The wasteland stretched endlessly in all directions, barren earth and jagged rock formations the only witnesses to what was about to unfold.
Above this desolate landscape, Cooler hovered like an angel of death, his fifth form silhouetted against the unnaturally darkened sky.
His bio-gems glinted, casting an eerie crimson light across the battlefield below.
Goku and Vegeta stood shoulder to shoulder, their merged auras creating a massive energy field that pulsed with raw power.
The ground beneath them continued to crack and splinter, fissures spreading outward like the roots of some great, invisible tree. Their faces were set in grim determination, eyes locked on the hovering figure above.
"So," Cooler's voice carried effortlessly across the distance, smooth and cultured despite the menace it held. "Earth. What a quaint little mud ball. I can see why my sister was interested in it."
His tail swished lazily behind him as he descended, each movement deliberate and graceful. "Speaking of my dear sister... I can no longer sense her power. It seems that aberration you call Toji has defeated her."
A cold smile played across his lips. "Or perhaps they've killed each other. Either way, it simplifies matters."
"We don't care about your family drama," Vegeta called out, his voice carrying the weight of a year's worth of preparation. "You've made a mistake coming here."
Cooler's laughter echoed across the wasteland, sending chills down the spines of any creature unfortunate enough to be within earshot.
"A mistake? Oh, you poor, deluded monkey." He touched down on the ground with impossible lightness, not disturbing a single pebble. "I came for the Dragon Balls, but now that I'm here... I think I'll enjoy myself first."
His crimson eyes narrowed as he studied the two Saiyans. "You've both grown stronger since Namek. Significantly so. How... interesting."
Goku stepped forward, his usually friendly face hardened. "You don't have to do this, Cooler. You could just leave. Find another way to get what you want."
"Leave?" Cooler's voice dripped with mock offense. "When I've traveled so far? When I've spent three days flying towards here thinking of all the delightful ways I might torture information from you earthlings?" He shook his head. "No, I don't think I will."
In a blur Cooler suddenly appeared directly between Goku and Vegeta, his back to one, facing the other. Neither Saiyan had registered his movement.
"Besides," he whispered, his breath cold against Vegeta's ear, "I've always wanted to have my way with my sister's toys at least once."
Vegeta's eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, Cooler's elbow slammed into his spine, sending him flying forward. Simultaneously, his tail whipped backward, catching Goku across the chest with enough force to crack ribs.
Both Saiyans recovered mid-air, flipping to land on their feet several yards away, facing Cooler from opposite sides.
"Now then," Cooler said pleasantly, as if they were discussing dinner plans, "shall we begin?"
Goku and Vegeta exchanged a quick glance, a year's worth of training turning into a single, unspoken plan. They charged simultaneously, approaching from different angles.
Cooler stood motionless, arms crossed, watching their approach with the casual interest of someone observing insects.
As they closed in, he uncrossed his arms in a sudden, violent motion, creating a shockwave that momentarily disrupted their charge.
That split second was all he needed.
Cooler caught Vegeta's fist in one hand, squeezing until the Saiyan prince's knuckles cracked. With his other hand, he blocked Goku's kick, the impact creating a thunderous boom that echoed across the wasteland.
"Is this truly the best you can offer?" Cooler asked, sounding genuinely disappointed. "Knowing you were the subjects of that abomination, I expected... more."
Vegeta snarled, twisting his body to deliver a kick to Cooler's head. Simultaneously, Goku dropped low, sweeping at Cooler's legs.
The coordinated attack forced the frost demon to release them both, leaping backward to avoid the strikes.
"Ah," Cooler's eyes gleamed with new interest. "You know how to work together. How quaint."
Goku and Vegeta pressed their advantage, falling into a rhythm they'd perfected during their year in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Vegeta attacked high, Goku attacked low. When Cooler focused on one, the other would strike from his blind spot.
Their movements were fluid, complementary – a deadly dance they'd rehearsed thousands of times.
For a brief moment, it seemed to work. Cooler was forced to block and dodge, unable to counter effectively against their assault.
Then, as if bored with the exercise, Cooler's aura flared. A wave of purple energy erupted from his body, throwing both Saiyans backward.
