In an age thousands of years before our own, a race of beings existed whose very presence affected the timeline of all others. These beings were virtual gods in their own right, having the power to blink planets out of existence if the desire arose. They were known by a name which struck terror into the hearts of those who heard it, for their purpose from birth was to fight, to win, and to decimate all. That name was Saiya-Jin.

On a planetary scale, these beings were a mercenary power which the universe was forced to reckon with. Mercenus, the section of government or Caste assigned to all military matters and by nature of the species the exporting of services which was the only source of income for the Saiya-Jin people, had ultimate power and dwarfed the other branches of government. The other Castes of the Saiya-Jin people include the Praetors, which handle justice and law making and the Ætrius, who take care of the domestic needs.

This is the story of the legendary Saiya-Jin, who would save the Saiya-Jin people from total extinction. His name is Martek. Ever since a baby, his power level, or the measurement of his strength through the system the Saiya-Jin created to measure battle efficiency, was unnaturally high. When he was born, his power level was ten thousand. On average, baby Saiya-Jin's power levels are about one or two. No one knew where the baby came from. No one knew how he got there to begin with. No one at the medical center claimed him. The Mercenus Caste seized the opportunity of making the ultimate fighter and put him into the most prestigious of fighting schools. The name of the school was Pugnatris. The vast majority of all of Mercenus's elite came from that school.

Martek fit very well into the school structure, he realized one out of the four levels of Saiya-Jin ascendancy when only nine years old, the youngest before him was year fourteen. What made him angry, nobody will say, because honestly nobody knew. One minute they were stretching for aerobics, the next, Martek's aura crackled and burst forth gold light and had made himself angry enough to reach a level known as Super-Saiya-Jin which caused his power level to spike exponentially, his hair to stand on end and turn a solid golden color as well as his eyes to turn an opaque green. While he fit into the rigid school structure perfectly, fitting in with his peers was another thing entirely. He was not well liked in his class of five hundred, mostly from jealousy of his strength. A key point in their jealousy was Martek's endurance in being able to stay in a powered up state for extremely long periods of time. It seemed to the others as arrogance that he could stay in a powered-up state for so long, when really Martek took almost no notice of it. He barely even realized he was in that state at all times. Ever since that eventful day in his ninth year, no one had ever seen him in his normal state. Everywhere he went, he would go in a state known as SSJ or Super Saiya-Jin which was the first level in a four level power scale.

The closest person Martek ever had as a friend was the school's combat teacher, Morex. He was there the day Martek reached SSJ. He was the only instructor on campus to ever reach the fourth level of ascendancy known as SSJ4. Some days he came into school in this state, which made Martek anxious during his class, almost like Martek wanted to prove himself to Morex, like a child showing his father that he could do it too.

Martek exceeded his piers in everything from mathematics to strategic thinking. In battle, it was almost like Martek knew exactly what you were going to do right before you do it. He was coveted by the girls of his class and classes before him, but all attempts at courtship failed miserably. Martek never had the time for any sort of socializing. All he ever wanted to do was train and train and train. From three hours after midday to 2 hours until midnight he was training. It was for this reason that no one ever dared to question neither his power nor his abilities, until a fateful day.

His long time, self proclaimed rival, Shotius, a Saiya-Jin of noble blood and great pride and arrogance, made himself believe that because his family was of noble blood and Martek was not, he would be easy to defeat. He was nearly fatally wrong. He had convinced two other cronies to help with his confrontation. And in front of the Physical Education Facilities, in plain view of Morex's window, they challenged Martek. Fighting on campus was never an abnormal thing. It was not considered wrong, nor truly justified as right. Instead, it was a test of strength between two people, merely an activity, nothing more. Shotius made the mistake of bringing two others to assist him in this challenge. This shows cowardice in the Saiya-Jin ranks and could go as far as ridding the family of their nobility if it was reported and slightly embellished.

As Morex watched through his window, the argument began, "Hey, Martek. My friends and I have been looking for you," Said Shotius with a slight chuckle afterwards.

"What do you want, Shotius..." Martek replied in a cold tone.

"I've decided to challenge you. I figure it's about time for someone to put you in your place and that might as well be your rival. But you will learn well today, noble blood will defeat mongrels like you every time."

His words reeked of nothing but ignorance and arrogance. Martek could hardly control both his laughter and his rage as he spoke, "Really? Do you honestly think that the blood running through your veins makes a difference as to who wins the battle? You're pathetic; you're a little worm hiding behind your parent's nobility in a feeble minded attempt to make yourself seem more important. The very fact you brought aids with you suggests you aren't even close to a worthy opponent for me."

"How dare you! You question my nobility? You mutt! Before this is over you will lick my shoes clean. You can't scare me off with that story about you defeating a mob of Tsu-Jins. I am not so easily fooled."

He was speaking of an incident that happened to Martek during one of his off days. It was deep into the night when he accidentally ran into an infamous gang that called themselves the Tsu-Jins. They were a vicious, belligerent mob. Their power levels ranged anywhere from twenty million to eighty million. Martek was faced by about fifteen of them, but by the time he was done, none of them could stand. Martek himself was injured very little, unlike his opponents. There was only one Saiya-Jin who had believed that he had heard anything in the area and reportedly said that the highest power level he felt at its apex was one hundred million, which is roughly the level that Ascended Saiya-Jins, or SSJ2's have when they transform into the second of four ascendancies. But no one would believe the man; he was just a beggar on the street who would trade stories for food.

