As Gainin watched Angel charge Gohan and then the two of them starting to battle he found his focus drifting from them to the distant Saiya City. He wasn't sure why but something was drawing his mind that way and after a few seconds he turned to look. He wasn't picking up any unexpected powers but.... "It feels like something is..."
"Wrong." Vegeta said from beside him. The Cyborg glanced over and saw that he, too, was gazing into the city. "Something feels wrong somehow...."
"Probably just worried about the others." Mijima said, glancing back at the city as well. "I'm worried too but they can take care of themselves." She then turned her attention to where Hotaru was now sitting with the injured Sakura again, Trunks and Goten beside them. "I almost forgot you were still here." she said to the girl. "If I were in the same shape as you I'd probably be screaming from the pain."
Sakura left out a short laugh. "Hurts more to scream." she said.
"Don't worry." Hotaru told her, resting a hand on the girl's forehead. "We'll be able to get you healed soon."
A second later a familiar voice cried out. "Sakura!" Akemi landed beside her sister, eyes wide with worry. "Sakura! You're...."
"I'm ok." she said softly. "Really. Just a little... beaten up."
"You did great." Hotaru said, resting a hand on Sakura's head. "Fighting against Recoome so well at your age."
"Meanwhile we had to deal with Ginyu." Cheri muttered. "And one of those damn Nam-"
"Cheri!" Akemi cried.
"-eks, sorry Akemi, severed my tail."
"You two fought Ginyu?" Vegeta asked, glancing over to them.
Cheri nodded. "Would have kicked his butt after I transformed if he hadn't kicked it himself."
"What do you mean?" asked Videl.
Cheri shrugged. "He tried to switch bodies with Akemi but for some reason it didn't work. Some sort of energy backwash zapped him. I lost his ki then so I think it killed him. I stepped on him any way, though, just to make sure."
Hotaru, Vegeta, Vadora, and Videl all exchanged glances at this before turning their focus back to the battle at hand. Gohan and Angel were slugging it out right on top of each other in a flurry of motions. Punches, kicks, dodges, blocks, and counters. Dozens of them in a matter of seconds.
"He's slacked off too much." Vegeta said, crossing his arms. "I expected him to be closer to my level, if not higher. I still don't have full mastery over the first form, don't get the full increase from it, and I'm still stronger than him."
"Your normal level has always been higher than his." Videl said as she gave the Sai-jin royal a sideways glance.
Vegeta snorted. "True though that may be my normal power has increased more than his and I've not gotten in nearly the training I've wanted."
"I'd think you'd be happy." Hotaru said from where she sat with Sakura. "You're finally the strongest living Sai-jin."
The royal smirked. "A little." he said. "Though it's not much challenge to surpass a brat that doesn't take training seriously."
A loud crack sounded as Angel landed a hard left hook across Gohan's jaw. The blow's downward angled thrust sent the teen toward the ground only a few feet below him. He hit with a ground shattering crash before he'd even realized he was heading toward it. Angel attempted to follow up with a ki blast but Gohan deflected it away with a kick as he flipped back onto his feet.
The two resumed their close range battle, little more than blurs of color to all those watching. "Of course, it doesn't help he's holding back." Vegeta said after a few minutes. "He may be at full power but he's pulling his punches."
"It's the form." Videl said with a shake of her head. "I've never seen him fight seriously while in the second form. He always holds back, always second guesses himself. I think... he's afraid of losing himself like he did at the Cell Games."
Gohan slipped around a punch and then jammed a knee into Angel's stomach. The first solid blow he'd landed the entire fight. But instead of following up with another attack he pulled back and went on the defensive again. A few attempted hits later he landed a kick to her side and once again moved back instead of following up with it.
It was obvious as they watched that Gohan was only going for quick single strikes even when he had the chance to follow up with more devastating attacks. Meanwhile, on the occasions where Angel got in a hit, she always tried to follow up with a second or third. Even so, the overall count for successful hits was still in Gohan's favor. Angel suffered from the same control issues that Elazeba, and likely the rest, had had.
