Please don't be mad at me. I never wanted to write Goten like this, but you will understand later, why he thinks that way.
--
This is the first time that Goten had to show what he really is capable of after all the massive training he had went through. 6 months of training in Beerus Planet must have an effect on this fight or else, he won't be able to go home to his mom. This fight isn't just for himself to prove something to himself, to his dad and to his unfortunately teacher, Beerus. This fight will determine if he'll be able to go home just as promised to his mom.
The elite fighters are already inside the battle arena. Most of them have no ki at all. Guess, they've all reached the state of Gods. Instead of losing his tail, he got excited for a reason. He is probably the one who have ki here. He wanted to laugh at that, but he didn't.
He looked for his dad and saw him - sitting beside Piccolo in the spectators' seats. While everyone is here with him - trying to cheer him up, his father is there - meditating probably. He must have hurt him a while ago. Well, he just wanted him to support him in this fight, but he was more like discouraging him and he hated it.
He averted his gaze to his brother who had been with him the whole time - watching intently his opponents. He must be trying to read his opponents and so he can give him some advice. Well, Gohan would always be the best.
"Goten, be careful. Don't underestimate your opponents. Lots of them have no ki and so you'll have a hard time dealing with that."
"I'll be fine, Gohan. I wanna do this on my own way."
His brother can only smile at him before tapping his shoulder.
This.
This is what he needs and not some discouragements from someone he really looked up to.
He once looked at his dad's direction, and found him looking at him as well. His dad wave his hand to him before giving him a thumbs up. That would do, Goten thought.
"I trust you, Goten. Make sure to make it out alive. If I see you having difficult time down there - I won't hesitate to rush to your side."
He laughed at Gohan's words.
"Are you serious? You can't do that. If you go down there, I'll be eliminated. Who knows what that Xeno guy can do."
"It's not a simple battle Royal Goten, it's death match. So it's either, you'd get killed, or you kill. I will not watch you die."
The arena looked like those that of in underground fights. The fighters are inside a chain-like barrier. Goten was curious what's with this kind of battle arena? He remembered how fancy the arenas way back. Did the Gods changed their very fancy nature? The spectators are not even allowed to enter the arena.
Out of curiosity, Goten touched the chain-like barrier but he only ended up getting electrocuted. If he's not a saiyan, he could have died with that. It feels like a million volts of energies were emitted to his hand.
"Fighters of the 12 universes, you are truly magnificent and admirable for doing this honor to please our Lord of All Zeno in this battle."
Goten looked up at the grand priest who is currently talking above them. The chain-like arena isn't really that small but is enough for 12 persons to kill each other off. Goten don't really want to kill anyone but he had to. If this is the only way to stop this mess and go home to earth, he'd do anything for it, even if it means, he'll kill. Again, he'd always survive. He refused to die in a battle.
"I ain't here to please anyone, I am only here and so I can go home." He whispered to himself - thinking of how the grand priest put this battle into 'pleasing Zeno' when it's not.
Goten already have an idea that he can't fly in this kind of Arena and so he decided to take it slow and fight in his normal form.
"Survival will determine the winner of this battle. The dragon ball super is awarded to the only survivor among the 12 fighters. Once the battle is finished, the Gods of Destruction from the 11 universes who had lost in this battle will have no choice but to bow down to the God of Destruction of the only fighter who survived. Hence, this fight will end the dispute between the Gods of Destruction to eradicate the thought of losing universes."
Goten snorted. So, at the end of the day, he'd win this fight and Beerus will have all the benefits? Not that he fancy the super dragon balls, he doesn't have any wish at all. Anyone in their team can have the wish.
After the briefing, the battle started. At first, the 12 fighters are all just gawking at one another, trying to figure out one another's weaknesses.
There's one single woman in the ring and she seemed to be in her mid 30s. She looks like a human plus with a horn. She looks fit for her age. Goten thought that these 10 guys here are probably from prisons in their planet for he noticed the uniforms they're wearing. It's almost similar to those that of on earth. Without further a do, he attacked the small guy near him and tossed him below him. It created a loud bang before he heard the guy's plea. At first, Goten didn't understand why the guy plead all of a sudden. Tears strung the guy's face and now, Goten hesitated if he'll be able to kill this guy when he started crying.
"Please, I was just forced to join here." Cried the guy and Goten can only stare at him - shocked.
"I was a farmer in my universe. A God of Destruction came into my home and told me to join this battle or they'll kill off my family."
Goten finally understand what's going on. These guys are forced to join this battle for the Gods were afraid to let their strongest fighters to die in this battle. He can't believe the Gods would be doing something this low! He wanted to crush all the Gods together with their laws! It enrages him that he joined here cause he expected a lot, but what did he get? This? He felt humiliated!
Beerus must pay for this!