"Whether or not you believe me doesn't make it any less true. The Tsu-Jins sure as hell believe it. You know what, Shotius? Fine, I'll fight you and I promise you I will at least quadruple your power level." Martek said with a confident smirk.

"When you loose I'm going to walk in the mud before I make you lick my boots." Shotius replied with an arrogant laugh. The laugh bothered Martek more than the attempted insult.

Thus he began. A golden aura swirled around him growing steadily in intensity and size as he increased his power level. Then at last, he gave of his final scream, the aura had grown to its fullest, his power level had reached fifty million.

Expecting to see his adversary run in fear, Shotius was surprised to see that Martek showed no sign of retreat.

"Not bad." Morex said from his office window in a fully powered up SSJ4 state.

"Do you think you could even faze me in my fully powered state? My power is far beyond you fathoming capabilities and you will pay dearly for your ignorance today."

"What?! How dare you! I demand, in the name of my family, that you show me your full potential!"

"Full potential? It is tempting to show you and then watch you pee yourself as you run in fear, but I'll have to save that for another day. A quarter of my ability will suffice and remember you called the thunder. Prepare to reap the whirlwind. First gentlemen, I will show you a state not many people care to reach, yet many have the ability to. It is called the Ultra-Super-Saiya-Jin."

Martek hunched his back slightly, clenched both fists and lowered his body ever so slightly. He began to yell. Suddenly, a golden aura, like that of which they had just witnessed by Shotius, was emitted from Martek, but bigger and brighter. Every moment, his power level increased exponentially. Without warning, his muscles bulged several inches. First his right arm, then his left, then his right leg, and his left followed close behind. Finally his chest and abdomen bulged outward with a final cry. It was done. In this form you could see every muscle on his body through his blue skintight uniform.

"Now that's somethin' you don't see every day." Morex commented to himself on the other side of his window.

His opponents were dumb-founded at the sight of Martek. His power level had reached far beyond Shotius; it was around one hundred and twenty million. Seeing their fear, he smirked and spoke saying, "But you gentlemen are lucky, not only to you see the USSJ, but if you will give me a moment, I will show you Ascended as well. Before that however, I will tell you why this form is rarely used."

As Martek started to explain the strategic pros, but mosty cons of this particular transformation, there was only one thing going through the minds of Shotius and his friends, "Ascended?!" They thought, "That's impossible! He's only fourteen!"

"No way, he can't. He won't. That's impossible. He's gotta be bluffing." Said Turan. Morex had brought in his assistant to witness Martek's potential.

"I bet you lunch for a week that he'll do it." Morex said in reply.

"Bet."

They shook on it. The deal was on. Turan was ignorant on the matter of Martek's SSJ level, more specifically, when it was obtained. Morex knew that Martek could get angry for no visible reason and that how he could tell he would do it.

Martek began to power up once again. Electricity seemed to flow up and down his body. Suddenly, his irises and pupils were blotted out. He was insane. An insane Saiya-Jin is no one to be around with. There have been many cases in which veterans that just couldn't handle the violence they had seen go insane, unable to control what they do and kill thousands.

Seeing this, the fear on Shotius and his cronies increased. They now feared for their lives. Slowly, Martek's muscles began to deflate and his power level increased dramatically. Finally, with a hideous war cry, Martek reached deep within his hatred for the people standing right in front of him, for the teachers that had not cut him any slack when he needed it the most, for the parents he never knew and for the torment he sustained from that, came into focus all at once in one huge supernova of energy. The surrounding buildings all cracked and shook from the energy being emitted from this fourteen year old Saiya-Jin. Every window burst under the pressure, the ground shook from under them and in a moment, Martek emerged from it all, an Ascended Saiya-Jin. His hair was spiked higher above his head. An aura of electricity joined the golden aura and flowed up and down his body. The pinnacle of his power level: two hundred and fifty million. That was still roughly an eighth of what he thought was his maximum, but he knew it was enough.

"Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have combat training to get to," Said Martek calmly.

A light pulse flashed suddenly from Martek and Shotius and his cronies were knocked back ten feet. Martek walked up to and spit on Shotius, then grabbed the collar of his uniform and brought him up to eye level. Martek whispered quietly into his ear, "You're lucky to be alive Shotius. Next time, before you come to me with this shit, remember, no matter what you do, no matter how hard you train, I will always, always, be more powerful than you and you will only ever have a weak illusion of power." He threw Shotius off to his side without much effort, feeling defiled for having touched someone so vile. Then he walked into the building and headed for class.

"You owe me lunch for a week." Morex said to Turan before leaving to teach the class the Martek was heading to.

"Not bad Martek, not bad at all, though you do realize you owe the school more windows and another batch of building repairs." Morex commented as they both were headed toward the same class.