Gohan dodged around a kick for his head and then jammed his knee into Angel's back before moving away from her again as she stumbled forward. As the Demon recovered she whirled around and thrust an arm in his direction flinging off a blast of red energy that he easily deflected. He then blocked the punch that came right after it, dodged her kick, and then shot off a punch of his own that she pushed to the side before smashing an open palm into his chest.
The blow slid him back a couple feet and knocked the wind out of him. Before he could get his breath back Angel stepped-in toward him and slammed her other palm into his chest driving him back again. Again she stepped in but this time the half Sai-jin grabbed her wrist just before impact and gave her arm a twist as he turned at the waist and then threw her down onto her back on the ground.
As he stepped back she growled and climbed back to her feet. This boy was starting to severely irritate her. She could tell he wasn't giving his all which annoyed her. And it annoyed her further when she added that to the fact he was still even with her, even though she was the stronger of the two. This fight could go on all day and if she was having this much trouble with someone her lesser and who wasn't trying what issues would she have with someone stronger who was fighting seriously?
She left out a long slow breath and closed her eyes as she brought her hands together, raised before her, as though praying. Ciferlu saw this and his eyes widened. "Angel! Are you insane!?" he cried. He was one of the ones who had decided that, under no circumstances, would he use this particular technique. Death was preferable to no longer being himself. "It's not worth it!"
Gohan glanced at the other Demon as he spoke and then turned to the others who all simply shrugged. He felt a sudden rush of wind and turned back toward the Demon. He watched in confusion as black wisps of smoke coming from the other Demon and all around them began to drift in toward her in the wind. Within seconds a whirlwind of the black smoke had surrounded her and her screams began to sound across the landscape, even over the roar of the wind.
Angel had heard Ciferlu's shout but had ignored him. She didn't care what happened to her as long as she got the power to win this battle. If it meant the death of her, as far as her personality went, then so be it. She would win this battle, she would not lose to Mortals, to Shinkai weaklings, no matter the cost. She refused to suffer such shame. And so, even as the pain tore at her body, she kept her mind focused on what she was doing.
Black and dark purple energy began to seep out from the dark twister as her screams intensified. And then the smoke transformed into black and purple energy and the roar of the energy twister drowned out the screams from within. The energy continued to swirl for a moment longer and then dissipated away into non existence in a matter of seconds. When the energy vanished and revealed Angel once more everyone, even Ciferlu, let out gasps of shock. No longer would she be able to pass herself off as a yellow skinned Human.
Her height had increased from five to eight feet, her shoulders had broadened along with her upper torso giving her a disproportionate look as her legs were still as slim as before. Though they were now longer and her feet larger and clawed. Her long arms had three inch long spikes along the outer edge and her hands each had eight clawed fingers.
Her face no longer resembled anything Human, wide mouth full of two rows of large silvery teeth and a forked black tongue, a flat and wide nose, overly large solid red eyes, and long pointy ears. Her hair was gone leaving her bald and revealing the deformed shape of her head as it stretched back and hooked up into a point nearly a foot and a half behind her face. Her skin was now leathery and a drab green color like wet moss.
The Angel snorted, black smoke emitting from her nostrils, as she flexed her fingers and growled, glaring at Gohan. The teen swallowed and took on his combat stance again. Her changed appearance had brought with it a considerable increase in power. He'd never felt anything so strong and he doubted he, or even Vegeta, could actually beat it.
"Angel?" Ciferlu asked as he gazed at her. "Are you still there?"
Her head turned slightly at the sound of the other's voice. She stared at him for a moment and then turned her focus back to Gohan. With a snarl she lunged at him with incredible speed. He left out a cry of pain as she swiped at him and slashed through his clothes with one hand slicing open his skin in six places. He stumbled back and ignored the pain as he tried to follow her movements but her fist impacted with his face a second later without him even seeing her move.
He came to a stop after only a few feet as Videl caught him. Shaking his head to clear it as he stood under his own power again he saw Vegeta walk out, green eyed, golden haired, and with blue energy snapping around his body, to join him. "This is going to be a problem." he said. "Even I can't take that... thing... on my own. You need to get over your power phobia right now, brat. As much as I don't like it we have to fight together."
"How?" Gohan asked. "I couldn't even see her move."