"Enough warm-up," he declared, cracking his neck casually. "Let me explain something to you both."
He vanished, reappearing behind Vegeta. Before the prince could react, Cooler's tail wrapped around his throat, lifting him off the ground.
"Only a god can fight another god," Cooler whispered, his voice carrying despite its softness. "Your god – that human aberration – is absent. Me, however..." He squeezed tighter, making Vegeta gasp for air. "...I am very much present."
Goku charged forward, but Cooler merely raised his free hand, catching Goku's face in his palm and stopping him mid-attack.
"Look at you," Cooler continued, his voice almost gentle. "So much effort. So much determination. And for what? To be swatted aside like the insects you are."
He released them both with a dismissive gesture, watching as they tumbled across the rocky ground.
Vegeta was the first to recover, wiping blood from his mouth. "You talk too much," he spat. "Just like your sister. All words, no substance."
A flicker of annoyance crossed Cooler's face. "Careful, prince. You're treading on dangerous ground."
"Am I?" Vegeta's lips curled into a smirk. "Freeza always did the same – hiding her insecurities behind grand speeches and posturing. Tell me, was it difficult growing up in her shadow? Always second best despite being the elder?"
The taunt hit home. Cooler's eye twitched, his composed demeanor cracking slightly.
Goku, understanding Vegeta's strategy, joined in. "Yeah, must've been tough. From what I hear, Freeza was born stronger than you. Had to work hard just to catch up, huh?"
Cooler's tail lashed angrily behind him. "You know nothing," he hissed, his cultured tone slipping.
"We know enough," Vegeta pressed, circling slowly to Cooler's right as Goku moved left. "The second-rate son. The overlooked heir. Always trying to prove yourself, always falling short."
They were deliberately provoking him, trying to break his concentration, his resolve. It was a psychological tactic they'd discussed during their training – if raw power couldn't win, perhaps they could goad their opponent into making mistakes.
Focus was one of the three fundementals of the power of Ki- break it, you weaken the enemy, severely.
Cooler recognized the strategy immediately. His momentary anger faded, replaced by cold amusement.
"I see," he said, composure returning. "You think to manipulate me with childish taunts." He chuckled softly. "Very well. I'll play your game."
Without warning, he appeared before Vegeta, flicking him away with his tail as one might dismiss a bothersome fly. The prince crashed through a nearby rock formation, disappearing in a cloud of dust and debris.
Before Goku could react, Cooler was behind him. The frost demon grabbed the back of Goku's gi, yanking him backward.
With casual cruelty, Cooler delivered a series of open-handed and backhanded slaps to Goku's face, each impact echoing like a thunderclap.
"Is this humiliating enough?" Cooler asked conversationally. "Or perhaps you'd prefer something more... creative?"
He spun Goku around and bent him over his knee, delivering a series of spanking blows to his backside. "Bad monkey," he taunted between strikes. "Naughty, naughty monkey."
Goku roared in rage and humiliation, his aura flaring as he broke free of Cooler's grip. He flipped away, landing in a defensive stance, his face burning with both pain and shame.
"You'll pay for that," Goku growled, his usual good nature nowhere to be seen.
Vegeta emerged from the rubble, his armor cracked but his pride wounded far more deeply. "Enough games," he snarled. "It's time we showed you what we're truly capable of."
Goku nodded, his expression hardening. "Ready, Vegeta?"
"Always, Kakarot."
Goku braced himself, muscles tensing as he gathered his ki. "KAIO-KEN... TIMES TEN!" he roared.
Crimson energy erupted around him, enveloping his form in a blazing red aura.
The ground beneath his feet cracked further, rocks rising into the air around him as if gravity itself had been suspended.
His power level skyrocketed, the sheer force of it creating wind currents that whipped across the wasteland.
Beside him, Vegeta assumed a wide stance, fists clenched at his sides. "ROYAL BLUE!" he bellowed.
Dark blue energy surged around the prince, his aura deepening to a shade reminiscent of the royal house of Vegeta.
Though not as dramatic as Goku's transformation, the change was significant – his muscles expanded slightly, veins bulging beneath his skin as his power increased by half again its base level.
Vegeta's unlike Goku's was a mere 1.5x multiplier- it being the limit of it as well.