"Eh, put it on my tab. As for my ascendancy, I achieved this level months ago, but I know that it'll just cause more jealousy in other Saiya-Jins, so I at least maintain a SSJ form at all times for the sake of keeping up my endurance. I don't know why, but it just comes easy to me." Martek responded.

"Well, you're gonna need that power for my class tomorrow."

"Why? What's happening tomorrow?"

"An old Mercenus buddy of mine and his crew have captured a live, normal state Oozaru. So when I heard this, I jumped at the chance. Tomorrow, there will be a competition as to who can subdue the creature the fastest and the most power efficient."

"What will I get when I win?"

"What makes you so sure you'll win?"

"The fact that I'm the strongest Saiya-Jin in my year and at least two years ahead of me might have something to do with it."

"Don't get too cocky. My friend said that its power level ranges in the fourty billions."

"Fourty billions?! Where the hell did they get that monster?"

Morex hunched over close to Martek, "You didn't hear it from me, but he said that he and his crew got it off the foot of the Oozaru Mountain Range."

"Oozaru-!"

"Shhhh..." Morex quickly interrupted, "..keep it down kid. If word gets out to the Board of Pugnatris, I'm screwed. Remember, the Oozaru Mountain Range is just a living place for Oozarus, don't get any ideas about the mythical Uber Oozaru. It's nothing but folly. Got it?"

"Yeah... I got it. Why would you be screwed?"

"Tch… That board. They're just really superstitious. They figure if we take and harbor an Oozaru from the mountain range, we might incur the wrath of the Uber Oozaru. Religious bullshit, all of it."

Morex started to walk again to the class when he remembered something, "Oh yeah, Lexan wanted to see you about something. She said to... god damnit! Umm..." Morex probed his memory. Though his tremendous power, he wasn't the brightest bulb in the box, "..oh yeah! She wanted for you to meet her at the Troscan Valley five miles south of here. Seems like a pretty romantic place, but I still think you should've made the first move."

"Shut up, Morex. What do you know about girls anyway?"

"Nothing, you know why? Because I spent all my time training, like you do. Here's a chance to make a move to avoid a grave mistake I made."

"Whats that?"

"Not knowing the touch of a woman."

"Psh… whatever, we'll see."

Morex turned to walk to class when Martek spoke up again.

"Morex."

"Yeah?" He looked at Martek questioningly, he had a look about him that made it seem as though he was upset.

"Morex, why…" He trailed off as if searching for the right words to say, "..why are they always ostracizing me? Why do they always go out of their way to almost get themselves killed?"

Morex gave a small smirk and answered in a jovial tone, "That's easy kid. Whenever a kid is picked on in this great society we live in, it's always one thing. Power level, kid."

"What about it though?"

"Well, either it's too low, which means no one wants to be caught dead with him for fear of guilty by association, or, like your case, its too high. Kids figure if the kid with the high power level is cut off from the rest, it'll make themselves seem less weak. Lower self confidence in the pariah combined with constant torture is always what precedes the exiled one disappearing, apparently returning the social structure to equilibrium."

"What determines if it's too high or low?"

"It's a simple fraction, Martek. I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet. I've seen you fight, I can gauge very accurately where you stand because, as simple as the fraction is; it is inherently meaningful. On the top of the fraction, the numerator, the number represents how much energy your body, potentially, can put forth. And in the denominator, we have how much energy it takes to perform an intermediate energy attack. In most cases, the denominator is a decimal, which in turn makes the power level very high. In your case, your potential is incredible, the highest I've seen in someone so young. In addition, the amount of energy you use in incredibly small. Simply put, if you continue the way you're heading, you could very easily become the most potent weapon in Mercenus's hands."

Martek mulled that over in his head a few times while Morex turned and went to his class.

"Don't forget, Martek."

"What?"

"Lexan is waiting for you."

Lexan. Lexan was as a coveted trophy to all the male Saiya-Jins. Compared to her, everyone else was a crow to the marvelous dove. Not only was she purely beautiful, but she was a good fighter too, one of the best of the females. Her power level at its maximum was sixty million. Though many have tried, no one has ever been able to even get a single date out of her. Like Martek, she is always too busy training and not about to waste her time on guys that were weaker than her, which most were. Over the years, Lexan has been another close but not quite friend to Martek. She was someone he would actually say 'hi' to, which was a big improvement on his social skills. Normally when anyone tried to start a conversation with him, he would ignore them and walk off. On two occasions did they actually stopped, said 'hi' and began a small talk. It was an amazing thing to see. Martek talking to people… who would of thought?

When Martek got to Morex's class, he was excused to train on his own because of his expertise on the current technique, a technique which Shotius experience right before he was spat on. As Martek turned to go train, he heard a voice in his head, but it was not made by himself; Morex. It was Morex. Martek never knew Morex had telepathy.

"Troscan Valley. Take a break and go there, she's waiting for you. That's the only reason why you're exempt from today's class and I will fail you if you don't go."

Martek looked back only to see Morex perform the maneuver to an unknowing Saiya-Jin. Martek gave a smirk and left without a word. He had secretly developed a great respect for Lexan. He had watched her train once before and noted the efficiency of it. It was almost exactly like his own, which meant it was almost perfect. But he knew that if he indulged any sort of emotion beyond respect, it would only end in disaster. Either he would love her and have the feeling not reciprocated, or she would love him, but he would not have time for her. Training it seemed was most important in their minds.

