongated head housing gleaming red eyes that seemed to pierce right through him. This form was sleeker than the second, but the energy radiating from it made the air itself feel heavy.
"No... this can't be!" Turles backed away slightly, instinctively responding to the threatening aura Zero now projected. "Even with Lord Zamigra's power boost, how are you-?"
Zero's third form moved with frightening speed, appearing behind Turles before the Saiyan could complete his thought. "You relied too heavily on borrowed power, Turles. That was your mistake!"
The battle resumed with renewed intensity, but the dynamic had clearly shifted. Where before they had been evenly matched, now Turles found himself increasingly on the defensive. Zero's third form proved to be more than just a power boost - it came with enhanced speed and precision that made his attacks significantly harder to predict or counter.
Even as Turles reached for another fruit, Zero's tail whipped around, knocking it from his hand. "No more shortcuts," Zero declared, his transformed voice carrying an otherworldly quality. "Let's finish this properly!"
The dark-skinned Saiyan warrior found himself facing a sobering realization: all his stolen power, the fruits, and even Towa's magic might not be enough to overcome the natural evolutionary power of the Frost Demon race when wielded by someone who truly knew how to use it.
# A New Mission for the Time Patrol
[Previous sections remain the same...]
The surge of dark magic coursing through Turles gave him a momentary advantage. Purple lightning crackled around his form as he landed a devastating combination of strikes on Zero, sending the third-form Frost Demon crashing through several rock formations.
"Ha! Not so confident now, are you?" Turles sneered, dark energy pulsing around his clenched fists. "This is the power of Lord Zamigra's blessing!"
Zero pulled himself from the rubble, his third form showing signs of damage. But instead of concern, a knowing smile crossed his alien features. "You still don't understand, do you, Turles? These forms... they're not even my final form."
Turles's triumphant expression faltered. "What?"
The air grew heavy with energy as Zero's power began to build once again. This time, however, something was different. Instead of the violent, explosive transformations of before, this change came with an almost serene quality. Zero's third form began to crack and shed, pieces of bio-armor falling away to reveal something else beneath.
"No... it can't be!" Turles took an involuntary step back as he recognized what was happening. Everyone in the universe knew of this transformation - the form that had made Frieza legendary.
Zero's body contracted, becoming sleeker and smaller. The elongated head of his third form smoothed out, horns repositioning themselves. His bio-armor became more streamlined, and his tail grew longer and more refined. When the transformation completed, Zero stood before Turles in a form that was deceptively simple in appearance - but the power radiating from it was anything but simple.
This was the fourth form, the true form of his race. Though physically smaller than his previous transformations, the energy emanating from Zero made the very air shimmer. His red eyes, now set in a more humanoid face, regarded Turles with calm determination.
"This form..." Zero's voice had lost its bestial quality, returning to its normal tone but carrying an underlying power that seemed to resonate through the battlefield. "This is what my race is truly capable of when we train properly instead of relying on shortcuts and stolen power."
Turles tried to mask his growing unease with bravado. "So what if you've changed form again? With Lord Zamigra's power flowing through me, I'm still-"
He never finished the sentence. Zero moved with speed that made his previous forms look sluggish in comparison. One moment he stood dozens of yards away, the next he was directly in front of Turles, a single finger extended toward the Saiyan's chest.
"Shall we test that theory?" Zero asked quietly.
The real battle was about to begin.
# A New Mission for the Time Patrol
[Previous sections remain the same...]
Turles unleashed everything he had, dark magic swirling around him like a tempest as he charged at Zero. But the Frost Demon in his final form moved with an almost casual grace, each movement precise and devastatingly effective. Where Turles's attacks were wild and powered by rage, Zero's were calculated and efficient.
"Stand still and fight me properly!" Turles roared, frustration evident as another barrage of punches passed harmlessly through Zero's afterimage.
"As you wish." Zero's calm voice came from behind him. Before Turles could turn, a powerful strike sent him hurtling toward the ground. The Saiyan warrior barely managed to right himself before Zero appeared before him again.
"Death Beam Barrage!"