Cooler observed both transformations with mild interest. "How colorful," he remarked. "The monkey prince and his crimson companion. Is this meant to impress me?"
His casual dismissal was interrupted as both Saiyans vanished, reappearing directly before him.
Their synchronized punches caught him off guard, connecting solidly with his chest and sending him skidding backward.
For the first time, surprise registered on Cooler's face. He barely had time to raise his arms in defense before they were upon him again, their enhanced speed and power forcing him to take them seriously.
Goku's Kaio-ken-enhanced strikes hit like meteors, each impact creating shockwaves that rippled through the air.
Vegeta's Royal Form gave him more precision and a more sustained power, allowing him to target vulnerable points in Cooler's defenses.
Goku brought the power, and Vegeta brought the openings for Goku's blows.
Working in perfect tandem, they drove Cooler back, their assault leaving no openings for counter-attack.
When Goku attacked high, Vegeta struck low. When Cooler focused on blocking Vegeta, Goku would appear in his blind spot.
A particularly devastating combination – Goku's roundhouse kick followed immediately by Vegeta's uppercut – sent Cooler flying upward.
The frost demon crashed through several rock formations before regaining control of his flight.
For the first time, Cooler's breath came slightly faster than normal. He touched his lip, finding a small trickle of purple blood where Goku's kick had connected.
"Well," he said, his voice carrying a new edge. "It seems I underestimated you both. A mistake I won't repeat."
With that, Cooler's aura flared to life – a deep, malevolent purple that darkened the sky further. The very air seemed to vibrate with his power as he ascended to 70% of his maximum.
"Now," he said, his voice echoing with new depth, "let's continue our dance."
He vanished, reappearing between the Saiyans faster than either could track.
His elbow caught Vegeta in the temple while his tail whipped around to strike Goku's midsection.
Both warriors were sent flying in opposite directions, crashing through rock formations.
Goku recovered first, his Kaio-ken aura flickering as he pushed it higher. "KAIO-KEN... TIMES FIFTEEN!" he shouted, the crimson energy intensifying around him.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, veins bulging at his temples as he strained against the technique's limitations. At fifteen times his base power, the Kaio-ken threatened to tear his body apart from within, but he had no choice.
Vegeta rejoined him, his Royal Form holding steady. "We need to hit him harder," the prince growled. "Together."
They charged again, moving even faster than before. The landscape blurred around them as they engaged Cooler, their combined might forcing the frost demon to exert himself.
For several minutes, the battle raged across the wasteland. Mountains crumbled under the force of missed attacks.
Canyons formed where energy blasts struck the earth. The very air seemed to catch fire when their auras clashed.
But despite their increased power, the tide was turning against them. Cooler's superior strength and stamina began to tell, his attacks landing with increasing frequency while their own missed more often.
A particularly vicious combination sent both Saiyans crashing to the ground, creating twin impact craters in the hard earth.
They struggled to their feet, breathing heavily, their enhanced auras flickering.
"We need... another approach," Goku panted, blood trickling from a cut above his eye.
Vegeta nodded grimly, his Royal Form wavering as fatigue set in. "I have one more trick," he said, "Cover me."
Goku understood immediately. He charged forward, engaging Cooler directly while Vegeta prepared his technique.
"Back for more?" Cooler taunted, easily blocking Goku's increasingly desperate attacks. "Your persistence would be admirable if it weren't so futile."
Goku said nothing, focusing all his energy on keeping Cooler distracted. His Kaio-ken aura flared erratically as he pushed beyond his limits, each strike costing him more than the last.
Behind him, Vegeta raised the white Ki sphere skyward. "BURST OPEN AND MIX!" he commanded.
The Ki sphere shot upward, expanding rapidly until it hung in the sky like an artificial moon. Its surface swirled with energy, emitting the specialized Blutz Waves needed for the Saiyan transformation.
Cooler, noticing the sudden light, glanced upward. "What's this?" he asked, momentarily distracted. "A desperate light show?"
"Something like that," Goku replied with a grim smile, backing away to give Vegeta space.
The prince stood beneath the artificial moon, his eyes locked on its swirling surface. The Blutz Waves washed over him, triggering the ancient Saiyan transformation encoded in his DNA.
