"Seven years have passed, Mr. Vegeta. Let me see how much your strength has improved," Merus said, settling into a sparring stance and preparing for battle, his eyes full of seriousness.
"Hmph, my strength has already surpassed yours," Vegeta snorted coldly. A deep blue aura instantly erupted from his body, and a powerful pressure spread out as he directly activated his Super Saiyan Blue Evolved transformation.
"Not bad. Your divine power has indeed seen a massive improvement; it's many times stronger than it was seven years ago," Merus gave a candid evaluation, his tone carrying a hint of admiration.
"I don't need your praise!" Vegeta gave a light chuckle, revealing a confident smile as the fighting spirit in his eyes grew even more intense.
Son Goku silently looked at Merus, then at Vegeta, his heart full of anticipation.
However, when Son Goku looked at Merus, he always felt that this person was somewhat mysterious and unfathomable.
On the surface, this man named Merus seemed quite ordinary.
Yet he had been able to easily surpass the Vegeta of seven years ago.
Now that seven years had passed, he wondered if Vegeta had finally surpassed him.
Son Goku rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
"Vegeta is going to fight him? Who is he?" Broly asked Son Goku curiously, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
"A Galactic Patrolman named Merus. I've never met him," Son Goku replied.
"Galactic Patrolman?" Broly scratched his head, clearly having never heard of them either.
"Come on, Merus!" Vegeta was already prepared for battle, his body leaning forward slightly, ready to launch an attack at any moment.
Merus beckoned to Vegeta, signaling that he could begin his assault.
"Then I won't be polite!" Vegeta charged forward rapidly, his speed as fast as a bolt of lightning, intending to launch a fierce attack on Merus.
"Please wait a moment," Whis suddenly spoke. His voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.
Vegeta immediately performed an emergency brake in mid-air, coming to a steady halt. He turned his head toward Whis with a look of bewilderment.
"Mr. Merus, put this on," Whis said, lightly raising his right hand. A black cloth strip appeared out of thin air in his hand, and he tossed it over.
Snap!
Merus reached out and caught the black cloth. His mouth twitched slightly, and he felt a wave of speechlessness in his heart.
Brother Whis, isn't this just bullying?
You want me to fight Vegeta blindfolded?
Mr. Vegeta is going to have a breakdown, isn't he?
"This..." Merus gave a bitter smile, looking at the black cloth in his hand with some hesitation.
"Whis... what is the meaning of this?" Vegeta was truly speechless. He turned to glare at Whis, his eyes full of confusion and anger.
"Merus's strength should have also improved significantly over these years, so fighting you blindfolded shouldn't be much of a problem," Whis replied with a smile, his tone remaining gentle.
Vegeta: "..."
Vegeta felt a sharp sting in his heart at that moment.
Is it really fun for you to play like this?
"Very well, I'll blindfold myself. I ask for your indulgence, Mr. Vegeta," Merus said. Sure enough, he tied the black cloth over his eyes, obscuring his vision.
Vegeta's face turned even darker, and the aura around him became somewhat unstable.
"Hmm, hmm..." Son Goku rubbed his chin thoughtfully, watching intently.
Shua!
With a flicker, Whis instantly appeared beside Son Goku.
Son Goku was taken aback and turned to look at Whis.
"Mr. Goku, watch Merus's movements closely from here on. Perhaps you'll gain a deeper insight," Whis said to Son Goku, his tone carrying a hint of guidance.
"Alright," Son Goku nodded, his gaze becoming focused.
The Supreme Kai, Elder Kai, and Kibito were also watching from not far away, not daring to even breathe loudly.
"Lord Ancestor, can this Galactic Patrolman named Merus really defeat Vegeta? And while blindfolded, no less," the Supreme Kai whispered, not thinking very highly of Merus. "Vegeta has already transformed into Super Saiyan Blue Evolved; surely he won't lose."
"You kid should just watch closely and stop talking nonsense!" Elder Kai snorted, feeling that the Supreme Kai was truly lacking in experience. His eyes remained fixed on the two in the center.
Elder Kai sized Merus up again, feeling more and more that he couldn't see through him.
Is there really such a powerful figure among the Galactic Patrol?
And it seems this person... Whis has been teaching him all along.
Just what is so unique about him?
Elder Kai squinted his eyes, stroking his beard with his fingers, his brow furrowed in deep confusion.
At this moment, Merus had already tightly covered his eyes with the black cloth, the edges of the strip fluttering lightly in the breeze.
Vegeta was trembling with rage, his teeth grinding together with a clicking sound. The veins on his forehead wriggled like earthworms.
"This is going too far!" Vegeta was truly fuming with rage. His chest heaved violently, and the deep blue light on his body flickered like a flame in the wind, becoming unstable.