Multiple purple beams of energy shot from Zero's extended finger, each one finding its mark despite Turles's desperate attempts to dodge. The dark magic surrounding him flickered and sputtered with each hit.
Meanwhile, Daikon had finally gained the upper hand against Lord Slug. The Namekian's size advantage had become a liability against the Saiyan's superior speed and technique. With a mighty kiai, Daikon sent Slug crashing into a nearby mountain.
"Your time manipulation ends here!" Daikon declared, gathering energy for his finishing move.
Just then, the air crackled with familiar energy as Scarlett and Aiko appeared on the battlefield, followed closely by Eleryc and Jinjer. They arrived just in time to witness Zero preparing his final attack against the battered Turles.
"Nova Death Ball!" Zero called out, raising his finger high as a massive sphere of concentrated energy formed above him. The attack glowed with an intense orange-red light, casting an eerie glow across the battlefield.
Turles's eyes widened in fear as he recognized the technique - a variation of his race's signature move. "No... this isn't possible!"
But before either finishing move could land, a swirling portal of dark energy appeared between the combatants. Towa's voice echoed across the battlefield: "Turles! Slug! Return at once! We have what we need!"
"This isn't over!" Turles snarled as he and the heavily wounded Slug were pulled into the portal. "Next time, traitor, you won't be so lucky!"
The portal snapped shut just as Zero's Nova Death Ball and Daikon's attack reached their positions, the massive explosions lighting up the sky but finding no targets.
"Tch... they got away," Zero said, powering down from his final form back to his base state. The transformation had taken its toll, but he managed to stay standing.
Scarlett rushed forward to support him as he wavered slightly. "Hey, take it easy. That was some impressive fighting we sensed from miles away."
"No kidding!" Aiko added, her wolf ears twitching excitedly. "We could feel those power levels from clear across the timeline!"
Eleryc stepped forward, his expression serious despite their partial victory. "They may have escaped, but at least we prevented them from changing this part of history. Good work, everyone."
"Indeed," Jinjer agreed, scanning the devastated battlefield. "Though something tells me this is just the beginning. They mentioned having what they needed..."
Zero straightened up, his red eyes narrowing. "Whatever they're planning, we'll be ready. This was just the first round."
"And next time," Daikon added, cracking his knuckles, "they won't get away so easily."
The group gathered together, their mission partially successful but all of them knowing that greater challenges lay ahead. Somewhere in time, Zamigra and his allies were plotting their next move. But for now, at least this piece of history remained intact.
# A New Mission for the Time Patrol
The kaleidoscope of temporal energy faded as the group found themselves in another crucial moment of history - the battle between Goku and Great Ape Vegeta. But something was terribly wrong. Looming in the artificial moonlight were two massive ape-like figures instead of one, their red eyes gleaming with malevolent intent.
"This... this isn't right," Scarlett muttered, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. "Nappa should be dead by this point in the timeline!"
"Towa's interference again," Zero concluded, his red eyes narrowing as he analyzed the situation. "They must have prevented his death at Goku's hands earlier."
The night sky was illuminated by the artificial moon Vegeta had created, its blutz waves causing both Saiyan warriors to maintain their transformed states. The twin Great Apes towered over the battlefield, their massive forms casting enormous shadows across the wasteland.
Eleryc, Jinjer, and Daikon quickly concealed themselves behind a distant rock formation. They couldn't risk being seen - their resemblance to future threats could cause even more timeline complications.
"Be careful out there," Eleryc called to his friends through their communicators. "Great Ape transformations multiply their power by ten times!"
Scarlett nodded grimly. "Then we'll just have to be twenty times stronger! Ready, Aiko?"
Her wolf-eared sister dropped into a fighting stance, her crimson tail bristling with anticipation. "Ready when you are!"
Zero floated between the sisters, his bio-armor gleaming in the artificial moonlight. "We need to keep Nappa occupied while Goku handles Vegeta. The original timeline must be preserved as much as possible."