Vegeta's body began to change. His muscles bulged, his frame expanding rapidly.
Thick brown fur erupted across his skin as his face elongated into a bestial snout filled with razor-sharp teeth.
His eyes glowed red with primal fury as he grew, and grew, and grew – until he towered above the battlefield, a massive Great Ape standing fifty feet tall.
The transformation complete, Great Ape Vegeta threw his head back and roared. The sound shook the wasteland, sending birds scattering from distant trees.
His Royal Form's blue aura remained, now enveloping his massive simian body and amplifying his power tenfold.
"Impressive," Cooler acknowledged, genuine interest in his voice. "I've heard of this transformation but never witnessed it firsthand. My sister mentioned it was... uncontrolled. Bestial."
Great Ape Vegeta's mouth pulled back in what might have been a smile. When he spoke, his voice was deeper, more guttural, but still recognizably his own. "That's where she was wrong. A true elite maintains control, even in this form."
Without warning, the massive ape lunged forward with surprising speed for his size. His enormous fist swung at Cooler, who dodged – but barely. The wind pressure alone from the near-miss sent the frost demon tumbling through the air.
Goku, seeing his opportunity, pushed his Kaio-ken to its absolute limit. "KAIO-KEN... TIMES TWENTY TWO!" he screamed, his body erupting with crimson energy so intense it appeared to set the air itself ablaze.
The strain was immense. Blood vessels burst beneath his skin, creating a web of red lines across his body. Every muscle fiber threatened to tear apart. But the power – the raw, unbridled power – was worth the cost.
Together, they pressed their advantage. Great Ape Vegeta's massive fists created shockwaves with each swing, limiting Cooler's mobility.
When the frost demon dodged upward, Goku was there, his Kaio-ken-enhanced speed allowing him to intercept and attack.
For the first time, Cooler was forced to exert himself fully. His movements became more urgent, his expression hardening as he realized these "monkeys" might actually pose a threat.
A massive fist caught him off-guard, sending him crashing into a mountain with enough force to reduce it to rubble. Before he could recover, Goku appeared above him, hands cupped at his side.
"KA... ME... HA... ME..."
Blue energy gathered between his palms, swirling and condensing into a sphere of devastating power.
"HA!"
The beam erupted from Goku's hands, engulfing Cooler completely. The resulting explosion lit up the darkened sky, temporarily turning night to day.
As the light faded and the dust settled, both Saiyans watched intently for any sign of their opponent.
A slow, mocking applause broke the silence.
Cooler emerged from the crater, his bio-armor cracked in several places but otherwise intact. Purple blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, which was curved in a sardonic smile.
"Bravo," he said, his voice still steady despite the damage he'd sustained. "You've actually managed to hurt me. That's more than most can claim."
Great Ape Vegeta roared in frustration, charging forward again. This time, Cooler was ready. He dodged the massive fist and countered with a concentrated energy beam that struck the ape's shoulder, burning through fur and flesh.
Vegeta bellowed in pain but continued his assault, his massive hands trying to clap Cooler between them like an insect. The demon weaved between his fingers, landing strikes at vulnerable joints.
Goku rejoined the fray, his Kaio-ken aura flickering dangerously as he pushed beyond his limits.
Together, they managed to keep Cooler on the defensive, but it was clear they were reaching the end of their endurance.
Just as the battle seemed to be reaching a stalemate, three new power signatures appeared on the horizon.
"What now?" Cooler growled, irritated by the interruption.
Piccolo, Krillin, and Nappa descended from the sky, landing a short distance from the battlefield. All three looked battle-ready, though clearly aware they were outmatched.
"What are you doing here?" Goku called out, his voice strained from maintaining the Kaio-ken. "You were supposed to-"
"We couldn't just leave," Krillin interrupted, his expression determined despite the fear evident in his eyes. "Not while you guys were fighting for all of us."
"The human imp speaks true," Nappa added, his massive frame tensed for battle. "Saiyans don't flee while others fight their battles."
Piccolo said nothing, but his presence spoke volumes. He had removed his weighted clothing, his muscles bulging beneath his green skin as he prepared for combat.
