WHOOSH!
A surge of ki erupted from Goku as he drank from the goblet, his once dull and nearly lifeless aura transforming into a vibrant, blazing Super Saiyan gold. Completely skipping over his base form, his energy surged with ferocity, small arcs of lightning snapping and crackling around him like furious serpents. The air grew stiflingly hot, the ground trembling under the immense pressure.
William's eyes narrowed in observation. That beating must have granted him an extraordinary Zenkai boost. He's on the brink of Super Saiyan 2! Just one final push is all he needs. With a flick of his wrist, the bronze goblet, now completely dry, dissolved into nothingness.
Goku staggered to his feet, golden light flickering along the jagged edges of his silhouette. He didn't spare William a glance. His head hung low, hair casting shadows over his eyes, while his aura hummed with a deafening resonance.
Vegeta's construct smirked coldly. So… you've finally clawed your way here, Kakarot.
"Kakarot?" Goku muttered, lifting his head slightly, brows furrowing in confusion. "I don't know who you are… but I'm not letting you push me around."
For a brief heartbeat, the prince's smirk faltered. He doesn't remember me? Or… is this some pathetic trick?
In a golden blur, Vegeta lunged forward, fist cocked and ready. Goku's hand shot up, catching the attack with effortless precision. The shockwave from the block rippled through the arena, dislodging loose stones and forcing William to dig his heel into the ground to maintain his footing.
Vegeta's eyes widened in disbelief. "What...?"
POW!
Goku's head rose, his fiery gaze locking onto Vegeta's, not with rivalry, but with raw, unrelenting determination. "I don't care what you think you know about me. I fight to win."
Vegeta's mind raced, his fury rising to drown out the flicker of unease. This clown, he thought, his rage sharpening his focus.
In an instant, Goku yanked Vegeta downward with such force that the prince's knees nearly buckled mid-air. A golden boot collided with his chest, sending him hurtling skyward like a missile. Without hesitation, Goku surged after him, his form cutting through the golden haze, seizing Vegeta by the face in a crushing grip.
The collision with the stone pillar was more than an impact, it was an eruption. The pillar shattered into jagged fragments, a shockwave expanding outward in concentric rings. Dust billowed into the air, cloaking the arena in a dense, swirling cloud. Debris rained down across the floor, and the sharp tang of scorched ozone filled the atmosphere.
From deep within the obscuring haze, Vegeta's growl resonated, low and defiant: "Kakarot… you've gotten stronger. But don't think for a second you can defeat me."
For the first time, a grin spread across Goku's face. "Let's find out."
The dust storm churned violently, spiraling into chaotic funnels under the sheer power of their clashing auras. Golden streaks of Goku's energy collided with the sharp, molten-bronze flares radiating from Vegeta's construct form, each spark exploding like a miniature meteor in mid-air.
WHAM!
Goku lunged forward without warning, his fist blazing like a comet. Vegeta intercepted with a forearm block, the collision detonating a ring-shaped shockwave that carved a crater beneath them. Stone fragments hung suspended in the air under the immense pressure, only to vaporize instantly as their power surged.
They weren't exchanging mere blows, they were trading tempests. Each strike was a hurricane distilled into a single motion, every counter a thunderous clap of unimaginable force. Goku's attacks were sharper, more relentless than before, as though the Zenkai boost had stripped away any lingering hesitation. Vegeta's construct retaliated with calculated precision, his movements surgical yet increasingly fueled by frustration that this "amnesiac Kakarot" could match him so evenly.
William observed from the edge of the battlefield, his hand resting on Zarielle's shaft, his eyes darting between their patterns, calculating strategies. Goku's nearing his limit… but if Vegeta drives him into overdrive, we'll be facing a full Super Saiyan 2 eruption right here in the arena. And if that happens…
BOOM!
Vegeta's knee drove into Goku's stomach, doubling him over. Before the golden warrior could recover, Vegeta followed up with a devastating double-fisted hammer blow, slamming Goku into the ground and gouging a deep trench into the earth. Yet before the dust could settle, Goku surged back into the fray, his aura blazing with such ferocity that the air itself seemed to ripple. His palm struck Vegeta's jaw in a brutal uppercut, launching the Saiyan prince straight into the upper atmosphere.
Had there been a crowd, they would have been rendered blind by the sheer light and deafened by the thunderous impacts.