Great Ape Nappa noticed the new arrivals and let out a deafening roar that shook the very ground. "MORE INSECTS TO CRUSH?!" His voice was deeper, more bestial in this form, but retained its characteristic brutality.
"Well, he's still charming as ever," Zero commented dryly before calling out to their allies below. "Gohan! Krillin! Focus on helping Goku with Vegeta! We'll handle Nappa!"
The three Time Patrollers shot into the air, spreading out to surround the massive Great Ape. Nappa's transformed state made him incredibly powerful, but also slower and less agile - a weakness they would need to exploit.
"Remember," Scarlett called out to her companions as they began their attack, "we just need to keep him busy until Goku can deal with Vegeta. Don't do anything to drastically alter the timeline!"
The battle against Great Ape Nappa was about to begin, while nearby, the destined clash between Goku and Great Ape Vegeta played out as it was meant to. The fate of the timeline hung in the balance once again.
# A New Mission for the Time Patrol
The massive form of Great Ape Nappa proved to be even more formidable than they'd anticipated. His already considerable strength had been multiplied tenfold by the transformation, and each swing of his giant arms created devastating shockwaves through the air.
"HOLD STILL, YOU LITTLE PESTS!" Nappa roared, his massive jaws opening to release a powerful beam of energy from his mouth.
"Scatter!" Zero commanded, and the trio split apart just as the beam carved a massive trench through the landscape behind them.
Scarlett took the lead, flying directly at Nappa's face to draw his attention. "Hey, ugly! I thought Saiyans were supposed to be proud warriors, not mindless beasts!"
The taunt had its intended effect. Nappa swung his massive fist at her, but Scarlett's smaller size and superior speed allowed her to easily evade the attack. This created an opening that Zero immediately exploited, launching a series of Death Beams at the Great Ape's exposed back.
"ARGH!" Nappa howled in pain, spinning around to face this new threat. But the movement was sluggish - his massive size made quick turns difficult.
Aiko seized the opportunity, her wolf-like agility serving her well as she darted in close to Nappa's tail. "The weakness of every Great Ape... got to time this just right!"
But Nappa wasn't completely mindless in this form. He anticipated the attack on his tail and swung it like a massive whip, catching Aiko off guard and sending her flying through several rock formations.
"Aiko!" Scarlett cried out in concern.
"I'm okay!" her sister's voice came through their communicators. "But we need a new strategy. He's protecting his tail too well!"
Zero dodged another massive fist and called out to his companions. "Then we'll have to wear him down! Scarlett, remember our training with Master Whis? The synchronized attack pattern!"
Scarlett's eyes lit up with understanding. "Perfect! Aiko, triangle formation!"
The three warriors positioned themselves around Nappa, forming a perfect triangle. They began moving in perfect synchronization, each attack flowing into the next. When Nappa would turn to face one attacker, he'd be struck by the other two from his blind spots.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Nappa bellowed, his frustration growing as he failed to land a solid hit on any of his opponents. He began charging another mouth beam, but this time it was different - darker energy crackled around it, clearly enhanced by Towa's magic.
"Now!" Zero called out. As Nappa released his enhanced beam, all three Time Patrollers launched their own signature attacks simultaneously.
"Crimson Striker!" Scarlett unleashed a powerful red energy wave.
"Wolf Fang Blast!" Aiko's attack carried traces of her hybrid heritage's unique energy.
"Nova Death Beam!" Zero's attack spiraled with concentrated power.
The three beams converged on Nappa's attack, creating a massive energy struggle that lit up the night sky. The Great Ape pushed more power into his beam, but he couldn't match the perfect coordination of the three warriors.
Their combined attack pushed through, striking Nappa directly in the chest. The massive Saiyan staggered backward, his transformation weakening as the artificial moonlight struggled to maintain its hold on him.
"One more time!" Scarlett called out. "Everything we've got!"
In a final, coordinated assault, they struck from all sides. Zero's precision strikes targeted Nappa's joints, Aiko's speed-based attacks kept him off balance, and Scarlett delivered the decisive blow - a powerful kick that finally connected with his tail.