Vegeta, still in his Great Ape form, growled in frustration. "Fools," he rumbled. "But since you're here..." He gestured toward the artificial moon hovering above. "Nappa, join me."
The bald Saiyan grinned savagely, his eyes turning upward to the power ball.
The Blutz Waves triggered his transformation immediately, his body expanding and changing until a second Great Ape stood beside the first.
Cooler observed these developments with growing annoyance. "More insects to crush," he muttered. "Very well. Let's end this farce."
The battle resumed with new intensity. The two Great Apes attacked in tandem, their massive fists creating shockwaves with each swing.
Goku, still wreathed in his crimson Kaio-ken aura, darted between them, striking at any opening he could find.
Piccolo and Krillin provided support from a distance, firing energy blasts to distract and harass Cooler whenever possible.
For a brief, hopeful moment, it seemed the tide might be turning. The combined assault forced Cooler to exert himself fully, his movements becoming slightly less precise as he defended against attacks from multiple directions.
A coordinated strike – Great Ape Vegeta's fist driving Cooler into Great Ape Nappa's waiting grasp – actually managed to trap the frost demon momentarily.
"Now!" Vegeta bellowed.
Piccolo placed two fingers against his forehead, gathering energy for his most powerful technique. "SPECIAL BEAM CANNON!" he shouted, releasing a spiraling beam of concentrated energy.
Simultaneously, Krillin raised his hand above his head. A flat disc of energy formed, spinning rapidly. "DESTRUCTO DISK!" he cried, hurling it toward the trapped Cooler.
The two attacks converged just as Goku appeared above, hands cupped at his side. "KAMEHAMEHA!" he roared, the blue beam joining the others in a tri-beam assault.
The combined attack struck Cooler dead-on, creating an explosion that momentarily blinded everyone on the battlefield. The Great Apes were forced to release their grip, thrown backward by the sheer force of the blast.
As the light faded and the dust began to settle, a heavy silence fell over the wasteland.
Had they done it? Had they actually defeated the tyrant?
A pulse of malevolent energy answered their unspoken question.
Cooler stood at the center of a massive crater, his body showing more damage than before.
Parts of his bio-armor were cracked or missing entirely, purple blood flowing from several wounds. One eye was swollen shut, and his breathing came in ragged gasps.
But he was alive. And he was furious.
"Enough," he snarled, his cultured voice giving way to raw anger. "ENOUGH!"
His aura exploded around him, purple energy shooting skyward like a volcanic eruption. The ground beneath him disintegrated, the crater expanding rapidly as his power reached its absolute maximum- his current 100%.
It was 1.4 billion - tired from fighting Toji and flying three days without rest - instead of the fully rested 1.6.
The artificial moon shattered under the pressure of his energy, its fragments dispersing into nothingness.
Without the Blutz Waves to sustain their transformations, Vegeta and Nappa began to shrink, their Great Ape forms receding until they stood in their normal bodies once more.
Before anyone could react, Cooler vanished. He reappeared behind Piccolo, his hand plunging into the Namekian's back.
Piccolo's eyes widened in shock as Cooler's fingers found and severed key nerve clusters, paralyzing him instantly.
"One," Cooler counted coldly, allowing Piccolo's limp body to crumple to the ground.
He appeared before Nappa next, his movements too fast to track. A series of precise strikes to pressure points left the massive Saiyan immobilized, his muscles spasming uncontrollably.
"Two," Cooler continued, his voice devoid of emotion.
Vegeta, having just reverted to his normal form, tried to reactivate his Royal Form again.
The blue aura flickered around him briefly before Cooler's fist buried itself in his stomach, doubling him over. A chop to the back of the neck sent the prince face-first into the dirt.
"Three," Cooler said, turning his attention to Krillin.
The small human stood his ground despite his terror, raising his hands in a defensive stance. "K-Kaio-ken," he stammered, trying to activate the technique Goku had attempted to teach him during their journey to Namek- after gaining King Kai's approval through a joke.
A red aura flickered weakly around him for a moment before sputtering out. He simply didn't have the mastery or power level to sustain it.
Cooler appeared before him, looking down with something almost like pity. "Four," he said softly, flicking Krillin away with his tail. The human crashed into a distant rock formation, his body going limp upon impact.
