Chapter 4: Super Warriors

It was then that he noticed an odd, arrogant smile on Goku's face. Kal-El hesitated just a moment. Goku looked him in the eye.

"You know, we really have a lot in common. We're both heroes to our Earth. We both fight hard. We are both powerful. We're both aliens whose name start with 'K'…."

Superman tilted his head quizzically. "I thought your name was Goku and that you were from Earth. Unless in your language k and g are the same sound. They're both velar plosives, just that the g is voiced and the k is unvoiced…."

"Huh?" Goku scratched his head. "I'd have to ask Gohan about that. But, no, really, I meant that you said your name on your home planet was 'Kal-El', while mine is 'Kakkarot', so both start with 'k'. I'm from the planet Vegeta, which was destroyed by one of my enemies. While you are from a race of Kryptonians, I'm from a race called saiyans." Superman arched his eyebrows. Similar indeed.

As Superman began to draw his fist back once more Goku added, "And while you are Superman…." the man of steel started to swing his fist in a powerful punch, "… I am a super saiyan."

Goku punctuated his statement with a release of power. A golden explosion of energy battered Superman, not only breaking his grip on Goku and defeating his punch, but also throwing the Man of Steel backwards thirty yards. The energy completely enveloped Son-Goku. The mountain behind him crumbled and pieces of debris rose into the air all around as the power of the transformation suffused the area.

Superman looked on in wonder. He could feel the ground quaking at the revealed power. Looking over, he noted the changes in his opponent. Goku's musculature had increased, his eyes which were initially solid black were now a fierce green, and his hair spikey hair which was jet black was now glowing gold. He was also surrounded by a blazing golden aura.

Kal-El didn't know what sort of power this was. He'd never seen anything like this. He flew away a bit hoping to get enough momentum to overcome Goku's short range speed. Instead, he came face to face with the super saiyan who had teleported directly in his path using "instant transmission."

Goku unleashed a fresh barrage of punches, kicks, elbows, knees, and strikes of every kind imaginable. The technique was not much different than before, but to Superman, the difference in effect was like night and day. Now each strike actually really hurt. A lot.

In all their exchanges before, Goku's attacks had been like a very young child hitting an adult. Perhaps a child who knew the exact right spots to hit to make the adult's eyes water and to send jolts to the groin and every sensitive spot on the body, but still it was to him like the force of a child. Now it was being hit by another full grown adult. Except, a full grown adult who knew kung-fu.

The super saiyan didn't need to dematerialize and rematerialize. His skill was all the advantage he needed. Superman was still physically stronger than him, Goku knew, but in fighting skills he was still an amateur. He showed signs of receiving basic training, but against someone whose near totality of power was from focused martial arts training Superman did not come close to measuring up. And all of Goku's moves were empowered by a force of ki multiplying their effects many, many times over.

It was enough to bloody the Man of Steel. Superman fought back with blasts of heat ray vision left and right followed by furious uppercuts thrown blindly, but Goku was too skilled to be caught by any of these attacks. Goku caught an uppercut with his hands, slammed his knee into the Kryptonian, and spun his opponent around and then down to the surface. Without hesitating, he formed a ball of pure energy and hurled it after his still plummeting opponent.

Superman was just getting up off the ground and wiping the blood from his face when the ball of energy struck him. The explosion was as great as any ever witnessed on New Namek. It was enough power to destroy the entire planet but concentrated into a compact area. It was enough power to shatter the entire valley and mountain area and incinerate the solid rock into fine dust, leaving nothing but an empty hole. It was enough power to make the great Kyrptonian lose consciousness. It was enough power to end a fight between two titanic powerhouses and fulfill the careless wish of one of Emperor Pilaf's henchmen.

When Kal-El regained consciousness he was back in the Namek village.

"What happened?" the son of Jor-El asked.

"You took a pretty tough blow. Not many people in the universe could survive what I through at you. Most would be turned to ash. But, I could tell from your power level that you wouldn't be destroyed. Honestly, though, I'm a little surprised you were knocked out by that." Noticing the damage to superman's costume, Goku concentrated for a second and repaired the suit for him.

Superman shook his head to regain his senses. "It felt like I was impacting a moon at light speed. I never expected you had that level of power. You must have an incredible level of control, too." Feeling no further compulsion to fight Goku the Kryptonian knew the fight was really over. He extended his hand, "Congratulations on beating me, Goku."

"Thanks." The saiyan shook Superman's hand. "Not many people can give me a workout like you did. And you are definitely much faster than me over long distances." Goku noticed Superman's wounds had healed. "And that ability to heal is something I really wish I had. With some serious training you would be incredible—"

Before he could finish his conversation with Superman, Goku felt telepathic contact.

-Congratulations, Goku!

-King Kai?

-Of course. I'm proud of your victory today, Goku! You defeated one of the greatest warriors of another universe! Hey, hey, I have a joke for you. What do you call a Kryptonian who comes to New Namek to fight Goku?

-Um, Kal-El?

-SUPPERMAN! Because you had him for dinner! Hah hee! Get it? Supperman?

-Great, King Kai.

-Hmph. Well, I can't wait to brag to the Guardians of his universe how you whipped him! I know they'll just say you only beat their Superman after their Crisis of Infinite Earths, but you still did it without using all your power. I bet you could beat their other Superman just as easily. Silly with all their alternate Earth 1 and Earth 2 foolishness….

-There's another Superman? Even more powerful?

-Well, that's what the Guardians of that universe claim. Always bragging on Superman and their flashlight company. Haha! Flashlight company! I crack myself up!

-Wow! Another, stronger Superman! Great! I can't wait.

-Can't wait for what?

-Thanks, King Kai! Gotta go!

Goku turned to Elder Moori. "Do you still have that Namek suit that Mai was using? Can I see it for a second?" Without hesitating, Goku took the fake Namek suit and found Bulma's translator device. Then he looked up to the sky where Porunga waited. "Now that we've finished our fight, great dragon, we have another wish to ask of you. Send the Superman from before the Crisis of Infinite Earths here to fight me just as you did the other Superman!"