Pan watched Vegeta and Cress enter the ring and walk to opposite ends. The stood there eyeing one another, a grin slowly spreading across their faces, anticipation radiating off of not only the two fighters, but the vast majority of the entire set of fighters who had a clue what real power was.

"Begin!" shouted the Grand Priest.

"Ahhhhhhhhh!" roared both Vegeta and Cress, ascending to Super Saiyan 2 and raising their powers.

Pan kept a critical eye on Cress, measuring the woman's power. She was nothing to sneeze at, her power was rocketing higher and higher. A few moments later, her power settled, a little bit above Pan's own maximum. Vegeta however kept pushing his power higher and higher until it hit his maximum as an ascended Super Saiyan, a maximum MUCH higher than Cress's

Pan took note of Dimension 2's reaction to Vegeta's power. The other Saiyans, save for Kale who looked emotionless for the moment, were clearly surprised and shocked. She watched, eyebrow raised, as the Saiyan's shock gave way to childlike eagerness and glee. She rolled her eyes, what was she expecting? They were Saiyans, they love, they CRAVED challenge, they all wanted a piece of Vegeta now. Her eyes flickered to the other end of the Dimension 2 area. Odianna's eyes were locked on Vegeta, a deadly, serious, studious look on them. There was a tint of unease in her eyes. It was obvious to Pan that Vegeta was the strongest Saiyan she had encountered up to this point. She knew Grandpa and Odianna had 'fought' one another briefly, but Grandpa hadn't really powered up to show off his strength. Odianna still looked confident, but Pan knew she'd be watching the fight critically. Aideen on the otherhand looked dumbstruck and mortified. The vast majority of the other fighters appeared to share that outlook, save for Mesh, Ogloo, and the Majin. Mesh looked a bit grim, but he showed no fear. Ogloo didn't seem to care at all, most likely because of his apparent ability to copy the form and power of his opponent. The Majin Xuu seemed to share a bit of the Saiyan's interest, though, if he was eager, he didn't show it.

Cress herself showed absolutely no fear, in fact, her stoic appearance had fallen away and she was showing quite a bit of glee. "Oh my, for a princeling, you're rather impressive. You are even stronger than the elder hybrid."

Vegeta scowled. "Only because he treats training as an unwanted chore."

Cress raised an eyebrow, a disapproving look crossing her face, and shot Gohan a glare. "How disappointing, after that show of strength against that dragon earlier, I was prepared to take back my own misgivings about the hybrids."

She slowly shook her head before turning back to Vegeta, licking her lips hungrily. "But enough about hybrid failures. I, Cress of the Ghost Waltz, shall be dining on a royal delicacy."

Vegeta smirked. "Come and try."

Cress clenched her fists, her eyes flashing gray for a moment. "Ghost Waltz!"

Pan watched with confusion as a barely visible gray mist filled the ring. Vegeta tensed, giving his surroundings a curious look. Cress charged at him, bursting forward. Vegeta met the charge and threw out a fist, only for it to pass through Cress's body, causing her to shimmer and fade away, an afterimage. The real Cress reappeared and booted the back of Vegeta's head, causing him to stagger forward. Vegeta spun and threw a punch. His fist passed through Cress again, causing her to disappear. Cress reappeared against and slugged Vegeta across his face, sending him staggering again. He ground his teeth and rushed forward, attempting to drive a knee into Cress's stomach, only for her to disappear yet again and reappear to hit his shoulder. Vegeta gave a growl of frustration and leapt back, putting some distance between the two of them.

Pan frowned. "I... can't follow her movements at all when she does the afterimage."

Goku crossed his arms, a troubled look on his face. "Neither can I."

Pan gave him a startled look. "Really?!"

Gohan stepped forward to stand beside them. "I don't think this IS the afterimage. This is something else."

Pan watched as Vegeta rushed forward again, trying to land blows. Each time he 'hit', Cress's body merely disappeared and then she reappeared and counter attacked over and over again. It was like she was a ghost...

"Ghost Dance," murmured Pan, "That's the technique name she called out when they started fighting. You're right dad, this is something else entirely."

Pan started to grow nervous. This was a technique unlike anything she had ever seen before. A completely 'alien' ability from another Dimension. Just what other strange techniques and strategies could other Dimensions come up with?