"Vegeta, you have to keep your cool!" Son Goku felt that things were looking bad and took a small step forward, offering a word of advice from the side.
"Shut up!" Vegeta barked angrily, his voice like a clap of thunder as he glared fiercely at Son Goku.
Son Goku was startled by the shout and immediately covered his mouth like a child who had done something wrong. He said no more, though his eyes remained fixed on Vegeta.
"Aaaaaah!" Vegeta let out a series of screams, his voice full of fury and resentment. He transformed into a deep blue streak of light and charged rapidly toward Merus, tearing a blue trail through the air.
Fighting me blindfolded!
How dare you humiliate me like this.
Who gave you such confidence?
Vegeta roared in his heart, launching a fierce assault on Merus. His fists and kicks wove into a dense net, each strike carrying the power to destroy everything.
Merus stood with his feet slightly apart, his body swaying gently. Through Ultra Instinct, he dodged all of Vegeta's attacks as lightly as a feather. His movements were as smooth as floating clouds and flowing water, as if he had pre-emptively known the trajectory of every move.
Vegeta was driven to distraction. With veins bulging on his forehead, his figure blurred, appearing behind Merus like a ghost. His right foot kicked out with a whistling wind, aimed directly at Merus's back.
It was as if Merus had eyes in the back of his head. His body, like a willow leaf in the wind, flashed to the side, easily dodging Vegeta's attack. Simultaneously, he delivered a backhand palm strike carrying a faint white light, hitting Vegeta squarely in the chest.
Pfft...
Vegeta spat out a mouthful of bile. His body felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, and he was sent flying backward through the air in an arc.
Merus waved his hands through the air, making a peculiar gesture. An invisible force, like a shackle, acted upon Vegeta's body, making him unable to control himself.
Immediately after, Merus pressed his large hand downward, his gaze focused.
Boom!
Vegeta fell heavily from the sky, slamming into the ground of the Sacred World of the Kai with a massive crash.
The ground shook, and Vegeta left a deep crater in the earth, with debris and dust flying everywhere.
"Whoa!" Son Goku nodded thoughtfully, his eyes wide. He expressed deep admiration for the techniques and skills Merus had displayed, his mouth slightly agape.
"How does Mr. Goku feel?" Whis asked with a smile from the side, a gentle curve on his lips as he lightly shook his staff.
"It's a lot like what Mr. Popo once taught me... making the mind as tranquil as the sky and as clear as the spring water of Mount Paozu. That way, you can sense the opponent's exact location without using your eyes," Son Goku scratched his head and shared his thoughts, a look of reminiscence on his face.
Whis smiled slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. He didn't respond, simply watching the scene quietly.
"But Merus's version seems to be at a much higher level," Son Goku added, tilting his head and asking curiously, "Is this the Ultra Instinct you mentioned?"
"Yes," Whis nodded with certainty.
"That's incredible!" Son Goku praised sincerely, rubbing his chin as he analyzed the situation, his eyes sparkling with longing. "I can tell that if I can learn this, my strength will definitely take another step forward. If I can truly master it, surpassing the current Lord Beerus should be no problem at all."
Whis covered his face, as if he had heard something unbelievable, his shoulders trembling slightly.
If Lord Beerus heard those words, I wonder how he would feel?
However, Mr. Goku is right.
If Mr. Goku can truly master Ultra Instinct, with the boost from Super Saiyan 5, surpassing Lord Beerus would definitely not be much of a problem.
"Then Mr. Goku should observe closely," Whis said to Son Goku with a smile, his tone encouraging.
Son Goku nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at grain, indicating his understanding. His eyes remained glued to Merus in the center.
The battle between Vegeta and Merus continued.
The deep blue aura on Vegeta's body erupted once more, even more vigorous than before. He increased the intensity of his attacks on Merus again, each punch carrying the sound of breaking air.
Merus continued to dodge easily through Ultra Instinct, his body moving as if it had no weight, weaving through the gaps in Vegeta's attacks.
The two had already been fighting for about five minutes.
Vegeta hadn't landed a single punch on his opponent. Instead, he had been kicked three times and punched twice by Merus, adding several more bruises to his body.
The veins on Vegeta's forehead were bulging, and his knuckles were cracking. He felt a wave of stifling frustration, as if a large stone were lodged in his chest.
Seven years have passed.
Can I not even surpass a lowly Galactic Patrolman?
I feel like I'm making progress, but he's making progress too.
Damn it!
I'm so unwilling!
Bang!
Just as Vegeta was momentarily distracted and these thoughts flashed through his mind, Merus seized the opportunity. His body shot forward like an arrow from a bow, and he delivered a palm strike carrying a faint ripple of energy.
