Hey everyone! I'm so sorry I haven't updated anything in so long. I've been really busy with work. But I'm back, baby! Now, let's get the show on the road! :D
Disclaimer: I still don't own DBZ. But, a girl can dream. :P
Chapter 12
The forest was sound, with the pleasant chirps and squeaks of the animals living there. The trees swaying in the gentle breeze created varying patterns of light on the soft ground. Squirrels were playing in the dancing sunbeams as birds zipped from tree to tree. All was calm. The birds suddenly scattered from one area as something shattered through the treetops, sending leaves and branches like broken glass. The squirrels quickly scampered off as it smashed into the ground, sinking deep through the grassy surface. The animals came back to observe that which had just disturbed their peace. As they got close, he let out a harsh cough that scared them away once again. The sun beat down on his face through the break in the trees. His body tucked into the crater around him as his life hung by a thread. Blood stained the dirt as it continued to flow from his wounds. The animals went back to their business as if nothing had happened.
-On the Battle Field-
Durgan stood motionless as the three warriors charged at him with relentless speed. Gohan, aided with his anger, shot ahead of Piccolo and Krillin, prepared to send his fist through his enemy. Durgan was surprised to feel this new power surfacing from the boy. He began to step back and block, but Gohan was one step ahead and sent him flying across the crater, crashing into the ground. Piccolo and Krillin caught up to Gohan and landed next to him.
"Krillin, go find Vegeta and make sure he's okay." Gohan said with a solid seriousness that Krillin could only respond to with a nod. He flew off in the direction that Vegeta had been blasted away. Piccolo waited and watched Krillin to make sure he escaped safely before speaking.
"Do you need my help?" Piccolo asked.
"I'll be ok. Just make sure nothing happens to my dad." Gohan responded.
Piccolo stepped back as Durgan pulled himself from the rubble and immediately dashed at Gohan. He tried to punch the boy but hit nothing but air as Gohan vanished. Durgan stopped, looked up and disappeared as well. Piccolo quickly flew over to where Goku was still lying unconscious. He turned around to watch the amazing battle that was about to take place before him.
"You have a brave son, Goku. Let's hope he can do this." Piccolo whispered.
The earth began to shake as the two powers collided in the now reddish sky. Every now-and-then they would appear to attack one another before disappearing once again. Piccolo could only stare in awe at the tremendous power they were emitting. He knew that Gohan had always had an amazing potential inside of him. He felt that Gohan's power had substantially increased, but figured it was from the sensu bean. He knew that Gohan would be the best chance to finish this, even if Goku did happen to wake up.
As Gohan appeared, Durgan was right on top of him. They engulfed themselves in a flurry of punches and kicks. As they were exchanging blows, Durgan was pushing Gohan down towards the ground. When they were fairly close Durgan pulled back and tried to punch Gohan into the bottom of the crater. Just as his fist was about to make contact, Gohan disappeared. Durgan's face went blank with shock as he found himself driven into the ground. Gohan was right above him, moving upright with his eyes locked in an angry stare at the creature he planned to destroy. Durgan quickly got up and flew at the boy, but Gohan just stepped aside and crammed his fist into Durgan's gut. As he bent over from the pain, Gohan spun around and swung his leg into Durgan's head sending him skidding across the ground. As he came to a grinding halt, Gohan landed on top of him, his foot lodged into Durgan's stomach. Durgan began to spit up a little blood as Gohan jumped away and landed facing him. Durgan slowly picked himself up and met Gohan's gaze. He stared angrily at him for a few moments before he spoke.
"You may think you are stronger than me, but I will show you that your powers are nothing compared to mine." Durgan boasted.
"I will not allow you to hurt anyone else. I will destroy you." Gohan declared.
Durgan was furious. To think that he could be defeated by a mere boy was simply ridiculous. In an instant he was in front of Gohan and began hitting him frantically. Gohan didn't seem to be blocking any of Durgan's attacks as he kept pounding and pounding. Finally, Durgan pulled up his leg and kicked Gohan into the sky. He immediately disappeared and had his elbow in Gohan's stomach followed by his fist in Gohan's back, sending the boy back to the ground. Gohan was able to collect himself and land on his feet. Durgan landed a ways away from him.
"I hope you can do better than that. I'll end this right now if you want." Gohan stated.
"Foolish boy. You won't be ending anything. I'll send you to meet your friends." Durgan responded.
Gohan's face was filled with rage as his anger took control. In the blink of an eye he decked Durgan across the jaw. Durgan staggered back and regained his footing just as Gohan threw his fist into Durgan's chin. Gohan watched the body fly high into the air and then disappear. Gohan was surprised that Durgan's power level had taken a sudden jump. He felt the dark energy behind him, but before he could turn around, Durgan kicked him in the back. Gohan was sent a short distance before he stopped himself and turned to face Durgan. He found nothing as he turned around. He gasped in shock as Durgan appeared directly in front of him.
"Fool." Durgan muttered as he pounded Gohan into the ground. Gohan quickly moved as Durgan attempted to drop his knee into him. Gohan was able to land a kick into Durgan's face before he could block it. They once again began exchanging blows, neither one seeming to have any advantage. The ground began to crumble beneath their feet and they were soon standing on nothing but air. They began to rise, still fighting as if they were standing on solid ground. Piccolo was still watching from the sidelines. Not even he could tell who was going to win at this point.
