The Saiyan Devil
Chapter 22
"Goku, I've underestimated you this entire tournament, yet you steadily climbed to reach me through that. As such, I will use all my might to crush you completely!"
Jiren's power, once as calm as a lake's surface, erupted into a molten frenzy. Flames spewed in all directions, melting everything in its path!
"What's going on?! You mean to tell me he had more power tucked away?" Caulifla felt more angry than worried. A scowl was written on her face as Jiren seemed to be too strong.
"Seems so…what will you do, Goku?" Hit had a bead of sweat glistening from his face. There was a huge gap between him and Jiren…could he have really knocked him out?
Jiren's body began to bulk up; the top of his skin-tight uniform melted from overheating, and the ground scorched. A heatwave filled the entire null void, causing its starry color to take on a pasty red color!
As Jiren's turbulent energy calmed down to a low amount, the silent and tense ambiance filtered through the air, causing everyone to eagerly watch the final showdown between, undoubtedly, the two strongest mortals across the cosmos.
Goku's silver eyes narrowed, matching the same intensity Jiren's obsidian eyes possessed. Within a blink, the two fighters lunged at each other and swung their fists, creating a devastating scene as the arena below them erupted into chaos.
Goku and Jiren continued to block each other's strikes, the impacts creating an ear-splitting effect. If anyone were in the vicinity, they wouldn't be able to withstand the raw pressure from Goku and Jiren.
Jiren went for a haymaker, but Goku spun around, struck Jiren at his sides, and kicked him away. Goku gave chase, jumping in the air as he concentrated a Kamehameha in his hands.
The ground cracked as Jiren charged forward, increasing his propulsion as he kicked a Power Impact from the bottom of his shoes. A molten orb could be seen in his right hand before he released it toward Goku.
Goku's eyes widened, and he released his Kamehameha to block the incoming red beam. A white, translucent glow outlined its brilliant blue color.
The two opposing beams collided in the air, creating a power struggle that lasted a few moments before Jiren's attack plowed through the Kamehameha with a shocking burst of overwhelming force.
Realizing that his attack had failed, Goku changed tactics and avoided the red, lava-like beam that went overhead and exploded in a nearby section of the arena.
Goku ran as fast as his legs could take him, closing the gap between and Jiren in a split second. Jiren braced for impact, but Goku flipped over him, shocking everyone, including Jiren, who quickly turned around only for Goku to widen his eyes, sending invisible blasts into Jiren.
"Did he learn Jiren's technique?" Toppo couldn't help but ask, seeing the disastrous situation. If Goku learned Jiren's technique, it wouldn't bode well!
Jiren wasn't easily knocked down; he managed to recover quickly and began his assault, throwing punches and kicks, but this time, he did so while running circles around Goku, who used his forearm to block the punches and his knees for the kicks.
Goku's composed expression was a deep contrast to the gritting teeth Jiren displayed. Like magma, his red aura reflected his fury for all to see.
Goku grabbed an incoming punch and directed Jiren to the ground. Jiren's body melted to the ground before he turned around to continue his strike, but Goku landed a nasty uppercut, causing Jiren to spit blood. However, Goku didn't let Jiren float in the air as he grabbed him by the ankles and slammed him back into the ground.
Jiren clapped his hands together, causing a ripple to course through the arena, stunning Goku momentarily, allowing Jiren to follow with a Power Impact directly into Goku's exposed gut.
The Saiyan used his hands to detonate the red blast that sent him flying away, keeping him away from the edge.
Goku looked around and noticed how much the arena dwindled; less than half of it left, and this fight would destroy more of it.
Goku saw a flash of red enter his vision and immediately went on guard, his arms positioned in front of him as he blocked Jiren's right hook.
The two stared at each other with determination written in their eyes. Goku moved his arm to the side, causing Jiren to follow it, but this time, he didn't allow himself to be open for an attack. Jiren spun around and landed a punch directly into Goku's right jaw, sending him sprawling through the cragged ground.
Goku immediately recovered and saw a large, magma-red sphere approaching him like an asteroid.
Goku decided to combat this with a Kamehameha, halting the incoming attack that would surely ring him out!
Goku's roaring echoed amidst the struggle to keep the attack at bay. After a long few seconds, the two attacks imploded, obscuring everyone's vision in an alluring blue and red.
Jiren, standing atop a floating rock, powered up before sending a wave of ki blast at Goku, all of them heading toward him like homing missiles!
Goku propelled forward, spinning around as he expertly dodged the streamline ki blasts. Jiren gasped before he began to punch wildly, hoping to stop Goku's advance.
However, Goku flawlessly dodged each one and landed a decisive strike to Jiren's chin, knocking him back and stunning any movements he could make.
Goku began to charge a Kamehameha; this time, it looked completely different, taking on a platinum silver color before he released it at point-blank range; the attack immediately slammed into Jiren.
The Kamehameha grew in size, enveloping the shrill and painful yells from Jiren. The attack surged forward, crashing into a large piece of an arena in the distance, setting off a chain of explosions.
Everyone was breathless; this entire sequence took a full minute and a half, leaving just over two minutes to go in the tournament.
