"Damn it, how did it turn out like this? Why? Why is the gap in strength still so massive?" Vegeta slowly lifted his head from the ground, his face twisted with annoyance as he looked toward Axis and asked the question.
It was helpless. It was truly helpless and utterly demoralizing.
The strength of the two sides was simply not proportional. They had thought the gap in power had narrowed, but when Axis revealed that four-colored transformation, they realized they were still no match for him.
"So powerful. That four-colored transformation... you combined the Legendary Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 4, and Super Saiyan God powers together, didn't you?" Son Goku also lifted his head, looking at Axis as he asked.
Although they had been in a fused state, their consciousnesses had merged into one. They had perceived that battle clearly and saw exactly how Axis had fought against them.
"I can only say that the guy you became after fusion possessed truly strong talent and potential," Axis replied. "But how should I put this? His personality was simply too atrocious. I had already instructed him to learn Super Saiyan 4 first, to master it while transformed, and then duel me.
"But he wouldn't listen and insisted on fighting me immediately. To be honest, even in a Super Saiyan 4 state, I could still defeat Gogeta. Why? Because Gogeta only has thirty minutes of existence. Thirty minutes of Gogeta cannot beat me. Or rather, managing to survive for thirty minutes under my hand is already an achievement for him."
The reality was heart-wrenching, but Axis had to admit one thing. Gogeta's potential was truly terrifying.
It was strong to a heinous degree. If that being could exist permanently without the drawbacks of fusion, he would truly be the strongest Saiyan.
Unfortunately, he was merely a product of fusion, a miracle created by the combination of Kakarot and Vegeta.
"Honestly, I think the reason Gogeta's personality was so arrogant was mainly due to you, Vegeta," Demon King Piccolo said, having watched the entire battle from the sidelines.
If Axis hadn't held back, these two would have lost even faster. It was simply humiliating.
However, Goku's personality was very steady and humble, completely lacking the typical Saiyan arrogance. The one whose pride was etched into his very bones was actually Vegeta.
"Tch! Give us another one of those Tree Of Might fruits. I am going to attempt Super Saiyan 4 first," Vegeta demanded.
Gogeta's comprehension ability was indeed high, but Vegeta felt that if he could successfully master Super Saiyan 4 on his own, it would benefit the fused transformation later.
"Good idea, Vegeta. I also want to try combining Super Saiyan 4 with Super Saiyan God and the standard Super Saiyan, and then using the Kaioken on top of that. That would surely defeat Axis," Son Goku said.
As a fusion, Gogeta could theoretically use the Kaioken. However, the Kaioken placed a massive burden on the body, and the fusion state only had a thirty-minute time limit.
If they used that technique, the duration would shorten further. But to defeat Axis, everything was worth the risk.
"Rest for a moment first. I will give you the Tree Of Might fruits. It will be equivalent to recovering from a near-death state again. Don't disappoint me this time," Axis said, producing two second-generation Golden Tree of Might fruits. He handed them to Goku and Vegeta. This would be their second recovery from near-death that day.
Only he dared to squeeze the protagonist duo like this, forcing out every ounce of their potential.
One had to know that after a Saiyan revived from near-death, the increase in combat power was terrifying. However, that required fighting to one's absolute limit. Since his birth, Axis had never utilized this passive racial ability, so he was quite eager to witness it in action.
Any other would have had their ashes scattered to the winds by now for attempting this.
Goku and Vegeta did not say much more. They opened their mouths and swallowed the Golden Tree Of Might fruits together. A terrifying surge of life energy flowed through their bodies once more, healing their injuries and restoring their stamina.
"I'm ready. Come on, Kakarot. Let's learn Super Saiyan 4 now, and then we will deal with this guy," Vegeta said as he stood up.
"Wait a moment, Vegeta. Combining work with rest is the most important thing; Master Roshi taught me that. We have already been fighting for a long time. Furthermore, after this near-death recovery, our improvement is substantial. I think that after we master Super Saiyan 4, we had best train for a period of time before fighting Axis again," Goku suggested.
Boosting one's strength drastically all at once was suitable for battle, but new power only truly became one's own through training.
Only then could they truly control it. Just like when he first transformed into the Legendary Super Saiyan, it took time before he could perfectly control the transformation and fully exert the Super Saiyan power.
Super Saiyan 4 was the same. Moreover, they needed time to attempt merging Super Saiyan 4 with the standard Super Saiyan and the Super Saiyan God to create a state like Axis's transformation. Only then would they have a chance of victory.
