Annihilation and Awakening
He wanted to say something more, but when he opened his mouth, it was filled with purplish-black blood mixed with fragments of internal organs.
The madness in his eyes vanished instantly, leaving only bewilderment, confusion, and the despair of finally realizing he was no match for them.
"Impossible..."
Before she could finish speaking, her body began to break down.
Cracks spread from the hole in his chest, and pieces of his carapace peeled off, turning into black dust.
Finally, only a faint sigh remained before his body completely dissipated, turning into a wisp of black smoke that drifted away in the wind, leaving not a trace.
Vegeta didn't even glance at the cloud of smoke.
He slowly lowered his hand, his golden eyes eerily calm, as if the creature he had just crushed was not a formidable enemy that would make the galaxy tremble, but merely a noisy insect.
"Vulnerable."
With a cold snort, Vegeta turned around.
A gust of wind whipped up his crimson fur and long black hair, and the aura of Super Saiyan 4 left a dazzling trail of light behind him.
His gaze passed over the dilapidated city and billowing smoke, looking towards the distant horizon—where a more powerful aura, one that he was more willing to devote himself to, was gradually awakening.
The ruins beneath our feet? They're just a small episode on the road to the real battle.
Outside the West City capital, the sky was heavy with leaden-gray clouds, and the air was thick with the scorching smell of sulfur.
The wilderness was littered with jagged rocks, and withered grass trembled in the dull wind.
What's most unsettling is that cold, violent energy fluctuation—spreading like a tide, wave after wave.
A figure hangs there— Hell Fighter 17.
He wasn't standing on the ground, but rather suspended in mid-air as if defying gravity, his body enveloped in dark red energy that flickered like the breath of an abyss.
His eyes were completely devoid of emotion; the dark red optical lenses, like two solidified blood crystals, were fixed on the golden speck of light flying in from the distant horizon.
The wind blew across his body, a mixture of metal and biological tissue, producing a grating sound like a blade scraping bone.
Not far behind him, Dr. Gero and Dr. Myuu were also suspended in mid-air, supported entirely by anti-gravity devices.
Dr. Gero's face was etched with manic smugness and anticipation as he rubbed his hands together, the data stream from his electronic prosthetic eye flashing incessantly.
Dr. Myuu was far more sinister, arms crossed, only two points of crimson light peeking out from under his hood, a cold smile playing on his lips, as if everything was under his control.
"He's here, Vegeta... and he's alone."
Dr. Myuu's voice was exceptionally clear in the oppressive atmosphere.
"Very good... very good!"
Dr. Gero's hands trembled with excitement. He pointed sharply at Hell Fighter 17: "Android 17! Activate the highest combat protocol! Capture him as planned! I want the most perfect Saiyan gene sample!"
Hell Fighter 17 didn't turn around, but the dark red light in his eyes brightened slightly.
His body suddenly leaned forward, and with a loud "boom," a milky-white sonic boom cloud exploded on the spot. He himself had transformed into a dark red Death Beam, heading directly towards the golden meteor!
Two completely different yet equally deadly beams of light clashed head-on in the sky above the wasteland! There was no probing, no wasted words.
The moment the light dispersed, their opposing figures were revealed.
Vegeta hovered in mid-air, arms crossed, his scarlet tail swaying slowly, golden flames burning like living fire, making his silver fur dazzling.
He looked down at Hell Fighter 17 across from him, his face filled with the arrogance and disdain befitting Saiyan Prince.
"Hmph, so you're the Hell Fighter 17 those two old geezers created? Looks like... nothing special."
Vegeta snorted coldly, his voice carrying a metallic quality.
Hell Fighter 17 remained silent, like a precise killing machine.
But as soon as Vegeta finished speaking, Hell Fighter 17 suddenly moved! It wasn't a simple high-speed movement, but an almost spatial leap that caused it to disappear! The air didn't even have time to "scream" before it was completely torn apart.
The next instant, Vegeta's pupils shrank sharply— Hell Fighter 17's face was already inches away, his own gaze reflected in his dark red eyes.
A metallic fist enveloped in dark red energy, carrying a destructive force, slammed straight at his face!
As the fist slashed through the air, it ionized, crackling and sending blue sparks flying.
A hair's breadth away.
Vegeta didn't even lower his hands; his head simply tilted to the right at an incredible speed!
The iron fist, capable of shattering mountains, grazed his face, the force of the wind tearing a few strands of silver hair from his forehead, leaving a faint white mark on his bronze skin.
"The speed is alright."
As he dodged, his left fist had already slammed out!
There was no build-up of energy, no shouting; it was purely an instinctive counterattack.
Golden energy coiled around his fist, and he smashed it out like a miniature sun.
Hell Fighter 17 seemed to have anticipated this move, and almost simultaneously met it with his left fist!
"Thump------!!!"
The fists collided head-on! The sound wasn't like the impact of flesh, but more like two steel mountains colliding at supersonic speed! Golden and dark red spherical shockwaves exploded violently, the shockwaves sweeping across the surroundings like a tidal wave!
"Boom--!"
The ground seemed to be shattered and torn apart by an invisible giant hand.
Countless cracks spread, and rock layers were torn apart and crushed.
Further away, those giant trees that were barely clinging to life on the wasteland were uprooted before they could even let out a scream, and were turned into wood chips and dust in the airflow!
Dust billowed up, and the mushroom cloud rose higher and higher.
At the center of the punch, even space itself was distorted and deformed.
The two figures slid back dozens of meters each due to the reaction force, leaving two burning trails in the air beneath their feet.
Vegeta shook his slightly numb left fist, the contempt on his face lessening, replaced by a burning excitement at having met a worthy opponent.
He grinned, a wild and fierce smile spreading across his face, "Your strength... is passable. You're a bit stronger than those weaklings, enough to make me take you seriously."
As soon as he finished speaking, Vegeta's golden aura suddenly surged! It became more solid and more violent! Golden lightning crackled and popped within the aura, even dyeing the surrounding space with golden light.
He leaned forward slightly, his right fist retracted to his waist, and golden light visibly gathered and compressed on his fist, like a supernova about to explode!
That is the ultimate finishing blow of the body and spirit in Super Saiyan 4 form!
"Drink it--!!!"
With a roar, his right fist slammed out! There were no fancy moves, only the ultimate combination of power, speed, and angle!
The fist sliced through the air, creating a golden furrow that cut straight and cleanly, heading directly for Hell Fighter 17's chest!
Hell Fighter 17's reaction system momentarily faltered under the impact of that punch. He crossed his arms in an attempt to block, and a dark red shield rapidly formed in front of him.
But it was ultimately too slow!
"Bang--------!!!!!