As everyone stared at Majin Buu, who had completed his transformation, their vigilance was at its peak. As for Krillin and Piccolo, who had recovered after Dabura's death, they knew that staying would only make them a burden, so the two of them had already left.
"Hee-hee." Buu gave the Saiyans a wicked grin. As for Supreme Kai, he was just a weakling, so Buu ignored him.
"Got a death wish, looking at me like that, Buu?" Maybe there was something about Buu's expression that got under Vegeta's skin. Furious, he unleashed the power of Super Saiyan 2 in an instant and shot toward Buu like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Buu curled his lips in disdain and sprang lightly aside, evading Vegeta's leopard-like charge.
"Vegeta, watch out!" Son Goku shouted.
"Bam!"
"Uwah!"
Before Vegeta could turn around, Buu kicked him with all his might. Vegeta was sent flying like a kite with its strings cut.
"Dad!" Trunks shouted. His face twisted with fury as he charged at Buu. "Buu, die!"
Roaring with anger, Trunks fired energy blasts at Buu in a frenzy. One after another, they rained down like shooting stars.
"Hmph." Buu chuckled scornfully, his hands blurring as he swatted away Trunks's energy blasts.
"Ha!" Son Goku shot toward Buu like an arrow loosed from a bow, weaving through Trunks's energy blasts. Son Gohan followed close behind.
"Haah!"
Buu spread his arms wide, forming a T-shape. The energy within him surged like a storm, sweeping aside Trunks's blasts and forcing the approaching Son Gohan and Son Goku back.
Vegeta returned from where Buu had kicked him. The group fell back and lined up, watching Buu with grave expressions.
"We've got a rough idea of how strong he is. But which of us should go first?" Son Gohan asked gravely.
That's right. These guys had fallen into their old habit: when fighting an opponent, they preferred one-on-one combat over ganging up.
"I'll do it. Kakarot, get out of my way." Vegeta stepped forward with a cold laugh, still smarting from being kicked away by Buu.
"No, Vegeta. Let me." Son Goku stepped forward without hesitation, holding out a hand to block Vegeta.
"I'll do it." Vegeta raised a hand to stop Son Goku.
"No, let me." Son Goku put the same hand in front of Vegeta again.
"No. I have to do it. Looking for a fight, Kakarot?" That was Vegeta.
"I'll do it. I finally get back, and the first thing I run into is such a strong opponent. I'm itching to fight." That was Son Goku.
"Then let's fight, Kakarot!"
"Why don't we play rock-paper-scissors?"
"Fine, let's do it."
"You three should join in too!"
"Oh, okay." x3.
Buu went from disdainful to completely dumbfounded. What the hell? What are you idiots doing? I'm right here! You're ignoring me and playing rock-paper-scissors?
"Rock, paper, scissors!" x5.
The five of them actually sat down to play, making Buu's mouth twitch violently. Supreme Kai... well, he was already getting used to it.
"Um, I..." Buu began tentatively, intending to point out that he was still here and they could just send someone to fight him one-on-one. He wasn't picky.
"Shut up!" Just as Buu started speaking, five pairs of fierce eyes turned on him at once. Buu's backside clenched. Damn, that was way too much! He was a big boss, at least. Couldn't they show him some respect? Even if he didn't have red hair... Wait, that sounded like something else had snuck in there.
For some reason, they kept playing rock-paper-scissors for nearly half an hour without deciding who would go first. Bored out of his mind, Buu had pulled a manga from who knew where and was reading it with great interest, occasionally taking a sip of his drink.
"Okay!" A sudden shout startled Buu.
"Holy crap! Who the hell is shouting? Don't you know how scary it is when someone suddenly yells while you're enjoying a book?" Buu instantly bristled. He'd been enjoying his manga, and then someone suddenly started shouting. What was that supposed to mean?
Son Goten's mouth twitched. Why was this bristling Majin Buu so different from the one he remembered? Was it because he'd released him early, so his brain was different now?
"What are you yelling about?" Vegeta said irritably. Then, brimming with fighting spirit, he stared at Buu, his gaze burning. "I'll fight you."
Under Vegeta's scorching gaze, Buu instinctively took a step back, his backside clenching.
"Haah!"
"Tuan!"
Vegeta unleashed all his energy and transformed into a Super Saiyan 2. His surging power swept across the land like a storm, and the ground beneath his feet split apart in every direction.
Buu calmly put away his manga and looked at Vegeta with an utterly composed expression, as if he were watching a clown perform.
"You dare look down on the great Vegeta? Buu, you're dead!" Seeing Buu's undisguised disdain successfully ignited Vegeta's fury.
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