"I'm sorry… Ah-Bel… I… I couldn't save you…"
"But… you saved us all, Ca-Yin! Not just us, but the entire universe is…"
"No… it still… isn't over… not yet…"
"W-what are you saying?"
"I'm going to… become like him…"
"Ca-Yin…"
"Before it happens you have to-UUURGHHH!"
"H-his eyes they're…"
"PLEASE! I don't know how much longer I can hold it back! Before I become like him… you have to KILL ME! Seal me away FOREVER! Do whatever it takes! PLEASE! If this overtakes me now… then there's no one left who will be able to-UUURAGHHHHHH!"
"…As you wish, Ca-Yin… we are forever in your debt… I promise you this, you will forever live on in the history of the Kaioshin as the greatest hero the universe has ever known."
Black tears streamed out of Ca-Yin's darkened eyes as he uttered what should have been his last words.
"Forgive me…
…Brother…"
Legends Clash! Part 3
"Hmph…" Ca-Yin groaned as the smoke cleared from his last attack and he could make out the form of Goku, still in his Super Saiyan 3 state. Goku's gi was torn to rags. The Saiyan was panting and clutching his stomach in pain.
"D-damn… this guy's really something. Both his speed and strength are incredible! And even the Instant Transmission technique is useless… At this rate… I don't know how much more of this I can take." Goku uttered to himself while trying to recover from Ca-Yin's last attack. His body had taken considerable damage.
"Now do you understand how outmatched you are against me?" Ca-Yin asked in a serious tone, not an ounce of smugness in his words.
"Give up now… you've shown me that you're a great fighter much like I used to be. Join me and once I kill these pathetic gods and take their place… you will be able to take your rightful place in this universe as well."
"Join you, huh? It's not the first time I've heard that one!" Goku replied, still panting as a smirk formed on his face. "I told you already, they're my friends! And it doesn't matter how much stronger than me you are, I'm not going to let you hurt them, or anyone else!" Goku shouted as his golden aura encircled him, his ki roaring as blue lightning flashed around him.
"You… truly are a fool…"
"BUUUUUUU!" Buu shouted with joy at the sight of the immense amount of cakes Mister Satan's personal bakers had prepared for him. The seemingly innocent round pink monster that had once been a threat to the universe itself, was delighted to stuff the cakes in his mouth in handfuls.
"H-hey Buu, uh… don't you think you should maybe start thinking about, uh… maybe watching your weight?" Mr. Satan asked nervously.
"Hmm? Watch weight? Why would Buu do that?" Buu replied in between chewing massive amounts of cake.
"Because, Buu. It's unhealthy to eat nothing but candy, cake, and ice cream!"
"But Buu don't feel unhealthy! Buu feels great! Especially when Buu eat yummy cake!" Buu said with a huge grin, smudges of frosting and cake all over his face.
"I know Buu… but it just worries me to see you scarf down all those unhealthy junk foods. I'm only telling you 'cause I'm your pal, ya know?"
"Buu knows, but no worry! Buu's body isn't the same as other people's." Buu replied while continuing to stuff cake into his mouth, handful after handful.
"Haha, I guess I still have a lot to learn about you huh, Buu?" Satan said with a grin.
"You want cake too?" Buu asked, offering Mister Satan a handful of cake.
"Uh… no thanks, Buu. You go ahead and eat em all." Mr. Satan said with a smile. "Anyway, I'm goin' to go have a word with my agent about my new upcoming blockbuster movie; The Greatest Fighter of All Time: Hercule Satan!" Satan said striking a heroic victory pose.
"Mkay!" Buu said as he continued to devour the remaining cake left in front of him.
Just as Mister Satan turned, Kibitokai appeared before him in an instant, accompanied by Gohan and Goten.
"W-what in the name of Kami!?" Satan exclaimed in surprise as he instinctively held his hand to his chest hoping he wouldn't have a heart attack considering his age.
"Hey uh Buu, Mr. Satan, sir." Gohan said politely. "I'm sorry to barge in on you guys like this so suddenly, but… I'm afraid we sort of need your help."
