Chapter Sixty-Eight: Final Duel
Chi Chi's opponent stood at the opposite side of the ring from her. They had returned to the earlier ring, and now both were facing off.
He was a small man, a little shorter than Master Roshi. He wore martial artists garb with a mask over his face. The two-faced one another and bowed.
"So, you're my opponent?" asked Chi Chi.
"Yes, that would seem to be the case," said the man.
"Why are you wearing a mask, though?" asked Chi Chi.
"I'd prefer to remain anonymous until later," said the man. "If you defeat me, though, I'll tell you who I am."
His mannerisms and posture were familiar to Kakarot, and he tried to remember where. Soon, however, he noted that Chi Chi was still wearing her weights. Not that she likely needed to take them off.
"Okay," said Chi Chi. "Well, don't expect me to hold back."
:...You're the Ox King's daughter, Chi Chi, aren't you?" asked the man.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" asked Chi Chi, surprised.
"I saw your match in the World Martial Arts tournament," said the man.
"Oh, really?" asked Chi Chi. "Did you compete in the elimination round?"
"No, I'm not really one for the spotlight," said the opponent. "I'm only working here for a bit. Now, let's begin."
As one, they surged toward one another. Their legs met head-on, but Chi Chi was forced to yield ground to her opponent's superior reach. Using her size, she opted to roll aside from a downward strike and tried to kick his legs out from under him. But the man stepped over her assault before punching downward.
Their fists met, and there was a clash of air.
"Hmm, very fast, aren't you," said the man, seeming impressed. "And those punches of yours are far more effective than I thought. You're forming ki around them to attack. Still, you're not quite on my level."
And then he got serious.
Chi Chi attacked again and again and seemed to be able to keep up. Yet no matter how she struck or what tactics she used, he was always ahead. However, Kakarot was reading his fighting techniques. They were very similar to the turtle school at that.
"He's dodging every shot," said Krillen. "Who is this guy?"
"I don't know, but he's obviously one tough customer," said Yamcha.
At last, the two of them slid to a halt at the opposite side of the ring. Chi Chi was breathing heavily, while her opponent stood deadly still.
"I recommend you take off your weights, young lady," said the anonymous fighter. "Otherwise, we won't be getting anywhere with this."
"Right!" said Chi Chi, before taking off her weights.
As she threw them aside, her entire form became lighter. But Roshi frowned as they landed before them. Kakarot looked at him. "Roshi, do you know him?"
"Oh, well, I wouldn't want to spoil someone's secret identity," said Roshi. "But I might."
And then Chi Chi attacked.
This time she was far faster, and the man struggled to hold back her onslaughter. They clashed again and against, circling with their arms and legs moving in a blur. At last, however, the man leaped over her and was behind her.
"Now that is far better," said the man. "Still, I'm very sorry to disappoint you!"
Then he punched the air.
As he did, Chi Chi was struck with waves of air. The wind of it sent her flying off the arena, spinning. She hardly managed to regain her footing as she descended. Chi Chi made a three-point landing and then stood. However, she was outside of the ring.
"Wha..." said Puar.
"He knocked her out of the ring with the air from a punch?!" said Krillen.
"Well, not so snide now, are you?" asked Baba. "I told you that you'd never be able to defeat him."
"Hey um, maybe I should call it quits here," said Krillen.
"Go right ahead," said Baba. "If you back out, I won't think any less of you than I do already."
"You are not backing out Krillin, get into that ring and fight him," said Kakarot. "And take the weights off before you do."
"But how am I supposed to win?" asked Krillen.
"You don't have to. Just force him to expend energy, and it'll make my our job easier," said Yamcha.
"Easy for you to say. You and Yamcha are the high tier ones who get the victory," muttered Krillen, taking off his weights. "I'm just cannon fodder."
"If you really believe that, you'll never be anything else," said Kakarot.
"I wouldn't be so down on yourself, young fella," said the old man as Krillen climbed in. "You've got the ability to achieve some outstanding things if you work at it."
Okay, there was definitely something familiar about him. Kakarot began to scan through what he remembered and wondered if he'd fought him before. Whether he had or not, however, Krillen and he began to fight.
Krillen charged forward, only to dart back. They circled one another, both taking conservative goals. Finally, the anonymous fighter took the offensive, and Krillen dodged and weaved. Krillen used his smaller size to dodge and weave, but it was clear he was hard-pressed.
Even so, it was obvious that the anonymous fighter was far stronger than him. His attacks went on and on, with Krillen hardly surviving. Except Krillen was still in the game and kept preventing a loss. And all the while, the anonymous fighter was expending more and more energy.
Krillen was stalling.
He didn't even care if he won or not. Yamcha's words had given him a given role, and Krillen's self-esteem was low enough that he'd bought them. Nevermind that Krillen had saved them in the Red Ribbon Compound. And Roshi seemed more focused on the anonymous fighter.
Everyone had already given Krillen up for loss.
Chi Chi had lost; therefore, Krillen would as well.
