Chapter 8: Look a Monkey!
"One down," Zero thought grimly, his icy blue eyes narrowing as he raised his hand, a sphere of crackling ki forming in his palm. The energy pulsed with lethal intent, its golden hue illuminating the battered figure of the weaker Saiyan before him. Bloodied and bruised, the Saiyan lay on the ground, struggling to rise, his once fiery golden aura now flickering weakly, like a dying flame. Despite his injuries, his expression was defiant, his spirit unbroken. It was a testament to the indomitable pride of his race.
Zero hesitated for the briefest of moments, a flicker of respect crossing his mind. Even on the brink of death, you refuse to yield. Saiyans truly are remarkable... but that's exactly why I can't afford to let you live. He tightened his fist, the ki sphere condensing further as he prepared to strike.
"Enough of your arrogance!" came a roar from behind. The remaining Super Saiyan, the stronger of the two, surged forward in a blur of golden light, her aura exploding with fury. Her piercing blue-green eyes locked onto Zero with a mix of rage and desperation. She wasn't going to let her comrade fall without a fight.
Zero spun to face her, releasing the ki blast from his palm in a calculated arc. The blast collided with her mid-charge, forcing her to veer off course and crash into the ground. The impact created a crater, sending shockwaves rippling through the forest. She emerged quickly, her golden aura blazing brighter than before, but the delay had been enough for Zero to focus back on her weaker ally.
Without waiting for her recovery, Zero turned back to the downed male Saiyan and unleashed the final blow. The concentrated ki blast struck him directly in the chest, the force of it carving into the earth and shaking the surrounding area. When the dust settled, the male Saiyan lay motionless, his transformation undone, his hair black once more. He was dead.
Zero straightened, his chest heaving slightly from exertion. His victory, however, brought little relief. The energy in the air shifted, growing heavier as the remaining Super Saiyan let out a guttural scream of rage. The ground beneath her cracked and trembled as her power surged. Her golden aura expanded violently, sparking with raw electricity.
"You'll pay for that!" she snarled, her voice filled with venom. Her muscles tensed as she pushed herself to her limit, her body radiating a heat that warped the air around her.
Zero braced himself, his tail flicking behind him in anticipation. Here it comes, he thought. The real test had begun. This Saiyan was the stronger of the two, her power level far exceeding what he'd faced so far. She wasn't just fighting for pride or survival now—this was personal.
The Saiyan charged at him with renewed ferocity, her movements faster and more precise than before. Each punch and kick she threw was fueled by anger and grief, her attacks coming in rapid succession. Zero met her head-on, parrying her strikes with precision, but the sheer force of her blows began to take their toll. The ground beneath them shattered with every clash, the forest around them a chaotic blur of flying debris and energy.
Zero's mind raced as he blocked and countered, his muscles straining under the relentless assault. She's faster and stronger than before. Her power's spiking—likely a result of her emotional state. If this drags on too long, I'll wear myself out before I can take advantage of my Zenkai boost.
He shifted his strategy, aiming to disrupt her rhythm. Using his superior agility, he dodged a high kick and swept low, his tail wrapping around her ankle. With a powerful pull, he sent her tumbling backward, creating just enough distance to gather his energy for a counterattack.
"You fight well," Zero said, his voice calm despite the chaos. "But raw power alone won't be enough to defeat me." His aura flared, a frost-blue light that sent a chill through the air, clashing against her fiery golden aura.
The Saiyan snarled, her teeth clenched as she regained her footing. "Don't mock me, alien! I'll make you regret stepping onto our planet!" She clenched her fists, her power surging even higher, and with another roar, she launched herself at him again, her speed faster than before.
Zero smirked faintly, his blood pumping with the thrill of the fight. Time to see just how far this Saiyan DNA can push me. The battle was far from over, and for the first time, Zero felt a spark of genuine excitement. This was what he had prepared for, what he had adapted for—a challenge that would test him to his very core.
Zero smirked faintly, his icy cyan eyes locked onto the enraged Saiyan before him. The golden flames of her aura burned with unrelenting fury, each spark a testament to her overwhelming power and the depths of her rage. The ground beneath her cracked and smoldered, unable to withstand the sheer pressure of her energy. But Zero stood firm, his frost-blue aura shimmering around him, a stark contrast to the fiery chaos before him.