When he got to the outside of the building, he scanned his surroundings to see if any teachers were around. All he saw was right in front of him was the main building, where the majority of everyone's classes took place. It stood roughly six stories high, cut of marble, of course, and could hold about two thousand Saiya-Jins spread between some one hundred classrooms. Before that was a huge field of grass neatly cut and a resilient green. To his right was the school's cafeteria, the food they served there was never meant for eating enjoyment. In fact, most days it was barely considered edible. The food was only designed for its nutritional value and not for the pleasure of taste.

To his left were four, year eighteen SSJ3's shooting low level energy blasts at each other and bouncing it between them, seeing how long it took before some one screwed up and got hit by it. They would not see him leave, not that they would care if they did. Martek checked one last time, and then flew off as quickly and as silently as possible.

Five minutes past and he had reached the first hill side of the Troscan Valley. It was an absolutely gorgeous place to see. The eastern hillside was about a thirty degree incline with tall grass and scattered trees and shrubberies. The western hillside was basically cliff sides that went upward at about an eighty five-degree incline. For some reason, the valley was able to keep the heat from the day throughout the night. The daytime temperature was an average of about eighty-two, while the nighttime was, on average, about seventy-seven at the river at the bottom of the valley. Myth claimed that is was the birthplace of the Uber Oozaru and therefore the place is charged with powers of the light thus making it unusually warm. Lexan was found about three quarters of the way up the eastern hillside smelling a wild flower. She was born with a sort of natural tan, which went very well with her pitch-black hair, which flowed as silk in the wind. She had a perfect figure and even a glance at her would make anyone think they just saw an angel. Martek landed about ten feet behind her. As he watched on, the wind blowing the grass so it moves as one, the gentle sound of rustling leaves in the trees, the whisper of the Troscan River at the bottom, the song of birds flying through the warm air, the sweet aroma of life all around him, and a gorgeous Saiya-Jin whose silky hair moved with the wind. Martek seemed at ease, as if he had found... peace. For the first time in Martek's life, he had experienced internal peace. Eventually, Martek came back to reality and to the task at hand.

"Lexan..." He said softly.

"Martek!" She ran and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. At first he tensed up anticipating an attack, but then relaxed when he felt her arms around him. It was the first time anyone had ever touched him without malicious intent. Though, upon quick reflection, he found he liked it. He enjoyed the few moments it lasted; any male Saiya-Jin would have enjoyed that.

"I'm glad you came, for a while there, I was wondering if Morex remembered to give you the message." She said.

"Yeah, he gave me the message after Shotius challenged me to a fight. It ended badly for him."

"It's about time someone stood up to that noble-named asswipe. How did it happen?"

"You mean you can't tell?"

She took a few steps back and examined Martek from head to toe, then opened her eyes wide and covered her mouth, "You're... you're Ascended!"

"That's right. Shotius thought he could make me turn and run with a power level of fifty million. Idiot."

"Yeah, can I touch your hair?"

"Uhhh... sure... I guess..." Due to Martek's unsocial behavior, he didn't know that the touching of a Saiya-Jins hair was a sign of wanting an intimate relationship. Lexan put her hand into his hair, but quickly pulled it back, "Ow!" She whimpered.

"What, lemme see."

His hair had pricked her finger. It was not bad at all, but it was startling. Martek quickly found her hand within his. Lexan pulled her hand away, smiled, blushed and started to giggle. Despite all of the pleasantness between the two of them, Martek sensed something. There was something wrong with Lexan's mannerisms. She was erratic, acting almost… hurried. She was in a rush to see him, to touch him, to kiss him. Why?

"Yes sir, I see them... No sir, just two... Yes sir, she knows. Mercenus Intelligence has confirmed it... Yes, we are sure she is the hacker, sir... Yes sir, my orders are to terminate the girl before she can pass the information to the Legend... Yes sir, I understand, leave immediately after shot is taken... Yes sir, Tayun out."

The Saiya-Jin sniper lay concealed within the shrubbery fifty feet from the lovely couple. He had been dispatched by the Mercenus Caste to destroy a leak in intelligence. Somehow, a hacker of the utmost skill had gotten through the firewalls of the Mercenus mainframe. The information viewed was that of the most sensitive nature. The girl, Lexan, was the hacker and had read the government file on Martek. She had read that he was indeed the legend. That had explained everything from his birth power level of ten thousand and his unusual strength since then. Concealed with him in the bush was a weapon the Mercenus Caste had developed secretly. The weapon fired a single dart, within that dart was lethal poison, regardless of the strength of the Saiya-Jin being shot. He loaded a single dart into the weapon and chambered it. He then looked into a scope and zoomed into the girl, he took aim carefully, not to hit the Legend...

"Martek, there is something I have to tell you, that no one else knows." She said softly.

