Round One: Goku 1 Vs. Uub 2
Goku and Uub leapt at each other without a moment's hesitation.
Uub immediately threw a punch directly at Goku's face, which was swiftly swept away and responded to by a flurry of spinning kicks from the older Saiyan. None hit their mark and Uub was forced to back away, blocking and parrying as he did.
Goku built more power into one last kick, turning in the air in order to launch it. The second of delay it brought was enough to allow Uub to appear behind Goku in a sudden burst of speed for an attack of his own, although his attempt only ended up being as successful as Goku's, in that it was dodged as well. What followed was both warriors disappearing in and out of view as they launched consecutive attacks, leaving afterimages as they did so. The tiles beneath them erupted into slivers of stone as each warrior kicked off of them in their assaults upon the other.
Appearing to have a slight advantage in speed, Uub struck, and managed to land a punch to Goku's abdomen, claiming the first true strike of the Tournament.
It did not appear to be as damaging as Uub had hoped however, and had simply narrowed the playing field to award Goku an opportunity to land a strike of his own.
Uub was pushed back, and then he pushed forward. Springing off of the Tournament stage and launching a new flurry of blows. What followed was an apparent stalemate as both fighters exchanged attacks, keeping themselves contained to the ring's center in a rapid but steady waltz of strikes.
"They seem to be pretty evenly matched," Goten of the second timeline remarked as he observed from the ring sidelines. Hands on his hips with an inquisitive brow raised.
"Neither of them are fighting at even a fraction of their full power yet," Piccolo responded gruffly, his arms crossed and glare fixed. "This is just the warmup."
"Hmph, as long as they don't take all day," Vegeta 1 cut in, appearing somewhat uninterested in the battle before him. "Kakarot should just hurry up and finish his match so we can get around to my turn."
Of everyone present, it was surprisingly Vegeta's own shorter haired counterpart who rebutted him. "Don't be so sure of that," Vegeta 2 voiced with a snort. "Uub won't go down as easily as you think."
"Oh?" Vegeta 1 feigned interest, arching an eyebrow and turning his head towards his double. "I can tell you that our Uub, while exceptionally strong, still lags behind Kakarot greatly. What makes yours so special?"
Vegeta 2 replied with a knowing grin. "Let's just say Uub managed to 'pull himself together' so to speak."
The boastful words of Vegeta were echoed by Uub's performance in the ring. Ever so subtly it was becoming apparent that he had an advantage over Goku, and not just in speed. They traded blows at an uneven pace, and even though they had only been fighting for mere seconds, Goku was already nursing several obvious scrapes.
Their fists clashed, and Goku felt his stance buckle.
With a grunt Goku retreated away and formed a defensive guard; both arms raised. Uub did not pursue him, but stood at the ready for the battle to continue.
"Wow…" Goku breathed out, ever so slightly winded. "There's no denying it, you're definitely stronger than my Uub. It's not just your training either, you've had a major increase in power." Despite currently appearing to be at a disadvantage, Goku couldn't have appeared happier.
"It wasn't without its cost," Uub replied in reference to his strength, noticeably speaking in a mournful tone. "And this power isn't even my own."
Goku forced his smile away. "Yeah, you mentioned it earlier." He broke his gaze from Uub briefly, knowing full well he didn't need to worry about any sneak attacks, and relaxed his stance. "You only told me someone gave their life to grant you that power, but you didn't say who. But I can put two and two together." Goku looked to the floor and chose his words carefully. "It was Buu right? His power is yours now."
Uub had earlier briefly relayed some of the details about a conflict they'd had with a being named Baby. A battle that was evidently not without consequence. At the time Goku had gotten the impression that it was a somewhat difficult topic for Uub to discuss, so he didn't pursue it beyond the basic details. All he really knew about Uub's role in the ordeal was that he had undergone a dramatic increase in power, and it didn't take Goku long to deduce how that must have come about.
After all, Uub was wearing Buu's vest.
"We became one, just as we once were." Uub stated in a stoic tone, but his demeanor did not match it. He suddenly growled to himself and grit his teeth. "But in the end it didn't even matter, I was no help to anyone, with or without this power. Buu gave his life for nothing!"
Goku had previously seemed somewhat saddened at the way the conversation was going, but now, he couldn't have appeared more stern at Uub's outburst. "Don't beat yourself up over things you can't change, Uub. You did your best, which is more than most people are willing to do." At that moment, Goku was addressing this Uub no differently than he would his own. "And Buu made his choice too, and he chose you."
A glare was his reply, but the anger it held was not directed at him. "I often think he chose wrong." Uub growled out.
Goku's response was firm and fierce. "I chose you too." He cracked his neck and resumed his stance. "And the fact you're even here and haven't thrown in the towel despite all that's happened to you is proof that I chose right…" Goku blinked. "You're me chose you right… gah!" He scratched the back of his head. "All this timeline stuff is so confusing, I've ruined my own pep talk."
Goku quickly composed himself and gave a low grunt, causing a white aura to flare up around him all of a sudden. "I guess I just need to show you what I mean!"
Saying nothing in rebuttal, Uub simply responded in kind and was enveloped in a pink aura, and both fighters leapt at each other once more.
