"I should actually thank you, Saiyan," Granolah said with a smirk. Though his breathing was somewhat ragged, his condition was clearly much better than Ultra Ego Vegeta's. "It's thanks to you that I've finally managed to unleash all the power I've gained."
Ultra Ego Vegeta's expression shifted repeatedly, his eyes filled with fury and indignation. Beside them, the observing Vegeta was trembling all over, his fists clenched so hard they creaked. The other me... how could you let yourself get beaten like this? It's pathetic!
The battle resumed as Granolah took the initiative, charging at Ultra Ego Vegeta. The observing Vegeta could only watch from the sidelines, unable to intervene, his heart filled with anxiety. Ultra Ego Vegeta, already heavily injured, was at a complete disadvantage, barely managing to dodge Granolah's onslaught.
"What's wrong? Can my attacks no longer stimulate you? Didn't you say you get stronger the more damage you take? Now you're just dodging like a stray dog," Granolah mocked, each word stabbing like a knife into Ultra Ego Vegeta's heart.
"You bastard!" Ultra Ego Vegeta gritted his teeth and scrambled up from the ground, forcing a counterattack, but his movements were already sluggish.
PEW! PEW! PEW!
Granolah fired another barrage of energy blasts, all directed at Ultra Ego Vegeta, who was beaten back repeatedly. He let out cries of pain, tumbling across the ground several times, now powerless to defend himself and lying motionless.
"Idiot, you overdid the tough-guy act, didn't you? Don't you know when to quit?" the observing Vegeta shook his head, feeling both angry and helpless.
THUD!
Granolah blurred and appeared behind Ultra Ego Vegeta. With cold eyes, he delivered a kick to the back of Vegeta's head, pinning him face-down to the ground.
WHOOSH!
The violet-red flames around Ultra Ego Vegeta suddenly dissipated. He reverted to his normal state, his hair turning back to black. He panted heavily, utterly exhausted, without even the strength to lift a finger.
"Not good! He's going for the kill!" the observing Vegeta's face paled, his heart racing. Should I rush in to help? But I'm no match for this Granolah; going in would just be throwing my life away. Still, I can't just watch the other me get killed. That would be too cowardly.
"Your 'Ultra' whatever is over, isn't it? Seems it wasn't much after all," Granolah snorted, looking down at the fallen Ultra Ego Vegeta. "As I thought, I am right. Fate has decided that the Saiyans should be extinct!"
GRAB!
Ultra Ego Vegeta reached out and snatched Granolah's ankle, his fingers turning white from the effort.
"Let go of me!" Granolah cried out in surprise, not expecting him to still be able to grab him. He struggled violently to break free.
"The one who decides fate is me! Not you, and certainly not some so-called destiny!" Ultra Ego Vegeta remained unyielding, still gripping Granolah's ankle tightly, his eyes full of stubborn defiance.
BAM!
Granolah slammed a heavy punch into Ultra Ego Vegeta's head. Blood flowed from his forehead, staining the ground red. Ultra Ego Vegeta was knocked down, his consciousness beginning to blur, but he still didn't let go. He was powerless to resist, only able to watch as Granolah's fist swung toward him again.
At the critical moment, Son Goku came whistling in from the distance. A flash of blue light streaked past—he had already activated Super Saiyan Blue. Moving like lightning, he delivered a punch that sent Granolah flying, crashing heavily into a building.
The observing Vegeta's pupils shrank, his eyes wide. Isn't that Kakarot? He actually showed up?
Ultra Ego Vegeta also looked at the arriving Goku with some surprise, a flash of complex emotion in his eyes. "Kakarot!" he breathed out, his voice weak.
"Are you alright, Vegeta?" Son Goku looked at Ultra Ego Vegeta, then at the other Vegeta, and couldn't help but chuckle, scratching his head. "You like playing with clones too?"
The observing Vegeta: "..." I've been mistaken for a clone again?
"Next, let's fight together," Goku suggested, taking a combat stance and looking at Granolah with excitement.
BAM!
Ultra Ego Vegeta found strength from somewhere and kicked Goku, sending him flying. Goku traced an arc through the air. Granolah was dumbfounded, standing still, completely unable to understand this turn of events.
The observing Vegeta paused for a moment, then immediately realized what was happening, a cold smirk curling his lips. If it were me, I'd kick this annoying Kakarot away too. He always acts so self-importantly.
"Hey, hey, Vegeta, what are you doing? I came to help you," Goku said, speechless. He scrambled up from the ground, rubbing his stomach where he'd been kicked.