"Three on one gives us better odds." Videl said stepping up on Gohan's other side.
The teen shook his head. "No way, this is out of your league Videl."
The girl smirked. "I was saving this for our fight but I guess it can't be helped." she said, clenching her hands into fists as she flashed gold. And then she left out a cry as she focused and drew out her power. There was one spark of blue, then another, and then a flash as she ascended to the second level. Relaxing she unclenched her hands and smiled. "I can't let you boys show me up."
"V-Videl!" Gohan cried, wide eyed. "When did... how did... you're stronger than me!"
Videl smiled and shrugged. "It was about a month after I started training for the tournament." she said. "I knew it was the only way I could win so I pushed myself to reach it."
"Talk later!" Vegeta yelled as Angel suddenly charged them again. The three scattered quickly out of the way but a large foot still caught Vegeta in the stomach doubling him over. Videl used the Demon's pre-occupation with Vegeta to slip around behind her and slam a foot into her back. But the blow didn't do any noticeable damage and the Demon spun quickly slamming an elbow into her face and knocking her back.
Vegeta and Gohan both attacked at once but Angel blocked each of their punches with one arm while she grabbed Videl's ankle with the other. Before any of them could react she whipped Videl around and used her as a bat to smack both males in the head before throwing her into the ground. With a loud growl she then charged red energy in her hands and began lobbing blasts in the general direction of the three Sai-jins.
"Crap!" Hotaru cried as she quickly climbed to her feet, transformed, and powered up the Kinryoku. The Sai-jins were between her, the others, and where Angel stood. Several of the haphazard energy blasts would sail right passed the slowly standing Sai-jins and land near them. The Tanarian quickly threw up her arms and made the strongest ki barrier she could manage hopping it would be good enough. "Behind me!" she ordered.
Vadora quickly grabbed Goten and Trunks and pulled the stunned kids out of the way as she moved behind the barrier as well. And then a second later the explosions began as the energy blasts rained down around them. Hotaru couldn't see the three before her through the quickly growing dust cloud or her own focused mind as she fought to keep the energy barrier in place. It was a losing battle, however, and the field began to shrink as energy blasts hit and exploded quickly sapping away the woman's strength.
Time seemed to move in slow motion for Cheri as she watched, from a few feet in front of and beside Sakura, an energy blast hit the top edge of the barrier and get spliced. The lower portion exploded while the upper continued on at a new angle toward her general direction. For a fraction of a second fear gripped her and held her in place. And then the urge to get away sent energy to her feet as her eyes tracked the blast's new course so she could be sure to evade it.
Sakura, too, was watching the attack as though it were moving in slow motion. But unlike her friend she didn't have to track it to see where it was going. She could tell, clearly, exactly where it was going to hit. Right on top of her. She closed her eyes tight and held her breath waiting for the impact and hopping it'd be quick.
Her eyes snapped back open an instant later as a loud scream reached her ears sounding from just feet away. The energy had exploded against something and through the glare and smoke she couldn't tell what... until Cheri slammed into the ground beside her clutching her left arm against her chest and screaming.
Hotaru looked back at the sound as, thankfully, the energy barrage came to a stop. She feared the screams came from her daughter but soon saw that they didn't. Sakura was fine, or at least as fine as she had been earlier. But the girl's eyes were wide as she stared beside her and the woman turned her gaze. She must have seen the other girl, blood soaking her clothes and her hand, at the same time as Vadora because just as she saw her she heard the Sai-jin woman yell her daughter's name.
A loud crash drew the Tanarian's focus back to the fight and she saw that, still, the three were getting beaten badly by the transformed Angel. Things were not looking good.
ZZZ
Planet Vegeta's Lookout
Tatamo's attention had been drawn to Saiya City again. He'd felt deaths there, numerous ones, and an unusual power. But before he'd been able to find the cause of them his mind was drawn back to Gohan's battle again because the Demon's power had suddenly increased. -Azura, do you hear me?- he asked.
