(Continuing From Where Last Chapter, Universe 6 Planet Sadala, With Kuzuku. . .)

"Tch. . .!"

Kuzuku let out a hiss after ducking underneath a narrow straight punch, though the strike grazed his cheek. Countering, his snap-kick alone was enough to leave a firm, quick strike to his opponent's sternum which earned a short moan. Quickly enough, he added another snap-kick to the side of his skull which caused him to take a step back before being punished with two side kicks to the forehead and chin. Krugel was left stunned, the strikes coming at a speed that was absurd considering the types of strikes they were. He grunted, throwing another punch in hopes to get in a revenge strike though the Saiyan was a lot more swift on his feet. . .no in-fact, he was only getting quicker as he weaved under the hook shortly after delivering the strikes and maneuvered himself to the side to the point that Krugel had only struck an afterimage. Before Krugel could express his annoyance any further, Kuzuku had already spun around and delivered another Kechuku. With full force, the Saiyan sent Krugel flying into a spiral while his body dragged against the ground so fast that dust picked up in a clouded trail before crashing into a nearby building.

The building began to crumble on top of him while Kuzuku took a moment to catch his breath only to be interrupted by a strange detection. He turned, his eyes darting towards the direction of what he felt. . .," What the. . .? Did Lottus's energy just drop!? There's no way. Those things may be abnormal but with all the training Vegeta did for him they shouldn't have been a problem. Especially since it skyrocketed earlier. Not only that, Caulifla's energy has skyrocketed as well. . .far higher than any level I've pushed her to before. I have to finish this quickly and check it out myself."

"Distracted are we? You should know better," a voice remarked and snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned back around to see Krugel exiting the rubble while dusting himself off as if his blows were just an inconvenience.

Kuzuku frowned at this, "Are you stalling for something? Because don't get me wrong, I would enjoy the fight a bit more if you weren't just holding back."

"Oh. . .you could tell?" Krugel said in amusement while placing a hand on his hip, "What gave me away?"

"What gave you away? Are you just gonna act like you didn't just walk out of the rubble all nonchalant?" Kuzuku pointed out.

The Ex-God of Destruction gestured in agreement, "You do make a great point. Though I must admit, your fighting style piqued my interest. Tell me, who taught you?" The Saiyan raised an eyebrow and took a moment to think. He wasn't sure how he should answer at first though he quickly came up with a response.

"I was trained by the other two you saw earlier at one point. However, the way I fight is different since their style of fighting didn't suit me. For me to keep up, I decided to create a martial art that'll suit me the best, though I had to use something else as a reference," Kuzuku answered.

Krugel took a moment to think and nodded as if he had come to some form of conclusion unbeknownst to the Saiyan, "I see, for answering truthfully I guess I'll explain why I asked in the first place. Your martial arts fighting style seems to resemble someone I know. Though yours seems to use different mechanics with a few similarities, they both stem from enforcing a similar phenomenon."

"Phenomenon?" Kuzuku repeated, somewhat interested in hearing something about a martial art that he's still perfecting.

Though, the Ex-God of Destruction simply nodded and showed clear signs of not wanting to explain further. As soon as Kuzuku blinked, he was gone, alerting the Saiyan before feeling someone's back pressed against his. His eyes darted behind him, only to meet the eyes of his opponent who only continued, "Of course, though judging from what you said before along with the fact that you can't even discern what it is yourself only validates my analysis. . ."

"Your analysis. . .," Kuzuku muttered before suddenly realizing it. Throughout the fight, there was only one instance prior that stood out to him. The exchange of kicks to lure him in through imitation. . .," I should have known. . .damn it! The reason why you were keeping your distance was to analyze my fighting style!"

Krugel smirked mischievously, "Bingo! Though, don't worry. I've gathered enough useful information to exploit you. I'll be sure to be all 'close and personnel' from here!" With a cackle, he turned around to swing a back-fist aimed at Kuzuku's skull. It was easy to telegraph, though it prompted the Saiyan to hiss before ducking underneath. . .a reaction that was all part of the plan. Before Kuzuku could realize it, he felt a firm blow that struck the side of his ankle. He looked down in confusion, only seeing the blur of a kick before he felt his hair get grabbed from above. His eyes widened at the feeling and before he knew it, Krugel had kneed him twice in the sternum before letting go and delivering another thundering knee to the face.

