Crushing Battle

Earth.

The wind howled past. Looking at the evil yet powerful figure before him, Goku couldn't help but tremble—was it fear of his malice, or the thrill of the fight?

He turned to Piccolo. "Piccolo, carry the bodies of Tien and Yamcha back to the Lookout. I'm enough here; there's no point in you staying!" Goku spoke without a thought for anyone else's feelings.

"What? Son... are you looking down on me! I am King Piccolo, and you dare say I'm useless?" Piccolo's eyes widened as he glared fiercely at Goku.

"Alright, Piccolo, I'm sorry... please protect their bodies so they can be revived later," Goku explained awkwardly.

"Hmph, even if they are revived, they'll still be a bunch of losers." Despite his words, Piccolo walked toward the two corpses. Using his ki, he gently lifted them, letting them float in the air as he flew toward the Lookout.

Watching Piccolo fly away, Goku felt a weight lift from his heart. Facing Vegeta, he began his warm-up: leg stretches, push-ups, and sit-ups.

Vegeta said, "Well? I've been generous enough to you, haven't I? Are you satisfied now? Can we have a proper fight?"

"No problem, let's begin!" Before Goku's voice had even faded, he had already surged toward Vegeta at high speed.

In the air, the two figures fought with such speed that they were nothing but blurs, like a sketch in motion. Every blow landed with force; a punch for a punch, a kick for a kick! When their fists collided, the resulting shockwaves shattered mountains for miles around. Even the cameras of the Earthlings broadcasting the event from afar were destroyed.

Back at Kame House Island, the group stared at the blank television screen, anxious beyond words. Just then, a knock sounded at the door: "Knock, knock."

Master Roshi opened the door to find his sister, Fortuneteller Baba, standing there.

Fortuneteller Baba spoke slowly, "I think you have more need of me now." As she spoke, she hopped off her crystal ball and began weaving complex magic between her hands. She muttered an incantation, and gradually, the images of Vegeta and Goku appeared within the crystal ball.

They saw Goku standing on a stone pillar, gasping for breath, while Vegeta stood opposite him, his breathing steady.

Vegeta laughed wildly. "Kakarot, what's wrong? Out of energy?" In truth, Vegeta hadn't even used his full power yet. His current combat power was around 22,000, and by using the method of sensing ki he had just learned, he could burst up to 26,000. Although he lacked a scouter to read Goku's exact power, judging by the fight, his base level was only between 5,000 and 6,000—not even a fraction of Vegeta's. Vegeta had been toying with him the whole time.

Goku smiled bitterly. "You really are strong. I trained with King Kai for a year, yet I can't even scratch you!" He slowly calmed his ragged breathing and said grimly, "I have one move left. If this can't defeat you, I'll admit defeat."

"Oh? A move King Kai taught you? Is it the same one you used to take down Nappa?" Vegeta asked.

"That's right. This is the Kaio-ken; it can multiply my combat power."

I just don't know if my body can take it, Goku muttered to himself. I already used the Kaio-ken x2 during the fight, and it didn't do any damage. Next is x3... body, you have to hold out.

King Kai's Planet.

King Kai shouted, "No, Goku! Your body won't be able to handle it; you'll collapse!"

"Kaio-ken x3!"

Goku was suddenly enveloped in a red aura, the scorching heat burning the very air! His muscles bulged, and his body couldn't stop trembling and twitching. His power had increased, but his body was becoming harder to control.

"Come on, Vegeta!" Goku screamed as he flew toward him.

Vegeta watched Goku, thinking, Not enough, not enough, still not enough! In an instant, Goku reached Vegeta's back and threw a punch, but he only hit an afterimage. Sensing the ki, he realized Vegeta was already behind him. Vegeta kicked out, but Goku used the speed of the Kaio-ken to dodge. The two chased each other, but Vegeta was always one step ahead. When they couldn't dodge, they collided head-on; Vegeta didn't budge, but Goku was sent flying over ten meters, crashing onto a stone pillar.

Goku gasped for air, thinking, It's no use, I can't beat him. What do I do? He's too strong! I can't even make a dent in him!

Vegeta looked at Goku and said, "Let's end this, Kakarot. I won't kill you; you're a fine opponent. I hope that one day you can fight me on equal footing, but it seems that's a dream you'll never fulfill. Ha!" Vegeta laughed maniacally.

Goku said bitterly, "My final move. I still have some strength left. Earth... if I fall, pray that this guy doesn't destroy you!" Goku assumed a horse stance, pulling his hands to his side to gather energy. A powerful force converged in his palms, and a blue light flared. "Ka... me... ha... me... HA!" A thick beam of blue light surged toward Vegeta.

Seeing the signature technique that always appeared at the end of every episode, Vegeta said happily, "Ha! Let me crush your confidence once and for all." Vegeta rose into the air, tilted his body, and placed his hands between his head and neck. With his palms facing outward and fingers curled, he shouted, "Galick Gun!" A beam of pinkish-purple light, just as thick as the Kamehameha, shot out to meet it. The two beams locked in mid-air. Goku poured all his ki into the blast, while Vegeta still held back.

"Four times..."

"No, Goku! The Kaio-ken x3 is your limit! If you push it any further, your body will collapse immediately!" King Kai warned.

Goku didn't care anymore. The blue beam instantly grew twice as thick, slowly pushing back against Vegeta. Seeing Goku's power rise to over 20,000, Vegeta grew excited and poured 70% of his ki into the pinkish-purple beam. Seeing the blast being pushed back, Goku ignored the consequences and shouted, "Five times!" The blue beam surged forward again. Seeing this, Vegeta roared, "Yeah!" and unleashed his full power. His 26,000 combat power crushed Goku's attack, and the powerful magnetic field was so intense it shattered Fortuneteller Baba's crystal ball from thousands of miles away.

As the light faded, Vegeta panted slightly, thinking, Damn it, if the system hadn't given me that 10,000 combat power boost, I really wouldn't have been able to win! The Kaio-ken is truly broken! He then remembered the rewards from the system for completing the mission... and couldn't help but feel excited.

Looking at Son Goku, he lay half-dead in a massive crater. Sensing the situation, the group at the Lookout and Kame House immediately headed toward the battlefield.

Gohan, Piccolo, and Krillin flew off at top speed.

The group at Kame House watched as Bulma threw a capsule. With a "pop," a plane appeared, and Bulma piloted it as they raced toward the battlefield.