Only Goku remained standing, his Kaio-ken aura long since faded. Blood trickled from numerous wounds, his gi torn and burned in dozens of places.
His breathing came in ragged gasps, each inhalation clearly causing pain.
"And then there was one," Cooler said, approaching slowly. "The last Saiyan standing. How fitting."
Goku raised his fists defiantly, though they trembled with exhaustion. "It's not over," he declared, his voice hoarse but determined.
"Oh, but it is," Cooler replied, stopping a few feet away. "You've fought admirably, I'll grant you that. But surely you see the futility now. The gap between us is simply too great."
He raised a finger, a small point of red energy forming at its tip. "Now, before I end this charade, you will tell me where to find the Dragon Balls and how to summon the dragon. Do this, and I promise your death will be quick."
Goku's response was to spit blood at Cooler's feet. "Never," he growled.
Cooler sighed, as if disappointed by a child's poor behavior. "Very well. The hard way, then."
The Death Beam shot forward, striking Goku in the shoulder. The Saiyan cried out in pain but remained standing.
"Where are the Dragon Balls?" Cooler asked again, his voice mild.
"Go to hell," Goku replied through gritted teeth.
Another Death Beam, this one piercing his thigh. Goku collapsed to one knee but still glared defiantly up at his tormentor.
"I can do this all day," Cooler informed him conversationally. "There are thousands of non-lethal points on your body where I can inflict maximum pain without killing you."
As Cooler prepared another Death Beam, a weak voice called out from behind him.
"Krillin..."
It was Vegeta, barely conscious, his voice barely above a whisper. Blood matted his hair and ran down his face from a deep gash on his forehead. "Your... disc technique..."
Krillin, who had regained consciousness but remained unable to move much, looked over in confusion. "What?"
"Create it... now..." Vegeta hissed, his voice urgent despite its weakness.
"It's useless," Krillin whispered back, despair evident in his tone. "I'm too weak for it to matter, and he's too powerful. I can't close the gap."
"Shut up and do it," Vegeta growled, his eyes burning with desperate intensity. "I'll... enhance it."
With trembling hands, Krillin began to gather what little energy he had left. A small, flickering disc of ki formed above his palm, its edges jagged and unstable.
Vegeta, meanwhile, extended his own hand, pouring his remaining ki into Krillin's technique. The disc stabilized, growing larger and sharper as the prince's energy merged with it.
"Now we just... need an opening," Vegeta muttered, frustration evident in his voice. "But there's no way to-"
'HELLO? CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME?' A nasal voice suddenly echoed in their minds, interrupting Vegeta's despair.
'King Kai?' Goku responded mentally, recognizing the deity's voice despite his pain.
'Yes, it's me,' King Kai confirmed. 'Listen, I- I can create a distraction – a moment's opening. But you must be ready to strike when it comes!'
'How?' Krillin asked, struggling to maintain the enhanced Destructo Disk hovering above his palm.
'Don't ask questions!' King Kai snapped, his mental voice uncharacteristically sharp. 'Just be ready! And whatever you do, DON'T react to what I'm about to say! Focus on your target!'
"Sheesh, what's his problem?" Krillin muttered under his breath, but he focused his attention on Cooler, who was still interrogating Goku.
There was a moment of silence, then King Kai's voice returned, now broadcasting to everyone present – including Cooler.
'Hey, Cooler!' the Kai called out.
The frost demon paused, his Death Beam half-formed at his fingertip. He looked around in confusion, trying to locate the source of the voice.
"Who dares-" he began, but King Kai cut him off, taking a deep breath.
'Okay here goes nothing, hope they don't kill me when they know I know,' King Kai thought to himself.
'TOJI IS SLEEPING WITH YOUR SISTER! TOJI AND FREEZA ARE HAVING SEX!'
The proclamation hung in the air like a physical thing, so outrageous that time itself seemed to stop. For one perfect moment, absolute silence reigned over the battlefield.
Cooler's face went through a complex series of expressions – confusion, disbelief, disgust, and finally, utter shock. His jaw dropped open, his Death Beam dissipating as his concentration shattered completely.
"What did you just-" he began, but never finished the sentence.