Vegeta might be quite a bit stronger than Cress, but they were still in the same power tier. He hadn't landed a blow on her yet, she had at least landed twenty and that count was quickly rising. Vegeta was starting to look a bit bruised, and blood was leaking out of his nose and mouth. Vegeta rushed at Cress again and threw a fist forward. She faded away and reappeared, striking at him. This time, Vegeta blocked the hit and counter attacked a split second later, only for it to go through Cress once more. Vegeta ground his teeth and repeated, waiting for Cress to counterattack before attempting to grab her arm the split second after she hit him, only for him to grasp thin air as she disappeared again.

Vegeta looked livid. "That hell is this?!"

Pan couldn't help but agree. "That's crazy, there's no way she can move fast enough! That was like a milisecond after she hit him!

Vegeta stopped trying to fight all of the sudden and began to fall back, trying to put distance between himself and Cress. He had an intense frown on his face, and he was looking around the arena as he ran, as if trying to spot something. He flew up high into the sky.

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!?" he roared before unleashing barrage after barrage of ki blasts down into the arena.

Pan noticed something as his blasts tore through the air. The mist disappeared for a few moments after the blasts left before re-filling. Pan's eyes went wide as she noticed something else. As Cress moved through the space without mist, parts of her body disappeared where there was no most! She was attacking and dodging through the mist itself somehow.

"That's it! It's the mist! He has to get rid of it!" Pan cried out.

Goku gave a start and then studied the battle for another moment before agreeing, "Oh! Good catch Pan. Lets just hope Vegeta figures it out."

Vegeta gave a roar. "Galick Gun FIRE!"

His blast tore through another afterimage of Cress and exploded, clearing a large area of mist. Cress reappeared and clobbered him. Vegeta gave a cry of pain and plummeted down, Cress following quickly. He fell through a mist-cleared area, and when Cress followed, she completely faded away until Vegeta came through the other side of the mist-cleared area and hit the ground. Then Cress reappeared behind him and tried to hit him.

Vegeta rolled out of the way, his eyes narrowing, fury on his face. "Oh I see how you work now you clever bitch!"

Vegeta flew up into the air, crossed his arms, gathered energy, and then threw his arms out to the side. "GAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Energy exploded in all directions, engulfing the entire arena, and clearing the area of mist. Cress reappeared, giving a cry of surprise and pain. Vegeta rushed her, driving a knee into her stomach and kicking her to the wall. She hit it, wincing. Pan smiled at that, he had finally got a hit in!

Cress massaged her stomach and then smirked before clapping mockingly. "It's about time you figured it out princeling. Well done."

Vegeta crossed his arms and glared at her. "That little trick won't work on me anymore. I advise you not bother with it."

Cress rolled her eyes. "It did its duty, I'd dare say you're hurting quite a bit after that, and your power's taken a noticeable drop."

Vegeta ground his teeth. "Don't get cocky."

Cress raised an eyebrow her voice taking a deadly tone. "Cocky? I'm merely stating a fact. Don't worry princeling. I'm taking you, very, seriously."

"Ghost strikes!" roared Cress.

Cress's arms and legs began to glow with a translucent blue glow, overriding her yellow Super Saiyan one. Vegeta tensed and flew back away from her quickly. To Pan's complete and utter shock, Cress threw out a punch, her hand disappeared through a portal, and reappeared through another one across the ring, slugging Vegeta's face.

"What the hell?" exclaimed Pan.

Cress began to throw out a barrage of punches and kicks, each going through portal's that appeared and battered Vegeta. The Saiyan Prince gave a howl of rage and burst forward. Cress took off in the air, running away, all the while punching infront of her, each one phasing to hit Vegeta.

"So, that's how her fighting style works," said Goku.

Pan eyed him. "Huh?"

"Her two techniques shes used. They focus around damaging her opponent while having absolutely no risk of taking no damage in return," explained Goku, "If Vegeta hadn't been so much stronger than her at the start of the fight, she woulda beat him no contest. This isn't nearly the same as an enemy just being faster than us, that you can at least strategize against. This? We've never fought an opponent like this before. We have no experience against her kind of techniques and tactics."

A eager, childlike grin spread across Goku's face. "Awesome! It's awesome! This kind of thing is just what I hoped to see from other Dimensions! Completely different styles of fighting that we have to learn to fight against and overcome!"

