Fated Battle
With a sudden burst of energy, Goku and Vegeta launched themselves from their pillars, streaking through the air like twin comets. They met in a flash of movement, their fists colliding in a resounding clash that reverberated across the barren wasteland. The shockwave from their initial impact sent cracks spidering across the ground below, a testament to the raw power each fighter wielded.
Their fists became a blur, trading blows with lightning speed. Goku's right hand shot forward in a fierce jab aimed at Vegeta's chin, but Vegeta deflected it, spinning to counter with a powerful hook aimed at Goku's ribcage. Goku twisted at the last second, barely dodging the punch, then brought his leg up in a swift, high kick. Vegeta ducked under it and retaliated with a sweeping kick of his own, intending to catch Goku off-balance.
The two warriors moved like mirrors, matching each other blow for blow. Goku launched a rapid barrage of punches, his fists pounding in quick succession towards Vegeta's torso, but Vegeta parried each one, his arms a blur as he blocked and redirected every attack. With a smirk, Vegeta leaned back slightly, catching one of Goku's fists in his palm and twisting Goku's arm downward. Using his momentum, he slammed his knee towards Goku's exposed chest, but Goku managed to wrench his arm free just in time, flipping backwards to avoid the knee strike.
Goku came back with a spinning kick, aiming to knock Vegeta off his feet, but Vegeta sidestepped, catching Goku by the ankle mid-spin and hurling him downward. Goku twisted in midair and managed to regain his footing before Vegeta closed in again, throwing a powerful uppercut. Goku ducked just in time, countering with a lightning-quick jab that grazed Vegeta's cheek.
Vegeta smirked, wiping the small trickle of blood from his face with the back of his hand. He gave Goku a cold, mocking look. "Is this it, Kakarot?" he sneered, taking a step back, his voice filled with disdain. "If this is all you've got, you're in for a world of pain. Why don't you use that power you showed against Nappa? Or are you too afraid it'll be wasted on me?"
With a fierce grin, Vegeta surged forward, his fists striking like iron hammers. Each punch landed closer and closer, grazing Goku's defenses and slowly breaking through them. Vegeta's movements were relentless, calculated, and precise. He dodged Goku's counters, weaving through his strikes with deadly precision, driving Goku backward.
Goku gritted his teeth as Vegeta pressed the attack, feeling the impact of each blow. Vegeta's strength was overwhelming, his fists a barrage of power that forced Goku into a defensive stance. For a moment, it was all Goku could do to hold his ground under the onslaught, Vegeta's taunts echoing in his ears.
Goku took a steadying breath, his face momentarily calm in the midst of the chaos, then let out a fierce yell: "Kaio-Ken!" His aura flared to life, a blazing red enveloping him, multiplying his energy as his muscles surged with newfound power. With the boost, he closed the gap between himself and Vegeta in an instant, throwing a punch that connected cleanly with Vegeta's jaw.
The shock of the blow rattled through Vegeta, pushing him back for the first time since the battle began. Goku pressed his advantage, darting forward with a relentless volley of punches and kicks, each one stronger and faster than before. He followed up with a powerful kick to Vegeta's midsection, sending the Saiyan prince hurtling through the air. Vegeta twisted at the last second, managing to catch himself mid-air, and with a furious expression, he retaliated, launching a brutal kick that sent Goku skidding back across the rocky ground.
Vegeta scoffed, his expression twisted with contempt. "If that's the best you can do, Kakarot, this will be over in minutes," he sneered. "Let me show you the true power of an elite Saiyan!"
With that, Vegeta spread his arms, the air around him crackling with a surge of energy. The sky above began to darken, clouds swirling as if reacting to the intensity of his power. The ground beneath their feet trembled, small rocks lifting off the earth, pulled upward by the gravitational pull of Vegeta's increasing strength. His aura flared and pulsed, flickering with raw, destructive energy as the pressure of his power filled the atmosphere.
Standing off to the side, Cado watched, his normally detached gaze narrowing as he tried to gauge the battle unfolding before him. "Is this all Kakarot has?" he wondered silently. Despite Kakarot's initial surge of power, Cado could see the widening gap between him and his father. While Kakarot had clearly surpassed Cado's own strength, he was still far from a match for Vegeta.
"He's powerful, yes," Cado thought, his expression thoughtful yet still stoic, "but nowhere near strong enough to take down my father. If this is all he's got… he doesn't stand a chance."