"Huh? Help with what?" Satan asked.
"You need Buu's help to fight some strong guys?" Buu asked with an innocent smile.
"Actually yeah… well, actually it's just one guy… I think. And it's ok if you don't want to-"
"Okay! Buu do!" Buu interrupted Gohan surprising everyone slightly.
"W-wha? Buu are you sure? It could be dangerous ya know?" Satan asked out of concern, he knew that the types of enemies Goku and Gohan would need help fighting against had to be terrifyingly powerful and fearsome.
"Buu hasn't had a chance to fight any strong guys in a long time. Buu thinks it'll be fun!" Buu said with a grin.
"B-but Buu-!" Satan started.
"Alright then, we shouldn't waste anymore time than we need to. Let us all go back to where the others are waiting for us. We haven't a moment to lose!" Kibitokai interrupted the renowned 'World Champion' of Earth as everyone came together to prepare to be transported through the Instantaneous Movement technique.
Back at Mount Paozu, Piccolo leaned up against the wall outside of Gohan's home with his arms crossed, listening in on the many things going on all at once as he waited. The wise Namekian looked up, noting the approach of Vegeta and Trunks in the distance just moments before the two of them landed before him. Vegeta dropped Trunks off of his shoulder a bit roughly, catching the half Saiyan a bit off guard causing him to ungracefully land on his rear end.
"…Hey, Mr. Piccolo." Trunks said as he picked himself up with an embarrassed smile.
"So it seems they're going to bring along that fat Buu as well?" Vegeta asked the Namekian in an irritated tone.
"Yes Vegeta, even if it takes a bit longer to prepare all of us it's best if we go there in full force all together." Piccolo spoke in his usual thoughtful yet stern tone.
"Hmph! The best course of action would have been to take me to where Kakarott is straight away! Then if on some terribly off chance we needed your aid, the Kai could return and transport you lot there." Vegeta said angrily while crossing his arms. "Do you even realize that Kakarott is out there fighting that thing alone as we speak?"
"Yes, Vegeta. I do realize that, but what if we were to lose both you and him at once? How would the rest of us fare against an enemy like that without the two of you?" Piccolo's response silenced the Saiyan prince for a moment.
"Heh! I suppose you do have some reasoning behind the things you do." Vegeta replied with a smirk. "Surely without myself and Kakarott you'd all be doomed. It's a shame there are others around here that seem content to just waste their potential. Eh, Trunks?" Vegeta said shifting his gaze from Piccolo to Trunks as he spoke the last part of his sentence.
"Yeah, Dad. I know…" Trunks sighed, looking away just as Gohan, Goten, and Kibitokai appeared along with Buu.
"Good." Piccolo said with a smile, happy to see Buu would be joining them. "So everyone's gathered. We can't afford to waste anymore time, all of you gather around Kaioshin-sama."
Everyone gathered around Kibitokai with the exception of Piccolo.
"Piccolo?" Gohan asked. "Aren't you coming too?"
"Not this time, Gohan. I was completely useless against Buu. It would be no different this time around." Piccolo said, closing his eyes as he swallowed his pride. "Take these, you might need them." Piccolo said, handing Gohan a bagful of senzu beans.
"Thank you, Piccolo. For preparing all of us like this." Gohan said with a smile. He felt sorry for Piccolo, knowing he had reached a plateau and could never get any stronger no matter how much he trained himself, when fighting and training were all that had mattered to him.
"That's enough, you all have to go now. Don't waste anymore time and remember," Piccolo smiled. "I'm counting on you."
"Right." Gohan nodded with a determined look on his face as he disappeared along with Kibitokai and the others.
Piccolo closed his eyes for a moment and reflected on how much his former student had grown since he had first met him. Gohan had taught him far more than he could ever have taught Gohan in return. Piccolo couldn't help but admire how Gohan had turned out. A man who devotes himself so completely to his family is truly a man of great strength. A different strength than that of Vegeta and Goku perhaps, but an admirable strength nonetheless.
Gohan's true strength has always shown through when protecting those he cares about is on the line. It was a trait that Piccolo had come to greatly respect.
