Intense pain coursed through his entire body as Vegeta XENO gritted his teeth and shakily stood up from the pile of rubble.
"Still want to fight, other me...?" This world's Vegeta slowly descended from the sky and landed on the Lookout, locking eyes once again with Vegeta XENO.
The battle had reached its conclusion,
there was no need to continue.
Though Vegeta XENO was deeply unwilling,
he had to admit,
He had lost.
The version of himself in this world was far stronger,
even stronger than himself as a Time Patroller.
This realization shook him to the core.
He was supposed to be the future version of this Vegeta, over a decade ahead in time.
Yet he had been surpassed.
"You... win…" he sighed. Reality spoke louder than pride.
Vegeta XENO admitted defeat without hesitation.
As a Time Patroller, he was more mature after all.
This fight was just a sparring match. They hadn't gone all out.
Though he lost, he gained something more important,
He realized he'd wasted time over the years.
The power his past self had achieved, he had failed to reach.
Always living in his own world, constantly upholding the duty of protecting the timeline,
he and the others had neglected their own growth.
Neglected creating new miracles.
Now, thanks to this world's Vegeta, he'd experienced a personal breakthrough.
Having found his answer, Vegeta XENO gave a calm smile.
But he didn't drop his transformation yet.
Instead, he turned to Goku XENO and said,
"Kakarot from another timeline, how about you come play with me too?"
Vegeta extended his right hand and curled a finger at Goku XENO,
A deliberate provocation.
Goku XENO twitched at the gesture.
He was just spectating, and now this version of Vegeta was focusing on him?
Truth be told, his power wasn't much different from Vegeta XENO's.
And if that Vegeta got effortlessly crushed, he knew he'd suffer the same fate.
So fighting, or not, made little difference.
Seeing Goku XENO's awkward expression, Vegeta's playful smirk deepened.
Watching this alternate Kakarot suffer was... rather amusing.
Still, this Vegeta had to admit,
This Goku had more self-awareness than his own timeline's version.
He knew he couldn't win, so he didn't accept the challenge.
His own Goku? Wouldn't think twice. Even knowing he'd lose, he'd charge in anyway.
"Enough playing around, Vegeta. You've already defeated your other self.
That's proof enough of your strength."
"Now... it's my turn.
After all, that other version of you came here targeting me in the first place."
"And honestly, it's been a while since I've gotten any exercise.
Let these two warm me up a bit."
Just as Vegeta was basking in his arrogance, Lin Chuan suddenly spoke.
Everyone present was stunned by his words.
Especially this world's Vegeta,
he looked at Lin Chuan in confusion.
When had Talos (Lin Chuan) ever shown interest in bullying the weak?
If he wanted to fight, why not just spar with him instead?
"Uhh… let's not do this…" Goku XENO knew exactly what Lin Chuan meant, and hesitated.
Vegeta from this world was already stronger than them.
And Lin Chuan?
He was a complete unknown.
Goku XENO wasn't eager to humiliate himself.
Besides, they were only here to investigate Frieza's whereabouts in this timeline.
Frieza had already been defeated and driven away by Lin Chuan a month ago,
there was no need to remain in this timeline or clash with him unnecessarily.
So Goku XENO didn't want to fight.
But Vegeta XENO… was different.
He'd accepted defeat by his alternate self, sure,
But he didn't recognize Lin Chuan.
"If you want a fight, then I'll give you one!"
Standing tall, Vegeta XENO was fearless.
Everyone was startled by his decision to accept Lin Chuan's challenge.
Where did he get the courage?
He had just been defeated, after all.
That was exactly what Piccolo, Gohan, Dende, and Mr. Popo were thinking.
Even this world's Vegeta was surprised.
Why would his alternate self take on Lin Chuan now?
He admired the spirit… but still found it baffling.
He cast a pitying glance at his other self.
If he knew he couldn't even force Lin Chuan to transform, what would he think?
Piccolo watched Lin Chuan curiously.
Though he didn't know what Lin Chuan planned, he was certain of one thing,
Lin Chuan never challenges anyone without a reason.