Vegeta's bronze silhouette streaked across the sky, glowing like a falling star. In the blink of an eye, Goku appeared above him, hands locked together, preparing to drive him down with another crushing blow, but Vegeta's aura erupted, a tidal wave of molten bronze light radiating outward. "DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME!" he bellowed, twisting mid-air to slam his elbow into Goku's temple. The impact sent Goku hurtling sideways, smashing through several stone pillars that disintegrated under the force.
William clenched his jaw, the tension palpable now, a breaking point was near. The air itself felt charged, like a bowstring pulled to its absolute limit.
Goku emerged from the debris, his aura roaring with renewed intensity. The golden hue darkened, arcs of electricity crackling continuously around him. His hair sharpened to an almost blinding white at the edges, his gaze locking onto Vegeta with unwavering focus that made even his rival hesitate.
"You wanted my best?" Goku growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You're about to get it."
The air surrounding Goku seemed to collapse inward before exploding outward with violent force. His aura erupted in jagged surges, each one unleashing ferocious winds that tore chunks of stone from the arena floor. Golden lightning crackled across the ground, carving spiderweb fractures into the earth. His hands moved into a familiar cupped position at his side, a motion Vegeta recognized instantly, but there was something unsettlingly different about it.
This wasn't the composed, focused technique of the Kamehameha. This was unrestrained, primal energy being forcibly shaped into form.
Between Goku's palms, a molten sphere of Super Saiyan gold began to churn, its surface writhing like liquid sunlight. It hissed and crackled, as if barely able to contain its immense power, each pulse sending shockwaves that shook the pillars and made the entire arena quiver as though it were alive.
Vegeta's eyes narrowed, his bronze aura igniting in sharp, defensive flares. "That's not your usual move, Kakarot…" he remarked, his voice steady, though the resonance of his bronze energy sharpened, reverberating like a war bell across the battlefield.
William felt the immense weight of the energy in his very bones. This wasn't an attack meant to simply knock Vegeta down, it had the power to obliterate everything. Tightening his grip on Zarielle, he braced himself. If that thing is unleashed, we'll be cleaning this place off the map.
"HHHHHAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
Goku's roar tore through the heavens, his aura igniting into a blazing corona of golden fire so fierce it overshadowed the brilliance of the sun. Between his hands, energy condensed into a focused sphere, its searing core white-hot, its edges radiating pure gold, as though the very attack was struggling to contain its immense power.
It resembled the Kamehameha, stance, precision, and motion, but it surged with an untamed ferocity that the traditional technique had never possessed.
Vegeta's manifestation stood unyielding. Bronze light erupted from his body, solidifying into layers of gleaming armor forged from sheer determination. "Bring it on, Kakarot. Let's see what your new form is capable of!"
The battlefield transformed into a maelstrom of colliding forces, golden fury against bronze resolve, rage clashing with pride, poised to erupt in an instant.
The ground beneath Goku's feet began to melt under the immense pressure, molten cracks radiating outward as his golden sphere expanded to the size of a boulder. Each pulse of light unleashed a shockwave that tore across the arena, scattering dust into spiraling halos.
Vegeta wasted no time. His bronze aura collapsed inward before exploding outward like a forge erupting with molten energy. Thrusting both hands forward, palms open, he unleashed a beam of condensed bronze energy, roaring as it shot toward Goku.
Goku responded instantly, thrusting his arms forward.
KA-BOOOOOM!
The golden wave collided with the bronze beam, generating a wall of raw energy that ripped through the air with a sound like the earth itself splitting apart. The sky darkened at the edges, light bending toward the point of impact. Golden lightning surged into the bronze stream, which retaliated with molten sparks, each fragment exploding upon contact with the fractured arena floor.
William braced himself, digging his heel into the stone as his aura flared instinctively to resist being thrown back. The overwhelming pressure made the air feel suffocating, as though he were breathing molten metal. His own bronze energy began to resonate with Vegeta's, threads of shimmering resolve wrapping around him in a protective halo.
"Damn it…" William muttered, tightening his grip on Zarielle. "At this rate, there won't be an arena left."
The clash intensified, Goku's golden sphere stretching into a surging torrent, while Vegeta's bronze light solidified at its core, seemingly intent on piercing through. The energy between them distorted space, their outlines shimmering like a heat mirage.
And then, as both warriors roared in unison, the inevitable explosion erupted.
A colossal explosion tore through the air, a shockwave blasting across the arena and sending William hurtling backward, his cloak whipping violently in the chaos. The ground beneath him fractured, jagged fissures radiating outward like lightning from the epicenter. Dust and shards of stone erupted into a choking column, momentarily obscuring the fighters from view.