Goten closed his eyes - choking his enemy who is within his reach. One more move and he'll be able to kill him but he didn't want to. Slowly, he stood up and was about to leave the poor guy when he felt something struck his back. Later when he looked back, he saw the poor guy with his hand on a sword which struck his body. Now, talk about luck! He give him a chance to live and yet, he struck him using a sword? The sword penetrated his back to his stomach but he didn't feel any pain at all. Goten held the guy's hand before pulling out the sword out of his back.
He didn't want to kill anyone today, but he give him no choice. He took the sword away from him before slicing the guy up. Bloods spilled out of his sliced body into half. Some of the blood even went to his face. He wiped it away.
He didn't understand the motive of that person but he sure pisses him off. He felt like he was kick behind his back.
When Goten looked at the other fighters inside the ring, he realized, there are only three of them left. The woman in his mid 30s and the massive guy who had a tattoo all over his body. The guy is wearing no shirts. He had no idea who killed the 9 others but he concluded, it's the massive guy.
The massive guy attacked him from behind, so Goten thought, that must be the one who killed the other 9 guys. He thought, he'd be the one to finish them off, but seemed like, he'd be the one to be finished. His whole body still hurts with that sword awhile ago and now, he got kicked. The kick was followed by a punch.
He turned himself into a super saiyan 2 cause base form might won't do. The guy backed down when he noticed the changes in the color of his hair.
He smirked. 'Gotcha, asshole!'
'You should be scared now, Asshole!'
He didn't really want to fight in any saiyan form cause he realized that these guys around here were all forced to do this, but this guy give him no choice.
Using the speed of a super saiyan 2, he was behind the guy in a light. He circled his arms in his neck - trying to choke him. He had to admit, this guy is strong for a commoner. Well, is he even a commoner?
He looked at the woman who is just watching the two of them - killing each other. What's with this woman? She could attack the two of them but she isn't doing anything.
He let go of the guy when he felt that he won't die of suffocation. He kicked the guy in the stomach and the impact made him touch the chain and so he got electrocuted. Now, there's only one person whom he need to finish and so he can go home.
He fixed his eyes on the woman. He came back into his base form.
"Look, we don't need to kill each other. You just have to accept defeat." He started talking - trying to convince her to just give up. But to his surprise, she is just staring at her.
"I don't plan on killing you. I've killed that guy cause he killed the other fighters --" She cut him off.
"You were wrong, he wasn't the one who finished them off. I did."
Goten's eyes widened. What the fuck! This woman must be too strong.
"Since you are making a negotiation, why don't you give up yourself? You don't plan on killing me, but I have. I have something I am fighting for."
The woman caught him off guard as she is suddenly in front of him - throwing punches and kicks towards him. She isn't just strong, she's fast as hell. He smirked. This bitch knows how to fight. The fight would get exciting in this manner. He turned into super saiyan 2 and give the same punches and kicks and with a higher intensity. When he had an opening, he smacked her in the back - ending her on the ground - almost buried.
Goten put his hand in her collar before lifting her up. He started punching her face until she won't be recognizable. He thought, this might kill her in no time. But the bitch is still breathing despite the bruises. This irritates him! Why is she never giving up her life?
The woman stopped his hand from punching her. She smirked at him. He wanted to put her in a shredder. This bitch!
"You must have no mother."
His eyes widened. His fist balled and he wanted to punch her once more but he refrained himself. The woman laughed - seeing his reaction.
"You have no fucking right to ask about my mom!"
"Oh, it's a sensitive topic huh? Do you even know that I have a son at home too? He's a cute and bubbly 7 year old boy. He's waiting for me at home."
He let go of her slowly. He feels like someone punched him in the gut. He feels so dirty and an asshole for destroying her face.
"Goten, finish her off!" He heard Krilin's voice in the background but he can only look at his hand. Now, it finally sank in. He killed someone. Nah, he killed two person. He didn't even know those guys but he had killed them just because he wanted to go home and at the same time, he was bored. The idea hurts his soul.
"Ni, mom why are you training me? Didn't you always refrain Gohan from training?"
His mom smiled at him before ruffling his hair.
"Your brother is training on his own, I was just to remind him to do his school works."
Goten pouted. He would always see her - nagging at Gohan for training instead of doing his school works. Gohan is smart and so, he doesn't think he even need to study at all.
"This training will save you one day, Goten. This training will paid off one day, and you'll be able to protect the people you love and other people who are in need like your father."
She reached for his tiny fist and kissed it.
"This fist will save people. So, get stronger to save people and never use your fist to destroy."
He failed his mom. Her teachings didn't paid off, in fact, he had thrown it. Now, how will he be able to look at his mother after this?
"If I die here, my son will go wonder around the planet and turn into a slave perhaps. I had to kill for him."
