He straightened slightly, his gaze hardening as his decision crystallized. I can't hold back. If she doesn't learn to control this now, there may not be a second chance.
"Pan," Vegeta said, his voice cutting through the crackling energy. "Prepare yourself. This will hurt."
Pan's lips tightened into a determined line as her stance deepened. "I'm ready," she replied, her voice steady, the ancient weight still lingering in her tone.
Their auras flared simultaneously, golden light and molten energy exploding outward in a clash of brilliance. Vegeta surged forward, his movements precise and calculated, testing her limits with every strike.
The battle for mastery had begun, and for the first time in years, Vegeta felt the weight of uncertainty pressing against him. This isn't just about her power. It's about what's coming—and whether we'll be ready when it does.
"You've reached this form," he said sharply, his tone measured but firm, "but that doesn't make you a warrior. Show me you can fight with it—or admit you're not ready."
Pan's response was immediate, her golden aura pulsing with intensity as she surged forward. Streaks of light trailed her movements, her speed blinding as she closed the distance. Vegeta caught her first strike—a direct punch aimed at his jaw—with his forearm. The impact rippled through his body, her strength undeniable, and yet his instincts remained unimpressed.
"Better," he muttered, a begrudging acknowledgment slipping through his resolve.
Pan vanished, her form a blur as she reappeared behind him. Her kick was aimed low, precise, but Vegeta had already anticipated her move. He spun sharply, deflecting the strike with his forearm and positioning himself for the next counter. As she twisted midair, her golden tail lashed out with precision, striking toward his ribs.
Vegeta's hand shot out, gripping the tail firmly. He yanked her forward with a growl. "Don't get predictable," he said coldly, releasing her before slamming his elbow into her side, sending her stumbling back.
Pan skidded across the chamber floor, her aura flaring as she caught her balance. Her teal eyes locked onto him, a defiant smirk curving her lips.
"You're holding back," she said, her tone challenging and unyielding.
Vegeta's smirk mirrored hers, though his eyes betrayed none of the warmth her youthful defiance carried. "If you can't handle me now, girl, you're not ready for what's coming next."
Pan launched herself at him again, her strikes faster and more precise. Each blow carried calculated ferocity, her movements blurring as she closed the distance between them. Vegeta parried each strike, their clashes creating a deafening rhythm that echoed through the chamber. Pan's tail became an extension of her attacks, weaving seamlessly into her strategy to feint, counter, and disrupt his defenses.
She moved with an intensity that defied her age, her instincts sharpening with every exchange. Her strikes gained weight and precision, forcing Vegeta to adapt in real-time.
She's learning faster than I thought, Vegeta admitted silently, his eyes narrowing. But she's still raw. Too reckless.
The energy around Pan shifted abruptly, the golden tendrils of her aura growing darker, denser. The chamber groaned under the oppressive weight of her power, the temperature spiking as the air around her shimmered with heat. Vegeta's instincts screamed caution, his body tensing as he braced for the change.
"Pan," he barked, his voice sharp and commanding. "Control your power! Don't let it overwhelm you!"
But Pan's teal eyes glowed brighter, and her movements became more deliberate. Her strikes grew heavier, each one hammering against his defenses and forcing him to give ground. She wasn't testing herself anymore—this was a focused assault, raw and unrelenting.
Vegeta grunted as her tail whipped toward his side, the impact powerful enough to disrupt his stance. Her follow-up was instantaneous, a spinning kick aimed at his chest. He blocked it, but the sheer force reverberated through his arms, and his eyes flicked toward her aura.
With a sudden roar, Pan leapt into the air, her hands glowing with molten golden energy. A massive orb of ki swirled between her palms, its immense size causing cracks to spider through the chamber floor.
"Take this!" she shouted, her voice reverberating like a battle cry as she hurled the attack toward Vegeta.
Vegeta's blue aura erupted outward in response. He planted his feet firmly, his arms outstretched as he caught the incoming blast. The collision sent shockwaves tearing through the chamber, distorting the air and shaking the walls. Vegeta's teeth clenched, his muscles straining as he redirected the colossal energy upward. The orb exploded against the ceiling, the resulting flash illuminating the chamber in blinding light.
As the dust settled, Vegeta's sharp gaze locked onto Pan. She stood amidst the destruction, her aura burning as fiercely as before. The molten gold of her transformation shimmered with vitality, her teal eyes locked onto him with unyielding determination.
She raised her hands again, her stance unwavering and her intent clear.
Vegeta straightened, his scowl deepening. She's not slowing down. I need to push her harder—before this power breaks her.
"Is that the best you've got?" Vegeta growled, his voice cold as his tail flicked behind him.
Pan's teal eyes locked onto his, her golden aura pulsing as her tail cracked sharply behind her. "Not even close," she replied, her tone unwavering.
Vegeta charged without hesitation, his fists alight with blue energy that crackled like thunder. The space between them vanished in an instant as their clash reignited with brutal intensity. Each blow sent shockwaves reverberating through the chamber, the air warping with the sheer force of their strikes.
Pan's movements were more refined now, each attack precise, each counter executed with calculated purpose. Her tail lashed out in tandem with her strikes, weaving into her offense with seamless fluidity. Sparks erupted from every collision, the chamber trembling under the weight of their battle.
But Vegeta's relentless onslaught pushed her further, his strikes growing heavier, faster. He was unyielding, testing every ounce of her newfound power with the merciless precision of a seasoned warrior.
Pan shifted back, her guard momentarily faltering. Vegeta seized the opening with a burst of speed, his fist slamming into her midsection with devastating force.
The impact sent her hurtling across the chamber, her body striking the wall with enough power to rattle the entire structure. She slid down the surface, her golden aura flickering briefly before stabilizing. One hand braced against the floor, she forced herself into a crouch. Slowly, she rose to her feet, her teal eyes locking onto Vegeta once more.
"Again," she said, her voice unyielding, carrying a calm yet defiant strength.
Vegeta paused, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studied her. She was battered but far from broken. Her aura burned as fiercely as her resolve, and despite the intensity of their clash, she stood as if untouched by exhaustion.
"You've proven your strength," he said gruffly, his tone steady, though his mind churned with unease. "Now learn to control it."
Pan adjusted her stance, her hands steady, her determination etched into every line of her young face. "I'll get better," she declared, her voice firm and resolute.
"You will," Vegeta replied, his tail flicking sharply behind him. "Because failure isn't an option."
The air between them hummed with tension as they prepared to continue. Yet in the back of Vegeta's mind, a shadow lingered. The memory of Vala, her molten power and unyielding presence, pressed against his thoughts like an unspoken warning. The parallels were impossible to ignore, and the connection gnawed at him, unresolved and foreboding.
The path forward is clear, Vegeta thought grimly. Pan will master this power—or it will consume her.