So what was the purpose of this battle?
There was clearly a vast power gap.
Could this really just be Lin Chuan's twisted amusement?
He didn't buy that.
"Hey hey, Vegeta, calm down…" Goku XENO stepped forward, trying to stop the fight,
But Vegeta XENO cut him off.
"Hmph! Kakarot, are you seriously scared?"
"I know what you're thinking. You want to say even if the two of us fight together, we still can't win."
"But don't forget, we still have the Potara earrings!"
"Now that we've come to this timeline, it'd be a shame not to fight him!"
"I want to see, just how strong Lin Chuan really is!"
Vegeta XENO was determined.
His long-lost fighting spirit had been reignited.
He was eager to battle Lin Chuan,
To gauge his strength.
Hearing this, everyone around was stunned.
The Z Fighters of this world, except for Lin Chuan, had no idea what the Potara earrings even were.
Even Goku XENO didn't expect Vegeta XENO to suggest fusion.
"Using the Potara? You're usually totally against using them," Goku XENO said in surprise.
But after a moment's thought, he realized,
they couldn't win separately.
But maybe… fused as Vegito, they stood a chance.
Losing one battle and winning the next,
That's something Goku XENO did want to see.
Otherwise, they'd be completely outclassed.
"Quit yapping. Hand over the Potara!" Vegeta XENO barked.
He couldn't take it anymore,
He needed to reclaim his pride.
Especially since he had zero good feelings toward this mysterious Lin Chuan.
If Vegeta XENO knew that his wife in this timeline was already Lin Chuan's,
he'd probably go berserk.
But each timeline was different,
anything was possible.
In fact, in some timelines, Bulma might even be married to Goku...
Same names, different people.
Parallel timelines were not the same.
"Show me all you've got.
If your fused form can satisfy me,
maybe I'll tell you the method to surpass Super Saiyan 4," Lin Chuan said calmly, overhearing their plan.
That saved him the trouble of guiding them into fusing.
Everything was falling into place, perfectly.
That was exactly what Lin Chuan wanted,
Vegito XENO.
First, he wanted to gauge their fused strength and see how much the fusion boosted them.
Second, he wanted this world's Vegeta and others to learn about fusion.
After hearing Lin Chuan's words, both Goku XENO and Vegeta XENO's eyes changed dramatically.
They were now certain,
Lin Chuan was a Saiyan.
A method to break through SSJ4?!
To warriors stuck at the black-haired peak of Super Saiyan 4 for so long,
this was an incredible opportunity.
They'd thought that was the limit.
But now, a path to greater power lay right before them,
They wouldn't miss it.
"You… sure you're not lying?!" Goku XENO tried to steady his heart as he asked.
Lin Chuan just smiled and nodded silently,
a subtle but clear confirmation.
With that, Goku XENO, who had still been hesitant, now looked resolute.
After a brief pause, he pulled the Potara earrings from his belt pouch and handed one to Vegeta XENO.
The moment the earrings appeared,
everyone on the scene became tense with anticipation.
They wanted to see, what would happen next?
Even this world's Vegeta retracted his energy, returned to base form, and observed carefully.
"The so-called unbeatable warrior, Vegito…
I wonder how his power compares to mine?"
Lin Chuan grew excited.
"By my understanding, is it just multiplying base power levels? Or is it some other kind of boost?"
In the entire Dragon Ball universe,
only two beings could truly make Lin Chuan take things seriously,
Vegito and Gogeta.
Though born from the same people,
they were not the same warrior.
Soon, under everyone's watchful eyes,
Goku XENO and Vegeta XENO each wore a Potara earring.
In an instant, the fusion effect activated,
the earrings pulled them together with a burst of force.
Their bodies and souls merged as one,
Their power skyrocketed.
A blinding golden light pierced the sky, radiating overwhelming pressure.
This world's Vegeta immediately focused,
his heart tightening as he stared into the golden pillar,
trying to glimpse the figure forming inside.
Nearby, Gohan, Dende, and Mr. Popo were all speechless, watching from a distance.
"This feeling… how can it be?!"
