Chapter 24, Part 3 - Crimson Shadows of Fate
The Hyperbolic Time Chamber trembled under the force of Pan's surging power, her Kaioken aura blazing like a crimson inferno. The stark white void of the chamber was cast in pulsating shades of red, the energy rippling outward with an almost primal rhythm.
A sudden shockwave split the air as Pan vanished from sight. Vegeta's sharp gaze caught the faint flicker of a rift in her wake, her energy briefly spiking before vanishing completely. Before he could react, she reappeared behind him, her hand already releasing a compact ki bomb at his feet. Vegeta twisted sharply, narrowly evading the brunt of the explosion. The ground splintered beneath him as he stabilized, only to sense her energy flicker away again.
Pan reemerged above Goku in a burst of speed, her tail snapping downward like a whip. The blow connected squarely with his shoulder, the impact sending him stumbling forward. The cheer in Goku's expression dimmed, replaced with a glimmer of respect and caution. Pan wasn't holding back anymore—she was fighting as if something far greater depended on it.
"Big Bang Barrage!" Pan's voice rang out with a commanding authority that filled the chamber. Her red aura flared brighter, and with a thrust of her hands, a cascade of golden orbs erupted from her ki. The projectiles rained down like meteors, each impact detonating with a thunderous roar. The chamber quaked with each explosion, the pristine ground cracking and splintering under the relentless assault.
Vegeta's sharp eyes locked onto her glowing aura as he steadied himself against the onslaught. kaioken times four, he realized, his thoughts racing as he calculated her energy output. She's burning through her reserves recklessly, yet her control hasn't faltered. She's balancing power and precision in a way that shouldn't be possible—not at her level.
The fiery orbs struck the ground in rapid succession, forcing both Goku and Vegeta into defensive maneuvers. Even Goku, with his unparalleled adaptability, struggled to match her relentless pace. Vegeta darted to the side, his movements precise and calculated, narrowly avoiding the brunt of her attack. Pan's strikes were faster, more unpredictable, and carried the unmistakable weight of Saiyan pride and hard-earned experience.
"Pan! That's enough!" Goku's voice rang out, a mixture of admiration and concern weaving through his words. "You're pushing too far!"
"Too far?" Pan's voice shattered the tension, her words laced with defiance and frustration. "It's either I go too far and hurt myself now, or in four years, I'm stolen by some woman who wants me to be her Annihilator." Her gaze locked onto Goku's, her tone cutting like a blade. "So tell me, Grandpa—what will it be?"
Goku's expression tightened, his easy going demeanor slipping away. The memory of Pan's earlier revelation about the Dragon King clawed at his mind. Four years. The words echoed, each repetition twisting his gut tighter. He clenched his fists. "Pan, I told you before—we won't let that happen. You're not alone in this."
Pan's crimson aura flickered erratically before vanishing altogether, leaving her standing in her base form. She steadied her breathing, her movements deliberate as she slashed her arm through the air. A faint shimmer appeared, and with practiced ease, she stepped through the small rift that materialized. In the blink of an eye, she reappeared behind them, her form steady and unshaken.
"These rifts," she began, her voice calmer now, though still tinged with resolve, "are like teleportation for me. Unlike when I was younger, I can slide through them with control."
She vanished again, reappearing above them. Her tail coiled tightly around her waist, a visible reflection of her heightened focus. Hovering in the air, her eyes narrowed with a quiet intensity. "Vegeta," she said, her voice softening, almost tentative. "You once asked me to tell you everything. I lied back then and said I was hitting a block, like I wasn't supposed to go further." She shook her head slowly, her expression darkening. "But I saw everything—including the day the Dragon King takes me. The exact time, date, and when you and Grandpa spar."
Vegeta stiffened at her words. His sharp eyes narrowed, his mind racing through the implications. "The day we spar…" he repeated under his breath, his voice low, almost a growl. The thought of a mere training session coinciding with such a monumental event sent a bitter taste through his mouth. He dares to show himself on such a day? His fists clenched at his sides, his energy flaring briefly before he regained control. "If you know the time and place, then we'll use that to our advantage. That bastard won't lay a hand on you."
Goku glanced at Vegeta, their shared unease unspoken but palpable. His gaze returned to Pan, his brows knitting together as he searched her face. "Pan… when he takes you," he began cautiously, "did you see what happens after? Do we—?" He cut himself off, the weight of the question sinking heavily between them.
Pan stared at him, her head tilting to the side. "Do you what? Succeed in failing? Yes." Her words hit with brutal honesty, her tone devoid of its usual fire. She looked away, her voice dropping as if speaking to herself. "I didn't tell you because everything hit me at once." Her eyes shut tightly, her body stiffening as if bracing against the memory. "I'm sent to Planet Vegeta and die there… over three thousand times. How does a nine-year-old, who has never physically been to a planet that was destroyed long before she was even thought of, understand that? She doesn't."
Her feet touched the ground, her crimson aura dissipating into faint embers. Slowly, she straightened and stared directly into Vegeta's eyes, her hands clasped behind her back. "In the vision," she began, her voice steady but burdened with the weight of her revelation, "Vala tells future me that because you killed her during the Tournament of Power, it justified me dying. As a tool of revenge."
Vegeta's jaw tightened, his mind racing back to the Tournament of Power. He could still feel the impact of his arm tearing through Vala's chest, the sickening sound of her body hitting the ground. For five agonizing minutes, he had stood frozen, her lifeless form etched into his mind. And then, she rose. He could still hear her mocking words—"How embarrassing." His fists clenched at the memory, his energy flaring involuntarily as the weight of Pan's words settled over him. "She blames me?" he said, his voice a low growl. "For avenging my universe? For protecting my family?"
Goku's expression darkened as the memory of Vala's resurrection returned to him as well. The sight of her wound knitting together, her strength returning as if death itself bowed to her. She healed Vegeta. He glanced at his rival, remembering the look of unease in Vegeta's eyes when Vala had spared him, a gesture that felt more like a warning than an act of mercy. "If Vala's using you as revenge…" Goku began, his tone unusually serious, "then she didn't just want to punish Vegeta. She wanted to make sure we all felt it."