"You want me to fight with you?" Ultra Ego Vegeta snorted, his eyes full of disdain. "Don't make me laugh! I wouldn't team up with you even if I died!"
As he spoke, Ultra Ego Vegeta delivered another punch that knocked Goku down, his fist fueled by anger. The observing Vegeta suddenly felt a surge of satisfaction. The me of this timeline finally did something I've always wanted to do. This is so cathartic! I've wanted to punch Kakarot like that for a long time.
"The person I want to beat up the most is you, Kakarot," Ultra Ego Vegeta snorted. Though he was exhausted, a look of great satisfaction crossed his face.
"Is this the time for that? That guy is still over there," Goku scrambled up, exasperated, pointing at Granolah nearby.
"Don't get it wrong," Ultra Ego Vegeta snorted. "Before, I stood on the same side as you because there was something I had to protect. Now, that's no longer necessary."
"Something to protect?" Goku paused, then replied, "Isn't your own life one of those things? What's the difference between this and suicide?"
"It doesn't matter. It's still better than fighting alongside you!" Ultra Ego Vegeta snorted, his attitude resolute.
WHOOSH!
Just then, Granolah came whistling in from the distance, red light flashing in his eyes. He charged toward Ultra Ego Vegeta, intending to finish him off while he was down. Seeing the danger, Goku didn't have time to think. He swung both hands down, his energy acting on Ultra Ego Vegeta to teleport him away, narrowly avoiding Granolah's attack.
BOOM!
Ultra Ego Vegeta was sent flying, crashing into a building with a loud thud. His consciousness finally faded, and he passed out completely.
"Huff... huff..." Son Goku panted heavily, also quite exhausted. That last move had consumed a lot of energy.
"You... was that a coincidence just now? Why was your reaction so fast?" Granolah turned to look at Goku in surprise, his eyes full of disbelief.
"I've already seen through your vital point attacks. They're useless against me now," Goku grinned, revealing his white teeth, his eyes full of confidence.
"Hehehe, seen through them? Don't make me laugh. That's impossible; you were just lucky," Granolah smirked contemptuously. After a few blurs, his figure moved like a phantom, appearing behind Goku in an instant and delivering a palm strike to the back of Goku's neck.
Goku pitched forward and fell to the ground, the blue light around him dissipating as he reverted to his normal state.
"Couldn't you just stay asleep? You had to meddle," Granolah snorted, looking at the fallen Goku. "Just wait here. I'll have you tell me where Frieza is later; I have many scores to settle with him."
Granolah turned to leave, glancing at the observing Vegeta with a hint of disdain. "Just a clone. Ignore him. I'll deal with the original first." He muttered to himself, not bothering with Vegeta, and walked step by step toward the unconscious Ultra Ego Vegeta.
Just a clone! If the original dies, this clone will vanish too.
The observing Vegeta's body began to tremble again—not from fear, but from rage. Stop calling me a clone! You idiot!
However, after Granolah had taken a few steps, he was suddenly struck in the back by a blast of energy. The impact was powerful. Granolah stumbled, nearly falling. He turned back in surprise to find that Goku had somehow stood up again.
"What?" Granolah was stunned, looking back with shock. The observing Vegeta was also startled, looking at the Goku who had attacked, not expecting him to recover so quickly.
The one who had released the energy was indeed Goku. He had transformed back into Super Saiyan Blue and grinned. "The same trick won't work on me twice, Granolah. I've completely adapted to your attacks."
Granolah became even more incensed, his gaze turning more vicious. He thrust a finger toward Goku, energy condensing at the tip. The finger jabbed at Goku's abdomen with a sharp, piercing wind.
However, Goku simply took a step back, easily neutralizing the strike without taking much impact, a smile still on his face. In the next instant, Goku snatched the opponent's wrist, his fingers locking like iron clamps. Then, using his core strength, he delivered a heavy punch to Granolah's cheek.
Granolah was sent flying, tumbling through the air before landing steadily. He clutched his stinging cheek and looked at Goku below in shock. "This guy actually shifted his vital point... how is that possible?"
"That's right," Goku nodded in admission, cracking his knuckles. "There's a split-second pause between when you find a vital point and when you launch your attack. That's your opening."
Granolah fell silent, his brow furrowed, his expression grave.
"Although I can't avoid it completely, I can still manage to shift the position being attacked in that split second to avoid the vital point," Goku smiled confidently.
