The Namekian sky was no longer calm. Golden light seared across the heavens, pouring from Cooler's transformed body. His aura burned like a miniature sun, warping the air with raw heat. The planet itself groaned under his overwhelming ki.
Cooler: mocking tone "Two warriors… yet both of you feel so insignificant now. How fitting that you'll be erased together."
He lifted one hand slowly, fingers spreading wide. A ball of condensed energy swirled to life in his palm. It pulsed like a beating heart, devouring the sky's color, feeding on the fear it created.
Goku: tensing, teeth gritted "That ki… it's enormous! Rudra, this could destroy the whole planet if we're not careful."
The sphere grew rapidly, expanding until its sheer size dwarfed the battlefield. Namek's seas churned violently beneath its glow. The surface cracked as if the world itself sensed impending death.
Cooler: smirking "This planet has always been fragile. I'll make sure it crumbles with you."
He thrust his hand forward. The colossal sphere screamed downward like a falling star, shaking the entire atmosphere.
Goku: shouting "No! We can't—"
But before he could move, Rudra stepped in front of him.
The young warrior's eyes were steady, his breathing slow, almost meditative. He pressed his palm against the ground, as though drawing strength from the very roots of the planet.
Rudra: calm, firm "Root Chakra - OPEN, MULADHARA"
A crimson aura erupted at the base of his spine, climbing upward like the rise of an ancient flame. The air shivered. The earth cracked open in jagged lines that glowed red-hot beneath him.
The energy sphere consumed him whole.
Goku: panicking "Rudra!!"
But there was no explosion. No blinding death.
Instead—the monstrous attack bent inward, its light being sucked into Rudra's crimson aura. The overwhelming ki spiraled into him, his body shaking violently under the impossible strain. His veins lit up as if fire coursed through them, every muscle screaming in resistance.
Cooler: narrowing eyes "Impossible… absorbing that?"
Rudra: gritting his teeth, voice breaking with effort "if I… don't… take this… we're finished…!"
The final fragments of the massive sphere collapsed into him, flooding his aura with unstable crimson light. His chest heaved, sweat dripping down his face. He trembled as though his body might shatter at any moment.
Then he raised his right arm.
The air itself split apart as he redirected the stolen energy.
Rudra: roaring "TAKE IT BACK!!"
A colossal beam surged from his hand, crimson wrapped in white fire, shooting skyward like a spear aimed at the heavens. The force of it tore through the sky, scattering clouds into nothingness, cracking Namek's crust wide open.
The blast slammed into Cooler.
The tyrant's golden body vanished into the inferno. The shockwave shredded islands around them, sending tidal waves racing for miles. Even the distant Namekians looked to the sky in horror, their hearts trembling at the power on display.
Goku: shielding his eyes, awestruck "He… he did it! Rudra turned it around!"
The crimson storm raged for long moments before finally dying down, leaving only smoke and silence in its wake.
Rudra collapsed to one knee, panting hard, his crimson aura flickering.
Rudra: breathing heavily "That… should've… done something."
But through the fading smoke, a silhouette appeared.
Cooler floated unharmed, golden aura brighter than ever. His smirk stretched across his face. He raised one finger and flicked away the last fragment of Rudra's redirected energy like dust.
Cooler: mock applause "Bravo. Truly entertaining. I didn't expect an insect to wield such an amusing trick."
Rudra's eyes widened. His body shivered—not from fear, but from the strain of having emptied so much energy.
Goku: shocked "What?! He… he just brushed it off?!"
Cooler: laughing "You honestly thought that would harm me? Foolish. Tricks can delay death… but they can't rewrite fate."
He vanished.
In an instant, he appeared behind Goku. His golden fist slammed into the Saiyan's spine with bone-shattering force.
Goku: crying out "Ghh—AAH!"
The impact knocked him forward, his body spasming from the strike. Cooler didn't stop. He seized Goku by the neck, lifting him like a broken toy, golden aura burning his flesh.
Cooler: grinning wickedly "Frieza couldn't handle you, but I see why he failed. You're reckless. Overconfident. Easy to break."
With a cruel laugh, he hurled Goku into the ground. The island cracked wide open on impact, throwing debris and smoke into the air. Goku lay at the center of the crater, unmoving, his aura extinguished.
Rudra: staggering forward, furious "GOKU!!"
Cooler dusted his hands as if discarding trash.
Cooler: "So much for the 'Super Saiyan.' What a disappointment."
His golden eyes shifted back to Rudra.
Cooler: mocking "That leaves you. Alone. Surely you realize how hopeless this is."
Rudra clenched his fists, crimson sparks flaring around him despite the strain. He stared directly into Cooler's blazing gaze, refusing to bow.
Rudra: calm but defiant "If it's hopeless, then I'll fight in hopelessness. I'm not backing down."
Cooler tilted his head, amused by the audacity.
Cooler: dark chuckle "Oh, the stubborn spark. I admire it… just enough to enjoy crushing it."
The ground between them shattered as the tension peaked. The golden tyrant floated forward lazily, his aura washing over Rudra like molten steel.
Rudra's body trembled, but his spirit did not. He raised his arms into a stance, crimson light flaring once again, refusing to extinguish.
Cooler: smirking wider "Let's see how long your tricks can amuse me before I tear you apart."
The battlefield fell silent, the winds carrying only the oppressive hum of their clashing auras.
And then—
The fight between Rudra and Golden Cooler began.
—To be continued.