"Krillen!" shouted Kakarot. "Stop thinking of yourself as a jobber who goes down to learn more about our enemies! Get your head in the game and win this thing!"
Krillen looked up and then dodged a punch. Even as he did, he caught the fist and used the momentum to hurl anonymous. Anonymous went spinning forward but twisted in mid-air to land on edge. Even as he turned, however, Krillen made the hand motions.
"Kamehameha!" cried Krillen.
A wave of light shot toward the enemy before them, and he was on edge. There was no time for him to dodge. However, he raised a hand and struck the Kamehameha. As he did, he held it in place for a moment. Krillen moved forward, trying to push him back the last critical inches.
Yet, no matter how hard he tried, Krillen couldn't seem to make it. Even so, the anonymous fighter was sliding near the edge. Then, the Kamehameha began to lose power; Krillen wasn't used to using it this long. The man shoved it up, and it sprinted into the sky and exploded into a firework of ki.
"What!" said Puar.
"He deflected it with his bare hands?" mused Roshi, looking impressed.
"This guy is no joke," said Yamcha.
"I... I forfeit," said Krillen.
"That was very impressive," said the man. "I was very near the edge there. You might want to work on your energy control a bit. If you were a bit stronger in that regard, I'd have been finished." And he bowed.
"Thanks," said Krillen, smiling. Then he leaped out of the ring. "So uh, thanks, Kakarot. I guess I lost, though."
"It doesn't matter," said Kakarot. "You lost trying to win. Which is a lot better than losing trying to make someone else's fight easier."
"He's right, man," said Yamcha. "That was a great try."
"Excellent work, Krillin," said Roshi. "I think I might have some pointers for you later."
"Well, I guess that makes it your turn, doesn't it, Kakarot?" asked Yamcha.
Kakarot blinked. "Why would it be my turn?"
"Well, uh, I am sort of the strongest person here," said Yamcha. "So shouldn't I go last?"
"Humor me," said Kakarot.
"We do need those dragonballs," said Yamcha.
"Then you'd best give it your all," said Kakarot.
Yamcha stepped into the ring and took a stance. As he did, his opponent mirrored the motion. "Alright then, I guess I'm your opponent this time. I wish Bulma was here."
"You seem pretty confident, don't you?" asked the anonymous fighter. Once again, Kakarot felt a true sense of familiarity. But he was more interested in winning.
Up until now, every fighter had been the essence of simplicity. Now, however, it looked like this one might actually win. That meant they had to win to get the Dragonball and resurrect Snow's father.
"Well, not to brag, but I've got a pretty successful career," said Yamcha, taking off his weights.
"Same here," said the man.
Then both disappeared and clashed. They clashed, again and again, fighting and grappling. As they did, they seemed to disappear for a moment and clash again. All over the arena, the fight waged, and Kakarot knew that Yamcha was going all out.
Still, the familiarity, and he was part of the Turtle School...
It clicked.
"They're moving so fast. I can hardly keep up with them," said Puar.
Oh no, Kakarot had not waited all this time just to get his archenemy stolen from him by Yamcha. "I noticed."
"Are you okay, Kakarot?" asked Krillen.
"Yeah, are you upset because Yamcha is stronger than you," said Puar.
"No!" snapped Kakarot. "He's not stronger than me; we haven't fought yet. And anyway, he's not going to beat him."
"What makes you so certain?" asked Roshi, eyeing him warily.
"It is my destiny to defeat him, not Yamcha's," said Kakarot.
Both halted on opposite ends of the arena.
"Pretty good," said Yamcha. "But let's how you like my WOLF FANG FIST!"
Then he surged forward with an all-out assault. Coming at the no-longer anonymous fighter, he attacked-
And had his hands caught flat out.
"He blocked it?" said Puar. "How do block the Wolf Fang Fist?"
"That uh..." said Krillen. "How did he do that?"
"No one blocks the Wolf Fang Fist!" said Puar.
"Apparently, he does," said Roshi.
"You know what's going on here, don't you?" asked Kakarot.
"Well, obviously, you'd have to be dense not to, sonny," said Roshi.
"I don't see what's going on," said Krillen.
"Like I said, you'd have to be dense not to," said Roshi.
"Well, I guess I walked right into that one," said Krillen.
"Go Yamcha! Beat him!" cried Puar. "Kakarot, Krillen, cheer for him."
Kakarot observed the fight for confirmation. "I'm examining their fighting style."
"For what?" asked Krillen.
Yamcha and the old man were fighting, but Yamcha was younger. The old man had been worn down and was showing signs of weariness. "...He's going to win.
"Yamcha is going to win."
"What, seriously?" asked Krillen. "Are you-"
"Hey Yamcha, to your left!" called Kakarot.
Yamcha did look to his left, and it gave the old man the opening he needed. A precise strike sent Yamcha flying back to land outside the ring. As he landed on his knees, he looked at Kakarot. "What the hell, Kakarot! You got me knocked out of the ring! We need that dragonball!"
