Goku XENO, who always welcomed strong opponents with excitement, actually admitted that he couldn't match someone,
not out of fear, of course, but out of rational judgment.
This also showed just how balanced and wise Goku XENO was, blending strength and intelligence.
Lin Chuan stood on a dimensional level far above him. In a solo fight, Goku XENO had no chance of winning.
"You're a lot more level-headed than the Kakarot of this timeline," Lin Chuan complimented him, then shifted his gaze back to the sky.
"Let's watch how the two Vegetas fare."
Everyone else turned their eyes skyward.
Which Vegeta would win?
Above the Lookout, within the barrier…
Vegeta XENO had been shocked by Lin Chuan's display. But after seeing how calm and unfazed the Vegeta of this world was, as if this was nothing new, he quickly regained composure.
The two Vegetas stared each other down from a distance. Their powerful auras collided in the air, putting pressure on one another.
Their base power levels were almost equal.
Their clashing auras distorted the space, but neither side had the upper hand.
"Looks like in our base forms, we're evenly matched," said Vegeta XENO.
"Then let's compare our transformations!!"
The moment he finished, he powered up without hesitation,
his golden aura flaring into a storm that engulfed the heavens.
His Saiyan bloodline ignited.
Amidst the golden storm, his body transformed,
his upper clothes vanished, and he was covered in fiery red fur,
He had entered Super Saiyan 4!
A powerful aura shook the sky and earth. The sheer pressure of his bloodline spread in all directions.
With his black-haired SSJ4 transformation at peak form, Vegeta XENO's power level surged to the 8th dimension, into the exa-scale range.
Even if it was the early stage, this strength was still tremendous.
He showed off his mighty form to his counterpart, as if saying,
"See this? Can you even match it?"
Being Vegeta himself, he knew exactly what the other was thinking.
But this time, Vegeta XENO really hadn't expected it,
Because this timeline's events were completely different from his own.
"You're getting ahead of yourself. You think Super Saiyan 4 is your exclusive domain?"
The Vegeta of this world smirked confidently as he activated his own bloodline.
A calm yet overwhelming aura exploded from his body.
In mere seconds, he effortlessly transformed into the peak black-haired Super Saiyan 4 form.
No storm, no chaotic flare-ups,
his energy was so well-controlled it was almost flawless.
Quiet. Smooth. Precise.
A true mastery of SSJ4.
And even more shocking,
this was less than 1% of his actual power.
"What??!!" Vegeta XENO was dumbfounded.
His brain filled with disbelief.
"This makes no damn sense! How could I have mastered Super Saiyan 4 at this point in time?!"
Based on normal timelines, he should have only mastered up to SSJ2.
The base-level power parity was fine, but this?
This was way beyond logic.
Even worse, he could tell, this Vegeta's control over SSJ4 was better than his own!
"What's wrong? Shocked by the power of the prince?" this world's Vegeta taunted proudly.
That shocked expression from his other self was just too satisfying.
"Hmph! Don't celebrate too early. We're both SSJ4, let's see who's stronger!"
Unwilling to lose, Vegeta XENO charged in with a heavy punch.
"Then let me show you what I'm capable of!"
This world's Vegeta grinned mischievously, casually blocking the blow with his left hand,
then clenched his right fist and smashed it forward.
BOOM!!
Vegeta XENO took a clean hit to the right side of his face and flew off like a ragdoll.
"Damn it!! I can't believe, "
He stabilized midair with a burst of ki, fuming with rage.
Even if the opponent was another version of himself, he refused to accept being dominated.
With both hands, he began forming a barrage of energy blasts, firing a hailstorm of ki orbs like a torrential downpour.
They rained down with overwhelming coverage, surrounding this world's Vegeta from all angles.
"Pointless attack."
This world's Vegeta sneered coldly and activated his energy pool.
With a roar, his golden aura erupted like a tsunami, instantly consuming the sky.
A powerful shockwave spread across the space, detonating every ki orb in the air.
Explosions rocked the battlefield.
Vegeta XENO raised a ki barrier to block the blasts.
He gritted his teeth, heightened his senses, and prepared for the true counterattack he knew was coming.
WHOOOSH!!
A violent golden wind tore through the flames.
This world's Vegeta rushed in, his speed breaking through space itself.
He hurled a punch charged with devastating power.
Vegeta XENO responded instantly, powering up and meeting the punch head-on.
Two royal fists collided, BOOM!!
The resulting shockwave rocked the barrier but was contained by Lin Chuan's divine shield.
The two Vegetas clashed in a deadlock,
their collision revealed just how different they truly were.
"Not bad, other me. If you were that easy to defeat, I'd be ashamed to call you myself,"
this world's Vegeta said, half teasing.
Vegeta XENO scowled.
He finally understood why, during his patrol missions, other versions of himself always ended up picking fights.
"Hell, if I were in their shoes, I wouldn't tolerate this smug bastard either!"