'Cmon kid. I know you can do this.' Piccolo thought.
Durgan managed to land a fist on Gohan's face. As Gohan spun around from the blow, he extended his leg placing his foot into Durgan's chest. They flew apart from each other and once again stood face to face. They both breathed with mild exhaustion. Gohan knew he had to end it quickly, but with Durgan's power increase he wasn't sure he could do it. He had to. He was the last chance. If he didn't beat him then there would be on one to stop him.
"Starting to doubt yourself, eh kid?" Durgan teased.
Gohan flew at Durgan, desperate to take him down. Gohan tried to punch him in the face, but Durgan simply caught Gohan's fist. He pulled Gohan close enough to knee him in the stomach. Durgan then grabbed his hair and lifted him so they met eye to eye. Gohan opened his eyes to see the menacing face of his adversary staring back at him. Durgan brought Gohan's face to his knee and brought him back up, his face now a bloody mess. Durgan began laughing hysterically.
"You're just as weak as the others. And you actually thought you could beat me. HAHAHAHA!" Durgan said, laughing all the while. Gohan closed his eyes and clenched his teeth as his rage built up inside of him. He thought of how he had let Yamcha and Tien die before in the Coliseum. How he had let his father defeat him instead of fighting back. How he possibly let Vegeta die at the hands of this monster. He wasn't going to let it happen again, he had to stop holding back. And so he simply let go.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" He erupted in an explosion of energy that sent Durgan flying into the ground and continued to push him as Gohan's power expanded past the base of the crater. He had finally tapped into his true powers. As the light from the blast faded, Gohan seemed to radiate with a new energy. His ki was enormous and the electricity was ever so dazzling as it streaked across his body even more than before. Gohan stared down at Durgan, who was slowly pulling himself from the ground. Durgan was surprised at the boy's strength. He couldn't believe it, but he was actually scared that he might lose.
"NO! I WON'T BE DEFEATED BY A CHILD!" Durgan shouted. He lifted his hands up and released his energy through a large red beam. It flew at Gohan, who stood firm as the beam flew towards him. Gohan lifted his arm, and just before the beam hit him, he slapped it away into the sky as if it were nothing.
'He did it! He's got him!' Piccolo screamed in his mind.
Durgan, filled with anger, flew straight up at Gohan and began throwing punches as fast as he could. As they hovered high in the sky, Gohan easily dodged every attack and finally crammed his fist into Durgan's gut. Durgan grabbed his stomach in agony as Gohan flipped over and dropped his heel into Durgan's back. Durgan was sent face first into the ground, causing it to cave in around him.
"FINISH IT GOHAN! NOW!" Piccolo yelled from below.
"Right." Gohan said to himself.
Gohan got into his stance, cupped his hands together, and pulled them to his side away from the ground. He thought of his father and everyone he was about to avenge, and he began the chant.
"Kaaaaa...Meeee...Haaaa...Meeee"
Durgan was slowly pulling himself out of the pit his falling body had created as he heard the sounds from above. He looked up to see Gohan holding a massive ball of energy, which he figured would soon be heading his way.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Gohan thrust his hands towards the ground and the energy became a solid blue beam that rushed at the wide eyed creature below. Durgan was absolutely stunned at the power of this attack. He had no other choice but to try and hold it back. He lifted his hands in the air and the beam struck them with tremendous force. Durgan began to scream as his hands were burning from the energy. He managed to hold the beam and keep it from destroying him for the moment. His body began to sink into the ground as the pure power from Gohan's attack ripped the earth from under him. The entire area was shaking as Gohan continued to press all his powers into this attack. Durgan released a terrifying yell as he grabbed every bit of strength he had left to hold the beam back. He actually stopped it from pushing him any further and he simply stood there, neither gaining or losing any ground. Gohan knew that if he could not push through then he would have to quit before Durgan was destroyed. He tried to pump more energy, but he was already using all he had. He couldn't stop. It would mean the end for everyone if he did. He had to keep going. There was no other way. Gohan continued to press on, as did Durgan. It seemed as if Durgan would be able to hold off the attack.
"Kaa...Mee...Haa...Mee...HAAAAAAAA!"
Durgan heard the same words once more and glanced over to see another beam of energy headed straight for him. He managed to see who it was as it made it's way towards him.
"NO, IT'S YOU!" Durgan shouted just as the beam slammed into his side, causing him to lose control of Gohan's blast. Both energy waves ran through his body. He slowly melted away under the incredible powers. His face, wide-eyed and mouth agape in utter fear, was the last to fall apart and disappear as the energy exploded around him, decimating anything within. As the blast from the explosion faded, there was nothing but a hole where Durgan once stood. Gohan, completely spent, fell to the ground as his hair faded back to black. He landed on his back but felt no pain as his chest heaved from exhaustion. His eyes too tired to open, he had a wide smile on his face as he breathed heavily.
"I did it." he wheezed in between breaths.
He heard footsteps approaching him. He heard them stop just in front of him. He opened his eyes to see a man with his arm extended, offering to help him up. Gohan's eyes began to swell with tears at the sight of him. His every emotion pouring from his heart at this great moment that he had been waiting for all day.
"Dad... it's you."