"I see," Granolah understood, clenching his fists. "You've certainly used your head. That mysterious skill of yours can indeed dodge! However, by adopting such a one-sided defensive tactic, your attack power is only at this level. You can't defeat me like that; you'll only be slowly worn down to death."
"That's exactly the problem!" Goku nodded, looking troubled.
The two engaged in mid-air, their figures like two streaks of lightning intertwining, the light from their energy collisions illuminating half the sky. After several rounds of combat, Granolah caught an opening and kicked Goku in the chest, sending him down.
Goku crashed heavily into the ground, creating a large crater. The blue light dissipated as he reverted to his normal state, clutching his chest and coughing violently. "Dammit! My body can't take much more!" Goku scrambled up, sweat trickling down his face. "That guy has been fighting alone this whole time, yet he can still maintain such high combat power."
Just then, Ultra Ego Vegeta woke up and flew in from the distance, still covered in fresh blood, but his gaze was exceptionally determined.
"Kakarot, it's my turn," Ultra Ego Vegeta said to Goku. His voice was weak, but filled with unquestionable resolve.
Goku was stunned, looking at him in surprise, not expecting him to recover so quickly. The observing Vegeta was also dazed, his brow furrowed. The other me recovered that fast?
"Why do you insist on fighting alone? Wouldn't the chances of winning be higher if we teamed up?" Goku asked, truly unable to understand this approach.
"Well... just consider it a Saiyan's stubbornness. Some battles must be finished alone," Ultra Ego Vegeta replied, his eyes flashing with pride.
"Can you win?" Goku asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
Vegeta looked toward Granolah and saw him panting heavily, his chest heaving violently and his forehead drenched in sweat. It was clear he had consumed a massive amount of stamina, and his aura was no longer as stable as before.
"That power he just unleashed... it won't last long. It was bought by overdrawing his potential," Ultra Ego Vegeta mused, his gaze locked onto Granolah. "He's almost at his limit. That's when the chance for victory will come! Please, let me fight alone! This is my battle!"
Son Goku: "..."
Goku nodded seriously. He knew Vegeta's temperament; once he made up his mind, it was nearly impossible to change it.
Ultra Ego Vegeta stepped forward. Each step felt like treading on cotton, his body swaying slightly, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"Don't die, Vegeta," Goku said solemnly, clenching his fists.
Ultra Ego Vegeta didn't speak. He took a deep breath and transformed into a streak of light, appearing directly in front of Granolah. The air between them seemed to solidify.
"Back to fighting alone? I still can't understand your way of thinking. It's utterly foolish," Granolah gave a contemptuous smile, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Your way of thinking is the one that's unreasonable. Your entire heart has been eroded by revenge; you can no longer see anything else," Ultra Ego Vegeta snorted, his eyes full of disdain.
"What did you say?" Granolah's face twisted in anger, veins popping on his forehead as the words hit a sore spot.
"Do you really believe that seeking revenge against us is your only reason for living? Is there nothing else you want to do besides revenge?" Ultra Ego Vegeta asked suddenly, his voice calm yet piercing.
Granolah fell silent. He opened his mouth but found himself unable to offer a rebuttal. What you're saying seems to make sense, but I cannot stop my quest for revenge.
"Fine. If this is your mission, then I'll take it all on," Ultra Ego Vegeta smiled, his eyes flashing with a resolute light. "Leave no regrets. Attack me with everything you've got. Let me see just how much power your so-called revenge truly holds!"
"AHHHHHH!"
Ultra Ego Vegeta let out a series of shouts. A deep blue light erupted from his body once more, denser than before, making the surrounding air hum with vibration.
Granolah was stunned, his eyes wide, his face written with disbelief. The observing Vegeta was also shocked, his mouth slightly open. How can he still burst out with such powerful energy?
"You... weren't you already at your limit? How can you still condense such strong energy?" Granolah cried out, voicing the very question in the observing Vegeta's mind.
"I told you, my power has no upper limit! As long as I still have the will to fight, I can keep getting stronger!" Ultra Ego Vegeta laughed even more brightly. With a wave of his hand, a blast of Destruction energy surged toward Granolah, carrying an aura of total annihilation.
Startled, Granolah hastily crossed his arms in front of him, condensing a golden protective barrier.
BOOM!
The Destruction energy exploded beside Granolah. The massive shockwave sent him flying, and cracks appeared on his golden barrier. Ultra Ego Vegeta charged forward, using his head to slam directly into Granolah. The two hurtled downward like cannonballs.
Granolah was smashed toward a city below that was protected by a barrier.