The Saiyan let out a groan, his body skidding back as a consequence of taking the hit. However, he quickly recovered once he saw Krugel already chasing him down. He stomped down to regain his footing, wind building up around his foot once more before taking the opportunity to counter his approach with a Kechuku. Though, shockingly enough, the Ex-God of Destruction closed the distance and stomped down on the top of the kicking foot before he could even rotate. Kuzuku was stunned and barely registered the fist coming straight towards him before narrowly deflecting it to rear to the opposite direction. Though, just like before, even that was just another ploy for him to not see a low hook that aimed at the wound on the side of his ribs. Blood splattered as he let out a cry of pain before sucking in his teeth in hopes of bare with it. Retaliating, his footwork allowed him to quickly spin around despite how close-quarters Krugel, the wind gathered beneath his feet before launching an upward-straight kick, "Teiryudou: Rising Imoogi!" Krugel smirked as if this were premeditated as he leaped back only just a few steps, the air pressure unleashed only left to rise into nothingness.

Kuzuku was a bit impressed though he couldn't dwell on it for long since Krugel grabbed him by the leg before spinning him around so fast that he looked like a human tornado. The Saiyans' panic screams were drowned out as soon as he let go, the action hurling him through several buildings towards the sky. Disoriented, Kuzuku couldn't process where he was going exactly before he finally stopped himself mid-air upside down. He groaned, his head shaking in hopes to clear his blurry vision until he sensed danger fast approaching. His eyes shot open to see a Hakai-energy ball that he could only recognize due to Toppo using something similar from the tournament of power. He grimaced at the sight of how fast it was approaching him and he knew he didn't have a lot of time so he flipped himself upright before gathering more wind around his leg, "Teiryudou:. . .!" The Hakai-energy ball had already closed the distance beyond escape. He had to face it head-on!

"Kechuku!" Kuzuku roared, his attack colliding with the existence-erasing energy made of flames. The collision itself sent shockwaves rippling all over while Kuzuku could feel his leg burning from trying to fend it off. He wasn't surprised that it was strong but something about himself felt odd. His technique should have been enough to put up a good enough resistance to overpower it. . .so why did it feel like he was being overpowered? He grunted, his rational side telling him that what he was about to do was a bad idea. Though it was bad that his fight or flight instincts were already taking into effect. His muscles tensed and his aura flared before flickers of red began to shroud him before exploding into crimson mixed in gold as he shouted, "KAIOKEN x10!"

The sudden increase in his power that began to paint the surrounding vicinity red was very apparent to all those who could see. With a mighty roar, Kuzuku's pushed harder before his kick bisected the Hakai-energy in two, causing it to explode furiously enough that it encompassed even the ground below. It damn near resembled a nuke, the destructive energy even stretching to the point that it began to bury deep into the ground while disintegrating all of the structures and rubble that was still standing. Soon enough, the explosive energy began to recede into a more stable state, only to reveal a large crater stretching wide and far as Kuzuku fell from the sky with smoke oozing off his body. He crashed, the impact forming cracks beneath him as he groaned while parts of his pants were torn towards the right side where he had used his Kechuku for.

"Well, that was damn near cutting it close. . .," Kuzuku muttered to himself, knowing full well that he shouldn't be lying around in a death match. Slowly but surely, he staggered to his feet, his right side shaken as he inspected the damage done to his right leg. He clenched his teeth, the pain evident compared to the rest of his body that was screaming at him, "Damn. . .I know the risks of using Kaioken were bad but it was far greater than I expected this time around. With this amount of damage sustained, I really might die if I use Super Saiyan 5."

He contemplated for a moment. He had been in similar cases before. . .well two cases to be exact. Broly was one thing since he wasn't nearly as damaged as before so the risks weren't as great. The fight against Jiren was the only case similar to now though not only because of sheer willpower but because he simply got lucky. If he attempted to transform now then there is more of a chance that he will die than survive. He truly was in a pickle and his train of thoughts was interrupted, "Well now, glad to see you're alive and kicking still." Kuzuku could tell by the cocky attitude that it was Krugel. He looked up and shot him a glare that honestly made the Ex-God of Destruction smirk.

"Sarcasm," Kuzuku rolled his eyes.

"I know," Krugel grinned.

The Saiyan couldn't help but feel bad for Champa. He had to fight someone so damn condescending only to lose though it wasn't like he was faring much better, "Aren't you an unbearable fellow? You weren't kidding when you figured out my weaknesses but don't you think it was a little unnecessary with the Hakai Ball?" Krugel chuckled, though, despite the light response, Kuzuku's body tensed from the murderous intent he was emitting.