He truly was proud of Gohan.
Goku slammed into the ground causing a large crater. Ca-Yin had grown irritated at the Saiyan's words. He had offered Goku a chance to join him, a chance to be his right hand, and he had refused. It had angered Ca-Yin to the point that he struck Goku with full force.
"G-Goku! Are you alright?" Goku could suddenly hear King Kai telepathically calling out to him.
"Kaiou-sama, this guy… he's using the Kaio-Ken technique, but it's ...different."
"I saw. He seems to have mastered it far beyond what you and I had thought possible for the technique. It doesn't seem to cause nearly as much strain on his body and he can utilize it for longer amounts of time."
"That's not all, Kaiou-sama… he uses it to reach insane levels of speed and strength…"
Ca-Yin crossed his arms as he looked down at Goku. "Was that last blow too much for you? Maybe now you'll reconsider my offer."
"Goku…" King Kai continued. "The man before you may very well be the true inventor of the Kaio-ken technique."
"W-wha? But I thought you invented the Kaio-Ken technique Kaiou-sama?"
"No… I'm afraid not, Goku… Many years ago I found ancient scrolls that had been passed down to me by the previous North Kais. Within them were the basic ideas for the Kaio-Ken technique as well as others. For years I devoted myself to completing and mastering these forgotten ancient techniques. I was unable to master the Kaio-Ken technique myself, but you managed to do it …or so I thought. That man must be using the true full potential of the Kaio-Ken technique. The powerful technique I yearned to master all my life."
Although he was in great pain, Goku staggered to his feet and looked up at the mighty Shin-jin as King Kai spoke.
"This guy… he's really something." Goku uttered to himself.
In an instant Ca-Yin appeared before Goku and slowly walked up to him, looking him dead in the eyes. Goku returned his glare even while struggling to even stand.
"I offer you one last chance to join me… Go... Ku, was it?" Ca-Yin didn't know exactly why he was showing so much mercy to this man... this... errand boy to the gods as he called him.
Perhaps he reminded him of someone. Of himself maybe? Or maybe…
"I told you already." Goku said, interrupting Ca-Yin's thoughts. "I AIN'T…" Goku started as he disappeared suddenly using the Instant Transmission technique, reappearing beside Ca-Yin with a kick to his neck that caught the mighty Shin-jin off guard, causing him to stagger.
"…GONNA" Goku disappeared again, reappearing in front of Ca-Yin, punching him in the gut with all his might. "…JOIN YOU!" Goku shouted as he landed his powerful blow. Wasting no time, he followed up throwing a barrage of punches into Ca-Yin's gut, finishing with a left uppercut that lifted Ca-Yin off the ground. Goku pulled back his other arm, gathering all of his remaining strength into it as he launched himself off the ground throwing a spinning right uppercut into Ca-Yin's chest. Upon impact, Goku's fist erupted into a fiery golden explosion of ki that blew Ca-Yin quite a ways through the air before he regained his bearings, forcing himself to stop in midair with his ki.
Goku landed on the ground, completely exhausted and barely able to continue standing. In an instant, Ca-Yin appeared before him once again, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him into the ground causing another enormous crater. Ca-Yin angrily kept a firm hold on Goku's neck, smashing him into the ground more and more. Goku struggled, trying to pry Ca-Yin's hands from his throat with all his remaining strength, but it was futile.
Goku's vision began to blur and he struggled to remain conscious.
'D-darn it… I can't… take much more of this…' Goku thought to himself as his consciousness began to slip away.
Everything was going dark when suddenly Goku felt Ca-Yin lose his grip on his neck. Goku gasped for air and coughed, holding his throat in pain.
Still disoriented, Goku looked up to see Vegeta in his Super Saiyan 3 form standing with his back turned to him.
"Sorry I'm late, Kakarott. I'll be the one taking him on next!" Vegeta said with a look back at Goku.
"We're all here, Father." Gohan said with a smile as he helped his father up.
"…Everyone…?" Goku asked, looking around at everyone, still wincing in pain.
A cheerful smile slowly formed on Goku's battle weary face.
Dragon Ball A-Z
