Battle Power Doesn't Mean Everything

"You're pretty tough... You actually managed to withstand such a powerful attack." Son Goku was a little surprised.

"I'm an elite warrior from a noble lineage. How could I be defeated by a low-class warrior like you?" Nappa shouted.

"Goku's amazing. Looks like he can beat them," Krillin said with a sigh of relief.

"That's right, Dad! You can do it!" Son Gohan said happily.

"I can't believe Goku's gotten so strong," Bulma exclaimed in amazement. "I wonder if it was your training or King Kai's that made him this way."

"He's using some of the abilities King Kai taught him," Luo Tian answered honestly.

"Ah? Does that mean he hasn't used Ultra Instinct this whole time?" Bulma asked.

"Ultra Instinct isn't something you can use so easily." Luo Tian smiled. "If he'd already learned Ultra Instinct... tsk, he'd be an unbelievably powerful existence."

Bulma: "..."

Was Ultra Instinct really that powerful?

I understood Luo Tian less and less.

Whatever. I'd watch how Goku beat the two of them first.

"You idiot! Keep your head clear, Nappa!" Vegeta shouted. "You can beat him if you think calmly. Handle this steadily, and don't get worked up."

Nappa froze for a moment, then suddenly came to his senses. His anger ebbed considerably.

"Thanks, Vegeta. I can stay calm because of you," Nappa said quickly.

Vegeta didn't want to say anything.

What a simple-minded fool.

At this rate, I'd have to step in myself.

"I really did let my anger get the better of me. Now I'll show you what I can really do." Nappa's expression settled as he looked at Son Goku. "Are you ready, Kakarot?"

"Enough posturing. Just come at me," Son Goku said coolly.

"Hmph, quit acting tough. I'll show you how powerful I am!" Nappa snorted. Energy surged around him as he pressed his index and middle fingers together and thrust them sharply upward.

A powerful blast exploded right where Son Goku stood.

"Whoosh!"

Son Goku shot into the sky.

"I see you!" Nappa snorted and hurried after him, unleashing a fierce barrage of attacks.

Son Goku handled them with ease, though he was a little surprised.

This guy's pretty quick to react.

"Bang!"

After exchanging blows for a few rounds, Son Goku quickly put some distance between himself and Nappa.

"Hey, you're taking this pretty seriously," Son Goku said with a smile.

"You think this is my true power?" Nappa sneered, suddenly opening his mouth wide.

Son Goku froze.

"Boom!"

A beam of light shot from Nappa's mouth and hurtled toward Son Goku.

Son Goku was shocked.

Without the slightest hesitation, he quickly unleashed a Kamehameha.

Smoke billowed across the battlefield.

"That guy's terrifying. He can unleash energy in such a short time," Vegeta said, astonished.

When the smoke cleared, Nappa's battered face came into view.

"That was my special move... and he just..." Nappa stared at Son Goku in disbelief.

"What a tough guy. He took my Ki Blast head-on and looks like nothing happened... How am I supposed to finish him off?" Son Goku was just as astonished.

"All right, get down here, Nappa!" Vegeta called up to him.

Nappa looked down at Vegeta.

"You're useless. You can't even beat a little guy like Kakarot, so now I have to handle this myself." Vegeta spoke furiously.

Son Goku looked at Vegeta with a grave expression.

"That guy... even the big one is afraid of him," Krillin said solemnly.

Son Gohan was trembling all over with fear.

"You beast! Let Vegeta deal with you!" Nappa gritted his teeth, his face twisted with resentment. Then he sneered. "You'd better watch out. Vegeta will kill you in an instant. He's a genius warrior named after Planet Vegeta!"

"So that Vegeta is finally going to fight?" Bulma looked toward him quietly.

"Mm-hmm." Luo Tian nodded.

"But based on their battle power readings... Goku isn't his match," Bulma said, pouting.

"Smack!"

Luo Tian smacked Bulma on the butt.

"Hey... Why'd you hit me?" Bulma glared at him.

"How many times have I told you that battle power doesn't mean everything? Why won't you listen?" Luo Tian said crossly.

Bulma: "..."

You could've just said that. Why hit my butt?

Something seemed to occur to Bulma, and a flush spread across her face.

Luo Tian was speechless.

Blushing now? That's a little out of place.

Can't you see they're still fighting on the front lines?