His blood surged, his muscles coiling like springs ready to unleash devastating force. His smirk widening into a confident grin. The exhilaration coursing through him was intoxicating. This wasn't just a fight for survival anymore—it was a test of everything he had become. His transformation, his training, his newfound power, all culminated in this moment.
The Saiyan snarled, her golden hair whipping around her face as she lowered into a fighting stance. Her blue-green eyes burned with determination, the loss of her comrade fueling her resolve. She let out a roar, her aura flaring even brighter, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. The forest around them was in ruins, trees splintered and charred, the air heavy with the scent of scorched earth.
Zero took a step forward, his movements deliberate, his aura pulsing in sync with his rising energy. The frost-like glow of his power intensified as he channeled his ki. He felt the weight of his Saiyan heritage deep within him now, the raw potential for growth, for evolution, stirring in response to the challenge before him.
"This is what I've been waiting for," he said, his voice calm but filled with unmistakable excitement. "Show me the strength of a true Saiyan warrior."
The Saiyan didn't waste a second. She launched herself at him with blinding speed, her fists a blur as she unleashed a flurry of attacks. Zero met her head-on, his reflexes heightened, each movement precise and calculated. Their blows collided with deafening force, the ground beneath them shattering under the impact. Sparks of energy flew in every direction as their auras clashed, creating a storm of light and sound that illuminated the battlefield.
For every strike she threw, Zero countered with equal ferocity. His tail snapped like a whip, tripping her up and forcing her to adjust her stance. He used his smaller, more compact frame to his advantage, weaving through her attacks and delivering sharp, punishing blows to her midsection. But she was relentless, her strength and determination driving her forward with a level of ferocity that even Zero hadn't anticipated.
Their battle became a blur of movement and energy, each strike faster and more devastating than the last. Zero felt his limits being tested with every clash, his body pushed to its peak. But alongside the strain came something else—a thrill, a rush of adrenaline that made his heart pound and his senses sharpen.
This is it, he thought, his smirk returning as he dodged a particularly vicious strike and countered with a powerful kick that sent her skidding back. This is what it means to fight a Saiyan at their best. Their strength, their resilience, their passion—it's unparalleled.
But he also knew he couldn't let this drag on. Despite the thrill, the stakes were higher than his excitement. He could feel the toll the battle was taking, the way her relentless attacks were chipping away at his defenses. The Saiyan DNA within him was working, pushing him to adapt and grow stronger with every passing second, but he needed to end this before she had the chance to push herself to a level he couldn't match.
Zero steadied himself, his aura flaring brighter as he summoned every ounce of his power. His body was a weapon, honed and enhanced by his transformation, and now was the time to unleash it. As the Saiyan charged at him once more, her roar shaking the very air, Zero surged forward to meet her, his confidence unshaken.
Planting his feet firmly on the fractured ground as his frost-blue aura intensified, pulsing with raw energy. The light around him shimmered, his ki flaring brighter with each passing second, causing the surrounding air to grow heavy with an almost electric tension. His transformation wasn't just cosmetic; every fiber of his being had been sharpened and enhanced, his body a weapon designed for combat at the highest level.
The golden-haired Saiyan before him snarled, her piercing blue-green eyes locking onto him with a mix of fury and determination. Her aura blazed like a fiery inferno, the sheer heat of it distorting the air around her. With a guttural roar, she launched herself forward, the force of her movement shaking the earth beneath her. The sound of her scream was deafening, a war cry that reverberated across the battlefield, sending waves of energy rippling outward.
Zero's confidence didn't falter. Instead, he leaned into the challenge, his frost-blue aura surging outward in defiance of her overwhelming presence. This is the moment, he thought, his muscles coiling with anticipation. This is where I show her the difference between raw power and refined precision.