"Unnecessary? Don't belittle yourself. You are already far more worthy than Champa. In fact. . .," Krugel paused, his hand raising into the air casually before instantly forming another Hakai-energy ball that doubled the size of the previous one. Kuzuku's eyes widened at such a feat, shocked that he still had that much power hidden in the first place as the Ex-God of Destruction's euphoric expression said it all, "Have another one!"

Kuzuku grimaced at the sight of him tossing it straight towards him, his first instinct being that he should get out of the way. However, just as he attempted to move his body, the sharp pain from his right leg caused him to hesitate and made him internally curse, "Damn it, the damage did pile up—!" He didn't have time to finish the thought as the destructive light emitting from the destructive energy alarmed him. His eyes turned to see that the ball was only inches away from him and if he didn't act now. . .he might make it to Otherworld, period. Desperately, he tried again though unbeknownst to him, he felt himself get grabbed and pulled over to the side, the action stunning him as he watched the Hakai ball pass by and into the side of the crater to the point that it formed a large hole in it before dissipating.

Krugel too was shocked and more intrigued by what he saw while Kuzuku stumbled a bit to regain his sense of balance. He let out a relieved breath while the familiar voice barely registered, "Wow, talk about a close call? You okay, Kuzuku?" The Saiyan looked up to see a smile plastered over the person's face, one that could only resemble a single person that came to mind.

"Ryo?" Kuzuku murmured with the latter nodding in response. He smirked a bit before straightening himself, "I guess you could say that. Why aren't you with Goku and Vegeta?"

The space-traveler who had crashed onto the Saiyan's lawn nervously chuckled and scratched his head while pointing up at the sky, "Well, let's just say the two decided to hold a contest and told me to stay out of it for uh. . .training purposes?" Confused, Kuzuku raised an eyebrow before looking up at what exactly Ryo was pointing at to which his ears even began to pick up on what he was talking about. While he was fighting a literal God of Destruction in some sense, the two older Saiyans were practically tearing through countless of those monsters that they saw earlier. It was so comedic that Goku had started using one as a ping-pong paddle by grabbing an antenna of some sort while punching its dome repeatedly. This of course led to its antenna stretching and its body doing a sling-shot effect that slammed into multiple of their allies. Vegeta at least was a bit more serious though he was making quick work with relentless energy blasts that either pierced through their chest or just outright disintegrated them. His was more effective, to say the least, and the Universe 7 prince didn't even hide the fact as he noted, "Hahahahahahah! Looks like I am in the lead, Kakarot. 112,224 to your measly 105,110!"

"Wow Vegeta, you sure are taking this seriously. Fine, then no more playing around!" Goku enthused before finally punching the monster so hard that the antenna broke and sent it hurling into the hoard. With a quick burst of energy, the Hero of Earth had transformed into his Mastered Super Saiyan Blue state before quickly unleashing a Kamehameha whose size dwarfed the hoard he was dealing with.

In an instant, multiple explosions littered the sky, and based on what Kuzuku could see, Vegeta wasted no time matching the same energy, "I refuse to lose this, even to you Kakarot!" He too had transformed into a Master Super Saiyan Blue, his power skyrocketing before unleashing a Final Flash that replicated the same feat. All this and Kuzuku couldn't help but understand why Ryo was here. His two Saiyan seniors were simply that far into a league of their own.

"I see now, hehe. While they're up there having fun, I'm down here getting my butt whooped by that guy," Kuzuku nervously chuckled while pointing at a Krugel who seemed to be trying to process something.

Ryo looked over at him and oddly enough, that clueless and normally cheerful expression that seemed permanent disappeared, something that made Kuzuku a bit alarmed. He barely could make out what he mumbled under his breath, "I see. . .so he's an apostle of one of the kings. . .and so soon too." Unsure as to what he was saying, Kuzuku was about to ask before suddenly, Ryo reverted to his usual demeanor.

"Hey, Kuzuku. . .do you need help? We can take this guy on together!" Ryo chirped, his personality perfectly completing a whole 360.

Kuzuku thought for a moment as he looked over at Krugel. Despite the oddity of Ryo, he knew this wasn't the best time to be privy. For now, they had to deal with an issue that was currently a lot bigger. The Ex-God of Destruction was proving to be a lot stronger than he initially thought. Defeating Champa was already an indicator but right now, he was starting to get a grasp on just how dangerous Krugel was. Not only was he ridiculously powerful, but he was also cunning and knew how to break down opponents with just a few interactions. If anything, it was like he was fighting Jiren if he ever took up the mantle of becoming a God of Destruction candidate instead of Toppo. Though, that said, this was also a perfect opportunity. Something that he couldn't pass up despite the risks, "Maybe, you can wait on standby. I got this for now." Hearing this, Ryo and even Krugel were taken aback by his response. He wasn't serious, right? But the smirk on his face said otherwise. He was completely sure, so much that Krugel laughed at such a claim.

