While Piccolo was still offbalance from seeing his attack mainly miss, Goku launched himself to the ground. He and his opponent clashed again, this time using the Zanzoken technique to create after-images as they fought.
"Such incredible speed and power!" shouted the Budokai Announcer. "I was right, this is one of the best matches!"
***
That incredible speed and power was exactly what had caused the mental gear-locking that Vegeta's brain was currently undergoing.
Kakarot shouldn't be able to do all this without going Super Saiyan...Vegeta knew for a fact that he wasn't this powerful otherwise.
Unless, of course, he'd specifically trained in his normal mode.
That was it. Kakarot had known about the upcoming tournament, and had trained without going Super Saiyan, because he no doubt had remembered that the informal 'no Super Saiyan' rule would still be in effect.
Something that Vegeta had overlooked. He had boosted the power of his Super Saiyan levels, but his regular form had stayed about the same.
As he cursed himself, another realization entered his mind, one that made the first seem insignificant.
He couldn't win this.
Oh, he could beat Mirai. But after that, unless there was something resembling a miracle for Juuhachigou, his opponent would be Mr. Buu.
And there would be no way he could beat him in regular mode. He simply didn't have the power. He would be stopped next round.
But even if he could somehow manage a victory, he would then have to face Kakarot in the final round. And although he, as King of the Saiyans, was more powerful if everything was taken into account...
...thanks to his 'normal mode' training, Kakarot would have the advantage here.
He cursed some more.
Dammit, no! He was the King of the Saiyans! That had to count for something! He was the undisputed ruler of the most powerful race in the cosmos!
And he wasn't an idiot! He would allow that he could act foolish on occasion, but idiotic? Never! But that was exactly what Mr. Buu and Kakarot were. There had to be a way to turn that to his advantage. HAD to be!
***
Goten, Trunks, and Mirai were watching Goku and Piccolo fight. They already knew about their amazing fighting skills, of course, but this seemed to be a new level. They were awestruck.
Goten caught a glimpse of Vegeta out of the corner of his eye.
"Trunks, why is your dad shaking his fist, gritting his teeth, and hissing?"
"Ahh, that's normal for him."
***
"Made up your mind yet?" said Videl.
"N-no," Gohan stammered.
***
At this point both Goku and Piccolo were very bloody indeed. They appeared evenly matched, and the fight showed no sign of ending anytime soon.
"Indeed, this is just like old times," said Piccolo. Goku's jaw hurt too much to let him respond.
The two, currently on opposite sides of the ring, charged one another yet again. They each swung their fists and landed a blow. They reached the ends of the ring and whirled around.
At least, that's what Goku did.
Piccolo tried to, but one of the most ignominious things to ever occur to him in his many centuries of life on two different planets occured. As he attempted to whirl, his cape came slightly loose and one corner of it got caught under his right foot.
He slipped, and has he attempted to regain his balance he fell.
Right out of the ring.
There was a silence.
"W-well," said the Announcer, regaining his voice, "One of the best matches I've ever witnessed is over! Ma Junior is out of the ring...winner, SON GOKU!"
Goku went over to where Piccolo was getting to his feet. He looked very angry.
"You OK, Piccolo?"
"I cannot believe this...I cannot belive this, undone by my cape. This is humiliating. This is worse than being Gohan's 'Best Man.' This...I simply cannot believe this."
"Don't worry, everyone gets embarassed sometimes."
"But not like that."
***
Videl was laughing so hard that she was in danger of falling out of the bed, and had to hold on to Gohan so she wouldn't.
"Next time I enter one of these things, remind me not to wear my cape," said Gohan, in a bit of shock himself.
"Such incredible speed and power!" shouted the Budokai Announcer. "I was right, this is one of the best matches!"
***
That incredible speed and power was exactly what had caused the mental gear-locking that Vegeta's brain was currently undergoing.
Kakarot shouldn't be able to do all this without going Super Saiyan...Vegeta knew for a fact that he wasn't this powerful otherwise.
Unless, of course, he'd specifically trained in his normal mode.
That was it. Kakarot had known about the upcoming tournament, and had trained without going Super Saiyan, because he no doubt had remembered that the informal 'no Super Saiyan' rule would still be in effect.
Something that Vegeta had overlooked. He had boosted the power of his Super Saiyan levels, but his regular form had stayed about the same.
As he cursed himself, another realization entered his mind, one that made the first seem insignificant.
He couldn't win this.
Oh, he could beat Mirai. But after that, unless there was something resembling a miracle for Juuhachigou, his opponent would be Mr. Buu.
And there would be no way he could beat him in regular mode. He simply didn't have the power. He would be stopped next round.
But even if he could somehow manage a victory, he would then have to face Kakarot in the final round. And although he, as King of the Saiyans, was more powerful if everything was taken into account...
...thanks to his 'normal mode' training, Kakarot would have the advantage here.
He cursed some more.
Dammit, no! He was the King of the Saiyans! That had to count for something! He was the undisputed ruler of the most powerful race in the cosmos!
And he wasn't an idiot! He would allow that he could act foolish on occasion, but idiotic? Never! But that was exactly what Mr. Buu and Kakarot were. There had to be a way to turn that to his advantage. HAD to be!
***
Goten, Trunks, and Mirai were watching Goku and Piccolo fight. They already knew about their amazing fighting skills, of course, but this seemed to be a new level. They were awestruck.
Goten caught a glimpse of Vegeta out of the corner of his eye.
"Trunks, why is your dad shaking his fist, gritting his teeth, and hissing?"
"Ahh, that's normal for him."
***
"Made up your mind yet?" said Videl.
"N-no," Gohan stammered.
***
At this point both Goku and Piccolo were very bloody indeed. They appeared evenly matched, and the fight showed no sign of ending anytime soon.
"Indeed, this is just like old times," said Piccolo. Goku's jaw hurt too much to let him respond.
The two, currently on opposite sides of the ring, charged one another yet again. They each swung their fists and landed a blow. They reached the ends of the ring and whirled around.
At least, that's what Goku did.
Piccolo tried to, but one of the most ignominious things to ever occur to him in his many centuries of life on two different planets occured. As he attempted to whirl, his cape came slightly loose and one corner of it got caught under his right foot.
He slipped, and has he attempted to regain his balance he fell.
Right out of the ring.
There was a silence.
"W-well," said the Announcer, regaining his voice, "One of the best matches I've ever witnessed is over! Ma Junior is out of the ring...winner, SON GOKU!"
Goku went over to where Piccolo was getting to his feet. He looked very angry.
"You OK, Piccolo?"
"I cannot believe this...I cannot belive this, undone by my cape. This is humiliating. This is worse than being Gohan's 'Best Man.' This...I simply cannot believe this."
"Don't worry, everyone gets embarassed sometimes."
"But not like that."
***
Videl was laughing so hard that she was in danger of falling out of the bed, and had to hold on to Gohan so she wouldn't.
"Next time I enter one of these things, remind me not to wear my cape," said Gohan, in a bit of shock himself.