Pan didn't exactly share his enthusiasm. This was deadly, and dangerous. They were lucky that this was just a tournament and not a clash between dimensions. Then again, if it wasn't and they hadn't made that no god ki bet, Vegeta could just go blue and beat her instantly. Still, it was troubling. What IF they did come across a god tier opponent who DID have some crazy techniques that they couldn't figure out in time? It was... concerning...

"GRAAAAAAAH!" came a primal scream of fury.

Pan's eyes flickered up, sighting Vegeta begin to burn his energy. He put on a huge burst of speed, closing the distance and smashing into Cress. He threw a heavy fist into her back, sending her sprawling through the air. He rushed forward and began to deliver a serious of hits and kicks before he gave a roar and two-handed smashed her to the ground. The translucent blue glow faded away a moment later. Cress was a bit slow to rise to her feet, wiping blood from her face and breathing heavily. Vegeta charged her again, raising a hand to strike and smashing her across the ring and into the barrier on the far side. She hit it and slid down, wincing painfully. Her eyes went wide with fear as Vegeta burst across the distance and attempted to deliver a powerful blow.

"Banishment!" cried out Cress, waving a hand.

To Pan's astonishment, Vegeta completely disappeared. Cress sat there, breathing in and out heavily. Thirty seconds later she rose to her feet and looked up at the Grand Priest.

"It's been thirty seconds! Shouldn't I have won?" asked Cress.

The Grand Priest phased into the ring and spoke. "Vegeta has not surrendered, nor has he been rendered unconscious or knocked out for thirty seconds. 'Banishing him' does not count as a victory."

The Grand Priest phased out of the ring, leaving Cress there swearing profusely to herself. Cress continued standing there for about a minute, breathing in and out, trying to catch her breath...

"EEEEYAAAAAA!" came a faint roar.

A crack in the air appeared and burst open in the ring, creating a brief portal that Vegeta came out of. Cress looked up at him in disbelief.

Vegeta glared down at her. "Hmph. Locking me in another Dimension? Nice try, I know how to get out of that little trap."

Pan grew confused. "How?"

Trunks and Goten exchanged knowing glances before Trunks spoke up. "When we got trapped in the time chamber when fighting Super Buu, we both just powered up alot, did a huuuuge shout of power, and broke through a dimensional wall."

Cress ground her teeth. "I'll give you credit, you're a tenacious one princeling."

Vegeta smirked. "I know."

"Ghost Strider!" shouted Cress.

Cress took a step forward and the instantly moved infront of Vegeta, socking the surprised prince across his face. She stepped back and instantly appeared across the arena before he could counter attack. She kept phasing closer and hitting before phasing back before she could get counter attacked. Pan was starting to grow a little worried. Vegeta had taken so many hits compared to Cress...

Cress phased in and struck Vegeta once more, this time however he took it in stride, grabbing her wrist before she could phase away and locking her in place.

He clenched down, causing her to wince painfully. "I've had about enough of your little tricks, woman!"

Vegeta curled his fist and drove it deep into her stomach. Blood spurted out of Cress's mouth and she staggered back after he let go, falling to a knee. Vegeta spun and lashed out with a leg, smashing it into the side of Cress's head, sending her skidding and flipping over the along the ground before she came to a stop, cringing painfully. Vegeta breathed in and out, wiping sweat off and blood off his face before starting forward. Cress rose to her feet, cradling her stomach, glaring at Vegeta.

"Oh? So its tricks is it? What would you prefer? That I directly and stupidly fight a stronger opponent head on? Oh please, don't insult me. I didn't become the sixth strongest Saiyan in my entire universe through stupidity and brute strength," taunted Cress, "Unlike you obviously."

Vegeta paused to spit a little blood out of his mouth and glare at her. "Excuse me?! Stupidity and brute strength?! Oh I'll show you'll see just what I'm capable of, woman!"

Cress rolled her eyes. "Relax, It's not my fault you get a bit pissy when you're losing, princeling."

Vegeta narrowed his eyes. "Losing am I? You are the one losing despite all your tricks you little wench!"

Cress smirked. "Temper temper, what, is it your time of the month?"

Pan wasn't sure if she should laugh or cringe at the sight of Cress getting under Vegeta's skin. He looked absolutely PISSED.

He glared at her. "Disrespecting royalty is grounds for a severe punishment. I hope you're ready for it."