"Bwahahahahaha, you gotta be kidding me! You got this under control you say? I applaud the confidence my good sir but you ought to just cut your losses here and accept help while you still can. That friend of yours seems capable enough if he was fast enough to move you out of the way," Krugel insisted.

However, Kuzuku didn't budge one bit despite the worried expression Ryo was giving him. He wasn't sure exactly why he was so worried and he had a feeling it wasn't because they were simply friends. Nevertheless, the Saiyan cracked his neck a bit before replying, "Well, what you are saying isn't wrong. I'm struggling quite a bit more than I am liking it to be and I'm sorta backed into a corner. However. . ." Kuzuku paused, his body relaxing despite the pain still being present.

"For us Saiyans, struggle in of itself is what helps us grow the most. I already figured out a few things about what you saw about my martial arts." Kuzuku claimed, earning a curious look from the two people present, "One, because most of the techniques revolve around using kicks, the style is limited in very close-quarters engagement. Only a few techniques such as Crawling Serpent and Rising Imoogi can make up for it and I haven't perfected Kechuku yet which brings forth the second weakness. Its limited striking points make it easier to read where the strike will be aimed at. There are only a few spots currently where I can strike you to the point that you can narrow them down."

Smirking, Krugel couldn't help but start clapping, "Impressive, it takes a lot for someone to self-reflect. But is that all?"

"No, weakness number three showed itself earlier as well. If I'm airborne, I can generate as much power because there is no contact with the ground. Because of that, it was a lot more difficult to counter your attack. Then there is the fourth and last issue which was given away when this whole fight began in the first place. It places too much strain on the body when used consecutively which was why you targeted my legs and impaled them in hopes to mitigate how much power I can generate," Kuzuku added in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Wow, going for brownie points? So tell me. . ," Krugel licked his lips in anticipation, "What good will all that knowledge do for you right now?"

Ryo looked over to Kuzuku who seemed emotionless and silent at the question. He was worried a bit before he noticed Kuzuku's lips perked up before replying, "As I told you, I had to use a reference as a template which is why such flaws were expected to rise eventually. Though, because they arise thanks to you, I already had enough time to figure out how to mitigate those flaws." Before Krugel could even reply, the Saiyan had already lunged himself towards him and closed the distance.

Though he relaxed once he noticed the wind gathering around Kuzuku's left foot, indicating that using his right at that moment was out of the question. That only begged the question of which kick was he going to use this time. Rising Imoogi or the regular Kechuku. Either way, he was ready and his hands elevated at a level where it would be easier for him to block. He just had to wait for Kuzuku to raise his foot and he'll. . .," Huh—!?"

Krugel's thought process was shortly cut off by the feeling of a palm placing itself directly on his chest. He looked down, only to suddenly feel a shock wave generated from the wind somehow climbing up to the central point of his palm before passing through and knocking the wind out of him, his lungs compressing and his eyes bulging out from a simple gesture. Though Kuzuku wasn't finished, his palm retracted before smashing his elbow directly into the same spot with the opposite arm, the impact seemingly doubling in power and pushing Krugel back. The Ex-God of Destruction coughed a bit of blood, his eyes showing a bit of confusion before Kuzuku explained with a calm expression on his face, "Weakness #1 and #2 solution: Utilize previous techniques and mold them to fit within the style. Result: Teiryudou: Horn Bash and Teiryudou: Air Pulse. Now, how about this! Imperial Dragon's Dance: Ascending Combination!" The Saiyan dashed forth, his speed allowing his fist to strike the lower stomach to knock the more wind out of his opponent. Wasting no time, his fist ripped through the air like a blur, each strike connecting against the opponent's sternum and chest before he finally charged up for the final blow, amber ki wrapping around his concentrated palm strike. Krugel grimaced and leaped away before the blow could connect, though Kuzuku was already hot on his trail.

Krugel then noticed the wind gathering around Kuzuku's foot the moment he closed the distance. Based on his third weakness, he knew he'll be able to block this as this was his weak area. Quickly, he raised his guard to protect his head. . .until he felt his arms be forcefully dragged down. His eyes widened in confusion to see a kick using the opposite leg instead of the leg that he wanted to defend against was now somehow hooked around his arms and pulling him, "Weakness #3, Solution #1: If incapable of performing Solution #2, aim to break through the opponent's guard to make up for the decrease in power. Result: Teiryudou: Moon Sickle. . . " With the open opportunity, Kuzuku spun around, before using the regular Kechuku despite the pain his right leg was feeling. The blow connected and oddly enough to Krugel, the impact was as if it didn't dissipate in power.

