"Hey, Vegeta, what's Kakarot's battle power?" Nappa asked hastily.
Vegeta: "…"
His fighting spirit deflated just a little.
"How are you still alive?" Vegeta glared at him.
"I… I want to know Kakarot's battle power… or I'll die with regrets." Nappa said stubbornly.
Goku: "…"
Vegeta thought for a moment, then waved a hand at Goku. "Hold on."
He walked over, picked up the scouter he'd tossed away earlier, clipped it back onto his ear, and pressed the button.
"Beep, beep!"
Goku's battle power appeared on the display.
"What? A battle power of 8,000?" Vegeta was genuinely surprised.
"W-what did you say? How is that possible? 8,000? He's just a low-class warrior!" Nappa cried, accidentally straining his wound. Pain exploded through him, stars danced in his vision, and blood spurted from his mouth.
"I haven't even used Kaio-ken yet." Goku said with a small snort.
"Oh? Kaio-ken? What's that?" Vegeta frowned.
"It lets me double my power." Goku said honestly.
"What, you trying to say your battle power can reach 16,000?" Vegeta snorted.
"No way… that's impossible… that's… that's…" Nappa let out a shrill scream. His voice grew weaker and weaker, and then his head lolled to the side. He died just like that.
"Finally." Krillin let out a breath of relief. "I almost thought that guy was immortal."
Piccolo kept quiet, quickly running the numbers on Goku and Vegeta's relative strength.
Silence fell for a moment.
"Going by Ken's figures, that Vegeta guy's battle power should be around 18,000." Piccolo said darkly. "The gap between him and Goku is enormous."
"Huh? That high?" Krillin shivered. "So what's our battle power?"
"I feel like I barely hit 3,000." Piccolo's face was pale.
"You're only 3,000? So that means I'm doing well if I'm at 1,500?" Krillin looked like he was about to cry.
"But Krillin beat that big bald guy, and his power was at least 6,000." Gohan pointed out.
When Krillin thought about it, that was true.
Yeah. This really is my highlight reel.
"I don't think that Saiyan Nappa was just 6,000. More like 8,000." Piccolo said after some analysis.
"8,000? No wonder we couldn't beat him." Krillin shuddered again, looking even worse—but also secretly relieved.
With barely over 1,000 in battle power, I took out someone at 8,000.
They'll have to crown me MVP after this.
"Kakarot, we can begin." Vegeta took off the scouter and tossed it aside, slipping back into his stance.
The fight was about to explode.
The two of them charged straight at each other.
Goku threw a punch at Vegeta.
Vegeta slipped to the side and countered with his own punch.
Goku raised an arm and blocked, then lashed out with a kick.
Vegeta was even faster. He sprang back, rolled across the ground several times, then kicked off and surged forward again.
Goku also rushed in.
But Vegeta's speed was greater. He bared his teeth in a grin and slammed a fist into Goku's face.
Goku flew backward, planted his feet on the ground behind him, and sprang back into the air.
"Swish!"
The instant Goku appeared in midair, Vegeta flickered behind him.
He chopped at Goku's neck with a knife-hand strike.
Goku bent forward just in time to avoid it and whipped a kick backward.
Vegeta dodged as well.
The two Saiyans clashed fiercely in the sky.
"How's that, Kakarot? You can't keep up, can you?" Vegeta laughed and drilled a kick into Goku's gut.
Goku clenched his teeth against the pain.
"Hurry up and use that Kaio-ken of yours. I want to see it for myself." Vegeta sneered, clasping both fists together and slamming them down on Goku, smashing him out of the air.
Goku tumbled several times and landed firmly on his feet.
Vegeta hovered overhead, looking down on him.
"You're really strong." Goku nodded. "You really are a Saiyan prodigy."
"Show me everything you learned from Ken." Vegeta said with a smug smile.
"Ken didn't teach me directly. He just built my foundation. He said he'd teach me more after I got stronger." Goku replied.
"Oh? What kind of foundation?" Vegeta suddenly grew curious.
"Nothing special. Just basic training." Goku said. "Oh, and he gave me a book. It's called—"
Before he could finish, Vegeta cut him off.
"Let me guess. 'Ultra Instinct Training Manual,' right?" Vegeta snorted.
"You know about it?" Goku blinked.
"Hmph. I'll be honest: I've read that so-called 'Ultra Instinct Training Manual.' It's nothing but evasive techniques. Completely useless." Vegeta scoffed. "Back when Ken had me training with it, I couldn't be bothered."