Without a word, Vegeta XENO powered up again, knocking the other back and chasing with a fierce assault.
BAM! BOOM! BAM!
The air echoed with rapid, thunderous strikes.
Vegeta XENO went all-in, releasing his full strength.
His offensive reached its peak, every strike capable of shattering worlds.
But the other Vegeta seemed to have already seen through his patterns.
BAM! BAM!
This world's Vegeta caught both of XENO's fists with his bare hands, stopping him dead.
Vegeta XENO increased his power again, golden energy surging, his battle cells roaring with excitement.
The other Vegeta simply smirked.
"Everything you know, I know too. But what I know, you might not!"
"We're both Vegeta, but I'm stronger than you!!"
With a powerful roar, he flung Vegeta XENO dozens of meters away.
Not giving him a moment to breathe, he charged forward again, his prince-style combat even more vicious and unrelenting.
Vegeta XENO fought back instantly,
and once more, the two were locked in brutal close combat.
Now, they were fighting like true warriors, abandoning defense for a full-on slugfest.
Each punch, each kick, painful, bone-crushing, only fueled their desire to fight harder.
Pain turned to pleasure.
The fight became more intense by the second.
The roaring impacts echoed again and again in the barrier-protected space.
Both Vegetas were completely consumed by battle.
Back on the Lookout...
The others watched the cross-dimensional Vegeta showdown in silence, each with their own thoughts.
Gohan focused intensely, memorizing every move and tactic.
To grow stronger, experience was essential.
Being able to witness two Vegetas fight, a golden opportunity.
"This fight's outcome is becoming clear. If that other Vegeta doesn't have a higher transformation, then he's no match for ours,"
Piccolo thought to himself.
He knew just how strong this timeline's Vegeta was,
and didn't have much confidence in the other.
"So much has changed in this timeline…
At this point in time, Vegeta already has SSJ4 and can hold his own against my world's version of him…
Could it all be because of him?"
Goku XENO turned to glance at Lin Chuan.
He was now certain, this mysterious Saiyan was the key to this timeline's divergence.
The future of this world was no longer what the Scroll of Time had recorded.
Who is he, really? And just how strong is he?
"Vegeta's about to get serious. We'll see the result soon enough."
Lin Chuan casually commented, unlike Piccolo who kept his thoughts to himself.
That offhand remark made Goku XENO's jaw drop.
"Wait… You're saying your world's Vegeta is going to win?" he asked in disbelief.
They looked evenly matched, both in SSJ4.
How could either side win so easily?
At most, the fight would end in a draw, and even that would require a prolonged battle.
So why was Lin Chuan so certain that victory would be decided soon?
"Don't tell me?!" Goku XENO suddenly realized a possibility.
There was only one way to end a fight quickly,
A higher-level transformation!
"Looks like you've guessed it," Lin Chuan smirked. "Let me confirm it, you're right."
"Vegeta still has a higher-level transformation he hasn't used yet.
Watch closely. The current Super Saiyan 4 form?
That's not the final stage."
Lin Chuan said this with a playful grin.
Hearing those words, Goku XENO was so shocked he couldn't even speak.
Super Saiyan 4 isn't the end?!
That meant... this guy was also a Saiyan!
And not only that,
He had surpassed the limit of SSJ4 and grasped a transformation beyond it?!
If true...
That was terrifying!
Goku XENO grew even more serious.
Meanwhile...
In the Realm of the Gods...
The moment Goku XENO and Vegeta XENO appeared in this timeline, Whis noticed their arrival through his angel staff and watched events unfold on Earth.
"Time Patrol again, huh? Looks like this will be fun to watch."
Whis was no stranger to Time Patrollers.
They were warriors under the Supreme Kai of Time, Chronoa, who traveled through timelines to maintain peace and prevent outside interference with history.
This world's trajectory had long since changed,
Whis wasn't surprised they'd shown up.
But what piqued his interest most,
These weren't the Time Patrollers of this timeline's branch.
He had already suspected something after Frieza's appearance a month ago.
Just then, BOOM! BOOM!!
Thunderous explosions echoed across the lake in the God Realm.
Whis turned his gaze.
There, Goku and Raditz were locked in battle over the lake.
On one hand, they were training their base power levels,
On the other, Whis had assigned them a task,
To fight in front of Broly, showcasing how to control one's power, so that Broly could learn to control his own.
Otherwise, Broly's training couldn't even begin.
Uncontrolled, his power could even endanger the God Realm itself.
More critically, if his berserk strength went wild, it might even wake Lord Beerus from his slumber.
And if that happened…
There would be no easy resolution.
Still, in just a few days, Broly had shown incredible talent.
Just by watching Goku and Raditz, he had developed a remarkable grasp of power control.
"Let them keep training. With Lin Chuan, Piccolo, and Vegeta on Earth, nothing should go wrong," Whis murmured thoughtfully.