"Solution #2: Instead of channeling your ki beneath your feet to float and fly, solidify it temporarily to simulate standing on a surface. Result: Teiryudou: Air-Stepping. . .!" Kuzuku roared, his strike sending Krugel rocketing back down into the crater below in a spiral. The Ex-God of Destruction was drilled into the ground, the impact causing chunks of rubble to protrude upwards as his body skid across the terrain before crashing into the side of the crater. The Saiyan landed back down, though it didn't go unnoticed that blood began to spew out from the wounds dealt to his leg. Still, he seemed to ignore it. He had too as Krugel shot out of the debris and closed the distance with an aim punch directed at Kuzuku's face. Swiftly, he weaved out of the way and retaliated with an elbow while grabbing Krugel's arm and pulling him in. Krugel felt his head bobbed back from the strike smashing into his frontal lobe, barely registering Kuzuku performing an act of pure, superhuman flexibility and kicking him in the back of his head by slipping his leg underneath the arm he was holding. Then, before he realized it, the Saiyan hopped just enough so he could twist his body for his leg to fully wrap around his neck before spinning him sideways. Disoriented, Krugel felt his back and head smash into the ground only for Kuzuku to unleash an onslaught of punches all over his body. He groaned, his arms crossing to defend against the strikes as Kuzuku pressed all his weight to hold him down. Krugel couldn't help but note, "He used that crescent kick from earlier as a takedown!? Tch. . .!"

Having enough, he did a small gesture that was hard to notice before more distortion became evident around the Saiyan. With impressive reflexes, Kuzuku let go of his hold and leaped away, his body twisting and moving around narrowed between the spikes that aimed to skewer him from all directions. Despite the limited room, he saw this as an opportunity and used the rotating movement in the air to generate wind while Krugel took the moment to stand back up. By the time the Ex-God of Destruction noticed, he was greeted with the sight of Kuzuku's raised heel and his eyes completely blank like a beast. Wasting no time, he strengthened his guard and crossed his arms as his heel came crashing down from above with explosive force, the wind slowly beginning to take shape though not completely with only sparks showing, "Teiryudou: Falling Meteor!" The collision between the offense and defense caused the spikes to shatter along with the ground, both fighters glaring at each other with Krugel smirking as he noticed Kuzuku's pained expression that oddly smiled back at him.

"I see you weren't bluffing. . .but weakness #4 seems to still be an issue!" Krugel exclaimed before leaping away to allow Kuzuku's heel to slam into the planet's surface. Krugel raised his hand to generate energy into the protruding parts of his blade-looking elbow, the energy of destruction just oozing off it while Kuzuku gathered more wind into his right foot from spinning around in preparation to counter.

The Saiyan smirked, his foot leaving the ground as he was ready to fire away, "Weakness #4, Solution: I'll have to be more diligent in my training from here to overcome it! Full-Power, Teiryudou: Kechuku!"

"Fine then, but will knowing that be enough!? Megalodon's Blade: Full-Extension!" Krugel questioned, his bladed elbow elongated before directing a slash straight towards Kuzuku in the form of a projectile.

Similarly, Kuzuku roared, unleashing an enormous slash-wave composed of the wind generated that collided with Krugel's. As a result, the two attacks looked as if two tsunamis were crashing into each other while Ryo watched in complete awe but not because of the sheer power showcased, "Amazing, despite his weaknesses being brought to the forefront, he was quickly able to work-around them. Especially when up against the wall. . .he still somehow finds the strength to fight. . ." Ryo shielded himself from the strong pressure as he watched Kuzuku smirk against the powerful winds. He couldn't help but admire it, his lips pursing with a strange sense of pride that welled up in his chest. Happiness filled his heart and he couldn't help but nearly shed a tear as memories flooded back into his head.

"Even though you've given up everything, in a way, you got what you wanted. . .even if you will no longer be the same," Ryo remarked, his eyes glued on the fight between a Saiyan and deity.


(Meanwhile, Far-Away From The Large Crater, With Universe 6 Saiyans. . .)