Vegeta unleashed a powerful, guttural yell, his aura blazing brighter as he was now at full power. The darkened sky above suddenly cleared, clouds scattering, and the powerful winds surrounding him ceased abruptly. The air was deathly still, filled with the tension of Vegeta's newfound strength.
Without warning, Vegeta shot forward, closing the distance to Goku with impossible speed. His first blow landed squarely in Goku's stomach, a crushing punch that forced the air from his lungs. Goku staggered back, trying to recover, but Vegeta followed up with a relentless barrage of punches and kicks, each one connecting with bone-rattling force. Goku attempted to defend, but Vegeta's attacks were too fast, too powerful.
Realizing he was at a disadvantage, Goku gritted his teeth and invoked the Kaio-Ken once more, his aura flaring with a red intensity. But this time, Vegeta's blows hardly slowed. His attacks, brutal and unyielding, seemed to overwhelm even Goku's enhanced speed and strength. With each hit, Goku felt the strain on his body.
Goku made a quick decision, bracing himself as he began to power up even further. "Kaio-Ken… Times Three!" he shouted, the red aura around him intensifying, surging with a sudden burst of energy that rocked the battlefield. His muscles surged, his eyes sharp with renewed focus as he poured every ounce of strength into the transformation.
From the sidelines, Cado's scouter began beeping furiously, numbers rapidly climbing as it tracked Goku's power. Cado's eyes widened slightly as he watched the numbers spike to an astonishing 22,000… and climbing. Before he could fully process it, the scouter let out a high-pitched whine and then shattered, tiny fragments of metal and glass falling around him.
For the first time, a flicker of shock crossed Cado's normally impassive face. He stared at Goku, almost in disbelief. "He… reached 22,000? And it was still rising…"
As Goku's Kaio-Ken-infused assault continued, every strike landed with bone-crushing power. Vegeta staggered under the onslaught, his balance faltering as he was forced backward, his confident grin replaced by a grimace of frustration and fury. Desperate to turn the tide, Vegeta unleashed powerful ki blasts, one after another, each meant to cripple his opponent. But Goku moved like a phantom, slipping past each blast effortlessly before closing the distance and slamming his fist into Vegeta's gut. The impact was so intense that Vegeta doubled over, coughing up blood as his body lurched in pain.
Cado stood on the sidelines, his eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. This… this was beyond anything he'd thought possible. How could someone rise to this level in just a year? He finally understood why the humans—and even the Namekian who fought alongside them—put so much faith in Kakarot. This wasn't just power; it was mastery and will.
But before Cado could fully process it, Vegeta's scream shattered his thoughts. "I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS! A LOW-CLASS CLOWN WILL NOT DEFEAT ME—AN ELITE!" Vegeta's voice shook with a fury that reverberated across the battlefield. He launched himself into the sky, hovering high above as his aura blazed around him. "I'M GOING TO BLOW YOU AWAY!"
Hovering in the air, Vegeta cupped his hands at his side, his ki swelling to unimaginable levels as he began to charge his Galick Gun. The dark energy coiled and sparked, gathering power so intense that even the air itself seemed to vibrate.
Down below, Cado's eyes narrowed in alarm. Vegeta wasn't just trying to win; he was preparing to annihilate the entire planet. Reacting quickly, Cado pulled out the remote to his pod, his fingers moving over the buttons to set the coordinates for an immediate escape. His mind raced, and a sliver of doubt crept in as he glanced back at Goku. Was this it for the Earth? Or did this Kakarot still have some hidden power to defy his father's impending attack?
With grit etched into his face, Goku powered up further, his aura blazing as he activated Kaio-Ken times three, charging his own Kamehameha to match Vegeta's Galick Gun. Their beams met in a crackling explosion of light and force, each fighter pouring every ounce of energy into his attack. Cado watched as the battlefield quaked beneath their struggle, his father's beam colliding with Kakarot's. It didn't make sense—how could this low-class Saiyan match his father's power?
But then Goku roared, "KAIO-KEN TIMES FOUR!" With a surge of raw energy, Goku's blast overwhelmed Vegeta's, pushing back the Galick Gun in a fiery wave and engulfing Vegeta, sending him hurtling into the sky.
The shock of it left Cado frozen for a moment, his mind reeling. He watched in sheer amazement as Vegeta disappeared into the smoke, Kakarot's power still resonating in the air like an echo. And then, the dust began to settle, revealing a visibly exhausted Goku slumping to one knee as a fat man rushed over to his side, helping him steady himself. Cado narrowed his eyes—Kakarot was almost spent. Despite his staggering power, it was clear he had little left to give.