"I'll follow orders and let Vegeta finish you off, but I won't let this go!" Nappa said as he plunged down at high speed and darted toward Krillin and Son Gohan.

"Uh-oh! Those two!" Son Goku cried in alarm.

Kaioken!

Son Goku unleashed Kaioken at once.

"Whoosh!"

Son Goku accelerated to his limit and slammed into Nappa's back with a heavy blow.

"Urgh..."

Nappa spat blood.

By the time Son Goku landed, Nappa was already gravely injured.

Son Goku lifted Nappa high overhead, then casually tossed him in front of Vegeta.

"He can't fight anymore. Take him and leave Earth," Son Goku said coldly.

Krillin and Son Gohan were both stunned. What had just happened?

How had they failed to react in time?

Vegeta's expression grew even more serious.

That guy had raised his speed and strength to their limits in an instant.

How had he done it?

"Vegeta... you... beast..." Nappa reached out to him, his face full of resentment.

I lost just like that.

I was actually beaten by a low-class warrior.

Vegeta: "..."

What the hell?

Who're you calling a beast?

Do you want to die?

Hmph, I know you're not insulting me, but that gesture is really pissing me off.

Useless fool.

"Goku, what was that just now? Is it a technique you learned from King Kai?" Krillin asked.

"Yeah, that was Kaioken." Son Goku nodded with a smile. "Kaioken lets you adjust the ki throughout your body and make it surge in an instant. If you do it right, your strength, speed, destructive power, and defense can all increase several times over."

"That's amazing... Did Luo Tian take you to see King Kai?" Krillin asked.

"I'll tell you about that later." Son Goku smiled.

"Fine... You're making it sound so mysterious." Krillin shook his head helplessly. "But now that I think about it, you were pretty patient, Goku. This isn't a game. If you had such a great technique, why didn't you use it from the start?"

"Sorry, it's not what you think," Son Goku replied. "If I don't control it properly and adjust the ki throughout my body, I'll kill myself first. King Kai also said not to use Kaioken too much. It's best to keep it at two times or less. Going beyond that puts a huge strain on the body. Instead of defeating the enemy, you could destroy yourself."

"I see." Krillin nodded in understanding.

Son Gohan nodded vigorously beside him.

"So that's Kaioken." Bulma had heard Son Goku's explanation. She looked at the readings on her Scouter. "Just now, Goku's battle power surged to 16,000 in an instant. That's close to Vegeta's... but he's still 2,000 short, so it seems like he's no match for Vegeta."

Luo Tian didn't say anything. He simply looked at Bulma.

Bulma's face grew even redder.

Luo Tian: "..."

I'm only looking at you. Why are you blushing?

"Fine... I won't talk about battle power anymore," Bulma huffed.

Luo Tian was speechless.

"Vegeta... you beast... save me..." Nappa reached out to Vegeta, begging for help.

Vegeta: "..."

Vegeta looked down at Nappa and grabbed his hand.

"Thanks, Vegeta," Nappa said quickly.

"No problem." Vegeta smiled.

"Whoosh!"

Then Vegeta suddenly flung his arm.

Nappa was hurled high into the sky.

"What are you doing, Vegeta?" Nappa cried out.

"I don't need a Saiyan weakling." Vegeta smiled faintly as golden flames burst around him.

"Whoosh!"

A powerful blast shot up toward Nappa in the sky.

"Vegeta... you bas..." Nappa screamed in anguish.

"Rumble!"

With a deafening boom, Nappa was reduced to dust.

Son Goku was also shocked. At that critical moment, he hurriedly grabbed Gohan and Krillin and fled the scene.

"That guy's terrifying. He even killed his own companion," Krillin said, still shaken.

Son Goku was breaking out in a cold sweat.

That guy's ki was terrifying.

I might not be his match.

"You two, get back to Kame House right away." Son Goku had a bad feeling and ordered them.

"Huh?" Son Gohan froze.

"Okay..." Krillin nodded and quickly grabbed Gohan. "Let's get out of here."

"But..." Son Gohan hesitated.

"That guy's too powerful. We wouldn't be able to help at all. We'd only get in Goku's way," Krillin explained.

"This is definitely bad. That guy's strength is beyond anything I imagined," Son Goku said solemnly.

I thought I'd trained as hard as I could.

But I never imagined this Saiyan named Vegeta would be so powerful.