Because the two were moving at extreme speed, countless afterimages appeared in the sky.
Bang!!
Both clenched their right fists and smashed them together midair.
A terrifying shockwave exploded outward from the point of impact.
They instantly withdrew their fists and attacked again, their fierce exchanges echoing through the sky.
Whoosh—
Frieza's tail suddenly whipped forward from behind, tightly binding Goku's body.
Goku strained with both arms, trying to break free.
Frieza swung his arms forward and smashed his fists into Goku's face.
"Ugh—!"
A series of pained cries escaped Goku's mouth.
Frieza sneered and abruptly stopped attacking.
Just as he was feeling smug, Goku suddenly bit down hard on Frieza's tail.
Crunch!
With a sharp sound, Frieza's tail was bitten red.
"Ahhh!"
Frieza screamed in pain and hurriedly pulled his tail back.
Seizing the opening, Goku drove his right fist straight into Frieza's abdomen.
Bang!!
Frieza's body shot downward like a cannonball, slamming heavily into the ground.
A massive cloud of dust erupted.
Moments later, Frieza burst back into the air, his face twisted with rage, charging straight at Goku.
The two resumed their violent clash in the sky.
"Huff… huff…"
After some time, both landed on the ground at the same moment, breathing heavily.
A faint smile appeared on Frieza's face.
"Goku, it seems this is the limit of your strength."
"Only this level?" Goku frowned. "What do you mean by that, Frieza?"
Frieza chuckled.
"To be honest, I only used three percent of my power just now."
"Three percent?!"
"That's right. With just half of my power, I can easily wipe you out."
Hearing this, Vegeta's expression immediately turned grave.
However, when he saw that Gohan remained completely calm, his heart settled slightly.
If Goku—who wasn't even a Super Saiyan—could force Frieza into his final form, then Gohan, who could already transform, should definitely be able to defeat him.
"Then why don't you use half your power?" Goku said firmly.
Frieza sneered.
"Very well, Goku. I'll let you witness fifty percent of my power."
As he spoke, Frieza clenched his fists. An overwhelming aura burst from his body, rapidly rising.
Under the pressure of his ki, the ground began to quake violently.
"Four percent… five percent… six percent…"
Frieza calmly announced the percentage as his aura continued to climb.
Feeling this terrifying power, both Vegeta and Piccolo clenched their fists.
They had once been Goku's enemies and had dreamed of surpassing him.
Now, the gap between them was as vast as heaven and earth, stirring complex emotions in their hearts.
On King Kai's Planet.
Seeing Frieza raise his power to half, King Kai couldn't help but worry deeply for Goku.
Back on Planet Namek.
As Frieza's aura surged higher and higher, Goku's expression finally grew serious.
"Forty-eight percent… forty-nine percent… fifty percent!"
At last, Frieza's power stabilized at fifty percent.
He clenched his fists and released the accumulated ki.
"Alright, Goku. Let's continue."
Goku immediately took a fighting stance.
Frieza smiled faintly and charged forward at lightning speed.
Goku shouted and thrust both fists out.
In the next instant, Frieza vanished and reappeared behind him.
Sensing danger, Goku turned—only to see a massive fist slamming toward him.
He blocked with both arms and staggered backward several steps.
Frieza instantly appeared in front of him again and swept his right leg in a whirlwind kick, smashing Goku into the ground.
Goku flipped backward and barely regained his footing.
Frieza sneered, crimson energy gathering in his hands.
Before Goku could react, a red sphere formed around him.
"I—I can't move!"
Frieza laughed softly, flashed to Goku's side, and kicked upward.
Bang!!
Goku was launched into the sky like a kicked ball.
Frieza appeared above him in an instant and kicked the energy sphere downward.
"Aaah—!"
Goku screamed as his body plummeted.
Boom!!
He crashed heavily into the ground, forming a massive crater.
Dust billowed everywhere.
When the dust settled, Frieza looked toward the nearby magma.
"Goku… farewell."
With a powerful kick, Frieza sent Goku flying straight toward the magma.
Vegeta's heart tightened.
Although he disliked Goku, the man had spared his life once—and just saved him again. He didn't want to see him die.
Thud!!
Just before Goku hit the magma, his body suddenly regained mobility and shot back into the air.
"Hah…" Goku wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"That was really close."
On King Kai's Planet, King Kai finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He immediately sent another telepathic message.
"Goku, you can't defeat him with your current strength. You should let Gohan step in!"
"I know," Goku replied calmly. "But I still want to fight him a little longer."
"…Alright," King Kai sighed.
Frieza wasn't surprised by Goku's escape. Instead, he smiled faintly.
"Goku, I know you've been holding back. But even if you use all your power, you're still no match for me."
"I know," Goku said, clenching his fists. "But I still want to try!"
A blazing red aura surged up around his body.
"Ten-times Kaio-ken!"
With a thunderous shout, Goku transformed into a red streak and charged at Frieza.
Frieza moved instantly, appearing behind him and smashing both fists into Goku's back.
"Urgh—!"
Goku cried out, twisted his body, and counterattacked.
Frieza flashed again, appearing at Goku's left and kicking him away.
Whoosh—
Bang! Bang! Bang!!
Frieza's speed was simply too overwhelming.
Even with Ten-times Kaio-ken, Goku couldn't land a single clean hit.
At this moment, Goku finally understood—
Frieza hadn't been lying at all.
...
Author's Note 📢
Part 1 of the fanfic Dragon Ball: I, Gohan, Grow Stronger by Doing Push-Ups (More than hundred chapters) is now available on Patreon!
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