The Great Ape let out one final roar before beginning to shrink, his transformation failing as he reverted to his normal form. The unconscious body of the bald Saiyan warrior crashed to the ground, creating a sizeable crater.
Nearby, they could hear the battle between Goku and Great Ape Vegeta continuing as it should, history's proper course preserved thanks to their intervention.
"We... we did it," Aiko panted, exhausted but smiling.
"Yeah," Scarlett agreed, wiping sweat from her brow. "But something tells me our job isn't done yet..."
Zero landed beside his friends, his expression serious. "Indeed. Wherever Nappa came from in this altered timeline, there are bound to be more changes we need to correct."
The three warriors watched as a familiar dark portal began to form around Nappa's unconscious form. Before they could react, his body was pulled through - no doubt returning to whatever point in time he'd been pulled from.
"At least we managed to preserve this moment in history," Scarlett said, watching as Goku's battle with Vegeta continued in the distance. "But I have a feeling things are about to get a lot more complicated..."
# A New Mission for the Time Patrol
As the adrenaline of battle faded, Scarlett and Aiko took a moment to really observe Zero in his fourth form. While the basic shape was similar to the infamous Frieza's, Zero's appearance was strikingly different. His skin was a deep azure blue rather than pale white, and his bio-armor had a distinctive silver sheen that seemed to catch even the faintest light. The gem-like sections of his body were a deep crimson, matching his eyes, creating an appearance that was both regal and formidable.
"You know," Aiko said, catching her breath, "I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing that form. It's so different from your usual look."
Zero smiled slightly. "It takes a lot of energy to maintain, which is why I save it for serious threats. There are other transformations beyond this, but..." He glanced at the battlefield where Goku and Vegeta were still fighting. "Let's hope we don't need them."
Before they could continue their conversation, the world around them began to fade into brilliant white light. The space between times - a vast white void where different temporal paths intersected - enveloped them. Here, they could see fragments of various timelines floating past like scattered memories.
"Heads up, everyone," came Eleryc's voice as he, Jinjer, and Daikon rejoined the group. "I'm picking up more temporal disturbances."
The void suddenly shifted, and they found themselves witnessing Vegeta's confrontation with Cui on Namek. The purple-skinned alien warrior was spouting his usual boasts, but something was off - dark energy crackled around him in a familiar way.
"Towa's magic again," Scarlett observed grimly. "But why here? This battle wasn't that significant in the grand scheme of things..."
Before they could ponder this further, the scene shifted again. Now they were watching the Ginyu Force's arrival on Namek, where Krillin, Gohan, and Vegeta faced off against the elite mercenary squad. But once again, things were different from the history they knew.
"This isn't right," Zero said, his eyes narrowing. "The Ginyu Force's power levels are much higher than they should be at this point. And look - their movements are more coordinated, as if they're being controlled by someone."
Through their scouters, they could pick up multiple power readings that shouldn't exist in this timeline. The Ginyu Force members were showing energy signatures that far exceeded their historical levels, and the dark magic surrounding them was unmistakable.
"So what's the play?" Aiko asked, her tail swishing anxiously. "We can't let them kill Vegeta here - he's crucial for what comes later."
Scarlett nodded, already analyzing the situation. "We'll need to split up. Some of us handle Cui while the others deal with the Ginyu Force. But we have to be careful - if we show too much power here, we might accidentally change history ourselves."
Zero's fourth form shimmered as he considered their options. "Agreed. We need to preserve the general flow of events while preventing these powered-up versions from destroying the timeline. The question is... why are our enemies so focused on this particular period?"
Eleryc's voice came through their communicators, tense with concern. "Whatever their reason, we need to act fast. The timeline is already starting to show signs of strain. If Vegeta dies here, or if the Ginyu Force succeeds in whatever they're planning..."
"Then let's not waste any more time," Scarlett declared, dropping into a fighting stance. "Ready for another round?"
The others nodded, preparing themselves for what promised to be an even more challenging series of battles. The fate of the timeline - and the future of Earth - hung in the balance once again.
To be Continued in Chapter 3: Namek in Crisis part 1