Okara stood a bit wary amongst the fierce winds. There were many things that his mother would tell him from time to time. One was that Hell was a scary place but there wasn't a Hell in existence that would be able to rival a Saiyan male's fury. Only one thing could and possibly even surpass such a thing. . .the wrath of an angry Saiyan woman. Now, there was some truth in those words as he watched one of those creatures walk straight toward him although it hadn't been what he'd expected. Her hair had grown longer and turned gold, her eyes completely overshadowed by the white light emitting from them. Furthermore, she had gained a slight increase in muscle mass, the evidence showing as they looked more defined compared to her prior appearance. They were refined yet still lean, however, with every step she took towards him, he noticed the ground indenting from the sheer weight of the aura surrounding her. Thick blue bio-electricity struck the ground surrounding her, the emanating golden light exuding a pressure that admittedly made his survival tingle, and based on the look she gave him. . .he was rightfully so. Though, that didn't even stop him from remarking, "What? Are you angry that this pathetic waste was disposed of, Bandit Queen of the Saiyan's crime network?". Caulifla, the woman whose temper before this was always on the edge, shot him a teary glare.

"Watch your mouth. . .you're already on my 'To-Kill' list. Your talking is only making it harder for those who may want to spare you because once I'm done beating you bloody. . .," Caulifla's eyes finally became visible, the rage practically visible in them as she finished, "It'll take a lot to stop me."

Seemingly unfazed, Okara looked down at the motionless body of his brother whose eyes had already begun to grow faint in color before turning his attention back on her, "Hmm? A lot, you say? And for him no less. That's just rich coming from someone who treated him like he was an infestation. Were you just lying to yourself?" Caulifla began to clench his fist, her teeth baring their fangs.

"Shut up. . .," the feisty Saiyan hissed inaudibly though Okara ignored it despite hearing it.

"Does it have something to do with your deceased parents?" Okara mentioned with a glint in his eye as soon as he noticed Caulifla's faint reaction, "You don't have to be so secretive, I've known you just as long as Lottus. How could I not? Your father was a high-ranking officer during my grandfather's time and your mother was his assistant. Both had large contributions to the progression of the Saiyan empire, so it was expected that their children would do the same. But unfortunately, that wasn't the case with you, unlike your older brother. You found a potential mate who was a part of the most dangerous crime syndicates in Sadala that were aiming to overthrow the king."

"Shut up. . ." she growled once more, this time she became more audibly irritated. Her power began to grow which alarmed both Kale and Cabba while Queen Chaya was left speechless at the motionless body of her youngest.

However, Okara knew that he was getting under her skin. To him, physical ability and skill were one thing but battles were just as much as a mind game as well. Something he knew Caulifla lacked and will soon throw off her judgment, "And to think, just one little family outing to introduce said person lead to their deaths. Knowing this, maybe you're angry because seeing Lottus's rage from my betrayal makes you feel angry as well. How empathetic of you. . .'' As if to push her buttons further, he bent down and picked up his brother's body before tossing him like a sack towards his mother who flinched at the sound of Lottus crashing near her.

Caulifla's fist clenched, snarling, "Why you, what are you trying to get at!? Are you trying to poke through my brain!?"

"Now, now, leader," Okara dismissed, his hand waving nonchalantly, "All I'm doing is trying to understand your raw emotion that drew forth that power. Was what transpired the trigger via serving as a reminder? Did you view my little brother more as a nuisance? No. . .I think it'd be more accurate to say this. After the death of your parents because of the desire to express your 'love', you kept everyone you knew at arm's length. Why? It's simple. Because you simply didn't want more bodies piling up on your consciousness because of your 'love'. Truly, soft-hearted in the end-!?"

Before he could so much as finish his sentence, he picked up on the sound cracking through an excessive amount of force. All it took was for him to blink a single time before he saw it. Within just mere inches from his face, a seemingly once delicate fist now shredded through the air before decking him so hard he felt himself flying for only a few seconds before crashing into a nearby wall. Okara groaned though he could hear the sound of slowly yet dangerous stomps heading straight towards him. He looked up, blood leaking from his forehead before noticing Caulifla cracking her knuckles. Her eyes beamed straight onto his as she made not a threat. . .but a statement, "That's it. No matter what they say, your fate is sealed. I'm sending you to Hell." Her tone lacked the true display of how she felt. She was furious. . .but it was the kind that was so beyond the emotional state of a normal mortal that they couldn't even express it.

"Me? Going to Hell? No, you are mistaken. I'm sending you there soon," Okara corrected while turning his attention back to Champa, "But first, I have a job to complete, so-!"

