The battlefield was a ruin of craters, shattered rocks, and scorched earth. Smoke and dust filled the air as Vegeta, now in his Oozaru form, loomed over the struggling Z Fighters like a living nightmare. His enormous, ape-like frame pulsed with raw power, each movement sending shockwaves through the ground. His massive red eyes glowed with unrestrained fury, and his deafening roars echoed across the land, striking fear into the hearts of his enemies.
With one mighty stomp, he reduced a hill to rubble. The sheer force of his attack sent tremors through the battlefield, knocking Tien and Chiaotzu off their feet. The two warriors quickly recovered, sharing a determined glance before launching a combined assault.
Tien unleashed a powerful Tri-Beam, its golden energy illuminating the sky as it slammed into Vegeta's chest. The Oozaru growled in irritation, barely moving an inch. Chiaotzu used the distraction to attack from above, his small body glowing with psychic energy as he attempted to freeze the monstrous Saiyan in place.
Vegeta snarled, flexing his muscles with a violent pulse of energy. The sheer force of his ki shattered Chiaotzu's psychic grip instantly.
"You're nothing but insects!" Vegeta bellowed, his voice deep and monstrous. With a devastating swipe of his massive arm, he sent Tien flying through the air like a ragdoll. His body crashed into the ground, breaking through layers of rock before coming to a limp stop.
"No! Tien!" Chiaotzu screamed, his eyes wide with horror.
Fueled by rage and desperation, the small warrior launched himself toward Vegeta, hands glowing with energy. "You'll pay for that!"
Vegeta turned, his massive tail swinging like a wrecking ball. It struck Chiaotzu mid-air, the impact sending him hurtling backward at terrifying speed. He crashed into a boulder, his small frame going limp upon impact. A trickle of blood ran down his forehead.
"Chiaotzu!" Krillin shouted, his voice breaking as he watched his fallen friend.
Nearby, Yamcha clenched his fists, his entire body trembling with fury. "You monster! I won't let you get away with this!"
Yamcha charged forward, his Wolf Fang Fist tearing through the air as he struck Vegeta's massive body with rapid attacks. But his blows barely made a dent in the Oozaru's thick hide. Vegeta let out a low chuckle before reaching out with one massive hand. Yamcha barely had time to react before Vegeta's fingers closed around him like a vice.
"Pathetic," Vegeta muttered, tightening his grip. Yamcha gasped, struggling desperately as he felt his ribs begin to crack. His vision blurred as pain overwhelmed him.
"Yamcha!" Kara shouted, horror filling her voice.
With one brutal motion, Vegeta squeezed harder—until Yamcha's body went limp in his grasp. He tossed him aside like a broken doll, his body hitting the ground with a sickening thud.
Kara's breath caught in her throat as she saw her allies fall one by one. Her heart pounded with a mix of rage and desperation. Superman hovered beside her, his jaw clenched in frustration. Even he, with all his strength, knew that this monster was beyond anything they had faced before.
From the distance, Piccolo stepped forward, his expression dark and resolute. He knew what had to be done.
"You'll pay for this, Vegeta," the Namekian growled, his hands glowing with energy. His body radiated power, his aura flickering like an emerald inferno.
Vegeta turned his gaze toward him, amusement flashing in his red eyes. "Ah, the Namekian. That means… without you, the Dragon Balls become useless." His monstrous mouth curled into a cruel grin. "Perfect."
Piccolo didn't hesitate. He fired a Special Beam Cannon, the spiraling blast of energy cutting through the air with deadly precision. But Vegeta, with his monstrous speed, dodged the attack effortlessly.
"Too slow!" Vegeta bellowed before slamming his fist into the ground. The shockwave sent Piccolo flying backward, but the Namekian flipped mid-air, landing on his feet.
Gathering his remaining strength, Piccolo launched another powerful blast aimed directly at Vegeta's head. The attack hit, engulfing the Oozaru in a blinding explosion. For a moment, hope flickered in the hearts of the remaining fighters.
But as the smoke cleared, Vegeta stood there, completely unfazed. He raised his massive hand and caught the remnants of Piccolo's energy attack with ease.
Piccolo's eyes widened. "Impossible…"
Vegeta smirked. "Pathetic." With a flick of his wrist, he hurled Piccolo's own energy back at him. The blast struck him head-on, the explosion engulfing his body.
As the smoke cleared, only a charred crater remained where Piccolo had stood.
A stunned silence fell over the battlefield.
Krillin's voice cracked as he screamed, "No! Piccolo!"
Kara clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Kami's life faded instantly, and with him, the Dragon Balls turned to stone.
Superman hovered beside her, his face grim. "This is bad," he murmured.
Krillin fell to his knees. "The Dragon Balls… they're gone."
Kara trembled, her rage boiling over. "We'll make him pay for this."
A sudden burst of energy erupted from nearby as Goku stepped forward. His muscles tensed, his breathing steady.
"Kara, Superman, Krillin—distract him," Goku said, his voice firm despite the exhaustion in his eyes.
"What are you planning?" Kara asked, her heart still racing.
"I'm going to push the Kaioken beyond its limits," Goku answered. His eyes burned with determination. "If we don't stop him now, no one will."
Kara and Superman exchanged glances, then nodded. They both knew there was no other choice.
Kara and Superman took to the sky, bombarding Vegeta with rapid-fire heat vision blasts while Krillin began charging his Destructo Disk.
Vegeta growled, shielding his face from the attacks. "Annoying pests!"
Goku shut his eyes, focusing his energy. The ground beneath him cracked under the strain of his power.
"Kaioken… TIMES FIVE!"
A blinding red aura exploded around Goku as his power skyrocketed. His body screamed in agony from the immense strain, but he ignored it. With a burst of speed, he vanished—and reappeared right in front of Vegeta.
For the first time, Vegeta flinched.
Goku unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks, each blow shaking the monstrous Saiyan to his core. Vegeta staggered backward, roaring in frustration.
Krillin seized the moment.
"Now!" he shouted, hurling his Destructo Disk toward Vegeta's tail.
The attack sliced through the air like a razor.
Vegeta roared in agony as the blade of energy severed his tail clean off. His massive body trembled, shrinking rapidly as his transformation was undone.
Vegeta collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
"You're not escaping this time!" Kara shouted, launching toward him.
But Vegeta smirked, pressing a button on his scouter. His Saiyan pod opened, surrounding him in an energy barrier.
"This isn't over," he spat, blood dripping from his mouth. "I'll be back."
Before anyone could stop him, the pod blasted into the sky, vanishing into the stars.
The battlefield was silent. The war was over, but the cost was unimaginable.
Kara knelt beside Goku. "We'll find a way to bring them back," she whispered.
At Cadmus, Lillian Luthor watched the footage grimly. "If another alien like Vegeta comes… we need to be ready."
The war for Earth had only just begun.
To Be Continued…