CRACK!
In the next instant, Granolah gritted his teeth and forced his body to twist, coming to a stop on the barrier. His feet carved two long trails of sparks across its surface. However, just as Granolah steadied himself, Ultra Ego Vegeta descended from the sky and delivered a kick that sent him crashing through the barrier.
Granolah's body penetrated the barrier, and along with Ultra Ego Vegeta, he entered the city. They crashed into a street, overturning countless stalls.
Just as Ultra Ego Vegeta was about to launch an attack, Granolah grew frantic.
"Not here! Let's change locations!" Granolah shouted urgently, his voice laced with anxiety.
"I thought you didn't care about anything? Why do you care about this now?" Ultra Ego Vegeta smiled slightly and threw a punch, the wind from the strike sharp and fierce. Granolah hastily raised his hands to block, his arms turning numb from the impact.
Ultra Ego Vegeta launched another fierce assault. His punches and kicks fell like rain on Granolah, forcing him back repeatedly.
"That's enough!" Granolah roared in fury, unable to take it anymore. He slammed a heavy punch into Ultra Ego Vegeta's face, making his nose bleed.
Ultra Ego Vegeta grinned, blood at the corner of his mouth. He grabbed Granolah's arm and opened his mouth, biting down hard on it.
"AHHHH..."
Granolah let out a scream like a stuck pig. Intense pain flared in his arm. With a violent swing, he slammed Ultra Ego Vegeta to the ground, smashing a nearby vending kiosk.
"You... you bastard! To use such a despicable tactic!" Granolah was beside himself with rage, clutching his bleeding arm, his eyes full of anger and bewilderment.
"Hahaha! You can't use your favorite rapid-fire attacks here, can you?" Ultra Ego Vegeta lay on the ground laughing maniacally, tears almost coming to his eyes.
However, Granolah appeared directly above Ultra Ego Vegeta, pointing a finger at his head, his gaze cold. Ultra Ego Vegeta's expression shifted.
"At this distance, the city won't be harmed!" Granolah gave a cold laugh and fired. The energy slammed into Vegeta's face and body, resulting in a massive explosion.
Smoke swirled around the scene. The entire barrier hummed, looking as if it would shatter at any moment. The city itself shook incessantly.
When the view cleared, Ultra Ego Vegeta's head was slumped to the side; he had finally lost consciousness, his body lying limp on the ground. At the same time, the violet-red light around him dissipated, and he reverted to his normal state. His chest was still slightly heaving, proving he still had a breath left in him.
Granolah panted heavily, exhausted to the absolute limit. He leaned on his knees, sweat pouring down like a waterfall, his vision starting to blur. In the next moment, Granolah stumbled and sat down on the ground, no longer able to support his body.
"Now you understand, Saiyan! Victory belongs to me!" A flash of triumphant joy appeared on Granolah's face, but his smile carried a hint of bitterness.
SHATTER!
Suddenly, the glass behind Granolah broke, shards scattering everywhere. Startled, Granolah looked toward the sound, clenching his fists warily.
In a dark room behind him, a mother and daughter were huddled together, trembling with fear. Their bodies shook incessantly from terror. These were Sugalians; they looked somewhat like pink fish, with smooth skin and small scales.
Granolah turned to look, and he couldn't help but recall the terrifying scenes from over 40 years ago. Those buried memories came rushing back like a tide. Back then, it was the Saiyans who had attacked Planet Cereal. War had raged, and homes were destroyed.
As a child, Granolah had lunged into his mother's arms, the two of them trembling with fear as they hid in the ruins, terrified of being discovered by the Saiyans. The situation of these two Sugalians was a perfect mirror of Granolah and his mother back then—the same fear, the same despair.
Granolah was touched to his core. His expression shifted repeatedly, a flash of confusion and pain in his eyes. The hand he had clenched into a fist slowly relaxed.
"We... we Saiyans are a race that deserves to be hated. The sins we committed are unforgivable," Ultra Ego Vegeta suddenly scrambled up from the ground, his voice raspy and low. "Even if I die at your hands, I have nothing to say. This is the retribution we deserve."
Granolah was stunned. He turned and looked deeply at Ultra Ego Vegeta, not expecting him to say such a thing.
"But if you exterminate the Saiyans, wouldn't that make you just like us?" the observing Vegeta said flatly, his eyes full of complex emotion. "The Cerealians shouldn't be such a barbaric race, right? Has your civilization really been reduced to nothing but revenge?"
To be continued…
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