Fated Showdown

Son Goku stared at Vegeta in silence, then looked up and roared, "Babidi, I have decided to duel with Vegeta. Teleport us to a place where there is no one else."

"Wait," the Supreme Kai shouted, blocking his path with arms outstretched and a resolute expression, "if you must fight, then strike me down first."

Watching the Supreme Kai's determined gaze, Son Goku stared quietly for a moment. Then, to the disbelief of everyone present, he calmly raised a hand toward the Supreme Kai. Energy condensed, and a deep blue energy blast erupted from his palm.

The Supreme Kai wept internally; I am a Supreme Kai, after all. Could you at least show me some respect?

Seeing that Son Goku was not joking, the Supreme Kai compromised, lowering his hands powerlessly and stepping aside. "Fine, do as you wish."

"My apologies, Supreme Kai," a flash of regret appeared on Son Goku's face.

"Babidi-bu," seeing that there was no more show to watch, Babidi used his magic to teleport Son Goku and the others to a desolate place suitable for battle.

"You two duel. Son Gohan, Son Goten, Trunks, and I will destroy the passage to find Babidi," the Supreme Kai said, having resigned himself to the situation. "Even if we cannot prevent Majin Buu's resurrection, we cannot let him absorb enough energy to fully awaken."

The Supreme Kai reasoned that since Majin Buu's resurrection was already a foregone conclusion, it was better to force an early awakening than to let him revive at his peak.

"If we are lucky, we might even be able to stop Majin Buu from reviving at all," the Supreme Kai clenched his fist, preparing to shatter the entrance to the passage.

"Do you think I will let you succeed?" Babidi, who was monitoring them constantly, heard the Supreme Kai's plan to trigger an early resurrection and immediately commanded Vegeta in his mind, "Vegeta, kill that meddlesome fool."

"Ugh," hearing Babidi's voice in his head, Vegeta clutched his skull, resisting the control as the "M" on his forehead glowed a scarlet red.

"I refuse," Vegeta spat back. "What the Supreme Kai and his lot do is none of my business. I am here to fight Kakarot."

"What?" Babidi stared at Vegeta in shock. "I will say it again: go and kill the Supreme Kai!"

Damn it, how dare he not come over and grovel at my feet.

Vegeta struggled more painfully, his face growing increasingly ferocious. "I said, my only target is Kakarot. I am a proud Saiyan Prince..."

"Even if my body and mind are under your sway, my pride will never obey your commands!" Vegeta erupted with energy, roaring furiously toward the sky.

Why does it feel like Vegeta is a chaste maiden about to be violated? And why is everyone so deeply in love with Dad? And they're all men, for crying out loud! Son Goten complained frantically in his mind.

"Holy crap, this is a first," Babidi thought, completely dumbfounded. You don't want to be controlled? Fine, don't be controlled! But why do you have to make it sound like I'm trying to force myself on you? I'm not into that!

Incredible, the Supreme Kai thought, shocked. Someone is actually able to resist Babidi's control.

The ground passage opened. Babidi had listened to Dabura, fearing that if the Supreme Kai were pushed too far, he might force Majin Buu to awaken prematurely—an outcome he did not want to see either.

"Right, Gohan," Son Goku pulled a Senzu Bean from his clothes. "Gohan, the previous fight took a lot out of you. Eat this Senzu Bean to recover."

"Okay, Dad," Son Gohan took the bean and tossed it into his mouth.

"Gohan, think back to your fight with Cell. As long as you get angry and unleash your full power, no one in this world will be your match," Son Goku said.

"I understand, but... Dad, it's such a pity to waste such a precious day like this," Son Gohan said with a look of regret.

Son Goku smiled faintly at Son Goten. "Come here, Goten. Let Dad give you a hug."

"Oh," Son Goten was stunned for a moment. As he stepped into Son Goku's embrace, he felt his heart tugged, and he fought back tears. After all, this was the first time he had ever felt fatherly love, something he had never experienced even in his previous life.

"We're heading out first," Son Gohan said, pulling Son Goten, Trunks, and the Supreme Kai behind him into the passage.

Son Goku watched them go with a gentle gaze, then returned to his serious expression as he looked at Vegeta.

"I don't want to be injured by you and have my energy fed to Majin Buu, so I will end this fight as quickly as possible," Son Goku said calmly.

Oh, give me a break. Any young punk can brag, Vegeta thought, though he chuckled on the surface. "Fine! Let me see the results of your training in that other world!"

"Hmph."

Son Goku transformed once more. His hair stood straight up, save for a single lock on his forehead, and arcs of electricity crackled around his body—exactly like Son Goten's form.

Vegeta remained outwardly calm, but internally he was cursing, Kakarot, you almost caught me off guard! If my power hadn't been boosted by Babidi, I really would have been wiped out by you.

"As expected of Kakarot. Your power is even greater than Gohan's was back then," Vegeta said, maintaining his cold, aloof persona despite his inner turmoil.

"Ha!"

"Hmph."

Vegeta roared, triggering his own Super Saiyan 2 transformation.

Son Goku raised an eyebrow. Damn, you can do that too? How am I supposed to show off now?

Vegeta watched Son Goku's surprised expression with satisfaction. Good thing I let Babidi boost my energy. This act is going perfectly. Where are the flowers? Where is the applause?

"It seems a quick finish won't be possible," Son Goku said coldly.

"Come! I'm going to kill you, Kakarot!" Vegeta laughed wildly, charging at Son Goku like an arrow released from a bow.

Vegeta threw a side kick at Son Goku, who raised an arm to block the strike. Vegeta retracted his leg and launched a straight punch at Son Goku.

Son Goku caught Vegeta's fist and countered with a straight punch of his own, which Vegeta caught in turn.

"Boom."

"Boom."

"Boom."

With both of their hands locked, they could only resort to clashing their knees. Ripples of air spread outward, and the sound of thunderous impacts echoed across the landscape with every collision.

The two Super Saiyan 2-level powerhouses continued their battle, while Son Goten and the others finished off Babidi's soldiers and arrived before the final boss.