He felt his voice die in his throat as he felt Caulifla's hand grab him by the hair and pull him hard enough to his body across the dirt. The angered Saiyan woman let out a grunt, her fingers letting go as she tossed Okara high into the air only to dash forth. She wasn't expecting her speed to increase by so much but she could care less. It'll help with her agenda anyways. With a loud shout, she kicked Okara hard in the stomach, the blow leaving him dazed while she continued to unleash a flurry of straight kicks that looked like a blur. Though she stopped the moment she noticed Okara's hand began to crackle with electricity. The sight of this made her back away, narrowly dodging the swipe of Okara's fingers aimed to claw at her. With anger fueling her very active, she didn't care about thinking ahead, her mind clouded as she threw a thunderous punch straight towards his face. This time though, Okara was ready, his body swaying to the side before locking his hands around her arm. Caulifla flinched a bit, unaware of the Saiyan prince turning his body to lift her over his shoulder. Before she knew it, she found herself flung towards the ground, the speed which nearly broke several sound barriers in the process.

Quickly, she flipped herself mid-air so she could land on her feet before shooting herself back towards her target that was already hot on her tail. Evidently, the two clashed in the center, a furious golden-blue versus a cold purplish-red before they separated briefly and vanished. It was confusing at first though the sudden shockwaves that littered the sky said it all for those who watched. The sound of their blows resonating with the entire area said it all though Caulifla appeared to have the upper hand after landing a bone-crushing kick to the stomach that sent him flying back. Okara groaned, though, he didn't have much time to dwell on it as he noticed Caulifla's hand extend towards him, murderous intent filling her eyes.

"Crush Cannon!" She shouted, the palm of her hand pulsating a red, ring-like glow before firing several energy blasts toward him. The Saiyan prince hissed, his arms crossing before the blasts impacted, resulting in a large explosion that extended far across the sky. Though soon enough, Okara flew out of the smoke with only minor damage done to his arms and appeared to not really care. Caulifla let out a grunt, her body dashing towards him who simply squared up in response, his eyes sharp and stance indicating his experience. With blinding speeds, the Saiyan prince threw out several jab punches despite still having an exceptional gap between them. The action itself made Caulifla raise an eyebrow before suddenly feeling the need to dodge. For someone who was good at trusting their instinct due to being a natural brawling, Caulifla weaved towards the right, a straight-lined shockwave only grazing the side of her cheek. Swiftly, she repeated the same motion, her head bobbing from side to side before ducking under a right hook that was aimed at her temple.

However, she quickly found that the course of action was a mistake with the only thought in her mind was, "Huh. . .-!" Intruding in, she didn't even process it until it was too late. Pain washed over her, the feeling of Okara's knee slamming into her forehead with enough power to cock her head back proving to be damaging. Especially since it seemed to have left a cut, the open wound leaving a trail of blood to drip over her closed left eye. Quickly enough, Okara took the opening and punched her across the face with his free hand, the blow nearly sending her flying until impressively enough, she recovered and retaliated with a kick of her own which the prince raised his guard to block. However, he had underestimated how unpredictable she could really be, the kick proving to be nothing more than a feint for her to land a spinning elbow in his gut. He grunted, the blow packing far more power than he anticipated while the furious woman repeatedly continued to deliver elbow shots one after another.

He knew he couldn't keep talking for long so he vanished from her sights only for him to deliver a hammer punch from above that nearly shut Caulifla's body down. It may have been the case. . .if she wasn't fueled by an unbearable desire to tear him apart. Her vision cleared in just seconds, her eyes shooting daggers above her before flipping herself using the momentum from the blow dealt to her. Okara looked stupor for a moment before her heel slammed into the side of his skull. His body was sent flying through the sky like he had been shot out of a cannon before stopping himself mid-air. With a burst of Ki, he flew back towards the still recovering Caulifla who took notice. She roared, her Ki flaring and empowering her before charging toward the one she vowed to kill. In a blinding flash, the two contrasting streams of Ki burst into a torrent that shook the very planet, both fighters seemingly landing a punch on each other's chins. They seemed stunned for a moment, though quickly enough, they decked each other again. Then again. . .and again. . .until eventually it turned into a contest of who could throw the most punch, their blows letting their impact be known throughout the vicinity.

As they continued to throw their fists with precision, Cabba and Kale could only watch from below as the fight became more and more intense. Though Kale was left completely speechless at the sight. Out of all her years, she had experienced Caulifla get angry and learned to accept it as it was part of her character. However, this was the first time ever that she had witnessed her outright wanting to kill someone. It was unbecoming of her and she couldn't make up her mind on whether to interfere even if she had silently wanted to do this by herself or sit by and watch from afar. This duality itself was leaving her indecisive which was why Cabba proved to be the one to snap out of it and come to reason. Right now wasn't the time.