- DB DBZ DBS DBGT -
"Is that Kakarot?" Raditz of the fourth Timeline drolly pondered. Arms crossed and eyes glazed over in apparent boredom.
"Can't be," Nappa responded curtly, veering backwards with exaggerated dismissal. "That little blue referee guy called him 'Goku' or something, must just be some other low class. You all look the same." He finished with an affirmative nod to himself. "Besides, Kakarot's too much of a wimp to be able to compete in this thing, everyone knows that."
"And what exactly do you mean by that, old man?!"
Nappa snarled and spun around to face his long-time 'compatriot.' Kakarot stood next to his older brother, clad in black armor and holding an expression befitting of the brute he was. The Saiyan in question looked up at Nappa with a disrespectful sneer, while Nappa looked down at him with simple contempt. "You know exactly what I mean, you insubordinate little punk!" Nappa shook a fist at the younger, wild haired man with disdain. "You're just a low class letdown! Sometimes I wish we had just left you on that dirtball of a planet we found you on!"
Kakarot growled also, baring his teeth and pushing past Raditz in an angered gesture. His unfurled tail twitched with aggravation. "You're not all impressive yourself anymore, Nappa! I can take you on anytime!"
"Bring it on then! Or do you need to wait until I'm holding up with a cane too?"
"Shut up, all of you," the voice of their King, Vegeta, broke in, silencing his subordinates, who proceeded to glare his way in tempered fear and mute defiance. "Kakarot, Nappa, you are here to observe, nothing more. Any more posturing from either of you simply serves to annoy me." Despite his clearly aggravated tone, Vegeta's gaze never left the battle before him, for his priority was currently to watch and learn as much as he was able about his potential adversaries in this Tournament of Time.
This Uub character's energy is strange, it feels different from the standard. Vegeta hardened his gaze and fixed his stare on the other, familiar, combatant. And this Goku, he must be Kakarot, some other universe version at the very least. So why am I sensing such an incredible buildup of power from him? Our Kakarot has never shown such potential before.
His gaze shifted away from the ongoing battle to the sidelines where both of the currently engaged warriors had originated from, just off to his right. They're from two separate timelines yet they seem to be playing nice with each other. Perhaps they've all formed some kind of alliance. Some of them seem to have counterparts. He fixed his stare at a pair of almost identical black haired men that stood within the area; possessing different haircuts but holding the same stoic expression.
Vegeta gave a single tut. If there was any more bickering behind him, he wouldn't have heard it sound above his own inner thoughts.
Meanwhile, two areas over in the domain of Timeline 6, Cell stood silent but humored as the clash before him intensified in ferocity. He had instantly perked up when Goku's name had been called aloud, and had watched with renewed interest as his old enemy entered the ring to face this person called 'Uub.' A figure whose presence only piqued Cell's interest further, as it was a warrior he personally had no data of.
He called him Master. Cell pondered silently, his sight never wavering and his eyes never blinking. Not that it is too surprising, Goku would more than likely take on a student at some point to pass on his ill-gotten gains. Cell's brow furrowed ever so slightly. But what makes this Uub so special?
Perhaps it was Cell's own bias due to Goku making up a part of himself, but he ultimately decided that he didn't really care who this Uub adolescent was. They had no history, no quarrel, and personally, Cell saw no relevance in pondering the issue further. After all, there were plenty of other combatants here that drew both Cell's interest and ire. And as far as he was concerned, this match was already decided.
He set his sights on Goku, and dispelled the echoes of his old programming.
"Show me, Goku," Cell stated to himself in morbid pleasure. "Let us see how much you've improved in all this time." He then grinned with menace. "And maybe in time I will get to show you."
"Ha!" Uub exclaimed in exertion, an aura forming around his fist as he thrust it towards Goku's currently unguarded stomach. Goku had not been able to respond in time and was blown away; it was rapidly becoming apparent to all who we're observing that currently, Uub had the advantage.
At some point they had found themselves flying in the air, though Uub's punch was about to change that, as Goku was forced to the ground on its impact. The tiles cracked beneath his boots and Goku let out several ragged breaths and clutched his midsection with one hand.
Uub was not about to let up, and shot down towards Goku like a bullet, ready to continue his one-sided assault. The speed of his oncoming attack prompted several gasps to ring out from all around, and all who had been cheering for Goku previously held their breaths and watched in fear.
Beneath the weight of Uub's encroaching aura, Goku chuckled silently to himself and raised two fingers to his forehead.
Uub's fist crashed against the ground and a wall of dust blocked him from view. His arm had pierced straight through the tiles, and for a moment Uub feared he had gone straight through Goku as well, far from what he had intended to happen. So when the dust dissipated and Uub's vision was cleared, he was equally relieved yet confused to find that Goku was nowhere to be seen. He had hit nothing but the ring and struck nothing but stone.
"Good thing I avoided that hit. It would have left a mark."
Uub released his unintentionally held breath and removed his arm from the hole he created. Rising to full height, he looked over his shoulder to the fully composed Goku, who stood with his hands on his hips and his smile never wavering. He appeared none the worse for wear despite Uub's apparent power advantage, outside of a few scrapes and tears to his gi.
"I'd recommend you power up, at your current level I might cause you more damage than necessary." Uub's tone was firm, sounding more like an instruction despite the threat it implied.