-I hear you Tatamo. And I see.- She said as the barrage of energy attacks began. -Things are worse than we first believed, it would appear. If they cannot win this battle then....-
Tatamo was sure he felt the woman cringe as Cheri swatted at a stray attack in order to save her friend and, most certainly, lost her hand in the process. -I'm going down there.- he said. -I'm not sure how much help even I will be in this affair but they need some sort of mircale.-
-Take care not to be killed.-
-Don't I always?-
ZZZ
Planet Vegeta, Galactic Games Arena
Vadora, Akemi, Goten, and Trunks were now all crowded around the injured Cheri trying to comfort her. All their eyes were wide at the sight of the damage done by the attack. Her left hand, from about the middle of her wrist, was completely gone. Her arm wasn't bleeding, the stump cauterized by the explosion. Which meant all the blood splattered on her clothes and arm had come from her hand itself. It was a small consolation to Vadora, it meant her daughter wouldn't bleed to death, but it didn't make her feel any better.
Right now her mind was a jumble of thoughts and emotions. Seeing her daughter in such pain and so badly injured hurt her. But that emotional pain was warring with how proud she felt, too. In that split second when the attack was coming at them her daughter had leapt in the way of the attack without thought of her own safety, just that of her friend who couldn't move, couldn't avoid it, couldn't escape what would have surely killed her.
She was still trying to figure out what to do when suddenly someone appeared beside her and bent down over her daughter. Her mind still jumbled she turned to see who it was and it took a moment to recognize the man as the Sai-jin that had beaten Mijima in the tournament. Tatamo. According to Piccolo, THE Tatamo from over ten thousand years ago. Turning back to her daughter she saw him slip something into her mouth, then reach over and do the same for Sakura.
"S-Senzus?" she stammered, a bit surprised.
"Got them from Earth." he said. "Only reason I wasn't here faster." As he finished speaking Cheri's face relaxed and she let out a long sigh as the pain faded.
Sakura sat up and stared at her arms in shock. "This is... wow." she said. Then she turned to her friend. "Oh no, Cheri, your hand!"
The half Sai-jin glanced down at the missing appendage and then shrugged. "My hand for changing Akemi's vision." she said, smiling a little at her friend. "I think that's a pretty fair exchange."
"But...."
Suddenly Goten's face lit up. "Hey, I bet the dragon Gohan's talked about can bring back her hand!"
"Let's worry about that later." Cheri said, with a shake of her head, as she turned to the still on going battle. Even with the three of them fighting, all at level two, the transformed Angel was having little trouble with them. They had scratches and cuts all over, bruises too, but the Demon seemed unharmed. /That is, if there is a later./ the girl thought.
Tatamo walked out toward where the three Sai-jins stood together, panting, and trying to catch their breath. As he did he pulled off his weighted clothing and tossed it aside. The transformed Demon turned slightly to fix its gaze on the new arrival as he tensed. There was a rush of wind around him, dust swirled at his feet, and then in a flash of gold he transformed.
Vegeta's eyes widened in shock, right along with Videl's and Gohan's. /He's... he's stronger than I am? As just a Super Sai-jin?/ Vegeta thought, mind somewhat numb. But it slowly caught up to speed. /Of course he would be, his base is practically even with the Cyborgs..../ His train of thought trailed off there as he considered the increase in power he'd felt compared to the man's starting power and realized it wasn't nearly as great as it could have been.
"That's... incredible...." Videl said as she found her voice.
Tatamo shrugged. "I've had plenty of time to train." he said. "Though I really do have to ask you guys how you've increased the power of your transformation."
Gohan blinked. "You mean you don't know?"
The Sai-jin shook his head. "Until meeting you guys I've never seen the transformation yield anything but a twenty fold increase. But how about we talk later and fight now?" he finished as he saw Angel getting restless.
"He has a point." Vegeta said. "Less blabbering and more battling."
As the four powerful Sai-jins surged in at their opponent, hoping numbers would be enough to over power something so strong, Mijima turned her gaze to the distant Saiya City, an action that didn't go unnoticed by her brother. "What is it?" he asked.
"I've been monitoring the city." she said slowly. "I've picked up a power that's come and gone several times...."
"A power?" Sakura asked as she tried to focus on the city.
The Cyborg nodded and then suddenly a feeling of dread washed through her and her stomach knotted. "Krillin...?"