The terrifying energy blast shone with blinding brilliance as it tore through space and hurtled straight toward Hit!
Hit could feel just how powerful Goku's attack was. His expression changed, and he let out a roar. A purple beam suddenly shot from his palm!
The two beams collided with a thunderous crash!
"Ahhhhh..."
"Ahhhhh..."
Goku and Hit were both unleashing their full strength. They knew that was the only way to withstand the other's attack!
But Goku was clearly a step ahead. His enormous energy blast gradually swallowed up Hit's, pressing closer and closer!
Hit realized something was wrong and hurriedly activated Time Skip. In an instant, he vanished!
"I've been waiting for you! There!" Goku roared, then used Instant Transmission. In the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Hit!
"Ha!!!" With a furious shout, Goku's Kamehameha struck Hit!
"Ahhh..." Hit resisted with all his might, but he had been caught off guard and had completely underestimated Goku's strength!
Rumble!
Hit's final, desperate resistance ended in a massive explosion in the air! Blinding light engulfed the entire arena. The spectators couldn't help shielding their eyes with their hands!
"What incredible power! I can't believe that old geezer Sun Wukong can reach this level!" Piccolo couldn't hide his shock. He had started out alongside Goku and followed the same path, yet Goku kept surpassing him again and again!
In fact, Vegeta wasn't the only one frustrated at being the perennial runner-up. Piccolo was frustrated too. Before the Saiyans came to Earth, he had been Goku's strongest opponent! But ever since he'd encountered the Saiyans, he'd realized there was no chance for him to stand out anymore!
After the Androids incident, he'd stopped trying to keep up with the Saiyans. He knew his limits—he could never measure up to those freakish Saiyans!
Vegeta was different, of course. He was always yearning to surpass Goku! But now Goku had suddenly pulled so far ahead. The gap left Vegeta feeling miserable and frustrated!
"As expected of a martial arts prodigy. Goku's strength is quite impressive. Lord Beerus, don't you agree?" Whis chuckled and looked at Beerus.
Beerus's mouth twitched. "He's not bad, but the nerve of that brat to use that move against me is a little disrespectful!"
"Heh heh heh!" Whis chuckled but said nothing.
The smoke cleared from the arena, but Goku and Hit were no longer on the ring.
"Huh? Where did Goku and Hit go?!" the referee cried in alarm.
"There!" someone called out, and everyone turned to look.
Two figures stood atop the mirrors bearing Champa and Beerus's likeness.
It was Goku and Hit!
Seeing that neither of them had fallen, the crowd erupted in astonishment. They couldn't believe Hit had dodged Goku's decisive Kamehameha!
Goku stared at Hit in disbelief. "How could you possibly dodge my Kamehameha?"
Hit smiled mysteriously. "Thanks to you, I was able to improve myself at a crucial moment. That's how I dodged your attack!"
As he spoke, he flexed his fist, his gaze inscrutable.
Goku gritted his teeth. His body had already exceeded its limits. That last attack had cost him too much energy and stamina, and now his muscles were aching all over! They were even twitching faintly!
Champa, sharp-eyed as ever, noticed and called out excitedly, "Hey! This is our chance! Son Goku can't hold out much longer! Hit! Finish him off!"
Everyone from Universe 7 looked grim.
Hit watched Goku. Though Goku was struggling, he was still holding on to Kaioken, a defiant smile on his face.
Suddenly, Hit smiled too. "Son Goku, I have to say, I truly admire you! I've never met anyone like you in all these years!"
Goku smiled faintly. "Same here. You're the first fighter I've met, apart from Lord Beerus, who's this powerful!"
The two gazed at each other from a distance, smiling. They seemed to understand and admire each other!
In the next instant, both powered up! Red and purple auras surged with immense force!
They took up their stances, ready to settle the match!
Suddenly!
Pfft!
Goku's muscles began twitching violently. The pain was so intense he could barely endure it. Beads of sweat rolled down his face as he gritted his teeth and held on.
"This is bad! Goku is about to reach his limit!" Old Supreme Kai exclaimed, his expression changing.
"Come on, Goku!!" Krillin shouted encouragingly.
The others cheered Goku on as well!
Beerus watched with narrowed eyes and said nothing.
"This is our chance!! That's it! Hit! Don't get tangled up with Son Goku! Just stall him! He'll run out of strength on his own!" Champa cried excitedly.
His words drew a number of angry looks. Even the fighters from Universe 6 seemed unhappy.
Cabba stood up and spoke directly to Champa. "Lord Champa, please don't interfere! Show some respect for a fair fight between martial artists!"
"Shut up!!" Champa couldn't stand a mere brat talking back to him. He glared angrily at Cabba. "Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong! You're nothing but my pawns! Who cares whether you live or die?!"
As he spoke, Champa held out his hand in front of Cabba. "Say another word, and I'll destroy you right here!"
Cabba went pale and stumbled backward!
Just then, two fierce glares shot toward Champa, cold as ice.
Champa was startled and instinctively took a step back. When he realized the glares came from Goku and Hit, anger surged through him. Damn it! Was he really that much of a coward? He'd been intimidated by two mortals?
But Goku and Hit paid Champa no mind. They simply looked at each other.
"Let's continue," Goku said with a smile, taking a deep breath and forcing himself to endure the strain of Kaioken.
Hit nodded, then used Time Skip to appear in front of Goku.
Goku didn't attack.
They exchanged a glance, then smiled at the same time and lightly tapped their fists together!
That was what it meant to make friends through martial arts!
Hit stepped back and took a new fighting stance. The next moment, he struck first, using Time Skip to appear in front of Goku!
He was too fast!
This time, Goku couldn't react. Hit unleashed a fierce barrage of blows, making Goku cry out again and again!
"How is that possible?!" Krillin and the others couldn't believe it.
Luya said gravely, "Goku's stamina can't sustain the peak of his tenfold Kaioken anymore. He can't keep up with Hit's Time Skip!"
Everyone's expressions turned grim.