Goku never stopped smiling. "Don't hold back on me, Uub. Remember, even if you kill me I'll just come right back!"
The lackadaisical attitude and almost joyful way Goku had referred to his own potential death was enough to break Uub's previous demeanor, and he stared at Goku wide-eyed. "I'm not aiming to kill you!" Uub made exaggerated motions with his arms as he tried to form a coherent response. "I just don't want to knock your head off by accident because you haven't transformed yet!" He huffed and formed a fighting stance again. "You can transform into a Super Saiyan in your universe right?"
"Heh." Goku rubbed the back of his head once again, before steadily returning his arms to his sides and clenching both hands into tight fists. "Of course." His smile dropped. "You're right though, I won't be able to keep up with you if I don't kick it up a notch." Goku's power began to swell. "And credit where it's due. I don't think Super Saiyan alone will be enough, so maybe I'll just skip ahead a bit!"
Goku grunted once and his hair ignited into gold. When he yelled after that, his spiky locks of hair shifted position ever so slightly and blue sparks of electricity began to dance around him in unison with his now golden aura. He had ascended straight into Super Saiyan 2 and stood at the ready for the battle to continue.
Despite being more than familiar with the form his alternative master had taken, primarily because his own Goku was frequently forced to take it to keep up in their training sessions, Uub still looked on in awe. Super Saiyans were never not a sight to behold.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Goku cut in, his voice appearing somewhat gruffer and his expression almost impatient. "I'm coming at you, Uub!"
Uub's pink aura intensified to match Goku's, which was the only answer Goku needed to kick off once again. This time he was on the offensive.
- DB DBZ DBS DBGT -
Piccolo's ear twitched, he could have sworn he'd just heard Raditz scream from two areas over. He had heard it before after all.
At his side, far below his eye level, Vegeta 2 snorted. "Well at least your Kakarot has achieved that much," He stated aloud, watching the fight with renewed interest. "I was beginning to wonder if the Saiyans of your universe were even capable of going Super."
He heard a low chuckle and looked over his shoulder to his right, where Vegeta 1 stood composed at Piccolo's other side, flicking his head forward as he spoke. "Super Saiyan… and then some," he smirked. An expression which was soon mirrored by his counterpart.
"Likewise."
The obvious but reserved implication satisfied both men immensely.
Within the area of the Fourth Timeline, the Vegeta that had once stood firmly composed was shocked to find himself gasping aloud at the development before him. The Kakarot of the alternative timeline had undeniably just transformed into a Super Saiyan, a feat that should have been impossible for anyone besides himself. But there was something different, the way his energy flowed, the heights it had reached, the way his aura sparked around him. It was an impossibility, something beyond a mere Super Saiyan.
Something beyond his own Super Saiyan form.
What in the hell did that Kakarot just do? He screamed internally. His fists grasped so tightly they threatened to burst his glove's apart. Did he just turn into a Super Saiyan? Impossible! That legacy is reserved for me alone! My destiny as foretold! He brought his teeth together and couldn't suppress the growl he released. But that form… His power. It's something different, something more!
He forced himself to think; to analyze and plan. Things he knew he was very good at. Super Saiyan or not, ascended Super Saiyan or otherwise. There was a revelation before him that he couldn't just ignore despite how much it irked him.
Is there truly a way? A way to surpass a Super Saiyan? A brilliant form in and of itself!?
Nearby Frieza of the Fifth Timeline pondered his own selfish thoughts, though without the wisdom to recognise the significance of what he was looking at.
"That man… He looks just like that Saiyan I disposed of on Namek a long time ago. He must come from a time where he managed to escape my wrath." The white skinned alien, despite himself, felt his eye twitch as the sight of the golden haired warrior in the ring before him was taken in, in all its astonishing detail.
His tail coiled.
"But what has he just done? Saiyans transform into giant apes, not into whatever that is." Frieza finished his self satisfying monologue with a disgusted tut. "Turning yourself golden… What a tacky transformation."
He heard footsteps behind him, and immediately sighed.
"It seems these Saiyans are quite full of surprises. And looking around they seem to be abundant in these other timelines." A new voice announced as footsteps sounded out from the tunnel entrance to their timeline's area. Making their way up to Frieza's immediate right. "It's a shame you destroyed them all without consulting the rest of the family. Their loss to the Force set us back decades."
Slamming his tail against the ground, Frieza broke his attention to the match for the first time and turned his head with a fierce glare. "Your input is noted, but need I remind you that the Frieza Force will be managed as I see fit, regardless of your input, brother!"
Cooler, ruler and emperor of a vast quadrant of Timeline 5, huffed in response. He crossed his purple arms and turned back to the ring without another audible word, though with plenty of silent, treasonous ones.
- DB DBZ DBS DBGT -
"Go, Grandpa!"
"Use a Kamehameha!"
"You've got this, Uub!"
Leaning on the wall of the Tournament stage, the Pans and Bulla had situated themselves next to the ring to observe the action as close as they were permitted to short of physically joining the fight themselves. They collectively cheered once Goku had decided to transform into Super Saiyan and then swiftly beyond that. Giddy with excitement as the lightning from his aura sparked off the tiles before them. It was plain to all who both Pan's were rooting for, as they shared a familial bias, but Bulla had instead decided to cheer for Uub, even though he wasn't even from her timeline, if only to be different from her peers. Both Pans looked at her perplexed at that.