"Sorry, Yamcha, but this fight is mine to win or lose," said Kakarot, throwing off his weights. "Wouldn't you agree, Grandfather?"
Grandfather stood silent and nodded. "...Yes, I suppose it is.
"I had hoped the mask might hold you off." He drew the mask from his face.
"I knew you; it only took a while to remember it," said Kakarot.
"He's your Grandfather?" asked Puar.
"I did say our rematch had been arranged," said Grandfather. "Though usually, he referred to me as Master Gohan until now."
"I've come to value my bonds over time," said Kakarot. "Being unable to kill you fairly was one of my greatest regrets."
"So uh..." Yamcha paused. "Kakarot, if you win, you're not going to..."
"The time for reckoning has come, Gohan!" said Kakarot.
And then he attacked.
The match that followed sent adrenaline running through his veins. All his training and experience led to him striking, driving his Master before him. Once before, Gohan had been unstoppable, a person he could not touch no matter how hard he fought.
Now, however, Kakarot was fighting evenly with him. His every move could be countered, and his defenses could be broken. And yet, he remained a formidable enemy nonetheless.
"You know something, Master Gohan!" said Kakarot. "I don't care about destroying this world anymore! Once I crush you and prove myself the strongest in the world, I'm going to take everything over!" The two sprang into the air, and Grandfather threw a punch, only for Kakarot to spin away. "The entire world nation, every village, and castle! I will rule them all and bring the universe beyond to heel!"
"Ambitious as always," said Grandfather, coming at his tail from behind. "Still, at least you have something more productive in mind for your life."
Kakarot spun away and caught him in the gut. "Oh, more than that!
"Every star shall flare at my command! The sun shall rise when I desire it, and all the cosmos shall tremble in terror at my approach!
"My name is Kakarot, and I will be God incarnate! I shall rise above the heavens and set my throne above the stars!
"All the gods shall be made to submit before my eternal might!
"Starting with you!"
Catching Gohan, he sent him hurtling downwards toward the pavement. As they descended like fiery angels, they grappled for control. At last, they separated. "Always charging in without thinking. Your rage is your weakness."
"No," laughed Kakarot. "No rage. I've learned from my defeat.
"And you will too!"
And he cupped his hands, a motion that Gohan mirrored. Energies poured into their hands, more energy than Kakarot had ever utilized.
"KA!
"ME!
"HA!
"ME!
"HAAA!"
Duel beams of blue light blazed into view and shot toward one another. Like lightning, they shot and struck and met in unison. Grounding their feet, Kakarot and Gohan stood in a silent beam war. On and on it went, and little by little, both were pushed toward the ring.
And then, it happened.
In a single, glorious moment, Gohan lost his footing. Flung from the ring, he fell beaten away. And as he did, he landed hard on the ground. And then, it was over.
Kakarot moved forward, breathing. And then he looked skyward.
"I DID IT!" laughed Kakarot. "I defeated Master Gohan!"
It was a moment he'd been waiting for for years. And yet, no one cheered. Then Kakarot realized they were afraid he'd go super evil or something. There was a silence of a sort. Oh right, they objected to the world domination idea. Also, Bulma and Launch should have been here.
"...Good work," said Gohan after a moment. "Not only have you succeeded in taming your instincts, but you've also learned to use cunning to win. And you have also gained a measure of wisdom. However, in time I think you will find world domination unsatisfying."
"It's not the goal that I want, but the journey. I want the goal for the sake of others," said Kakarot. "This world is a beautiful place, but it is run by idiots. People are passive and refuse to fix their own problems. I see now that I was not sent to Earth to destroy it, but to drag it to new levels of power! My companions and I shall bring about a golden age of power and creativity!"
"Don't we get a say in this?" asked Puar.
"No," said Kakarot. "Why would you?"
"Now hang on-" began Yamcha.
"Well, as long as you don't do anything evil while working at it, do whatever you like," said Gohan, quickly. "I am proud of you, Kakarot."
The words warmed his heart a great deal. "...Thank you, Master Gohan."
"Now, Baba, I believe you owe us a Dragonball," said Roshi flatly. "And no more mystery fighters to bring out of nowhere. I want to catch up with my old student."
"Yes, yes, as usual, I honor my end of the deal," said Baba.
"Good, now we just have to wait for Bulma and Launch, and we can-"
"Touching," said an evil voice above.
All of a sudden, darkness fell over the sun. And looking up, Kakarot beheld his enemy. Pilaf's death fortress loomed above. And hanging from it by rope was Bulma and Launch, bound and gagged.
"Bulma! Launch!" said Yamcha.
"What is going on?" said Yamcha.
"I SHOULD THINK THAT'S OBVIOUS FOOL!" cried demonic voice-over loudspeakers. "IT IS I! THE ETERNAL EMPEROR PILAF! THE DAY OF RECKONING HAS COME, KAKAROT!"
"Pilaf," said Kakarot.
It was time to finish this.