He wanted to stop the woman from talking. He didn't want to hear anything from her. He closed his eyes - focusing on his own emotions.
"I know you have a mother too, but I don't want to die here. I had to survive and so I can see him. He's too young." The woman started sobbing. Her sobs reminds him of how his mom sobbed during those nights when she missed their dad. He once saw her crying in their room alone and he asked Gohan why, and he explained that she missed their dad.
After contemplating for minuets, he decided to face the woman and once again lifted her using his hand on her collar.
"If you wanted to go home to him, you shouldn't have joined this battle where survival is the only winning option! I wanted to go home to my mother too and it's not like I will just give up just because you're crying in front of me."
Goten stared at the woman but he closed his eyes again. God! This is harder than I thought. The more he looked at her, the more he remember his mom's face.
"I just wanted to protect you, Goten."
He tried erasing those memories but they kept flooding his mind.
"You have to be strong Goten and so you can always come home to me."
"I was forced. They will kill my son if I don't do their whims. If I lose, they will kill him too. I can't risk that."
"What is your universe?"
"1, universe 1..." The woman is slowly losing her breath. She'd die if she won't stop talking.
Goten looked at the crowd and his eyes fixed on the universe that the woman in her mercy.
"Hey, universe 1' s God of Destruction! How about you go down here and fight me instead of this pathetic garbage of yours?"
The God of Destruction from universe 1 stood up - giving him an incredulous look. He grinned at the God. Gods don't refuse a challenge, at least that's what he thought after those sessions with Beerus.
"You are not allowed to make a negotiation while the fight is --" The supreme priest was shush by Zeno. The Lord of All wanted to listen to what Goten has to say.
"How dare you challenge a God in time like this!" The universe 1's Kaioshin retorted.
"Goten, are you crazy?" Trunks shouted but he ignored him.
"Tell me what do you want. Challenging me into a fight, you must have something in mind that you want me to do, am I right?" The God of destruction asked him - grinning but Goten knows he's pissed.
"How about letting this woman's son go if I beat you? Did we make a deal?"
The God raised his brow at him. "If that's what you want then. But you haven't won in this battle yet as your opponent is still breathing --" Before the God can even finish whatever he wants to say, the woman Goten is holding on its collar stopped breathing.
Goten's eyes widened.
She died!
He felt like his world stop revolving.
Oh, God! He did a ridiculous challenge for her to survive, only to find her lifeless? Why does she need to give up her life now?
He let go of the woman carefully - trying not to put any more damage to her body.
Zeno stood up from his seat and directly floated in front of Goten who is currently shock of what had happened.
"Ni, Goten! Congratulations for winning this battle!"
Suddenly, the wild arena was gone and the super dragon is in front of them. He had forgotten about the challenge he had with a God of Destruction as well. He was too stunned. He was feeling guilty for the woman's death.
"You may state your wish now, Goten. Super Shenrong can grant everything." The grand priest stated and Goten don't even have an idea what to say.
He looked at everyone. He looked at his dad who only give him a smile. He looked at Gohan who is now giving him an unbelievable look. He then averted to Trunks who is obviously furious at his ridiculous challenge awhile ago. Then his eyes went to Vegeta, Beerus, and the others who are all expecting his wish as well.
"Can you bring all of them back to their family alive and breathing? They're just normal creatures who was forced to enter the ring."
He breathed. Now, he just wished the guilt would subsides. He just have to wish them all back, right? Will that even erased the heavy feeling in his heart right now? No matter what, he had killed them once, and so even when they got revived, that won't change the fact that he had killed them without even blinking.
"Is that really what you want?"
He nodded. He wanted nothing but to go home. He felt like crying. Thinking about it, he had failed his mom. He used his fist to kill and not to protect.
The grand priest started talking in another language to the super dragon.
"The 12 of them are revived and are directly sent to their homes. Now, should we continue your challenge with Keanu?" The grand priest asked him - staring at him intently.
Goten don't know what to say. He had everything settled and now this one have to come. He breathed. Before he can even answer, Trunks and Gohan are both already on his sides. Trunks choking him on his neck while Gohan held his arms protectively.
"He only did that to spite the universe 1. He didn't mean to challenge him. So please forgive him." Trunks uttered - nervously.
For awhile, Goten wanted to be mad at him. How dare he decides for him? He challenged a God, and so what!? That's his challenge and not anyone else!
"Well, you can't just create a challenge without doing it. Not here in the galaxy where the Lord of All is watching." The grand priest stressed.
"What did you do, Goten? Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" Gohan whispered to him and he knew he's mad as hell. He wanted to tell him how guilt kept on eating him but he can't. He wanted to tell him how hard this was for him. The blood of those he had killed are still here in his hands. He can feel it, he can even smell it. He feels ashamed of himself.
"Now, shall we continue what you started universe 7's survivor?"