Pan 1 stood in quiet consideration, and then her intrusive thoughts won out.
"Oooh what's this, Bulla? Cheering for Uub?" She looked obtusely devious. "Do I detect the hint of a crush? A blossoming of romance?"
Bulla blushed immediately. "Sh-shut up, Pan! I do not have a crush on Uub!" Her denials came out sputtering and her actions flustered. "Uub was kicking Goku's butt just a minute ago, so he might actually be stronger than him!" Her tone had turned firm, but she was wilfully ignored.
"Oh Uub, you're sooo strong," Pan 1 mockingly swooned.
"Oh Uub, you're sooo brave," Pan 2 mirrored with pizazz.
Bulla grumbled as each Pan giggled at her expense. Her annoyed grumbles quickly turned into a snarl when she suddenly banged a fist on the ring, cracking a tile. "Fine then! Kick Uub's ass, Goku!" She suddenly yelled with fury, startling the Pan's from their teasings. "Break his legs! Then pull his head off!"
In the ring, Uub flinched.
"Eyes up!"
It was a mere instant, yet it was long enough for Goku to have closed the distance between them. He now stood to Uub's front, with an elbow raised within striking distance of Uub's face. Had Goku not deliberately paused, he would have given Uub a fierce and debilitating blow.
"You're distracted," Goku stated coolly, his arm still raised and his stance rigid. He had caught Uub off guard and they both knew it.
"I'm under a lot of scrutiny here," Uub mumbled, but didn't move.
Goku almost tutted. His Super Saiyan aura had long since diminished, but his form remained and was as strong as ever. "What are you shy? Focus on the fight, not the crowd. Tune out any distractions; the here and now is what's important."
Uub frowned, he never did like how his master's demeanor would change upon becoming a Super Saiyan. How anger would leak into his actions. It unsettled him. Goku's current reprimanding tone didn't suit him and neither did his unfriendly eyes. "It isn't the crowd." Uub felt his eyelid twitch. It truly wasn't the crowd, or the cheers, or the masses of transfixed gazes. Or that fact he was literally being judged by the gods as he spoke. It was something much closer to home.
"You're not taking me seriously."
Now it was Goku's turn to frown, albeit a ponderous one. "I'm going at your pace, Uub." Goku pulled his arm back, quickly forming a new Turtle-Style fighting stance. Since having advanced to Super Saiyan 2, Uub's previous advantage had completely disappeared and the roles were now utterly reversed, with Goku having the upper hand. "I can tell you're still holding back."
A nervous chuckle was his response, but Uub promptly steadied himself, flexed his fingers and balled his hands into fists at his sides. He's been observing me this entire fight so far, of course he could tell.
It was then as if a sudden realization came over Uub, as if it had only just become clear to him for the first time where he actually was and what was actually going on. As if he had become lucid in a pleasant dream. His master, his actual master, was gone; vanished to who knows where doing who knows what, and for all intents and purposes was apparently never coming back.
And yet here they were, sparring in a ring as if things had never changed, and so many terrible events had never come to pass.
He had longed for this; to once again be able to fight with Goku.
In a sudden motion, Uub brought his legs together and then bowed his head. Goku assumed at first that Uub was simply in concentration or about to unleash some hidden technique; thoughts he quickly dispensed with when Uub promptly lowered his head further into a full respectful bow.
Goku stood still, but was clearly stunned.
"I must thank you," Uub began, his tone content. "I hope you don't mind me saying but… I have missed this, sparring with you I mean. I haven't had the chance in my world since… And I may never again." He paused, clearly considering his next words, but soon stood tall again. "It doesn't matter now. Like you said, I should focus on the fight."
Goku had long since ceased frowning, and held a similarly satisfied smirk to Uub's own. "Tell me something…" He rolled his neck. "The last time you and me fought in your universe, were you as strong as you are now?"
Uub snorted. "No where close." He then held a knowing grin. "And I'm sure you'll be delighted to hear that I've never really had the chance to go full power one on one."
"Well now," Goku genuinely grinned. "You know me so well."
Uub grunted, his pink aura flared out, and then he began roaring thunderously.
A typhoon emanated from his person outwards in all directions and his aura intensified in strength, pouring off of him in overlapping waves of excess energy. The pink lights of his aura soon turned into a stunning turquoise, shimmering. Unlike the crackling of Goku's Super Saiyan aura, Uub's flowed like the wind, albeit an intense one, upwards and out like a tornado. Uub's yell reached its apex and suddenly there was a boom of sound and a shockwave that Goku instinctively braced himself against.
When the light faded there stood Uub. His aura was gone and he was physically unchanged, but Goku was not fooled in the slightest. What wasn't visible to the naked eye was plain as day to his other senses.
"Incredible…" Goku murmured, stating what he thought was obvious. "You've not just grown in power, you've mastered it completely. You have complete control."
Uub stood silent and stoic. For now it seemed, he was no longer in a mood to converse. Or as Goku presumed, the time for talking was over as the fight was now truly about to reach its pinnacle.
