Piccolo VS Vegeta

In the sky, two figures collided, separated, and collided once more.

"Bang!"

Piccolo's elbow slammed into Vegeta's ribs again. Vegeta let out a muffled grunt, using the recoil to retreat several meters, stumbling as his feet touched the ground.

Damn it... at least two ribs broken on the left.

He raised a hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. His left eye was swollen shut to a mere slit, and a large tear in his battle armor revealed the bruised, purple skin beneath.

I am the Prince of the Saiyans! The strongest warrior in the universe! How can I be beaten like this by a Namekian?!

Piccolo hovered ahead, arms crossed, his aura rising slowly around him.

He tilted his head, his voice cold:

"Vegeta, is that all you've got? The Prince of the Saiyans hits lighter than Nappa."

"Shut up!" Vegeta roared, veins bulging on his forehead. "Don't get cocky, Namekian!"

No... I can't gain the upper hand in close combat. His combat power is higher than mine, and his control over his ki is far beyond mine.

If this continues, I'll die here.

I have no choice... I have to use that technique.

Vegeta retreated sharply, putting dozens of meters of distance between himself and Piccolo. He rapidly condensed energy between his palms at his waist, a purple-red sphere of light growing larger by the second.

"Namekian!" Vegeta's voice was distorted by rage. "You forced my hand!"

Since I can't win in melee, I'll use an energy wave to force you to take it head-on. And...

His peripheral vision swept toward the distance.

There's a city in that direction. If you dodge, the city is finished. If you don't, you'll have to eat this attack!

He thrust his hands forward, and a massive purple-red energy wave roared out—

"Big Bang Attack!!"

The air hissed and scorched wherever the energy wave passed. Its trajectory pointed straight toward the distant city.

"Hahaha!" Vegeta laughed maniacally, his facial muscles twitching with cruelty. "Namekian, do you dare dodge?! If you move, that city will be destroyed by me! Come on, take it!"

Piccolo's gaze turned icy.

Despicable... he's actually using Earthlings as hostages.

There are at least several million people in the suburbs of West City.

I can't dodge.

He took a deep breath, frantically compressing and condensing all his ki. A green aura gathered at his right index finger, the light growing increasingly intense.

"Vegeta..." Piccolo said coldly, "do you think such tricks work on me?"

He pointed his index finger forward, a spiral of light spinning rapidly at the tip—

"Special Beam Cannon!!"

Whoosh—BOOM!!!

A dark green spiral beam of light tore through the air! It slammed violently into the Big Bang Attack!

The two energies stalemated in mid-air, purple-red and dark green intertwining and erupting in a blinding glare. The shockwave swept outward, shattering the rocks on the ground into dust.

Vegeta's eyes widened, veins bulging on his forehead: "Impossible! You actually blocked it?!"

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

Fine, then I'll increase the output! I'll overload you!

He let out a roar, pouring all his energy into the Big Bang Attack. The energy wave expanded several times over, pressing down on Piccolo.

Piccolo snorted, likewise increasing his energy output. The light of the Special Beam Cannon grew more scorching, the 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 purple-red energy was cleaved down the middle and scattered to the sides. The dark green spiral beam continued unabated, heading straight for Vegeta!

"What?!"

Vegeta was struck with terror, his pupils shrinking rapidly. At the very last second, he jerked his body to the side—

Whoosh!

The Special Beam Cannon grazed his shoulder. The battle armor on his shoulder turned charred black instantly, a searing, intense pain radiating from his skin as the smell of burnt flesh filled the air.

Vegeta stumbled back a few steps, looking down at the charred mark on his shoulder as cold sweat rolled down his cheek.

That was close... just a little more... I would have been finished!

His heart hammered against his ribs, his breathing ragged and chaotic.

No... I'll die if this keeps up! I'm no match for them in my base state.

I have no choice... I have to do that!

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Vegeta's eyes. He jerked his head up, staring at the gloomy sky.

[Great Ape transformation. As long as I turn into a Great Ape, my combat power will increase tenfold! By then... all these guys will die!]

He took a deep breath, his hands rapidly condensing a special energy in front of his chest. The energy appeared silver-white, radiating an aura similar to moonlight.

"Go!"

Vegeta violently hurled the energy sphere toward the sky. The sphere exploded high in the air, turning into countless tiny specks of light before rapidly condensing—

A silver-white "Artificial Moon" hung impressively in the firmament!

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

Vegeta's body began to tremble violently. His heart hammered, his bones popped with cracking sounds, and his muscles expanded, tore, and reorganized at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"ROAR—!!!"

A deafening roar echoed across the wasteland.

Vegeta's body shot up rapidly: three meters, five meters, ten meters... In just a few seconds, he had transformed into a golden Great Ape over ten meters tall! Thick golden fur covered his entire body, his eyes were scarlet, and his fangs were menacing, radiating a violent aura.

BOOM!

The Great Ape Vegeta landed, the earth trembling violently as cracks spread in all directions.

Piccolo looked up at the behemoth before him, feeling that terrifying aura which had surged several times over, his expression grave.

[This is bad... this ki is far stronger than it was a moment ago!]

But he did not retreat. Piccolo gritted his teeth, his green aura rising once more, and with a flash, he took the initiative to charge toward the Great Ape Vegeta!

"Hmph, overestimating yourself!"

The Great Ape Vegeta let out a low, thick roar: "Namekian, my current combat power is ten times higher than in my prime! Are you ready to die?!"

Piccolo snorted coldly: "Stop spouting such nonsense!"

"Since you want to throw your life away, then this prince shall grant your wish!"

The Great Ape Vegeta's massive fist smashed down! The fist was several meters wide, the gale it brought with it whipping up all the sand and stones on the ground.

Piccolo tried to dodge, but the Great Ape's speed completely exceeded his expectations; that massive body was not clumsy or slow at all, but rather even swifter than before!

BANG!!!

Piccolo had no time to react and was struck solidly by the punch. His body flew backward, slamming heavily into the ground and kicking up a sky full of dust.

"Cough..."

Piccolo struggled to climb out of the crater, a trace of green blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He clutched his chest, his eyes filled with shock.

[How is this possible... his body has become so large, yet not only has his speed not slowed down, it has become even faster?! Damn it... I was too careless!]

The Great Ape Vegeta looked down at Piccolo beneath his feet, a cruel light flickering in his scarlet eyes. He raised his enormous foot, preparing to stomp down—

"That's enough."

A calm voice rang out.