Piccolo shuddered uncontrollably as the combined aura took shape.
What exactly was this Potara earring?
How could it fuse Goku XENO and Vegeta XENO into one being,
and raise their power to such a terrifying degree?
Soon, the golden beam that pierced the sky,
began to fade.
Goku XENO and Vegeta XENO disappeared,
replaced by a single warrior who embodied all their traits, radiating an immense and terrifying aura.
The invincible fusion warrior, Vegito XENO, had arrived.
"Thanks for waiting. Your opponent now… is me.
I am the fusion of Vegeta and Kakarot, Vegito!"
Vegito XENO's dual-toned voice echoed in everyone's ears.
Such a simple statement, yet it carried immense pressure.
Everyone was shaken.
So that Potara earring… is the medium that fuses me and Kakarot?!
I never imagined I'd fuse with Kakarot in another timeline…
Hmph! Let me see just how powerful this so-called fusion warrior really is!
Though Vegeta looked down on the idea of fusing with Kakarot,
the power Vegito XENO now displayed had piqued his interest.
The strength, far beyond what either of them had shown individually.
Still, he wondered, What is the limit of this fusion warrior?
This world's Vegeta was arrogant, because he was strong.
What he didn't know was that Vegito XENO's current strength had already reached a level he couldn't possibly defeat.
I can't see through him at all… Is this truly the power of the fusion between Vegeta and Goku?
But even so… if this is all there is, they're still far from beating Lin.
Despite being impressed by Vegito XENO's strength,
Piccolo had even greater faith in Lin Chuan's power.
One month ago, the visual shock of his Super Saiyan Blue Third Stage form alone was beyond comparison.
In the entire universe, only the Gods of Destruction could match Lin Chuan.
And among those, only Champa was known to have fought him evenly.
(Angels, of course, were another matter.)
Dad from another timeline… fused with Uncle Vegeta… they're so strong!!
Damn… I'm so weak right now, I can't even sense how powerful they are…
Gohan was in awe of Vegito XENO's power,
but it also stirred within him a deep yearning to grow stronger.
His mind flashed back to the future version of himself,
that powerful new form…
Only that version of him might stand equal to Vegito XENO now.
The atmosphere above the Lookout became tense and silent.
Lin Chuan stood with arms crossed, his gaze calmly scanning Vegito XENO.
Through the system, he saw the fusion warrior's battle power.
Target: Vegito XENO
Power Level: 2,000 Kai (Fusion Form: Base powers combined × 100)
Before fusion, both Goku XENO and Vegeta XENO had base power levels of 10 Kai.
Now, fused as Vegito XENO, their base form alone had reached 2,000 Kai!
The system revealed that fusion combined their base powers and multiplied them by 100.
In the vast multiverse, that was an insanely high level,
Few could compare.
Unfortunately for Vegito XENO, his opponent was Lin Chuan,
a being capable of surpassing even the Gods of Destruction.
As Lin Chuan assessed Vegito XENO, the latter also studied him.
But to Vegito XENO, Lin Chuan was an enigma.
No energy leaked from him, he looked like an ordinary man.
And yet, he was shrouded in a fog-like presence…
impossible to read.
"Can our battle begin now?" Vegito XENO asked.
The stronger Lin Chuan seemed, the more excited Vegito XENO became.
As a fusion warrior, he feared no opponent.
After all, he existed for battles against the strongest,
why else would he appear?
"Of course," Lin Chuan replied, sensing the burning will in Vegito's eyes.
In the next moment, Lin Chuan slowly ascended above the Lookout.
Vegito XENO followed, rising to match his height.
Everyone on the ground watched with bated breath.
They knew Vegito XENO was powerful,
but how would he fare against Lin Chuan?
This battle would reveal everything.
In midair,
The battlefield was once again shielded by Lin Chuan's energy barrier,
preventing any collateral destruction to Earth or the Lookout.
Lin Chuan and Vegito XENO stood suspended in the void, staring one another down.
Lin Chuan was completely still, arms lowered, no stance, no guard, no attack.
He looked utterly casual, yet filled with openings.