As the haze began to clear, William's eyes fixed on the two combatants still locked in their fierce struggle, suspended midair within a spiraling vortex of golden and bronze energy. Goku's hair blazed with a white-gold glow, arcs of electricity dancing across its surface, while Vegeta's bronze aura shimmered with an almost molten intensity, his eyes aflame with unrelenting resolve.
Realizing the arena could not withstand another strike of such force, William's voice cut through the charged atmosphere with commanding clarity: "Enough!"
He thrust Zarielle forward, the spear's shaft emanating bronze energy that rippled and surged like liquid metal. Its radiant aura expanded into a protective dome, weaving itself between the clashing storms of power and tempering their destructive energies.
Goku's expression shifted, a blend of surprise and respect flashing across his face. Vegeta's bronze glow steadied, resonating in harmony with the barrier's metallic hum, as if acknowledging a shared essence.
"Don't break my things, please!" William's voice echoed across the battlefield, reverberating multiple times in the tense stillness.
The bronze dome shimmered like a molten shield, waves of energy surging across its surface as it contained the ferocious clash of the two Saiyans inside. Within, a tempest of gold and bronze swirled and burned brightly, the air heavy with electrified power.
Goku and Vegeta collided with earth-shaking force, their strikes echoing against the dome's radiant barrier. Each blow unleashed shockwaves that reverberated through William's body, even outside the enclosure, a constant reminder of the storm raging within.
William's gaze sharpened, his grip steady on Zarielle's shaft. This was destined to be a battle of legends. He could feel the tremors of their energy through the barrier, Goku's relentless attacks meeting Vegeta's unyielding defense, neither willing to yield.
Inside, Goku's golden aura erupted with intense brilliance, lightning crackling wildly around him. "You're strong," he growled, determination lacing his voice. "Stronger than I ever imagined. But I won't lose."
Vegeta's bronze armor gleamed as he countered, his tone low and resolute. "You'll break before I do."
The barrier quaked under the impact of a thunderous punch, sending ripples outward, but it held firm, a testament to William's will and the ancient magic woven into Zarielle.
Within the dome, the Saiyans launched into a furious exchange, their punches and kicks a blur of relentless speed. Goku spun forward, his fist ablaze with energy as he aimed a devastating strike at Vegeta's midsection.
Vegeta twisted, absorbing the impact and countering with a knee strike that nearly knocked the wind out of Goku. Recovering swiftly, Goku retaliated with a blazing uppercut that sent a sharp pulse through the inner surface of the barrier, leaving a faint crack.
The strain rippled outward, and William felt the barrier falter momentarily. He raised an eyebrow, then waved his hand with practiced ease, repairing and reinforcing the structure before the damage could spread.
A brilliant flash of white light erupted within the dome, momentarily blinding William. As his vision returned, he saw Goku's hair sharpen into a fiercer form, radiating an intense white-gold glow that illuminated the arena like a dawn breaking through darkness.
"This ends now," Goku's voice boomed, resonating like thunder.
Vegeta responded with a feral snarl, his energy surging hotter. "Bring it."
With matching roars, the two Saiyans charged in unison, their powers colliding in a storm of gold and bronze that detonated at the core of the barrier. The shockwave rippled outward violently, and the dome quaked as if on the brink of collapse.
William braced himself, pouring every ounce of his will into Zarielle's grip. The spear's energy flared in response, its bronze light thickening the barrier's walls like molten steel, fortifying it against the chaos.
The explosion subsided, leaving the air heavy with an electric stillness.
Within the dome, Goku and Vegeta hovered midair, their breaths labored yet unyielding. Their energies no longer raged uncontrollably but now burned steady, tempered by mutual respect.
William exhaled deeply, releasing the barrier in a shimmering, graceful dissolution.
As the dust settled, the Saiyans landed firmly on the arena's fractured floor, their eyes meeting, not as adversaries but as warriors who had pushed each other to their limits.
William stepped forward, lowering Zarielle. "Enough," he said softly. "The battle is over."
Goku inclined his head slightly, the fire in his gaze dimming just enough. "You're strong."
Vegeta allowed himself a rare smirk, his tone begrudgingly respectful. "This isn't over. But you've earned my recognition."
William permitted a faint smile to cross his face. He knew this battle was merely the beginning of something far greater.