Piccolo vs. Vegeta

Two figures collided, broke apart, and collided again in the sky.

Bang!

Piccolo's elbow slammed into Vegeta's ribs once more. Vegeta grunted and used the recoil to retreat several meters, stumbling when he landed.

Damn it... At least two ribs on my left side are broken.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His left eye was swollen nearly shut, and a gaping hole in the front of his Battle Suit exposed the bruised skin beneath.

I'm the Saiyan Prince! The strongest warrior in the universe! How can I let a Namekian beat me up like this?!

Piccolo hovered in front of him, arms crossed, his aura slowly rising around him.

He tilted his head and said coldly,

"Vegeta, is that all you've got? The Saiyan Prince's punches are weaker than Nappa's."

"Shut up!" Vegeta roared, the veins bulging at his temples. "Don't get cocky, Namekian!"

This isn't working... I can't gain any ground in close combat. His battle power is higher than mine, and his control over his ki is far beyond my own.

If this keeps up, I'll die here.

There's only one move left...

Vegeta abruptly retreated, putting dozens of meters between himself and Piccolo. He rapidly gathered energy in his hands at his waist, a ball of purplish-red light growing larger and larger in his palms.

"Namekian!" Vegeta's voice twisted with rage. "You asked for this!"

If I can't beat him in close combat, I'll force him to take my energy blast head-on. Besides...

He glanced toward the distance out of the corner of his eye.

There's a city that way. If you dodge, the city is finished. If you don't, you'll take this hit head-on!

He thrust both hands forward, unleashing a massive purplish-red energy wave—

Big Bang Attack!!

The air shrieked as the energy wave scorched its way through it. Its trajectory pointed straight toward the distant city.

"Hahaha!" Vegeta laughed maniacally, his face contorting with rage. "Namekian, do you dare dodge?! If you do, I'll destroy that city! Come on, take this!"

Piccolo's eyes suddenly turned icy.

How despicable... He's actually using Earthlings as hostages.

There must be at least several million people in the outskirts of West City.

I can't dodge.

He took a deep breath and furiously compressed and focused all his ki. His green aura flowed toward the index finger of his right hand, the light growing brighter and brighter.

"Vegeta..." Piccolo said coldly. "You think a trick like that will work on me?"

He pointed his index finger forward as spiraling light spun rapidly at its tip—

Special Beam Cannon!!

Whoosh—BOOM!!!

A dark green spiral beam tore through the air and slammed into the Big Bang Attack!

The two blasts clashed in midair, locked in a struggle as purplish red and dark green intertwined in a blinding burst of light. The shock wave swept outward, shattering the rocks on the ground.

Vegeta's eyes widened, veins bulging across his forehead. "Impossible! He actually stopped it?!"

Damn it... He really took it head-on?

Fine, then I'll pour in more power! Let's see if you can take it!

He roared and poured all his energy into the Big Bang Attack. The energy wave instantly swelled to several times its size, bearing down on Piccolo.

Piccolo snorted and increased his output as well. The Special Beam Cannon blazed even brighter, its spiral spinning faster and faster—

BOOM!!!

The stalemate lasted only a few seconds before the Special Beam Cannon tore through the Big Bang Attack! The purplish-red energy split apart and scattered to either side. The dark green spiral beam kept going, heading straight for Vegeta!

"What?!"

Vegeta's face turned white with shock, his pupils contracting sharply. At the very last moment, he twisted aside—

Whoosh!

The Special Beam Cannon grazed his shoulder. His Battle Suit blackened instantly, and a fierce burning pain flared across his skin as the stench of scorched flesh filled the air.

Vegeta staggered back several steps and looked down at the blackened patch on his shoulder. Cold sweat trickled down his cheek.

That was close... So close... I almost got killed!

His heart pounded wildly, his breathing rapid and ragged.

This won't work... I'll die if this keeps up! In my normal state, I'm no match for them.

There's only one way... I have to do it!

A vicious glint flashed in Vegeta's eyes. He abruptly raised his head and looked up at the dim sky.

Great Ape Transformation. If I turn into a Great Ape, my battle power will increase tenfold! Then... every one of them will die!

He took a deep breath and rapidly formed a ball of unusual energy before his chest. It was silvery white, and it gave off an aura like moonlight.

"Go!"

Vegeta hurled the energy ball into the sky. It burst high above, breaking into countless tiny points of light that quickly gathered together—

A silvery-white "Artificial Moon" appeared in the heavens!

Soft moonlight spilled across the earth, shining down on Vegeta.

Vegeta's body began to tremble violently. His heart pounded, his bones cracked, and his muscles rapidly swelled, tore, and reformed before their very eyes.

"ROAR!!!"

A deafening roar echoed across the wasteland.

Vegeta grew at a furious pace—three meters, five, ten... In just a few seconds, he had become a golden Great Ape more than ten meters tall! Thick golden fur covered his body, his eyes were crimson, and sharp fangs showed in his mouth as he radiated a ferocious aura.

BOOM!

Great Ape Vegeta hit the ground, making it shake violently as cracks spread in every direction.

Piccolo looked up at the monstrous creature before him, his expression grave as he felt its terrifying aura surge several times stronger.

This is bad... His ki is far stronger than before!

But he didn't back down. Piccolo clenched his teeth, his green aura rising once more, then flashed forward and charged straight at Great Ape Vegeta!

"Hmph, you overestimate yourself!"

Great Ape Vegeta let out a low, rumbling roar. "Namekian, my battle power is now ten times greater than it was at full strength! Ready to die?!"

Piccolo snorted. "Don't make me laugh!"

"If you're so eager to die, then this prince will grant your wish!"

Great Ape Vegeta's enormous fist came crashing down! It was several meters wide, and the wind it stirred up swept all the sand and stones off the ground.

Piccolo tried to dodge, but the Great Ape's speed was far beyond anything he had expected. Its huge body was not clumsy or slow at all—in fact, it was even faster than before!

BAM!!!

Piccolo had no time to react. The punch hit him squarely, sending him flying backward until he crashed hard into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Cough..."

Piccolo struggled to climb out of the crater, a trickle of green blood at the corner of his mouth. He clutched his chest, his eyes full of shock.

How is this possible... He's gotten so much bigger, but he hasn't slowed down—in fact, he's even faster?! Damn it... I was too careless!

Great Ape Vegeta looked down at Piccolo, a cruel glint in his crimson eyes. He raised his massive foot, about to stomp down—

"That's enough."

A calm voice rang out.