"Father's fine," he thought, glancing skyward. He knew his father would be enraged, but still… it was baffling to see someone push him this far. Cado wondered what Vegeta would do next now that Kakarot seemed gassed out.
His answer came swiftly as Vegeta descended back to the ground, his aura flickering with fury. He sneered, taunting Goku with cold amusement. "You may have destroyed the moon to try and stop me, Kakarot," Vegeta said, smirking, "but don't think I'll let that stop me. Clever trick, but you're still no match for the true power of a Saiyan elite."
Goku looked puzzled, momentarily distracted by Vegeta's cryptic words. "The moon…?" he repeated, obviously confused.
Cado let out an exasperated sigh. "Great… here we go," Cado muttered under his breath. To him, the Oozaru transformation always felt excessive, and right now, he thought it was simply overkill. But Vegeta wasn't one to change his mind, especially with his pride on the line.
As Vegeta's transformation into his Great Ape form began, Cado's initial irritation only deepened. He watched for a moment, then sighed and turned away, arms crossed. His gaze fell to the horizon as if the entire ordeal had already lost its allure. "He doesn't need to transform," he muttered to himself. "Kakarot's done. This is overkill." With a disinterested shrug, Cado distanced himself mentally, his focus waning as his father's energy continued to spike.
Time fast-forwarded to the critical moment: Goku lay battered and broken on the ground, barely clinging to consciousness. Krillin, Gohan, and Yajirobe had regrouped, rallying themselves to face the insurmountable foe. Great Ape Vegeta towered above them, his massive form casting an oppressive shadow. But something had changed—Vegeta's confidence now carried a sharper edge.
"You think I don't see what you're doing?" Vegeta's voice rumbled, his towering form glaring down at the three as they tried to maneuver. A sinister grin spread across his monstrous face. "I've picked up on your little trick. I can sense your energy now!"
The revelation struck them like a hammer, freezing them in their tracks. But just as despair began to settle in, Yajirobe made his move. The cowardly yet opportunistic swordsman lunged from the shadows, his blade slicing cleanly through Vegeta's tail. The monstrous form of the Great Ape began to shrink, his massive body contracting as his features reverted to his humanoid Saiyan self.
Vegeta hit the ground hard, his expression a mixture of rage and disbelief as he stumbled to his feet. He glared at the group with murder in his eyes. "You worms... You think you can humiliate me?!" His voice dripped with venom. "Fine. I'll make you suffer. I'll kill you all—slowly. Starting with him." His eyes zeroed in on Goku's broken form.
Gohan stepped forward, his small frame trembling with fear but filled with determination. "You won't hurt my dad!" he shouted, his voice cracking.
Vegeta sneered but didn't bother with words. He raised his hand, a glowing orb of energy forming in his palm as he prepared to end Goku once and for all. Gohan, his rage building, charged at Vegeta, landing a flurry of punches and kicks. Though his strikes barely fazed the elite Saiyan, Vegeta took notice of the boy's growing power.
"This little brat thinks he can stand against me?!" Vegeta barked, his irritation mounting. He swatted Gohan aside, sending him crashing into a boulder, but the young half-Saiyan's resolve didn't waver. He stood again, bloodied but defiant.
Goku, his voice weak but resolute, called out, "Krillin... Take this!" In his hand was the Spirit Bomb, a glowing sphere of condensed energy. With what little strength he had left, Goku transferred the attack to his friend. "You've got to throw it... Now!"
Krillin hesitated, the weight of the moment almost paralyzing him, but then he took aim and hurled the Spirit Bomb with all his might. Vegeta dodged it at the last second, laughing as he taunted their desperation. "Pathetic! You missed—"
But then, Gohan leapt into the air, his instincts taking over. He deflected the Spirit Bomb with a clean strike, redirecting it straight toward Vegeta. The attack struck him head-on, engulfing him in a brilliant explosion of energy that rocked the battlefield.
When the smoke cleared, Vegeta was still standing, battered and seething with rage. His armor was cracked, blood dripping from his mouth, but his anger burned brighter than ever. "You... filthy insects..." he growled. With a roar, he unleashed a Ki shout, a shockwave of raw energy that sent everyone sprawling. Even Gohan and Krillin were left incapacitated, unable to move from the sheer force of Vegeta's attack.