"I don't see it that way…" Goku shook his head. "If I really master everything in that Ultra Instinct Training Manual, I'm sure I'll become incredibly strong."
"Oh? Then use your Ultra Instinct against me." Vegeta said, suddenly intrigued.
"No rush. Let's take it one step at a time. I'll try Kaio-ken first." Goku smiled. "Battle is about experience. I want to see which one fits me better."
"What's wrong? Are you that unsure about your Ultra Instinct?" Vegeta snorted.
"It's not that. I've only just gotten started with it. I'm nowhere near ready." Goku answered honestly. "Let me try Kaio-ken first and see what our gap really is."
"Boom!"
Scarlet ki erupted from Goku's body.
Kaio-ken x2.
Vegeta's eyes flicked in surprise.
"Ha!"
Goku swept his arm, sending an invisible wave of energy crashing toward Vegeta.
Vegeta reacted instantly, leaping away to dodge.
Goku shot after him, leaping into the air and slamming a fist into his face.
"Bam, bam, bam!"
Goku followed up with a flurry of attacks.
"Wham!"
He finished with a heavy kick that launched Vegeta higher into the sky.
"Whish!"
Goku chased him again, but just as he was about to reach him, Vegeta twisted in midair and drove a kick into Goku's face.
Goku flipped head over heels and, when he righted himself, his face had gone a shade paler in shock.
"So this is your Kaio-ken? Not impressive. Hurry up and use your Ultra Instinct." Vegeta smirked.
Goku might have been shocked, but his Saiyan blood was boiling. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Looks like Kaio-ken isn't enough. You must be feeling pretty hopeless." Vegeta snorted. The contempt in his eyes only deepened. "Don't forget, I've been this strong since twenty-four years ago."
Goku: "…"
"So what you're saying is, you've barely improved in twenty-four years… right?" Goku asked.
The words stabbed into Vegeta like a knife. He exploded in anger. "Don't spout nonsense! Even if I haven't grown much in twenty-four years, I can still grind you into the dirt!"
Power surged from Vegeta's body.
His ki shook the entire area.
Piccolo and the others, watching from nearby, felt that pressure and their faces went completely slack with despair.
"So this is what a battle power of 18,000 feels like…" Krillin was shaking uncontrollably.
Piccolo was sweating so hard he couldn't even speak.
Gohan's whole body trembled, his small face ghostly white.
When the air finally settled, a smile crept across Vegeta's face.
"Hey, Ken, watch closely. This low-class warrior you said would be my lifelong rival—this Kakarot—I'll show you how easily I can grind him into the ground.." Vegeta laughed and charged straight at Goku.
"Wham!"
He smashed his forehead into Goku's skull.
Goku went flying backward.
"Swish!"
Vegeta flickered, appearing above him, and drove an elbow down into his back, hammering him toward the ground.
Goku twisted midair and landed on one foot.
The moment he touched down, he snapped his head up, searching for Vegeta.
"Idiot. I'm behind you." Vegeta's voice came from right at his back.
"Thud!"
Vegeta kicked him, sending him staggering.
Goku was knocked head over heels, rolling across the ground in a mess.
He spun and quickly locked eyes on Vegeta again.
Vegeta now floated high above, a mocking smile on his face. He flicked his hand, firing an energy blast down at him.
Seeing the incoming blast, Goku's expression changed. He sprang into the air to dodge.
Vegeta's grin widened. With his other hand, he fired another shot.
Goku scrambled out of the way, barely avoiding the second blast. Cold sweat poured down his back.
"Heh. You dodged it. Is that the Ultra Instinct evasion you've been training?" Vegeta asked with a smile.
Goku's gi was in tatters, a long gash running through it. He glanced down at himself, then dropped from the sky and landed facing Vegeta.
This guy's energy and speed are insane, Goku thought, heart pounding. Even Kaio-ken x2 doesn't work…
He grabbed the ruined top of his gi and tore it off, revealing his solid muscles and chest.
"I've got no choice. Even if it shatters my body, I'll use Kaio-ken x3." Goku smiled, eyes filled with resolve.
"Hmph. I was using simple attacks on purpose so you could dodge. Killing you in one hit would be boring." Vegeta laughed even louder, folding his arms as he looked down on Goku. "Well, Kakarot? Out of options already? Hurry up and bring out your Ultra Instinct!"
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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