Smoke clouded the sight where Jiren crashed, dispersing into nothingness as Goku landed at the location.
The figure of Jiren, once a symbol of powerful stoicism and strength, now lay on his knees in a pitiful state, his power up diminished after being struck by Goku's Ultra Instinct Kamehameha.
Goku's steps were composed and silent, just like how his mind was right now. As Goku stood before the Universe 11 warrior, a sense of conflict seemed to brew within Goku. Still, he knew this outcome was inevitable, so Goku prepared to ring out Jiren without delivering any parting words.
However, before anyone could react, Goku's body suddenly erupted into a torrent of pain as energy discharged from him; his screams reverberated through the null realm, and his pupils were heavily dilated to the point they disappeared.
Goku stumbled back, his silver hair disappeared, and his body shrunk.
"USE THIS CHANCE TO KNOCK OUT GOKU, JIREN!"
Jiren heard the frantic and hopeful yell from Belmond and blinked. Jiren was expecting to be eliminated and accepted his fate, but it seems fate, for once, gave him a path toward victory!
Jiren sat up; this time, he wasted no time in his actions.
"Farewell, warrior," Jiren muttered for Goku to hear.
With a shot of the red ki blast in his hand, Jiren destroyed the ground, sending the limp Goku barreling toward the bottom, which would send him to the bleachers.
All that was left were Celeon, Vegeta, and Android 17.
However…
Just as fate seemed to favor Jiren, it quickly diverted its light toward another as a black and red ki hand shot toward Goku, grabbing him and pulling him to safety!
"What?" Jiren uttered breathlessly as he saw what had happened. He turned to see the shaky figure of the Universe 6 Saiyan, Celeon.
"Hehe…I-I'm not out for the count just yet," Celeon spoke with a shaky breath.
"YEAH! WE'RE STILL IN THIS!"
Celeon turned to look at Goku, who was extremely tuckered out. Celeon transferred some of his ki to Goku, hoping it would be enough to rejuvenate the older Saiyan.
Celeon didn't know how to speak to Goku, especially after he used Kaio-Ken as recklessly as he did a while ago.
"Sorry…I was thinking about winning, and it clouded my judgment," Celeon managed to say whatever came first.
Goku chuckled, a grin on his lips as he stood up, feeling slightly better.
"It's no worries. You did great, so don't feel bad about it."
Celeon only nodded in response, and the two turned their attention to Jiren, who looked utterly conflicted when he saw the two Saiyans from completely different universes rebuild their trust, something he thought was broken!
"Alright, Jiren, it's time you face us again!"
Jiren clenched his fists, not out of anger; no, it was something he couldn't quite understand; was this excitement? His body seemed to quiver as his eyes darted to Goku's right.
"I'm here too!" The voice, defiant and tired, spoke up.
"VEGETA!"
"I'll be honest, I'm surprised we're still here," A calm and monotone voice said from Celeon's left.
"SEVENTEEN!"
Jiren stared at the remaining obstacles in his path, not once feeling an ounce of worry or panic. His excitement was palpable, standing atop his other feelings at this moment.
"I think I understand a little bit more," Jiren vaguely expressed himself. "But because of that, I won't lose!"
"Let's go!" Goku was the first into the fray, his body no longer feeling the heavy strain from his overuse of Mastered Ultra Instinct.
Jiren and Goku, despite both being weakened, collided fiercely, but to Jiren's surprise, Goku pulled him closer, and a knee struck his face as Celeon jumped over Goku.
Jiren stumbled before he regained his bearings, only to see Vegeta appear before him and attack him with an explosive ki wave. Jiren swiped his hands in an arc, canceling the attack and kicking Vegeta into Celeon, but the latter spun in the air, throwing Vegeta back at Jiren.
Celeon shot two small ki blasts into Vegeta's boots, causing the Saiyan Prince to propel faster and tackle Jiren. Android 17 appeared behind Jiren and shot three blue ki blasts with arrowheads as Vegeta kicked Jiren into them, causing a miniature explosion.
"He's not done!" Celeon could feel Jiren's erratic ki increase as red flames struck everyone at once.
"Are you kidding me? It's like he has the ability to progress in battle; it's similar to us Saiyans, but this takes it a step further!" Vegeta clicked his teeth as he felt Jiren progressing in strength.
"He's the real deal," Goku was amazed by this and couldn't help but feel a bitter sense of excitement.
"I have a trick that may be able to stop this monster, but I'll need him stuck in one place," Vegeta looked at Goku and Celeon, getting them to exchange glances.
"I can probably hold him down using my ki claws, but not too long."
"Good, you, Kakarot, and the Android can hold him; I'll prepare it now."
Celeon tapped Vegeta's shoulder, giving him the remaining spare ki he could, getting a silent thanks from Vegeta.
"Are you all done planning?" Jiren's voice, a paragon of pure power, reminded everyone why he was regarded as the strongest mortal.
""YEAH!"" Goku and Celeon shouted in sync as they rushed forward.
This time, they would succeed!
AN: The next chapter will be the finale after a long time. I look forward to it cause it'll be quite the amazing final chapter of the arc.
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