Keanu stood not too far away from him - smirking. Goten had to admit, this one is strong. Probably, stronger than Beerus as well. If he can't beat Beerus, does he even stand a chance to this one?
"You might want to change your challenge, warrior. You see, I don't have that woman's kid. So what do you suggest?"
Goten looked at the God intently. He felt Trunks and Gohan's body tensed beside him. In fact, he didn't even realize that the two of them had let go of him.
"Oh, how about I be the one to suggest? If you win, I will strip off away from being a God. But if you lose, I'll destroy your mother in front of --"
Instinct. Saiyan instinct.
Whatever you call it, he found himself in front of Keanu in his red form with a blazing eyes - ready to kill anyone on his way. It didn't even shock him to see his brother in his beast form oozing with the same level of fire on his eyes beside him. His father is on his other side in his blue form with the same blaze in his eyes.
The three of them are an inch away from the God but they were just contemplating cause there seemed to be a barrier in between which refrained them from touching the God. This is the same when you wanted to punch Beerus but he created an invisible barrier to restrain you.
"Then might as well, strip yourself away from your title cause we will settle this once and for all!" His father uttered dangerously.
"I don't give a damn if you're a God, or whatever you call yourself, I will destroy you! Right now! Right here!" Gohan said with venom.
"You choose the wrong mother to mess, bastard!" He said out of anger. His hands are itching to destroy something, more like someone.
"Enough!!"
Zeno's scream stopped the three of them from attacking Keanu. But that didn't calm them down as they refused to go back to their base forms.
"The battle concluded already and I would let this one go for now. You can have your fights on your own way but not right in front of me. Settle your own mess and bow down to Beerus this instant!"
All of a sudden, all Gods of Destruction bowed down to Beerus. This might sound ridiculous but Beerus kept his cool.
One by one, the Gods descended from that place which leaves the universe 7 and universe 1.
"I wouldn't forget this day, fellas. I certainly won't forget this day." Keanu uttered as he eyed the three Saiyans in front of him with their most powerful forms.
When all of the Gods went away, Beerus let out an exasperated breath. He seemed to be the one feeling all the tensions radiating from the saiyans.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Goten?!"
"And the two of you even joined the fight that escalates the anger within Keanu?" Beerus then looked at Gohan and Goku.
"Do you even know who Keanu is?"
"Who gives a fuck whoever he is, we Saiyans won't let anyone talk to us like that!" Vegeta retorted with anger. If only he could strangle that Keanu guy!
"Keanu is the supreme God of Destruction. In short, he is above all the Gods of Destruction. He is stronger than any of the Gods and I don't think any of you can stand against him." Whis explained and so the three of them can calm down but they seemed to can't hear him at all. All Goten want to do is to follow that Keanu guy and kill him with his bare hands. He couldn't forget how he threatened his mother's life. It was engraved in his mind like a tattoo. That bastard!
"If he is so strong just like how you describe him, why did he fly away?" Vegeta snorted.
"Enough of this! Keanu is dangerous! You must be careful from now on, especially the three of you." Beerus averted his gaze to the three Saiyans who lost in their own world. It was Gohan who snapped in reality.
"I'm.. I'm sorry. It's just that.. He threatened my mom's life and I... I lost control. I wanted to hurt him." Gohan said and the words formulating inside his mind is out of control. He wanted to explain why things turn like that because he was known to be the calmest Son but he acted on instinct.
"You didn't do wrong Gohan. You acted on instinct. Of course, it's your mom. Everyone will do the same, so don't blame yourself." Goku tried to console Gohan who is currently shaking with rage.
"But dad, we shouldn't have provoke him." Gohan tried to say but thinking about what almost had happened awhile ago, he thought, he could have himself, Goten and his dad on their graves.
"What do you say, Goten?" Beerus and the others looked at Goten. He was the only one who didn't return on his base form. In fact, he is still fuming with rage.
"I still want to kill him." He uttered with venom which sent almost all of them in tension.
"You can't be serious, Goten." Trunks shook his head at him. He only looked at him - completely lost in his own rage.
"No one threatens my mom's life and gets away with it."
Trunks eyes widened. Nope, not just him, but all of them. Whis was the only one who find this fire in Goten interesting. He's an angel after all. He sides no great and bad.
"We have to go home, Goten." Goku snapped at him and so he was suddenly sent back from hell to reality. He realized he was actually in that small illusion he created for himself and he was murdering Keanu in that illusion.
"Yeah! Let's go home."
The guys didn't further ask anymore questions since Goten snapped back to reality. In fact, the atmosphere shifted to its normal condition.
Home...
Goten will finally go home. He will finally be home.
--
The next chapter will also be posted since I might be putting this on hiatus. I created this with my thesis going on and so I had to choose my thesis. Physics sucks actually.