Hearing this, a smile touched the corner of Axis's mouth. As expected of the protagonist of the Dragon Ball world.
Sun Goku's idea was optimal. It was the only way for them to maximize their combat power and potentially defeat him.
Vegeta nodded upon hearing this. He limbered up his body, flew toward the ground, took a deep breath, and looked up at the artificial moon in the sky.
His eyes received the Blutz Waves.
"Roar!"
A roar filled with wild nature tore through the sky. Vegeta's body expanded and deformed rapidly. Golden energy erupted skyward, instantly swallowing his silhouette.
A few seconds later, a colossal Great Ape with knotted muscles, its entire body covered in brilliant golden fur, appeared on the spot.
In the eyes of this Golden Great Ape, there was no berserk confusion. There was only the rationality belonging to Vegeta. Vegeta had mastered the power of the Great Ape many years ago.
Now, even when transformed into the Golden Great Ape, he could control it perfectly.
"Control it... transcend it... this is the true form of a Saiyan!" Vegeta's consciousness remained incredibly clear within the Great Ape form.
Hum!
The brilliant light on the Golden Great Ape's surface suddenly retracted and compressed inward. The massive body began to shrink rapidly as a deep, explosive, and primitive aura began to permeate the air.
When the blinding light dispersed, a brand-new figure stood upon the earth.
Vegeta had returned to a humanoid form, though his physique was taller and more robust than before. A mane of thick black hair draped down to his waist like a lion's. His bare upper body was covered in vivid red fur that extended from his shoulders to his wrists.
His lower body was also strong and agile, clad in trousers, while a thick red tail swished behind him. His eyes were framed by red shadow, and his gaze was incomparably sharp.
Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta had successfully transformed.
"Hmph, easy," Vegeta said, clenching his fists covered in red fur. He felt the torrent of primitive, savage power within his body, and a smile curled the corner of his mouth.
"Wow! You were so fast, Vegeta! You succeeded on the first try!" Son Goku watched from the side, his eyes shining with light, filled with eagerness to try it himself.
"It's your turn, Kakarot. Don't dawdle," Vegeta said, hovering in the air with his arms crossed. He wanted to see if this lower-class warrior could control this power perfectly as he had.
"Alright! Watch this." Sun Goku took a deep breath and also looked toward the artificial moon.
"Roar!"
A purely berserk roar rang out. Sun Goku's body instantly turned into a Golden Great Ape, equal in size to Vegeta's and similarly covered in brilliant golden hair.
However, the eyes of this Golden Great Ape were filled with mania, chaos, and a primitive desire for destruction.
Although Sun Goku was strong, he had suffered a head injury in his youth that caused amnesia, and he had never undergone training to control the Great Ape form.
The violent wildness from the depths of his bloodline instantly assaulted his reason.
"This is bad! Goku can't control it!" Piccolo's expression changed.
"Dad, wake up! It's me, Gohan!" Sun Gohan shouted anxiously, trying to call out to his father.
"Roar!" The Golden Great Ape's attention was attracted. Its crimson eyes locked onto Sun Gohan, and a giant palm slapped down with devastating force.
"Gohan, watch out! Wake up, Goku!" Piccolo instantly teleported in front of Sun Gohan, pulling his godson out of harm's way.
"Kakarot, you idiot! You can't even control this little bit of power? Think about how I taught you!" Vegeta shouted.
"Goku! What are you doing? Are you going to be dominated by the power of a mere beast? Wake up! Master it!" Piccolo roared.
"Roar..." The Golden Great Ape let out a low growl laced with struggle. Its massive body trembled slightly as if resisting the destructive, primitive urge.
Goku seemed to hear the calls of his friends and his son.
"Roar! Ah! Ah!" The Golden Great Ape suddenly threw its head back and let out a long howl. This time, it was not a roar of pure destruction.
The chaotic, churning golden aura on the surface of his body began to violently retract and compress, just like Vegeta's had. However, the process seemed much more difficult. The golden light struggled and flickered violently between chaos and restraint.
A burst of dark red light suddenly erupted from the struggling Golden Great Ape's body, instantly swallowing all the golden radiance.
The Golden Great Ape's size began to shrink rapidly, and the light dispersed.
Sun Goku's figure emerged. His physique was even stronger and taller than Vegeta's Super Saiyan 4 form, covered in vivid red fur. He sported thick black hair, a strong red tail, and crimson eye shadow.
"Phew... Vegeta, I succeeded too!" Goku clenched his fists tightly, feeling the savage, primitive power surging within him.
This power was truly strong. Super Saiyan 4 Goku had successfully transformed.
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