In a single lackadaisical motion, Uub raised his right arm and pointed his index finger forth. Goku stared blankly.
"Turn into chocolate!"
Goku blinked, and immediately shot off to the side and skidded out of the way of the bolt of pink lightning that fired out of Uub's finger. He didn't need an explanation for why he needed to avoid that and he cursed himself for not realizing it sooner; if Uub and Buu had truly become one then it only made sense that all of Buu's strange and unusual techniques were now Uub's too.
Including the ability to turn people into candy.
The fired bolt fizzled away second after, only for Uub to immediately raise his left arm and repeat the action with another finger.
The Super Saiyan dodged again, and out of the way of all the subsequent blasts that followed. He was too quick, but Uub was still uncomfortably close each time his blasts missed. "You have Buu's moves too I see!" Goku shouted out, almost as a taunt, with yet another pink blast racing past his ear.
"And I have made them my own!" Uub shot back, before flexing his fingers towards himself, curling his arms inwards as if he had just performed a strange dance move. Goku stood braced for a further attack, eyes fixed on Uub's tensed form.
He heard gasps from the audience, and released a sudden panicked breath.
Goku shot into the air with fear, and was closely followed by several pink bolts of lightning from behind him. Goku stared down and marvelled; Uub's earlier attacks which Goku had presumed had run their course and fizzled away had instead been redirected and were now chasing after him, visibly being controlled by Uub himself.
Goku was right, Uub had complete control over his power.
The pink bolts, numbering ten in total, zigzagged through the air like continuous lightning strikes; only they were following a fixed path, tailing after Goku all the way. Back down in the ring, Uub was making almost frantic motions with his arms, his attendance fixed on Goku alone. "I only need to hit you once and the match is mine!" His voice was strained; performing this technique wasn't strenuous in itself, but maintaining it for so long was . "We both know that you can't block this!"
Cant I? Goku pondered silently, almost considering turning around to try and bat the blasts away to regain some control over the situation. Though he quickly decided against it.
Maybe he could do it, he was quite confident in his own strength after all. But if he couldn't do it, if he miscalculated, then he would be finished; a chocolate stain upon the tournament tiles. And the match would be swiftly over in Uub's favour.
He continued to rocket though the sky, the bolts racing behind him in hot pursuit. He veered up into a loop and then back down again but the bolts followed still, though Uub was forced to practically flip around himself in order to keep up. Goku caught a glimpse of Uub as he flashed past him, seeing his exertion, wondering in that instant if he should just keep the chase up until Uub could maintain it no longer due to the strain. But that alone wouldn't guarantee Goku the win, and prolonging the stalemate was also giving Uub time himself to prep another strategy if this one failed.
Goku's thoughts were rapid. He could probably outpace Uub. He was faster than the beams following him. And yet…
He raced onwards, caught a glimpse of white and purple and peeked to his left. Spotting the unamused, ever frowning face of Frieza.
He had a sudden influx of memories. The stench of the lava flowing on the decaying surface of Planet Namek. The pain of open wounds stinging against a blistering rush of wind. Frieza's cruel laughter echoing over the earthquakes. All as he raced through the blackened sky of Namek pursued by two sharp discs of energy following his every move.
Goku grinned.
After having been circling around to the point of repetition, Uub was quite taken by surprise when Goku took an unexpected sharp turn and shot straight at him, and Uub was too focused on his own efforts to do anything other than will his bolts to pursue Goku on instinct.
So when Goku flipped above and behind him, Uub could only stare forwards like a deer in the headlights as his own bolts continued on their designated path.
Right towards him.
Goku skidded to a stop just as the bolts made contact and the blindingly pink light shone out from Uub's position. Along with a scream of evident pain.
Still on the alert Goku forced himself to stare, squinting as he did so, wary of any further potential attack. Despite his hesitations however he found himself watching with horror as Uub, caught within the glow of the pink burst of energy, started to shrink, inch by inch, into a palm sized person shaped piece of dark chocolate.
- DB DBZ DBS DBGT -
"What a strange technique, and hardly a practical one." Dyspo, the speedster of the Pride Troopers of Universe 11, tutted in contempt. "Turning people into chocolate? What's the deal with that? Those Universe 7 bunch are just a load of weirdos I tell ya, doesn't matter what timeline they come from."
His compatriots seemed to share in his disdain, nodding their heads or murmuring agreements at his sides. At the end of the row however, their leader Top and companion Jiren sat as the same as they had done so throughout the entire match up until that point; in contemplative silence and intrinsic observation.
Once the alarming pink light faded and things seemed to come to a steady calm. Top wrinkled his moustache.
"I had heard rumors that the mighty Son Goku had taken a student of his own at some point," Top began, staring downwards into the ring, but addressing his voice to the man he proudly called 'friend' at his side. "And while he may have originated from a different timeline, this Uub certainly holds a great deal of potential, especially for one so young."
Jiren simply hummed, his dark eyes unblinking. He had watched the whole fight up until this point transfixed, eager, despite his outwards demeanor, to see his longtime rival Goku do battle in the flesh once again, so many years on from their last encounter. He wanted to see just how much Goku had improved in all this time; to throw down the gauntlet and go on the offensive.