"Yes.. go ahead. I'm listening." he so desperately wanted her to say she had feelings for him, because if she did, it was mutual feeling. As much as Martek wanted to deny it, he was attracted to her. He had grown up from an infant not knowing love, not knowing compassion, not knowing care. Just a repeating message emanating from his crib as he pretended to sleep, "Never be surpassed...Always finish a battle... Never run from an enemy..." He had not known how to deal with emotions like this. It was an alien feeling in his mind. In time, he grew to squelch it, but now, that was impossible. If he hadn't a feeling of absolute dread in the bottom of his stomach, he would have reached out kissed her.

"I'm not sure how to say this but..."

"Yes, go on."

"..."

Suddenly, Martek found himself covering his ears as a great sound exploded into the air. Something had hit Lexan. She was falling to the ground as limp as a doll. Martek was quick to her aid only to find her heart stopped. With a hideous war cry of anger and bloodlust, His power level increased with unparalleled speed as his hair began to grow down to his waist. He had taken the first step in the transformation of SSJ3. He looked to the area from which the sound had originated. With his eyes full of hatred and insanity he lunged towards a bush with speeds unknown to any Saiya-Jin. He grabbed the neck of the culprit getting ready to rip the neck from the shoulders and incinerate the body. Another shot rang out. This it hit him. He looked down at his chest and saw the poison enter his body, yet never a split second did he feel any weaker, just stronger as his body quickly destroyed the poison. Before killing the Saiya-Jin, he spoke to him, "Why did you kill her..." He said with the deep voice of an Oozaru.

Then man full of fear replied, "Or...Orders…"

Martek brought the soldiers face right up to his own. His aura alone was burning his skin, "Whose orders?!"

"M..Mercenus."

Martek gave him a grim look, tore off the shoulder patch of the soldier, then tore his head from his body and engulfed it with his flame.

"Mar...tek.."

He spun around, the insanity quickly vanquished... It was Lexan, she was still alive, but quickly leaving this world once again.

"Before I go, I... must say this..."

Rushing to her side and holding her close he said, "Go on, I'm listening." He said close to tears.

"Remember in Instructor Zemi's class... the.. the Legend..." She said in barely a whisper.

"Yeah... what an idiot, right?

"He speaks the truth, there..there is a legend among the Saiya-Jins."

Martek was silence by this.

"I really..." She spat up blood, coughed then continued to speak, "really could have fallen in love with you."

"I... I could have loved you too." Martek said beginning to cry.

"But that's impossible now, only one thing is important."

"What…"

"That you know that..." She tried to sit up, managing to get to Martek's ear and said, "You are... the... Leg..end."

With the last ounce of her strength, she took one last breathe in, and then stopped. The poison had taken full affect now, and there was no way to stop it.

"No... You can't go.." Martek sobbed, "You can't... Why does Mercenus hate me, why does it take away the people I love, first my parents, and now this.." Martek said in a hateful tone, "Well.. I have had enough... I have had ENOUGH! Lexan, you can't go... you can't... WHY???!!!" Martek screamed at the top of his lungs filling the valley with the sorrow and hatred he had just felt, His eyebrows had completely burned off now, and his pupils had come back. He was a full SSJ3, but he was going further, The tips of his hair began to turn black, more hair began to grow onto his shoulders. A black outline began to form around his eyes. Martek had found a mid-point between SSJ3 and SSJ4.

After he had calmed down a bit, while retaining his new form unknowingly, he took Lexan down to the banks of the Troscan River. The river was surrounded with a dense forest full of wildlife both great and small. Lexan had told him in a conversation months ago that this was her favorite place in the world, to just sit there and listen to everything from the water to the birds, from the wind to the rustling of bushes from animals. He set her down and blasted a hole next to a tree. With Lexan, he descended slowly down the hole and when he hit bottom, he gently laid Lexan down. He then went back up to the surface to gather herbs. He needed to perform the death ritual, that the Uber Oozaru may find compassion and judge her to go to The Other World that she may train with the Kais of that place.

When he had found the appropriate herbs, he descended once again into the Abyss and performed the ritual. Upon completion, he realized this was the last time he would ever see Lexan again. As the Legend, that meant the Uber Oozaru would grant him immortality. It was not a choice for him. With a final kiss and hug, he began to cry over her body.

"Goodbye... My Love..." He sobbed.

And with that said, he left the hole and covered it up, He made a grave stone out of a nearby rock and carved on it, 'Lexan, My Dearest Love, Forever My Only Love.' then signed it below that.

He thrust it into the ground and he left flying into the air. He noticed he was traveling at impossible speeds and he was not getting fatigued at all.

When he got back to Pugnatris, the period was not over just yet, so he went into the locker room and went to look into a mirror only to find he had transformed to somewhere in between SSJ3 and SSJ4. He gave a smirk but it quickly disappeared, it was because of Lexan's loss of life that he transformed, and he did not want to be reminded as of yet. He reverted to SSJ2 and left to his next class.