As the battlefield fell silent, Yajirobe once again made his move. Sneaking behind the weakened Vegeta, he swung his sword with all his might, slicing into Vegeta's back. The Saiyan prince roared in pain, spinning around and catching Yajirobe with a vicious backhand. What followed was a brutal beating, Vegeta unleashing his fury on the hapless swordsman.
From a distance, Gohan began to transform. His rage, coupled with the lingering effects of the artificial moonlight, triggered his Great Ape transformation. His body grew, his power skyrocketing, and soon, he stood as a massive Oozaru. With a single, thunderous swipe, he sent Vegeta flying, the Saiyan prince crashing into the earth with a deafening impact.
It was then, and only then, that Cado stirred from his position. He sighed, the faintest hint of annoyance flickering across his stoic face. "Guess I can't ignore this anymore," he muttered, stepping forward. His presence now loomed over the chaotic battlefield, his mind sharpening with purpose as he prepared to intervene.
As the massive form of Great Ape Gohan loomed over the battlefield, Cado glanced up at him, muttering under his breath, "If only my scouter hadn't broken... I can't even tell how strong this beast is." His annoyance was palpable, but there was little time for complaints as Gohan let out a primal roar and charged toward him.
Cado immediately took to the skies, dodging the massive ape's swipes with precise movements. He fired a barrage of ki blasts, each one exploding against Gohan's thick hide but barely slowing the creature down. Cado's mind raced as he tried to formulate a plan. "I need to cut his tail. Without it, this form is useless... but how?"
Before he could think further, Gohan unleashed a quick mouth blast. The beam of energy tore through the air, striking Cado square in the chest and sending him crashing into the ground. Smoke and debris filled the air as Cado pushed himself to his knees, coughing and grimacing in pain. "Damn it," he muttered, but he had no time to recover. Gohan was already upon him, his massive fist slamming into Cado and sending him flying across the battlefield.
As Cado struggled to recover, Vegeta seized the opportunity. His sharp eyes focused on Gohan's tail, and with precision born from experience, he charged toward the giant ape. Vegeta's energy blade ignited, and with a clean swipe, he severed the tail. The massive beast let out a pained roar as its form began to shrink. Gohan reverted to his childlike state, unconscious and vulnerable, his body collapsing onto the battlefield—directly on top of Vegeta.
The ground quaked as the giant ape-turned-boy fell onto Vegeta, pinning him beneath his weight. A moment later, Vegeta's arm emerged from under Gohan, bruised and bloodied, as he pressed a button on a small device strapped to his wrist. His space pod responded instantly, flying toward him from the distance.
Krillin, limping and clutching Yajirobe's sword, moved toward Vegeta with determination in his eyes. "This is it," he muttered. "I'm ending this now." He raised the blade, prepared to finish the Saiyan prince.
But before he could strike, Goku's voice rang out. "Krillin! Stop!"
Krillin froze, turning to look at his battered friend. "Goku, are you serious? After everything he's done? Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, even Piccolo! He has to pay!"
Goku shook his head, his voice calm but resolute. "It would be a waste, Krillin. I want to face him again, stronger than ever. I want to defeat him myself." His eyes burned with determination, despite his weakened state.
Before Krillin could argue further, a sudden impact sent him flying. Cado, beaten and bruised from the earlier fight, had tackled Krillin to the ground, knocking the sword from his grasp. "You're not killing him," Cado said, his voice quiet but firm. "Not while I'm still standing."
Vegeta, now free from Gohan's weight, stood with great effort, glaring at Cado. Despite his pride, he gave a faint nod of approval. "Meet me on Frieza Planet 79," Vegeta commanded, his tone cold and sharp as he entered his pod. "Don't keep me waiting."
The pod's door closed, and in an instant, Vegeta was gone, the ship rocketing into the atmosphere.
Cado, still breathing heavily, activated his own device, calling for his ship. While he waited, his gaze turned to Goku. For a moment, the battlefield was silent, the two warriors locking eyes. "Kakarot," Cado said at last, "how did you become so strong?"
Goku, still lying on the ground, managed a faint smile. "Hard work, dedication, and training. That's all it takes."
Cado nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "I see. Then I'll do the same. One day, I'll surpass you... and when I do, we'll settle this properly."
With that, his pod arrived, and Cado stepped inside. As the door closed, he gave one last glance at Goku before the ship shot into the sky, leaving Earth behind.