So the fact he had been on the defensive, albeit for a limited time and whilst evidently not even at full power, was enough to cause Jiren to actually lean forward.
A bad habit of letting his guard down, now and always.
Jiren saw movement and looked up, to see the Grand Minister lowering himself down into the ring from atop his floating platform. Top followed his gaze and hummed himself. "It seems the match is over; regardless of whatever his status may be, dead or alive, Goku's opponent is clearly in no position to continue this battle."
He almost nodded on instinct, but Jiren instead paused, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"Son Goku certainly chose his student well," Jiren stated proudly. Holding a ghost of a smile.
Further down in the well of the arena, others were expressing their own thoughts.
"Holy crap! Goku killed him!" Bulla shouted, half amazed, half awed. All others from her timeline stared with shocked expressions into the ring, at the human shaped piece of chocolate laying before Goku's horrified form. Most were unwilling to believe what had just transpired.
"I didn't think he actually had it in him…" Piccolo muttered out to no one in particular, his mouth slightly agape. He then cleared his throat and spoke more generally. "But… Uub should have been more mindful of his surroundings, especially if he was going to deploy a technique as dangerous as that. Goku didn't have a lot of options, not whilst being pressured by that attack and on the run."
A chuckle was the response he received, surprisingly dramatic but not particularly chilling. Piccolo looked down at the orange bandana wearing Pan with confusion; he was expecting something resembling mourning considering one of her timeline's participants had just been turned into a confectionery treat in front of her; something that people typically were horrified by in Piccolo's experience. So why instead did she look so despicably smug?
"Oh ye of little faith," she cocked her head with her hands on her hips. "Haven't you ever heard the expression 'It isn't over till it's over?'
Her glasses-wearing father laughed at Piccolo's right side. Of course Piccolo had heard that expression, Pan had learnt it from him.
"What'd you mean?" Pan 1 asked, genuinely confused at what her counterpart was trying to imply.
Pan 2 smiled again, she always liked it when she was in the know and others weren't. "Just watch and you'll see."
- DB DBZ DBS DBGT -
The Grand Minister appeared in his view, but Goku neither moved nor acknowledged him; simply continuing to stare at the tiny chocolate man shaped figure on the floor in front of him with wide eyes and an open mouth. In the heat of the moment he seemed to have forgotten that an attack that turned people into chocolate meant that the person hit by it would most likely turn into a literal piece of edible chocolate. In Goku's experience, that meant that person was dead, pure and simple. Only Vegito had ever been able to weather that attack and his power was extortionate.
"The countdown will now begin," the Grand Minister stated smoothly, smiling the same as he always did.
Goku saw a spark, and fired a ki blast immediately.
The ring before him erupted into smoke and yellow fire, clouding his view and forcing him to reach out with his senses. To the audience, Goku appeared to have suddenly gone deranged, because after firing his first blast he immediately turned left and fired two more, then another behind him, and then countless others in a seemingly random direction each time. At a point he began walking also, each arm held up and firing at the floor in an alternating pattern. Huffing and occasionally yelling, but saying nothing of note.
The Grand Minister simply stayed floating on his platform, now silent but always grinning.
"He's gone crazy!" Goku heard someone shout, though he couldn't be certain of who it was. The shout seemed to act as some kind of signal however because Goku immediately stopped firing, drew his arms up into a guard, and then immediately keeled over from an excruciating impact to his stomach. An almost imperceptible blow.
An impact from a punch by a tiny chocolate man.
"And so the battle continues." The Grand Minister said plainly before floating up and away again.
Goku scrambled backwards, off guard and off balance. "I knew it!" He said aloud, though he was plainly talking to himself. "Why begin the countdown if that attack had killed you. Should've known. Stupid!"
His beratings were not acknowledged, and he continued to duck and dodge out of the way of almost invisible attacks from what he could now ascertain was a sentient piece of chocolate. He frustratingly threw out the odd punch or kick of his own in defiance of the assault; but none made their mark. To some of the distant spectators he looked as if he was performing some strange kind of kata on his lonesome in the ring.
Out of options due to the onslaught, Goku focused his energy and forced it outwards as a spherical burst. He didn't consider himself someone adept at creating barriers of energy; that was always more a skill of his sons. But he was more than capable of expelling his energy outwards as an explosive wave to literally blow his opponents away when the necessity arose.
The assault upon him ended and Goku caught his breath, before instantly forming his fighting stance again. Crane-Style; more suitable for speedy, flight oriented opponents. He saw another quick flash and then something new stood before him on the now very cracked tiles. A little chocolate version of Uub, who promptly mirrored his Crane-Style stance as if he was a student of the school itself.
Goku genuinely laughed.
"I should've realized you had more control over that technique than I thought. It would have been a death sentence for me, but I'm betting all it's done is make you a smaller target for me to hit." He laughed again. "And turn you into chocolate I guess." He could feel the sweat on his brow, threatening to leak into his eye. "You can turn yourself back if you wanted to right? Can you even still talk?"
"I could sing if I wanted to," an echo of a voice sounded out, originating from the chocolate before him. He didn't have any lips anymore, but whatever magic was allowing Uub to still move seemed sufficient enough to enable him to talk also. "I can't pretend this is how I was expecting this fight to go, but being like this has allowed me to put you on the defensive." Uub, in his chocolate form, threw a few punches at the air with his now stubby arms to emphasize his point. "I'm too small of a target for you to hit now, and I've got the speed to match it!"
