Xicor looked at the transformed Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta with a flicker of genuine interest. "Interesting. You've increased your power significantly, but it's still not enough!"
With a roar of defiance, Vegeta turned into a bolt of lightning, charging at Xicor with blinding speed. He moved so fast that he left a trail of blurred afterimages behind him, his entire body radiating an aura that made the very air tremble.
Vegeta threw a heavy punch aimed straight for Xicor's face. But in the next heartbeat, a cold sweat broke out across the Prince's forehead. He realized too late that Xicor's fist was already buried deep into his own abdomen.
BOOM!
The sheer force of the impact was so concentrated that a pillar of energy erupted out of Vegeta's back.
Vegeta was sent hurtling backward even faster than he had charged in.
Seeing this, Xicor shook his head in disappointment. "Weak. Pathetically weak!"
Son Gohan, who had just managed to crawl out from a pile of rubble, cried out in alarm, "Uncle Vegeta!"
He turned his gaze toward Xicor, his eyes burning with fury. "I won't let you get away with this! HYAA—!"
Son Gohan instantly transformed into a Super Saiyan 4. Yes, Super Saiyan 4!
Because Goku had disappeared with Shenron years ago, Gohan had eventually returned to his training. However, because he had neglected his martial arts for so long, his power level was currently only on par with Vegeta's.
Watching the charging Gohan, a flash of disappointment crossed Xicor's eyes, quickly followed by a wave of overwhelming hatred.
Why?! Xicor thought bitterly. Why is a weakling like Son Gohan allowed to bask in your fatherly love, while someone as strong as me is abandoned?! Son Goku! I will kill you!!
THUD!
Gohan's fist connected squarely with Xicor's face. But even after taking a direct hit to the jaw, Xicor's head only tilted slightly to the side. His feet remained firmly planted on the ground, unmoving.
Gohan stared in disbelief. The message was clear: the gap in their strength was astronomical.
"What's wrong, Son Gohan? Is this all you've got?" Xicor wiped a smudge of blood from the corner of his mouth, looking at Gohan with pure disdain. The resentment in his eyes could no longer be contained. "Such a soft, powerless punch... Who could you possibly beat with that? Did you skip breakfast?"
"How is it fair?!" Xicor roared, his aura exploding outward. "Why does someone as weak as you get to stay by his side, while I was cast aside?! Why?! Answer me!!"
BOOM!
The shockwave from Xicor's ki blast sent Gohan reeling. The terrifying pressure rising from the man caused a cold sweat to bead on Gohan's forehead.
"Shut up! I won't let you talk about my father like that!! HAA! DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA—!"
Gohan's own rage was ignited. He didn't know the truth of Xicor's claims, but he was certain of one thing: his father was not that kind of man!
Gohan flared his aura again, launching an even more frantic assault on Xicor.
However, in Xicor's eyes, Gohan was moving in slow motion. He effortlessly swayed through Gohan's attacks, mocking him as he did. "This? This is it? Son Gohan, you are pathetic!"
Xicor's hand shot out like a strike of lightning, snatching Gohan's right wrist. He followed up with a brutal elbow strike to Gohan's stomach.
"Gwah—!"
The impact forced a spray of blood from Gohan's mouth as his body doubled over.
Watching from the shadows, Turles shook his head. This Gohan's battle instincts had dulled significantly. He was actually inferior to the Gohan from Turles' own timeline, despite being over a decade older.
Xicor's massive hand clamped over Gohan's face. He slammed the Saiyan into the dirt and began "Plowing Mode," dragging Gohan's face through the earth as if trying to physically vent all his hatred for Goku through the ground.
Gohan clawed at Xicor's hand, desperate to break the hold, but the grip was like an iron vice. He was completely helpless.
"You bastard! Let go of Gohan!" Vegeta's voice thundered as he launched a counter-attack.
Xicor didn't even look at him. "Hmph. A swarm of ants is still just a swarm of ants. What can you possibly do?"
Ignoring Vegeta's strikes, Xicor shifted into "Hulk Smash Mode," repeatedly slamming Gohan's body against the ground.
Vegeta's pride took a massive hit. He was the Prince of the Saiyans; he had never been ignored like this before.
"Damn you! Die! Big Bang Attack!"
Vegeta unleashed the blast directly in Xicor's face at point-blank range.
BOOM!!
The massive explosion caused the ground to cave in further, and a thick cloud of dust enveloped the area.
But a voice, sounding like a demon from within the smoke, made Vegeta's heart sink.
"Heh... heh heh. Interesting. That was quite fun, Vegeta. Were you trying to tickle me?"
Vegeta gritted his teeth. "Damn it... not even that worked?"
"You want Gohan back? Fine! You can have him!"
Gohan's body suddenly came flying out of the smoke, slamming into Vegeta with such force that both were sent tumbling through the air.
Watching the scene, Turles rubbed his chin thoughtfully. This feels less like a world-ending threat and more like a rebellious teenager lashing out because he lacks a father figure. He's beating Gohan to a pulp, but he's actually holding back just enough to keep him alive. He isn't pure evil. Maybe I can recruit him into the Time Patrol... he's easily a Tier 8 God Realm fighter. And knowing Goku, if he found out about this, he'd probably end up accepting the kid anyway.
"Gohan! We go together!!" Vegeta shouted, turning into a streak of lightning as he charged Xicor again.
"Right, Uncle Vegeta!" Gohan flared his aura and followed.
"HAAAA—!"
Vegeta and Gohan poured every ounce of their power into a combined assault. Their golden auras burned so fiercely that the very space around them began to warp.
"Hmph. And what of it?" Xicor sneered.
The three of them collided in a violent explosion of ki. However, numbers couldn't bridge the gap in raw power. "Hahahaha! Is this the best you can do?!"
Xicor laughed maniacally. But then, the Western Supreme Kai's voice cut through the air, causing him to pause.
"Kill them! If they die, Son Goku will surely show himself!"
Xicor went silent for a moment before his expression twisted into a mad grin. "Hahahaha! Is that so?! Fine! In that case, you can all go to hell!!"
Shred!
Just as Xicor prepared to deliver the finishing blow, a figure suddenly blurred onto the battlefield. Using a series of rapid-fire Instant Transmissions, the newcomer snatched up Gohan, Vegeta, Trunks, and Goten.
The rescue was so fast that Xicor didn't even have time to react.
"What?!" Xicor looked around in shock. Within his senses, the ki signatures of Gohan and the others—as well as the mysterious newcomer—had completely vanished.
"Mother, what happened?! Who was that?!"