After the classes that day, he decided that in memory of Lexan, he would not train that day or the next. Instead he went to his room and sat down. He breathed in slowly, and breathed out slower, just trying to relax every part of his body and mind. In fact, he became so relaxed that he even reverted to his normal form. He felt it and he didn't mind it at all. Instead he reflected back on before he had begun to talk to Lexan earlier that day in the Troscan Valley, trying to bring back the peace he felt. When that didn't work, he decided to would take a walk into Durian, the city right next to Pugnatris. Students were never allowed to leave the school grounds without explicit permission, but Martek had perfected the art of stealth and never grabbed the attention of the teachers as he left, not that he would let them stop him. After he left, he powered back up to SSJ2 and landed just outside they city. From there he walked. He walked for about three hours. He went past the alley where he was attacked by the Tsu-Jins. The blood marks were still there. From that alley, he walked into the slums, where most of the Tsu-Jins were, because he knew they wouldn't touch him. As he walked by, some of them were even somewhat friendly, probably because he had handed them their one and only defeat with odds of fifteen to one. He had earned somewhat of a respect within them, handing them their only clear cut defeat. Then, without warning, one of them called out to him, "Hey! You! The Ascended guy!"

Martek looked to see who it was.

"The boss wants to see you."

"What does he want with me?" He said nonchalantly.

"You'll have to find out for yourself."

"Alright."

Martek flew up to the top of the building where the Saiya-Jin had shouted out to him and walked into a staircase leading downward.

About the middle of the floor, the Saiya-Jin directed him into a door. He complied and walked through, only to hear it slammed behind him and locked. He looked ahead and saw a SSJ3 sitting in a chair that was in a light. The only light in the floor.

"You... What is your name?" He said coldly.

"Who wants to know?" Martek replied.

"I do, and you are a stupid boy to ask such questions, they can get you killed around here. I tell you what, you tell me your name, and I'll tell you mine."

Martek thought about it for a moment or two, "Shotius." He said, not willing to give away his identity.

"Hmmmm... My name is Bergus. I am the leader of the Tsu-Jins."

"What do you want with me?"

"I'm willing to offer you entrance into our brotherhood and it would be unwise to decline."

"Give me one reason to accept."

"Your life, for one."

Martek looked around and saw that fifty Tsu-Jins were ready to pounce on him if he said no, their silver-dyed SSJ hair glimmering in the darkness. Martek took the opportunity, "No, I decline."

Immediately, they all leapt at him in a hideous rage. Martek powered up to his SSJ3 and SSJ4 midpoint, illuminating the room like a thousand suns and pushing them all to against the walls of the room despite any attempt to rush towards him.

"Impressive... you attend Pugnatris... don't you." Bergus said.

"Yeah, Mercenus put me there since birth."

"Mercenus... MERCENUS!!" Bergus stood up and gave off a demonic cry of hatred that lasted several seconds before he blinked out of sight and appearing in front of Martek, eyes filled with the desire to kill. Martek was completely unfazed by it.

"Mercenus destroyed me! They destroyed my family! My property! My pride! Everything!"

"Believe me... I know how you feel..."

"How, fool? How can you possible know how I feel?!"

"Because today, my only love was taken from me at the hands of Mercenus! The only one I had ever loved, the only one I could have ever loved... was taken from me! Killed... by Mercenus... You see, they took anything I ever could have had from me. I never even knew my god damned parents…" Martek said, trying to control his anger. He didn't want to ascend again... not just yet anyways...

Bergus ceased when he heard this. Realizing that they were in an understanding of one another he said, "We are one in the same. Why not join us?"

"Because I would rather train at Pugnatris, where there are people that can actually help me increase my power level from where it is. And when the time comes, I will bring the whole system down. Mercenus first, then Ætrius, and Praetors. All will fall by my hand. If I were to join with you, I would not get the training that I require of myself, I'm sorry to say."

There was silence for a moment, then it was broken, "I respect your answer, you have my permission to leave, but do me a favor, and stay out of Tsu-Jin territory." Bergus responded.

"And what if I don't" Martek said, almost like he was challenging Bergus.

"Well... Let's just hope that doesn't happen... Legend."

Martek was in obvious shock. How could he have know?

"That's right Martek, I know who you are; I was one of the project moderators. When I conspired to get you out because of the indoctrination methods they were putting you through, placing the recording in your crib and refusing any sort of wet nurse to you, Mercenus was quick to stop me. When I made my move, they were ready for me, somehow word had gotten out that I was going to try and get you out. They destroyed my entire wellbeing and banned me forever from entering a government branch. That's when I joined the Tsu-Jins and became their leader. You must be... what fourteen now?"

"Yes..."

"Amazing... after you attain SSJ4, you must head for the Oozaru Mountain Range, there The Uber Oozaru will have a test for you to pass, if you do, He will grant you 'Immortal Power' so it says in the ancient texts, whatever that may mean, and I'm one of the few who has actually read the texts."

"Very well, Bergus. And thank you, for trying to save me."

With that, Martek left. It was getting late, so he flew back to Pugnatris pronto. When he got to the gates, he stopped in mid-air. Morex was there, as if he was waiting for him.

"Martek." He called, "Come'ear"

Martek concurred and flew down to Morex, landing right next to him.

"I know where you were. I'm just wondering why?"

"I was looking for employment opportunities."

"Don't be a smart ass. What were you doing?"

"I wanted to be alone, so I decided to take a walk."