Uub shot off the stage, directed at Goku, and true to his word, he slipped between all defenses and landed a solid strike to Goku's jaw. And then several more in an efficient combo.
Goku staggered back once again, releasing a gleeful snarl. He could practically hear his blood pumping.
Oh how he loved to fight.
He expanded his energy again and Uub was forced back by the brunt of it. It had worked once, and it had worked again.
Goku had always been a quick learner; able to learn attacks, and also counter them, just after seeing them performed even one time. He had always been like that since his earliest teachings for as long as he could remember. Now was no different, yet another opportunity to fight and learn, adapt and evolve.
This is what he lived for.
"You might be small, but that won't matter if you can't get past my energy!"
The tiny Uub did not let up, and responded to Goku's expanding aura in kind by enveloping himself in his own and shooting towards Goku like a lightning strike; his energy now pushing against Goku's own. Both warriors braced themselves at the force of the impact, their aura's clashing in a spectacular light show of gold and turquoise rays. Both growled under the forces they were subject to, but Uub's was noticeably more strained.
Goku crossed his arms to his chest, focused for but a moment, and then let his power explode.
Uub was blown away at an intense speed and tumbled through the air, and as he was currently too stunned by the attack to recuperate, Goku seized the opportunity to follow up on his now defenseless opponent, using Instant Transmission to appear above Uub and slam a charged fist against him, which struck the entirety of Uub's tiny chocolate form. Rocketing him downwards and slamming him into the ground.
The impact was explosive and Uub disappeared from view beneath a cloud of dust and debris, with Goku remaining in the air with his arm outstretched and hand still clenched tightly into a fist. He seemed to consider whether to launch an immediate follow up attack, but was inclined to wait for Uub to make the next move.
That was, after all, quite a heavy punch.
With another burst of speed Goku was on the now almost unrecognizable dilapidated tournament ring again. He didn't form a stance, and instead simply stood and waited, his expression neutral but with his eyes fixed forward, towards where Uub's unmistakeable energy was originating from.
Energy which was now rapidly rising once again.
The cloud of smoke was suddenly blown away by the force of Uub's yells and the ring became clear to all once more. In the middle of it all stood Uub, tall and firm, transformed back into his natural human form. His arms were now at his right side, his energy swelling to his palms, in a pose Goku and any members of the Turtle School were all too familiar with.
Goku, as he was always able to do, smiled.
"You're fantastic!" He shouted in elation. Proud of Uub in every possible way. Despite the current circumstances he turned away briefly, looking into the audience stands, to the seats just above the area where both warriors had originated from, where their families, friends and the most important person of the moment; Uub's counterpart sat in awe at what he was witnessing.
"You see, Uub?" He shouted to the stands, in a fully instructive tone. "You see everything you can be? Everything you are!" He gave three sharp laughs. "A prodigy! My student!" It was rare that Goku sounded so prideful, almost to the point of arrogance. "You've done me proud, Uub. Whatever timeline you come from. If I was your Goku, I'd pass you with flying colors!"
In front of him, Uub did not falter at Goku's words and simply glared at him with focus and resolve. "Don't get cocky! The fight isn't over yet!" He leaned his left shoulder forward as he deepened his stance. "You might adapt quick, and my hits might not be as hard as yours, but enough power at this range will be more than enough to keep you down! All I need to do is knock you down for thirty seconds!"
It was a move of desperation, something Goku had seen all too often before from opponents who could see the writing on the wall that their fights weren't going in their favor.
All in on a final attack huh? Goku's thoughts were silent, but the resigned look he now held was not.
"Sorry, Uub," Goku planted his feet firmly and drew his hands up to his sides. "You're beyond anything any master can teach you, that's for sure." He hardened his expression and stood solid. "All that's left for me to show you is the wall you still need to climb over."
Uub responded with a frustrated grunt, lighting beginning to crackle in his palms. "I suppose you think you can take this no problem don't you? And you're too sure of yourself to dodge." He was uncharacteristically aggravated; a consequence of the stress and the adrenaline coursing threw him. He felt his mouth twitching between a smirk and a frown. "Why don't you transform into Super Saiyan 3? Or did you not get that far in your universe?"
"Oh believe me I did, and then some." Goku's words were cryptic, as was his expression. "But this is a tournament after all, I can't show off all my secrets in the first match."
Uub gritted his teeth, the electricity in his hands growing more intense with each passing moment. The air between the two warriors surged with his raw energy. They both knew that the coming attack would be decisive, one way or another.
"Fine then," Uub growled, his muscles tensing as he prepared to unleash the blast now searing in his palms as a glowing blue orb. "If you want it, have it! Kamehame…"
With a final, guttural roar, Uub released a deafening 'HA' and thrust his hands forward, releasing the massive wave of energy directly at the waiting, stoic Goku. The beam was a brilliant, searing white, its intensity blinding and its heat palpable as it surged towards its target furiously.
Goku braced himself, his own energy flaring up around him invisibly. Just as the attack was to strike him true he thrust his own hands out, meeting the Kamehameha wave head on and seizing it before him in his grasp. The force of his hands pushing against the blast created a shockwave that rocked the entire arena and cracked the ground around him.