And that made Vegito XENO uneasy.
In just a few seconds, Vegito XENO simulated hundreds of possible attack sequences in his mind.
But… even in base form, he saw no path to victory.
So he made a decision, transform and fight at full power!
"Haaah!!!"
With a shout, golden energy erupted from him,
Super Saiyan Full Power!
His battle power instantly soared, breaking into the 8th-dimensional level, 16 Kai.
"Galick… Super… Kamehameha… WAVE!!!"
Wasting no time, Vegito XENO launched his ultimate move.
A twin-colored energy beam, blue and purple, blasted forth from his hands, charged with overwhelming destruction, heading straight for Lin Chuan.
And yet… Lin Chuan didn't move.
An invisible aura expanded outward from him,
and the impossible happened.
The beam halted half a meter from Lin Chuan, then split apart by an unseen force,
its energy scattered into harmless turbulence in the air.
A probing strike… utterly ineffective.
Vegito XENO frowned. He had no choice but to escalate again.
Crackle! BOOM!!!
Electric gold lightning danced around him,
He exploded into Super Saiyan 2, at its peak!
With a 200× power boost, his strength rose to 40 Kai!
In a flash, Vegito XENO launched forward, surrounded by lightning,
and struck at Lin Chuan with all his might.
BOOM!!!
The blow should've crushed mountains,
But Lin Chuan remained untouched.
His aura blocked it effortlessly.
BOOM! BAM! CRACK! THUD!...
Vegito XENO unleashed a rapid flurry of punches and kicks.
His blows were relentless, lightning-fast, and devastating,
But they couldn't even scratch Lin Chuan's barrier.
They couldn't touch him,
let alone injure him.
What insane aura!! He's unlike any opponent I've ever faced! He's just… too strong!
While attacking, Vegito XENO felt utter disbelief.
In every timeline he'd visited, his arrival meant absolute dominance.
But now, facing Lin Chuan,
He felt like he was striking a mountain that wouldn't budge.
Frustrated yet exhilarated, he intensified his strikes,
unlocking more of his Super Saiyan power.
BOOM!!!
In a flash, his form shifted again,
From Super Saiyan 2 to Super Saiyan 3, at its peak!
Now with an 800× power boost, his strength soared to 160 Kai!
Finally, his power was high enough to challenge Lin Chuan's base form.
BOOOOM!!!
The sky roared as Vegito XENO's full-force punch was caught in Lin Chuan's hand.
It went no further.
"What?! How is this possible?!"
Vegito XENO's pupils shrank in shock.
His most powerful punch, caught with one hand?!
This was his Super Saiyan 3 at full power!
And it was effortlessly neutralized.
And Lin Chuan… was still in base form?
"My patience is limited.
If you don't show me your real strength…
don't blame me for what happens next."
Lin Chuan's eyes flashed with a chilling gleam.
Vegito XENO was stunned. He instinctively backed away, cold sweat dripping from his brow.
"You… you're truly ridiculous.
Even my Super Saiyan 3 form doesn't impress you?"
He took a deep breath, face serious for the first time.
For the first time ever,
Vegito XENO felt doubt in his own power.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, he fixed his blue eyes on Lin Chuan's unmoving figure.
"I get it now…
You're nothing like any opponent I've ever faced."
"Now, I'll go all out!!"
No longer holding back, Vegito XENO roared.
His Saiyan blood ignited,
A golden aura pierced the sky,
A torrent of energy exploded from his body.
In an instant,
He ascended into Super Saiyan 4.
A 5,000× multiplier on base power.
His power now surpassed 1,000 Kai!
And still,
It wasn't enough to force Lin Chuan to transform.
But at last… it was enough to make Lin Chuan move.
"This is more like it.
Maybe now you'll gain some insight in battle."
A faint smirk curved Lin Chuan's lips.
His Super Saiyan energy stirred,
and an overwhelming aura began to leak from him.
Sensing the shift, Vegito XENO in Super Saiyan 4 grew tense,
not daring to underestimate him.
Their clashing energies collided, a storm that swept across the heavens, before suddenly vanishing without a trace.