Vegeta was sent flying backward, his feet carving two long furrows into the ground as debris flew. He grimaced in pain, his left foot suddenly bracing behind him to leave a deep footprint in the earth, forcefully bringing himself to a halt. He looked at Merus with shame and rage, his eyes bloodshot.
A faint smile hung on Merus's face, as if he had only done something trivial. The black cloth tied over his eyes fluttered in the wind, his posture composed.
"Big Bang Attack!"
The deep blue aura all over Vegeta's body surged frantically like boiling seawater. He raised his hand and aimed at Merus, a massive blue energy sphere condensing in his palm, surrounded by arcs of lightning.
Merus didn't panic at all, remaining as calm as a light breeze. He leaned forward slightly, prepared to respond.
"You'd better be careful with this next move. If you get killed, don't blame me," Vegeta warned specifically, his tone carrying a hint of a threat, though in his heart he was truly afraid of accidentally killing Merus.
After all, Vegeta had turned over a new leaf and didn't want to kill innocent people.
Even if this person seemed quite detestable.
"Very well, Mr. Vegeta. Come at me with everything you've got," Merus nodded, his tone calm and devoid of any fear.
Whoosh!
A blue streak of light shot from Vegeta's palm, whistling toward Merus at extreme speed, as fast as lightning, leaving a blue afterimage in the air.
Merus simply stepped to the side, as if strolling through a courtyard, and easily dodged the onslaught of the Big Bang Attack. The energy sphere flew past his body.
Whoosh!
The Big Bang Attack grazed the ground of the Sacred World of the Kai, kicking up a cloud of dust as it soared into the high sky, quickly vanishing into the horizon like a shooting star.
"What? He dodged it!" Vegeta was aghast, crying out in alarm. His eyes were as wide as copper bells, his face full of disbelief.
This guy's speed is practically divine!
He could dodge even from such a close distance!
Has this fellow already mastered Ultra Instinct to its absolute limit?
Shua!
Merus's figure blurred, moving so fast it was impossible to see clearly. In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Vegeta and delivered a knife-hand strike, his hand carrying a sharp, whistling wind.
Snap!
Merus's knife-hand strike landed directly on the back of Vegeta's neck, the movement precise and swift.
Vegeta's consciousness instantly became blurred, as if his soul had been sucked out. The deep blue light on his body collapsed at once like an extinguished flame, and he slumped limply to the ground, motionless.
Looking again, Vegeta had already fainted, his mouth slightly agape.
Son Goku fell silent, his brow furrowed. His gaze was complex, containing both surprise and a hint of sympathy for Vegeta.
Broly was also scratching his head and cheeks on the side, his fingers constantly tugging at his hair. He suddenly lowered his voice and said to Son Goku, "This Galactic Patrolman is pretty strong!"
"He truly is remarkable," Son Goku nodded, sharing the sentiment. "It's a good thing he's not an enemy; otherwise, he'd probably be very difficult to deal with."
"It's fine. With Kakaroly around, there's nothing to fear," Broly laughed heartily, patting Son Goku on the shoulder with a tone full of confidence.
"You're right," Son Goku followed with a smile, a hint of ease in his expression.
Whis: "..."
The two of you are certainly confident.
But do you really think that when you encounter a true opponent, they'll give you the time to fuse?
"While fusion is very strong, not everyone is like Lord Beerus and will give you the time to perform it," Whis couldn't help but remark.
"You have a point," Son Goku nodded thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. He felt that Whis was right, and his gaze became serious.
Not far away...
The Supreme Kai, Old Kai, and Kibito were all left dumbfounded, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit an egg, their eyes filled with utter disbelief.
This Galactic Patrolman is way too strong!
He actually defeated Vegeta while blindfolded.
The problem was, it felt like this patrolman named Merus hadn't even tapped into his true strength.
And yet, Vegeta had lost.
Worse, he had been knocked out cold.
"Merus? I feel like I've heard that name before," the Supreme Kai muttered, tapping his chin as he searched his memories.
"Didn't you say you'd never seen him?" Old Kai shot the Supreme Kai a glare, his tone laced with annoyance.
"I haven't seen him... but I've heard of him," the Supreme Kai's eyes lit up as a thought struck him. "I heard Merus was the number one elite of the Galactic Patrol. Back then, it was just a name... I never imagined he'd be this powerful, to the point where even Vegeta was no match for him."
"He's not like an ordinary Galactic Patrolman," Old Kai analyzed.
"Indeed, he's extraordinary," Kibito added, nodding in deep agreement.
"Next is the battle between Goku and Merus. I wonder if Goku can beat him?" The Supreme Kai fretted for Goku, his voice full of concern.
Old Kai remained silent, his brow furrowed, unable to reach a conclusion.
"Mr. Goku, it's your turn," Whis called out to Goku, his tone gentle.