He ground his teeth and withheld a pained yell.
Uub gasped in awe in between his rushing breaths, continuing to pour his energy forth. He couldn't see Goku beyond the energy wave before him, but it was more than obvious he had just grabbed his Kamehameha and blocked it from impact.
Be that as it may, Goku was still in the Kamehameha's burning path; blocked or otherwise.
Uub's face was a mask of determination and strain. He poured every ounce of his remaining energy into his continuing attack. Goku could feel his palms burning and the wave of energy continued to slam into him with unrelenting force; but still he held it back, despite the pain and the oppressiveness of the blast. He almost couldn't believe how much he was actually starting to struggle.
Perhaps he should have ascended as Uub suggested.
Goku's next roar was feral. His right knee buckled and slammed into the ring, but all this did was give Goku the leverage he needed to adjust his arms and push the wave up and away like firing piston.
Up into the sky it soared, out of the Tournament arena and past the reflective forms of the Super Dragon Balls above.
Goku had completely deflected the Kamehameha.
As the blue light faded, the audience strained to see what had just happened. Goku was kneeling near the edge of the ring, having been forced back by the power of the blast, trench's dug into the surface of the floor in front of him. His breathing heavy but steady, his arms slowly falling limp at his sides.
And he looked as satisfied as a man could be.
In front of him stood Uub, whose breathing was irregular and his form slowly faltering. His eyes were glazed over, unfocused. He could barely even see Goku in front of him. But see him he could. Strained and burned perhaps but still on his feet despite all efforts.
Uub grinned heartily, and slumped forwards with his eyes shutting.
Uub fell to the ground, unconscious. He had given everything he had, but it hadn't been enough to counter Goku.
The Grand Minister floated down to the ring once more, his expression as serene as ever. "Contestant Uub is down," he announced. "The countdown will now begin."
It was the longest countdown of Goku's life.
He winced as he lifted a burnt palm up to assess the damage; reddened and bruised, even despite being a Super Saiyan 2. He chuckled mildly to himself as he dropped the transformation and his gold hair returned to its usual black, his expression showing he was evidently content with the way things had turned out.
He could have easily ascended to his highest level and simply ended the match in seconds as soon as they had started; but by going at Uub's pace, Goku had managed to push him into reaching the confines of his power whilst also showing him there were still limits he had yet to reach, namely Goku's own. It didn't hurt that his Uub was also watching, and a little inspiration from his counterpart wouldn't do him any harm.
And in any case, holding back had awarded him a good fight.
A roar of applause and cheers erupted from the audience, and broke Goku from his thoughts. At first he thought they were cheering for him, but he hadn't heard the victor be announced yet so that couldn't be right. He looked up and around at the commotion from the crowd, only to realize their attentions were focused to the far end of the ring in front of him.
Where Uub, battered and drained, was rising to his feet.
"Twenty seven," the Grand Minister monotonously proclaimed, having been counting the entire time Goku was lost in thought. Upon seeing the rising Uub, he pausing and looked at Goku with an undeniably cheeky expression. "It seems the match is not yet over."
Floating away once again, the Grand Minister left the dumbfounded Goku and the extremely fatigued Uub alone in the ring once more.
Uub was heaving. He sported a large gash from his collar to his neck, and his clothes were ruffled and frayed. One of his eyes was still shut, and his energy so drained that Goku could barely feel it at all. Goku surmised that Uub must have poured his heart and soul into the last Kamehameha wave, so the fact that he was once again back on his feet was truly shocking to see.
Goku, hesitantly, dropped into a fighting stance once more.
"I give up."
A long pause and an uncertain silence was the response Uub received.
Cocking his head, Goku looked to Uub with his still held shocked expression, except now it was in relation to Uub's unexpected declaration of defeat. "… You sure?" Goku chuckled nervously. "No more secret techniques or magic stuff?"
"Nah, I'm tapped out," Uub responded in earnest, smiling broadly and contently. With a sudden grunt he brought his legs together and winced as he stood to attention, before, in an unsteady and twitchy fashion, he bowed deeply and respectfully to Goku. "Thank you again for this opportunity, Master Goku. You may come from a different timeline than me, but you are still every bit the man I knew, and not just in terms of strength." Uub rose and smiled proudly. "You're the same great person who taught me all I know, and I'll always be proud to have been your student."
"Well shucks, Uub, now you're just embarrassing me!" Goku immediately dropped his stance, scratched his head, and slowly walked over to Uub to pat him on the back.
"Contestant Uub of the Second Timeline has forfeited the match." The Grand Minister boomed from above. "Son Goku is the victor of the first round and will advance through to the quarterfinals!"
The audience applauded, the Grand Minister rose away, and Goku lent an arm out for Uub to steady himself as they hobbled off of the Tournament stage together, into the welcoming embraces of their friends and family.
- DB DBZ DBS DBGT -
For Reference
Timeline 1: The Three Great Super Saiyans
Timeline 2: The Grand Tour
Timeline 3: The 'Future' Survivors
Timeline 4: The Saiyan Kingdom
Timeline 5: The Frieza Force
Timeline 6: Cell's Reign