[00] Now Entering Kill Town...

[Orion]

That went surprisingly well. Maya just handed over the Emblem of Ice to him. He certainly wasn't expecting that, considering the hoops he jumped through to obtain Anitan's approval, and the near fatal battle with the fiendish lava demon to receive Kagu's thumbs up. It almost smelt a little fishy, as if Talia led him to a false temple in order to deceive him and throw him off his quest; Orion shook off the thought, though. That was way too paranoid. No one that he ever knew would have made it to Heaven, much less known about his holy pilgrimage. Besides, Maya seemed like the real deal. Even without his trusty scouter handy, he couldn't help but sense an unreal ambiance that surrounded her, and by extension, her temple. Her command over ice was impressive also; submerging an entire sanctuary beneath the tundra that was more reminiscent of a white stoned castle than a dedicated shrine for defense training and then causing it to erupt from the frozen ground like a jack-in-the-box was nothing to scoff at. There was no real reason to doubt, other than Orion's overactive concerns. They'd been playing up ever since he arrived in Heaven.

How did a murderous, genocidal saiyan make it to the blessed lands of the afterlife, anyhow? What had he done in his life that permitted entry to paradise? Sure, he could spot instances here and there, and perhaps his inner character was less barbaric than the rest of his brethren, but surely a few charitable acts sprinkled sparsely amongst a violent history of conquest and professional slaughter wasn't enough to prevent an eternity in the fiery Hells? Apparently not, it seemed. Unless his admission was a clerical error, his logic dictated that he wasn't supposed to be there.

Of course, he wasn't about to pass up the chance of resurrection, especially in the manner set out by the Dojo of Light's keeper. Train with the four great Masters of the Heavenly realms, learning disciplines and techniques honed from expert knowledge and countless years of practice, plus a free return to the mortal plane? It was perfect for the battle hardened saiyan, and when opportunity threw him this bone, there was nothing that would stop him from gnawing through to the marrow.

Unfortunately, the journey to his next destination, the final temple and home of Benton, was interrupted. A stray bolt of energy skimmed Orion's arm, instantly putting him on the defensive. His aura abruptly scattered as he searched for the origin of the attack. It didn't take him long to find it.

From his airborne vantage point, he observed a collection of sleek humanoids, glistening in silver suits. They all gazed upwards, their red eyes locking onto him. What they wanted with him was uncertain, but their intention was clear. Orion knew that weak shot was simply a warning, and to get his undivided attention. In that sense, it completed its objective with flying colours.

They seemed undisturbed by the frigid temperatures of northern Heaven. Orion had traveled a good distance away from the Temple of Ice but there was still a short voyage before he would see a climate change. With what appeared to be minimal clothing, they stood staunchly against the battering winds, unaffected in the slightest.

Orion narrowed his eye. "What?"

They didn't speak. One of the gang aimed an open hand at the floating veteran. In unison, the others imitated the movement. A faint glow immersed their palms. Orion didn't need foresight to tell what was about to happen.

A volley of energy blasts streaked through the sky and straight for the agitated warrior. Like spears of light flying to impale him, they stayed bunched together, resisting the influence of the powerful gales that whisked through the lands.

Orion yelled, raising his power level to a feasible point. His trademark navy aura engulfed him, visually representing the channeled ki in his veins. These fools had no idea what they were in for.

The first beam heading the pack sailed directly at Orion. With a smirk, his body dissipated in a flash, leaving a wide margin between him and the attack. It spiraled into the distance harmlessly. Anitan's training at work had finally manifested in an ability to move with such speed that he left behind a mirage of himself. It had taken a while, but ultimately the platinum haired deity's obscure tutelage had awoken this technique inside him.

An army of After-Images filled the space of the ki bolts. Soon the attackers halted, allowing Orion a moment of rest. As much as he enjoyed utilising it, it was still new to him and a little more draining than he would've liked. In any case, he needed to bring down his aggressors swiftly so that he could continue in his pursuit of new life.

His navy aura gave way to a sphere of brightening cyan, which quickly absorbed him. Orion plummeted like a swooping eagle on a field mouse, his chosen impact point the direct centre of the enemy army. He collided with the ground expertly, and before the assassins could react, the saiyan released his Shockwave. Silver skinned killers were tossed in all directions as the cyan sphere expanded forcefully, launching anything that it came into contact with.

Orion grinned, standing around the dispersed foes. They weren't going to stay down from a basic Shockwave, but at least it asserted his dominance over them.

That was the last thought he had before a swift acting robot sprung back to its feet and clobbered Orion in the back of the head, knocking him out cold.