The battlefield trembled with every shockwave. Rubble scattered through the ruins of West City, buildings long abandoned now crumbling into dust beneath the sheer force of the fight.
Trunks roared as he lunged forward, fists blazing with violet energy. He struck with a desperate Galick-infused punch, the sheer pressure enough to split the ground beneath his feet. But Android 17 didn't flinch. He leaned aside with casual grace, the punch passing harmlessly through empty air.
"Too slow," Android 17 muttered, his voice calm, detached, as if he were bored.
Before Trunks could recover, a knee slammed into his stomach, doubling him over. A follow-up elbow hammered into his spine, sending him crashing into the ground like a broken meteor. The crater shook, dust rising in thick clouds.
Trunks staggered back to his feet, panting, sweat streaking down his forehead. His aura flared wildly—unstable, flickering violet with traces of exhaustion. He pushed his body harder than ever, every breath like fire in his lungs.
But Android 17? His aura was steady. His expression calm. His movements effortless. No heavy breathing, no trembling hands—just the endless flow of artificial ki sustaining his machine-like body.
"You're strong, Trunks," Android 17 said almost mockingly, his hands tucked into his pockets. "But you're human. You wear down. You break. And me…?" He smirked. "I don't."
Trunks gritted his teeth and lunged again, unleashing a flurry of rapid-fire punches, each one carrying the raw desperation of survival. Every strike thundered through the air, the sound echoing like cannon fire.
Android 17 blocked them all with one hand. Effortlessly. His expression never changed.
"Come on," he teased, tilting his head slightly. "Is this all the future's last hope can do? I thought you'd be more entertaining."
Then, with a flicker of speed, Android 17 vanished from Trunks' view. A devastating punch cracked against Trunks' jaw, snapping his head back. Before he could even cry out, a kick buried itself in his ribs, hurling him into a collapsed building.
The ruins collapsed on top of him.
For a long moment, silence. Only the settling of dust and rubble filled the air.
But then—Trunks roared again, his aura flaring violently. He burst free of the wreckage, battered but unbroken. His hair shimmered in the light, his violet energy swirling with defiance.
"I won't… give up!" Trunks spat blood, but his eyes were burning. "I promised… to protect this world!"
Android 17 sighed, shaking his head. "That determination of yours… it's admirable. Pointless, but admirable."
He raised a hand, artificial ki swirling into a glowing sphere. The ball of energy swelled larger and larger until it lit up the entire battlefield with blinding light.
Trunks clenched his fists, summoning every last ounce of strength. His aura screamed around him, and with a furious shout he unleashed a Galick Gun, firing a violet beam to counter the incoming blast.
The two attacks collided midair, shaking the skies with their clash. For a moment, it looked as though Trunks could push it back—but his body betrayed him. His knees buckled, his arms shook, his strength fading. Slowly, inevitably, the energy ball began to push his Galick Gun back toward him.
Trunks' eyes widened in panic. He gritted his teeth, screaming as he poured the last dregs of his energy into the beam.
But Seventeen smirked. He pressed forward, his attack swelling with merciless dominance.
"Game over," Android Seventeen whispered.
And then—
A ripple of space.
In an instant, someone appeared behind Trunks. A figure, calm and confident, with a faint smirk on his lips and a glowing sword at his side.
Rudra.
Trunks' heart skipped. His eyes widened as relief washed over him. He didn't need words—he knew instantly. If Rudra was here… it meant his gamble had paid off. It meant Android 18 had fallen.
"Rudra…" Trunks breathed.
Rudra placed a steadying hand on Trunks' shoulder, his voice firm but calm.
"Trunks. You've done enough. Rest now. You don't need to push yourself any further."
With his other hand, Rudra lifted his glowing blade. The blue radiance from the sword pulsed, absorbing the artificial ki from Seventeen's energy blast. The massive attack shrank and fizzled into nothingness, leaving only silence in its wake.
Trunks stumbled back, panting, barely able to stand. He knew about Rudra's sword—at least a little. Enough to know this was a fight only Rudra could finish. He nodded, stepping aside, surrendering the battlefield.
Seventeen narrowed his eyes, his calm expression shifting into curiosity. His gaze locked onto Rudra's glowing weapon, the faint energy still crackling around it.
"So," Seventeen said quietly, "you're the reason 18 isn't here anymore."
Rudra smirked, his aura slowly rising as he took a step forward. His voice cut through the battlefield like steel.
"That's right. And now, you're the last one."
The ground trembled as Rudra raised his sword, its blue glow intensifying.
Trunks collapsed to one knee behind him, watching with both awe and relief. The tide of the battle had shifted.
This was no longer a fight of survival.
This was Rudra's hunt.
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