"That's right. . .!" Cabba muttered, his feet picking up as he ran over quickly to where Lottus and Queen Chaya reside. His steps slowed his first attention on Lottus who was seemingly motionless before examining the wound. It didn't take a genius that getting stabbed right through would be life-threatening, even for a Saiyan who didn't have the Ki of a God. Knowing this and judging from the area that Okara had aimed for, the main issue that would cause his death would be blood loss. The young Saiyan Captain took his hand and began checking, his eyes patiently waiting nervously before he felt it. It was faint but there was a pulse. . .and that was more than enough, "He's. . .He's still breathing!"

His loud explanation snapped the Queen out of her state of shock, her eyes immediately turning to Cabba who began looking around and scurrying through his pockets. He needed anything, just anything that could be used to at least stop the bleeding that was formulating a pool that stained his knees. Though, before he could reach the answer himself, Chaya recalled something given earlier and came to his side which earned his attention. Without saying a word, she reached around Lottus's pockets before pulling out the bag that had been given to him by Kuzuku. Cabba, immediately realizing it, pointed out, "Wait. . .that's! My Queen, feed whatever is inside of the bag to him now!"

"Huh?" Queen Chaya let out, confused as to why the content inside the bag would be vital to her son's survival. But at this point, she'll take just about anything to prevent another loved one from dying. She quickly pulled out what looked to be an ordinary, uncooked green bean to her and pressed it against her son's lips, "Lottus, please. . .if you can hear me, eat this."

A muffled groan was all she got in response before the youngest prince opened his mouth slightly before consuming the bean. He chewed with a bit of struggle until he noticeably swallowed it and let out a gasp. Cabba and Queen Chaya eyed him closely. He was beginning to stabilize as the bleeding had begun to stop and he was actually beginning to show more clear signs of breathing. However, even while seeing this, Cabba noticed something in particular, "That's odd. . ."

"What's odd?" Queen Chaya raised a concerned eyebrow, "I thought you were trying to say this would help him. . .!"

Nervously, Cabba waved his hands defensively, "I was, and it is! It's just. . ." He calmed himself down and looked back at Lottus's condition.

"Senzu Beans normally are capable of healing grave wounds along with replenishing energy completely upon consumption. But despite not bleeding anymore, the effects are taking longer than it normally should. . ." Cabba explained before clenching his teeth once he notice Lottus coughing a bit of blood, "He may not recover fast enough to be able to fight. . ."

Queen Chaya remained silent, the nervousness becoming more and more difficult to hide as she turned towards the battle above just in time to see the large shockwave expand to the point that it was halfway to touching the ground. In the center were Caulifla and Okara, their punches countering each other before they separated. Both of them were beginning to show some wear and tear but Okara didn't seem to show it as he was still giving her a calculating gaze.

"I must admit, whatever transformation that is, it sure has provided you a tremendous amount of power. Just great, another tool for you to use in your mischief," Okara admitted.

Caulifla growled, "Compliment and flattery won't change my mind. I am still going to kill you." Okara shook his head condescendingly.

"Yet you still haven't provided a clear reason as to why. But what do I gain from arguing with someone who doesn't even know themself," Okara noted, earning another glare directed towards him yet he batted it away as an inconvenience. He simply raised his hand, a black-mist-like energy formulating which alarmed Caulifla as she could immediately discern its nature. From her encounter with Ize, she felt herself feeling chills to the bone each time she recalled his aura. It was malicious, crazy, and just downright maddening but the feeling she got from the eldest Prince just now was different. It was malicious yet indiscriminate. As if no matter what it was or who it may be, he'd tear them to shreds. That was the feeling she was getting from him and was becoming more apparent as he spoke, "You know, I've always argued with your brother and my father about you. I always said that you were too much of a hassle and risk to be kept alive let alone locked up. But as Renzo had a soft spot for you, my father had always stayed reluctant to ever meddle against your gang before you acquire the power of a Super Saiyan…"

The black mist around his hand began to travel and make its way around his body. From his head to his torso and even to his feet, the mist only expanded evermore dangerously.

"That's why I'll fix the first mistake of my father and eliminate you so you won't cause any more issues when I'm king. You may have gained the powers of a Super Saiyan and beyond that but I too have gained something that is far more powerful and only to those chosen," Okara explained, his hand twitching to cause the fog to travel towards Caulifla and before she knew it. . .she found herself shrouded in darkness.


A/N: Phew, chapter finished! Sorry, it took so long, got really busy lately all of a sudden. Not much progress in terms of the plot of course but the fights are essentially escalating as planned. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this week's chapter! Until we meet again!