Back on Earth…
Above the Lookout, the battle between this timeline's Vegeta and Vegeta XENO had grown increasingly intense.
Their techniques and strategies were identical.
Even in hand-to-hand combat, it was a deadlock.
Both realized this and shifted tactics.
BOOM!!
SSJ4 Vegeta slammed his fist into Vegeta XENO's chest.
BAM!!
Vegeta XENO responded with a kick to the stomach.
Both flew back dozens of meters.
They steadied themselves, and at the same moment, both struck identical poses to gather energy.
A white-purple aura surged around each of them.
"GALICK GUN!!!!" x2
Twin beams of white-purple light burst from their hands and collided mid-air.
BOOM!!!!!!
The identical energy techniques smashed into one another, creating shockwaves across space.
The two Galick Guns exploded simultaneously, but the spreading destruction was blocked by Lin Chuan's energy barrier.
As the blinding light faded, the two Vegetas stared at each other across the air.
Both were visibly battered, their upper bodies covered in bruises and fist marks.
But to warriors like them, such wounds were trivial.
"Hah! That was satisfying. As expected from another me, your tactics and techniques are identical,"
this world's Vegeta smirked arrogantly.
"Hmph! You're not bad either. I didn't expect you to have this kind of power at this point in time,"
Vegeta XENO replied.
His fighting spirit was reignited, and his aura became even more intense.
This fight had taught him a lot.
He had gained new insights, improved his combat technique, and even saw a path to evolve his SSJ4 form.
Sensing Vegeta XENO's rising power, this world's Vegeta grinned even wider.
"What are you smiling at?" Vegeta XENO asked seriously, feeling something was off.
He had a nagging suspicion,
this other self was holding back... and had more power hidden.
"I'm smiling... because this fight is mine.
We may both be Vegeta, but in terms of transformation mastery, I've gone farther than you!"
"Warm-up ends here. It's time to get serious!"
"Open your eyes and see what I look like beyond Super Saiyan 4!!"
His smile turned sinister.
"Beyond... Super Saiyan 4?!" Vegeta XENO gasped in disbelief.
His other self could transform even further?!
Impossible!!
Could his past self really surpass him?
Though his pride refused to accept it,
the truth was right in front of him,
He was about to witness his own defeat.
"HAAAAAAAH!!!!"
With a roar, this world's Vegeta's energy soared to new heights.
A black aura surged from deep within his Saiyan bloodline,
his power rising to unimaginable levels.
The wild form of SSJ4 mutated.
Golden energy was replaced by black demonic ki,
a malevolent, oppressive presence blanketed the sky.
A terrifying pressure erupted,
Vegeta XENO was pushed back dozens of meters.
"What… what is this?!"
The spike in power left him stunned.
This transformation went far beyond anything he'd ever known.
He couldn't even comprehend it.
He wasn't alone,
Even Goku XENO, watching from the Lookout, was left speechless.
SSJ4 has… another evolution?!
One so intense, it sent a wave of dread through his body and soul?!
BUZZZZZ…
As the black aura receded, a demonic energy form appeared behind this world's Vegeta,
like the silhouette of a beast from hell.
His entire being was now cloaked in malice.
Still in SSJ4 form, but with vastly amplified power.
"Other me… open your eyes wide. This is what I look like after surpassing Super Saiyan 4."
"Super Saiyan 4, Malice Ascension!!"
This world's Vegeta shouted arrogantly.
Now shrouded in black mist, with a beastly appearance,
he looked like a monster from the abyss.
Everything about him exuded raw terror.
At this moment, his power level had reached an astounding 500 exa!
After his battle with Broly,
he had further refined his control over this Malice Ascension form.
Now, he was stronger than ever before.
If he faced Berserk SSJ Broly again,
he was confident he could end the fight in under a minute.
"Super Saiyan 4… Malice… Ascension?!"
Vegeta XENO instinctively stepped back.
His body and soul screamed with overwhelming unease.
Just one sentence had nearly broken his mental focus,
proving the sheer gap between their power.
"SSJ4's limit is far from here. Sooner or later, I'll break through again,
and reach an even higher realm!"
"But for now…
Our battle ends here."
This world's Vegeta gave a cold, sharp smile.
A crimson glint flashed in his blood-red eyes.
In an instant, he turned into a streak of demonic light, slicing through space, and appeared right behind Vegeta XENO.
"S-So fast!!"
Vegeta XENO's hair stood on end, a wave of cold terror freezing him in place.
"It's over."
A simple, heavy punch landed cleanly on his side.
BOOM!!
Vegeta XENO flew down like a meteor,
shattering Lin Chuan's divine barrier and crashing directly into the Lookout below.
The impact created a huge crater, busting through the floor of the sanctuary.
Thanks to the barrier absorbing most of the force,
he didn't break through to the ground below,
but it was close.