"Ah, right!" Goku nodded solemnly. He took a deep breath and stepped toward Merus, each footfall steady and deliberate.
Merus still had the black cloth tied over his eyes, showing no intention of removing it as he stood calmly in place.
"Merus, are you going to fight me blindfolded too?" Goku stopped, looking a bit surprised.
"We can give it a try," Merus said with a smile, his tone relaxed.
"Alright then, let's see," Goku agreed. He clenched his fists, his knuckles popping with a series of sharp cracks as his expression turned serious. "Vegeta couldn't beat you even with Super Saiyan Blue Evolved, so this time, I'll have to give it everything I've got."
"Then please, Mr. Goku, show me your full strength," Merus said with a polite smile, his voice full of anticipation.
Rumble!
A titanic surge of energy erupted from Goku. A silver-white light spread out like a rising tide, and his overwhelming aura exploded, making the very air around them tremble.
The sheer force of the energy caused the entire Sacred World of the Kai to shudder, fine cracks spider-webbing across the ground.
Goku instantly unleashed his Super Saiyan 5 transformation. His hair turned a brilliant silver-white, looking as though it were coated in moonlight, and his gaze became sharp and profound.
Vegeta, who had been unconscious, suddenly snapped his eyes open, as if jolted awake by an invisible force.
He had been literally shaken awake by the sheer intensity of Goku's energy, his body jerking uncontrollably.
This time, Vegeta hadn't been knocked out very deeply.
Or perhaps, Merus had been light-handed, using just enough force with that knifehand strike to put him under for a moment.
Vegeta scrambled to his feet, his movements a bit unsteady. His pupils shrank to pinpricks, his jaw hitting the floor as he stared blankly at the silver-haired Goku.
"T-This... Kakarot... is that... Super Saiyan 5?" Vegeta stammered, his voice trembling with disbelief.
Supreme Kai: "..."
Old Kai: "..."
Kibito: "..."
Broly shot Vegeta a sidelong glance, a hint of understanding in his eyes.
Whis quietly wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, his mouth twitching slightly.
No one answered Vegeta's question.
Because everyone else present was already familiar with this transformation of Goku's.
Merus's smile stiffened slightly, and his expression turned solemn. His aura flickered as he sensed the change.
Mr. Goku's energy is incredibly powerful... like an insurmountable mountain.
However, it's still just raw power.
My Ultra Instinct should be able to dodge his attacks.
I don't need to take off the blindfold yet!
I'll keep it on!
Merus thought to himself, tightening his fists.
"Old Kai, from the looks on your faces, did you already know Kakarot could turn into this?" Vegeta finally couldn't hold it in any longer. He turned to Old Kai, his voice thick with urgency.
Old Kai covered his face, looking utterly speechless, as if he'd just been asked a very stupid question.
After a two-second silence...
"You mean you're just finding out now?" Old Kai asked, his tone laced with surprise.
Vegeta: "..."
Vegeta felt like he'd just taken a kick in the teeth. His face turned deathly pale in an instant.
I really am just finding out!
Kakarot, you bastard.
You had a Super Saiyan 5 transformation, so why are you only showing it now?
Vegeta roared inwardly, his eyes glaring daggers at Goku.
"Oh... Vegeta, you're awake?" Goku blinked, looking over at him.
"Kakarot, when exactly did you learn to turn into a Super Saiyan 5?" Vegeta asked through gritted teeth, his voice simmering with suppressed rage.
"That... maybe you shouldn't ask," Goku said, scratching his head and avoiding Vegeta's gaze.
If I tell him I've had this form for seven years already...
Will Vegeta just fall into a total slump?
Goku thought worriedly.
"So you've had it for a long time!" Vegeta clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. His face darkened further, his eyes burning with frustration and envy.
"Well... yeah," Goku nodded.
Vegeta's body began to shake even more violently, as if he were shivering in a freezing wind, his teeth chattering.
However, as Vegeta carefully sensed the aura, he realized that while Kakarot's Super Saiyan 5 energy was immense, it wasn't worlds apart from his own Super Saiyan Blue Evolved.
It seemed to be just a little bit stronger than Evolution.
Just a little bit.
Once that realization hit him, Vegeta started to feel a lot better about things, and his tense body relaxed slightly.
"Mr. Goku, we can begin now," Merus said, beckoning Goku forward with anticipation.
"Ah... right," Goku nodded, then scratched his head as if he'd just remembered something. "But I haven't finished transforming yet. Give me just another second."
Merus: "..."
Haven't finished transforming?
What does "haven't finished transforming" mean?
To be continued…
Guys, do check out my friend's new fic titled as I, A Vitrumite, Have The World's Strongest Chatgroup...? It is really enjoyable!
Advance 100 Chapters are up on my Patreon!
pat reon.com/AlphaSenatus