"Into Tsu-Jin territory?!" Morex sounded annoyed.

"Yeah, what's the big deal."

"You could have gotten killed."

"Fat fuckin' chance I could have gotten killed. I'm almost as strong as you are Morex. I'm not a child anymore, I don't need someone like you holding my hand every step of the way."

"Your strength has made you arrogant." Morex walked closer to Martek, "You're only Ascended!" He said as he grabbed Martek by the shoulders

"Look again."

Since it was dark, Morex did not notice his new form.

"What the hell?"

"It's a mid-point. Somewhere between SSJ3 and SSJ4."

"When did you get this?"

"Before I tell you that, I might as well tell you this... Lexan... she's.." Martek began to tear up again.

"Whoa, whoa, it's ok, just calm down and tell me, where is she."

Martek swallowed his tears and cleared his throat, "Not of this world anymore."

Morex's eyes got big.

"She's dead, she was murdered today at the Troscan Valley, by Mercenus."

"Impossible... Mercenus would never murder an adult, much less a student at its own school!"

"Don't be so ignorant Morex! I asked the guy who shot her, before I killed him."

"And what, you believe everything your told you stupid child?!"

Now he was pissed. He feigned a punch to Morex's face and while Morex was preparing to defend, Martek nailed him right in the sternum. Morex dropped to his knees, his face contorted with pain.

Martek took the patch from his pocket and threw it onto the ground directly in front of Morex. As Morex read it, Martek said aloud what was written, "Mercenus Caste, Covert Sniper Division, Special Forces Captain. Don't believe the stupid child yet?"

"But... why?"

"She knew something Mercenus didn't want me to know."

"Did she tell you?"

Martek thought for a moment, "No."

"You liked her... didn't you."

"No... I… I loved her."

Morex was a bit shocked at this, "But, how?" He said as he returned to his feet.

"I don't know. Love is something Pugnatris never bothered teaching me. All my life it has been: Never be surpassed, Always finish a battle, Never run from an opponent. But never: Love someone else."

"I see."

"You don't see a thing Morex. Love was something I had to figure out for myself, I didn't have a parent to tell me or to show me! Until today I had never been touched without the intention of injury or death. She actually hugged and kissed me. Before she died, she told me that she could have fallen in love with me, but we were both thinking the same thing, it would get in the way of training. In her memory, I will not train today or tomorrow."

"But tomorrow we are having the contest."

"Don't worry, I'll defeat this Oozaru, and then I'll go to the Oozaru Mountain Range."

"Why there?"

"The Uber Oozaru is real."

"Don't be stupid Martek, its just a ploy for little Saiya-Jin boys and girls to be good so they won't be punished when they die."

"You know what Morex, Lexan did tell me what Mercenus didn't want me to know. I am the Legend, Morex."

"What?"

"It's true, and if word of this spreads through the school, or if I find Mercenus troops following me to the Oozaru Mountain Range, I will kill you."

"The Legend? I guess that would explain your unbelievable strength. But I have a feeling its more of teenage delusions of power than anything else. By the way, you'll be lucky you don't get expelled for hitting a teacher."

"If you, as an SSJ4, allowed a student to hit you, you better re-evaluate what you're doing at the world's best training school."

Morex looked him in the eye, smirked then rubbed his chest, "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Tell you what, if you're chest is still hurting tomorrow, see the doctor and put the bill on my tab.

That ended they're little chat as Martek walked back to his room. When he got there, he entered, closed the door and locked it, but he knew someone was following him. His first instinct was Mercenus. Then a female giggle was heard from just the other side of the door.

"Not them again." Martek groaned.

He crept silently up to the door and opened it suddenly, only to find two female Saiya-Jins with their ears to the door.

"What the hell to you think you're doing?" Martek asked with annoyance.

"Uhhh... Hi Martek!" One of the girls responded.

"Ashila? What are you doing here?" Ashila was one of Lexan's best friends, though she was as a crow to Lexan, the dove. Ashila was a bit more petite than most of the female Saiya-Jins but she was a determined fighter. She was about five feet, four inches tall with brown hair when she wasn't an SSJ. The build of Ashila resembled that of Lexan, but Ashila was more stocky than Lexan. She had the strange and unusual ability to look into the past of people through psycho kinesis and learn everything about them from their birth to the present, though somehow, Martek's mind had eluded hers when she tried.

"We were just... uhhh... wondering where Lexan was."

"Yeah!" The other girl quickly followed up with.

"She isn't here." Martek said coldly, than shut the door.

"Martek! Wait!" Ashila cried.

He opened the door, "What do you want?!" He said with anger this time.

"Please tell us, she hasn't been on campus since she left at midday to the Troscan Valley. Please, if you know where she is, tell us."

Martek paused for a moment, "You'll find her by the riverbanks, look for a distinguished looking stone, one that stands out."

"O.K., ummm.. Thank you, I guess."

"Now if you ladies don't mind, I'll be getting some sleep now."