As the Saiyan closed the distance, Zero moved, his speed a blur as he surged forward to meet her. The collision of their auras sent a shockwave tearing through the battlefield, uprooting trees and scattering debris in every direction. Their fists met midair with a resounding crack, the force of their clash creating a crater beneath them. Neither gave an inch, their eyes locked in a battle of wills even as their bodies moved with the precision of seasoned warriors.
The Saiyan was relentless, her attacks coming in rapid succession. She aimed a powerful kick at Zero's midsection, only for him to deflect it with his forearm, countering with a sharp elbow to her ribs. She grunted but retaliated immediately, spinning into a backhanded strike that Zero narrowly dodged. Their movements were a blur, each strike faster and more devastating than the last.
Zero's tail lashed out, wrapping around her wrist mid-punch and yanking her off balance. Using the momentary opening, he delivered a punishing uppercut to her jaw, sending her skidding backward. But she didn't fall—her resilience was as unyielding as her spirit. Wiping a trickle of blood from her lip, she smirked, the glint of a warrior's pride in her eyes.
"You're strong," she admitted her voice a mixture of grudging respect and simmering anger. "But I'm just getting started!"
Her aura exploded outward, golden sparks crackling violently as she powered up even further. The air around her became oppressive, heavy with the weight of her ki.
"Time to end this, monkey," Zero said, his voice low and cold, each word dripping with finality. His cyan eyes narrowed as he locked onto his opponent, her golden aura still blazing around her, though flickering with signs of strain. The battlefield was a wasteland of shattered earth and fallen trees, the air thick with the remnants of their brutal clash.
The Saiyan warrior, battered and bloodied, roared with defiance, her fiery green eyes burning with unyielding resolve. Her movements were slower now, her breathing labored, but her spirit remained unbroken. She lunged at Zero again, her golden hair whipping wildly as she poured everything she had into one last desperate assault.
Their auras collided violently as their fists met midair, sending shockwaves tearing through the ground, splitting the earth beneath them. Sparks of energy erupted from the impact, lighting up the battlefield like a storm. Zero's frost-blue energy spiraled outward, clashing against her golden flames, a battle of wills manifesting in pure power.
But Zero had grown tired of the back-and-forth. The Saiyan's resilience, though impressive, was a delaying tactic at best. He felt the weight of her power, but also its waning strength. She was formidable, but this fight was his to end.
Zero shifted his weight, redirecting her next strike with a calculated parry. His tail lashed out, wrapping around her wrist to hold her in place. "Enough," he said, his voice sharp and commanding, his frost-blue aura intensifying. He pulled her closer, his own ki surging to its peak. Every ounce of energy he had accumulated began to converge, focusing into his right fist. His muscles tensed as the frost-like energy surrounding him grew, condensing into a devastating force that radiated from his entire arm.
The Saiyan's eyes widened in realization, her instincts screaming danger. She struggled against his grip, but it was too late. With a roar, Zero brought his glowing fist forward in a blur of motion, his energy tearing through the space between them.
The impact was cataclysmic. Zero's fist connected with her torso, the concentrated ki piercing through her ribcage like a spear. Her golden aura shattered like glass, her transformation undone in an instant as the force of the blow ripped through her body. The Saiyan let out a choked gasp, her green eyes dimming as her strength failed her.
The battlefield went eerily silent, save for the faint crackling of dissipating energy. Zero stood tall, his fist still glowing faintly as he withdrew it from her lifeless form. Her body fell limp, collapsing to the ground with a dull thud, her golden hair fading back to black.
Zero exhaled, his breath steady despite the intensity of the battle. His frost-blue aura flickered before dissipating, leaving him standing amidst the chaos he had wrought. He glanced down at his defeated opponent, his expression unreadable. "You fought well," he said softly, almost to himself. "But in the end, strength without control is nothing."
He turned away from the fallen Saiyan, his tail swaying behind him. The thrill of battle still lingered in his veins, but his focus was already shifting to what lay ahead. The fight had tested him, pushed him to his limits, and revealed the depths of his newfound power.
And yet, he knew this was only the beginning. There were greater challenges waiting, stronger opponents lurking in the shadows. But for now, the battlefield was his, and he had proven that not even the legendary power of a Super Saiyan could stand against the might of a Frost Demon.