Cress suddenly adopted a deadly, wrathful look on her face. "There is only one Lord, one King, one Emperor of the Saiyan Race that I have sworn loyalty to, and he sure as hell isn't a pretender like you. For what kind Saiayan of royal blood lets his race dwindle to nothing?"

Pan saw movement out of the corner of her eye and turned. She sighted Kale crossing his arm, a very pleased and proud smile crossing his face. Pan rolled her eyes, Cress sure had scored brownie points with that little speech. She noticed all the sudden that all the anger had vanished off Vegeta's face. He... actually looked hurt by Cress's word, borderline devastated. Pan felt a brief pang of pity and sadness for Vegeta. Those words had seemed to hurt him far more than any one blow Cress had landed on him thus far.

Vegeta slowly shook his head. "I wont feign innocence of failing my charge. While I was but a boy when my homeworld was destroyed, I wasn't even the one to avenge my race and bring our conqueror low. It is why I never took up the mantle of king. Perhaps one day my descendants may prove themselves worthy of the tittle, but, as for me, I'll remain a prince to the day I die, always chasing a way to prove my race, and my father, proud."

Pan eyed Dimensions 2 Saiyans, and Cress in the ring. Pure blooded Saiyans never seemed the emotional type to her, but they all seemed a bit... affected by his words. Mixtures of emotions passed their faces before a strange look took over them. It took Pan a moment to recognize it as a look of kinship. In one short speech, he had owned up to his failings, his pain, and his struggles to them, and it was obvious to Pan they heavily respected him for it.

"Come then Prince Vegeta, show me the might of a Saiyan Prince," said Cress softly.

They burst at eachother and exchanged a flurry of blows, neither of them holding back. Pan couldn't help but notice however that Cress was no longer attempting to use her strange techniques anymore, but fighting Vegeta head on, going against what she had previously said. Was she... throwing the fight? Pan crossed her arms, giving her Grandpa a questioning look, she could tell he noticed the same thing she did.

He shrugged. "I think its a Saiyan thing."

She frowned, uncertainty crossing her face. "I don't get it, but, whatever. He would have won anyway..."

"Its not about winning or losing child," came a stern voice.

Pan turned her head to see Kale walking over, he stopped at their divider, glancing down at her with disapproval. "Obviously you know little of Saiyan pride and honor."

Pan glared at him. "Really? Honor and pride? What kind of pride do you take in murdering entire planets of innocent people? What kind of honor is there in purging planets?"

Kale looked at her with pity and sadness that Pan heavily resented. "You know so little of our race."

"I know, I've seen enough!" she spat at him viciously.

Kale met her gaze for a moment, a questioning look in his eyes, before he broke away to look at Grandpa. "Son Goku, how exactly did our species die in your Dimension?"

"A tyrant named Freeza blew up our homeworld from space," replied Goku.

Anger flashed across Kale's face. "From space?! The cur didn't even have the honor to slay us personally in combat? Miserable bastard."

Goku slowly nodded. "He was pretty gutless. Never trained nor worked hard a day in his life up to the point when I first went Super Saiyan and beat him. He was simply a mutant born strong enough to throw his power around."

Kale frowned intently. "Disturbing. I'll have to hear the details from you later."

WHAM!

Pan turned her head to see Cress fall to the ground on her back, her Super Saiyan 2 aura failing. Her hair and eye color faded back to normal and her power plummeted. Vegeta was breathing heavily, blood and dents and sweat coating his armor and body. Pan couldn't remember the last time he looked so battered. He had really been pushed and worked over in that fight. Well, if a good fight was what he wanted, that no God Ki bet sure gave him one.

Thirty seconds later the Grand Priest spoke. "Vegeta from Dimension 1 is the winner!"

Vegeta and Cress were healed, but they both stayed on the ring, facing one another. Cress gave a curt half bow of respect and walked away back to her area. Vegeta stayed there for a few moments, a soft look on his face, before he masked it and walked back to their area silently. Pan gave him an uncertain look, but he ignored her and walked out of the arena entirely, appearing to want to be alone.

"The first round is over. We will now give a thirty minute window to eat, rest, and relive yourselves before we move to the next round. Bathrooms are scatted through the hallways of the arena, and eateries have been set up outside," called out the Grand Priest.

Pan took in a breath and slowly let it out. Round one was over, finally. One quick break, and it would be time for the second...