The next morning came and Martek woke with zest in his body. For some reason, he was very energetic. It was probably because he would be spending the whole day waiting for his turn to beat the Oozaru. Morex's buddy had just brought it in this morning and it was furious. They had to put a muzzle over its mouth so it couldn't fire energy blasts and destroy the school. Martek went into the bathroom, took a quick shower and hurried to the Physical Combat Building in SSJ2 form. By the time he got there, there was already a line extending outside the building. Soon, the instructors had to start kicking people out with a power level of below three hundred million. So it was basically the eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth classes, and Martek. He would have guessed that he was one of the strongest Saiya-Jin there. Many of the upperclassmen looked at him as if to ask what he was doing here. But they did not really care that he was there, they mostly wanted to see him get his ass kicked. When Shotius approached, he saw Martek there and began to arrogantly walk over to him, only to have Morex intervene and tell him to get his rich, arrogant ass back to his class. Shotius whined that since Martek was over there in line so he should be allowed too. Morex just told him that he, personally, excused Martek from classes today so he could do this. Shotius huffed and puffed as he walked over to the classrooms. Morex looked back and stared at Martek, Martek nodded as if to say thank you. Morex nodded back and walked to the arena.

About an hour later, Martek was still in the line. He was about to enter the building itself. From here, he could hear the roars of the mighty beast and the cry of pain and anguish as another SSJ3 in the year nineteen was defeated and taken off the battle ground before getting stomped by the creature. The lines seemed to move more quickly now that he was almost inside the building. Only two more Saiya-Jins before him until he entered it.

When he entered the building, the line wasn't very long until the battleground. it was roughly nine Saiya-Jins until he fought the Oozaru. Morex suddenly pulled Martek out of line and told him. "You're next."

"But I have to wait in line." Martek protested.

"What, are you afraid?"

"Never."

"Then let's go."

Martek entered the arena a little earlier than anticipated. He received many glares and sneers from the upper classmen, but it didn't matter. They will never get their chance to fight the creature.

The battleground was huge and filled with craters from energy blasts. They allowed about a square mile to fight the creature, plus aerial assaults. He looked to the other side of the room and saw the beast. It stood about one hundred feet tall and was being held back by two SSJ4's, one on each arm. Since yesterday, the creatures power level had increased to fifty billion. It may be a rough fight, and Martek will have to pull out all the stops to defeat the creature. He had to focus on the task at hand. So far, no one had been able to take the creature down. Some had been able to hit it, but none actually injured it, they only managed to make it angrier. Morex waved to the two holding the creature back and said to Martek, "You're on kid!"

Immediately, the creature lunged in a hideous rage toward Martek. He powered up to the most powerful he had ever thought possible. He recapped in his mind everything that had happened yesterday. He remembered seeing that dart enter at Lexan's neck, and then learning that he was the Legend. He also remembered that damn recording that was placed in his crib, playing over and over and over again, He tried to remember the parents he never had and the torment he sustained from that. With all this burning in his head, and with a demonic war cry of hate, he was actually able to reach a low powered SSJ4. Unlike most other SSJ4's, Martek body hair was black, as was the outline around his eyes, which was normally a red color. Martek felt more powerful than he could have imagined, and suddenly felt the need to be stronger. With screams of war cries like that of which no one had ever heard the magnitude of before, he powered up stronger than any Saiya-Jin on campus. The Oozaru stopped in his tracks as Martek's aura began to melt away the 'indestructible' glass from which others were watching the battle, the ground beneath him began to warp and disintegrate, even the Oozaru had to step back. Martek was just getting started. His fists began to bleed because he was squeezing them so tight while focusing all his strength into one explosion of power, his eyes, closed and remembering Lexan's final words to him and he faced the fact that he would never see her again. Another void made within this Saiya-Jin which increased his anger tenfold. Then something strange began to happen, the tips of his SSJ4 hair began to turn white and grow to the length of a SSJ3. No one had ever seen this before, because it had never been done before. No one knew what he was ascending to, nor could anyone fathom the number of his power level as it increased with that of speeds never seen before. Turan's device for measuring power levels measured one hundred billion and still rising before it broke.

When the Oozaru saw the white tips of hair, it bowed before Martek in reverence. Then, it spoke, "I am at your mercy, offspring of the Uber Oozaru. I beg you, deliver me from this place and send me back to Mount Oozaru." It said with a deep, powerful voice. The Oozaru Mountain was the highest peak of that range, and was believe to be the throne room of the Uber Oozaru. Morex's friends had captured a guard.

When everyone saw this, their jaws practically hit the floor in pure awe and amazement. It took everyone a moment to realize that Martek was actually the Legend. Shotius took it the hardest. He believed an orphan not worthy of such a title.

Martek blasted the muzzle off the creature, then said, "I will deliver you if you answer me this, can the Uber Oozaru raise the dead." Martek asked.

"The Uber Oozaru can do whatever he pleases and it is far from this humble creature to assume what the power of the Great One is, but for you, he will do anything."

"Good. Morex! Tell you friends to stand down. I'm taking this Oozaru back to where he belongs. Who wants to try and stop me?"

Silence. Martek, with a basic energy blast, blew a hole through the ceiling and carried the Oozaru out.

"You'll have to direct me Oozaru."

"North, Legend."

"Lexan, I will bring you back... I promise..." Martek thought.