Krillin, seizing the moment of distraction, hurled the enhanced Destructo Disk with all his remaining strength. The deadly energy disc shot forward, its edge honed by Vegeta's power.
At the last possible instant, Cooler sensed the attack. He jerked sideways, avoiding being bisected – but not quickly enough to escape completely. The disc sliced through his left arm at the shoulder, severing it cleanly.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Cooler stared at the empty space where his arm had been, purple blood beginning to fountain from the wound.
Then, slowly, his head turned toward Krillin and Vegeta, his face a mask of disbelief that quickly morphed into murderous rage.
"You..." he whispered, the single word carrying more hatred than a thousand curses.
Without warning, his remaining hand shot forward, palm outstretched toward the two fallen warriors. A massive ball of crimson energy formed before it, growing rapidly until it dwarfed Cooler himself.
"DIE!" he roared, releasing the blast.
The energy wave surged forward, its heat so intense it melted the very rock it passed over. Krillin and Vegeta, too exhausted to move, could only watch as death approached.
In the final moment before impact, a massive shadow fell over them. Nappa, having regained enough control of his limbs to move, had thrown himself in front of the blast.
"YOUNG PRINCE!" the bald Saiyan roared as the energy engulfed him.
His massive frame provided only momentary protection. The blast was simply too powerful, too vast.
'Farewell, Prince Vegeta, it...It- was an honour taking ca- care of you all this time..." Were Nappa's last thoughts.
It consumed Nappa completely, his silhouette visible for a split second before disintegrating entirely.
The wave continued onward, weakened but still deadly. It washed over Krillin, his small body offering no resistance to its fury. His scream was brief, cut short as the energy vaporized him.
Vegeta, partially shielded by Nappa's sacrifice, survived – but barely. The blast left him broken and burned, clinging to consciousness by the thinnest of threads.
As the light of the attack faded, Cooler surveyed the destruction with cold satisfaction. "Insects," he muttered, clutching the stump of his severed arm. "I should have done that from the beginning. No more games, no more torture. Just death."
Goku, having witnessed the obliteration of his childhood friend, remained frozen in shock. "Krillin?" he whispered, his voice breaking. "KRILLIN!"
He fell to his knees, pounding the ground with his fists. Each impact cracked the earth further, small fissures spreading outward from his position. "No, no, no!" he screamed, his voice raw with grief.
Above them, the sky darkened further. Lightning flashed across the heavens, followed by the ominous rumble of thunder. The very air seemed to thicken, becoming heavy with the promise of violence.
"Your turn, Saiyan," Cooler said, turning toward Goku. "Join your friends in oblivion."
But Goku didn't seem to hear him. The Saiyan remained on his knees, his head bowed, shoulders shaking. Not with fear, Cooler realized after a moment, but with rage – pure, undiluted rage.
"You killed him," Goku whispered, his voice changed – deeper, harsher. "You killed Krillin."
Memories flashed through Goku's mind – Krillin as a child, training alongside him at Master Roshi's. Krillin fighting in the World Martial Arts Tournament.
Krillin standing beside him against Raditz, against the Ginyu Force, against countless threats. Krillin, his first and oldest friend.
Gone.
Erased from existence.
Unable to be brought back with the Dragon Balls- so long this Demon lived...
Something broke inside Goku.
"I won't... let you... get away with this..." he growled, his fists clenching so tightly that blood began to seep between his fingers.
The ground beneath him cracked further, pieces of rock rising into the air around him as if gravity itself was being distorted by his rage.
His hair began to stand on end, flickering between its normal black and something else – something golden.
"What's happening?" Cooler demanded, taking an involuntary step backward.
Goku slowly rose to his feet, his head still bowed. When he finally looked up, his eyes had changed – teal instead of black, burning with an inner light that promised vengeance.
"I WILL MAKE YOU PAY!" he roared, his voice echoing across the wasteland.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!"
With that final cry, Goku's transformation completed. His hair flashed golden, standing upright.
His muscles expanded slightly, veins bulging beneath his skin. A golden aura erupted around him, so bright it was painful to look at directly.
The Super Saiyan has been born.
--------------------------
(Author note: And the Super Saiyan has been born!
Do tell me how you found the chapter guys. It took a bit to write the fight.
I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)