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A deep, commanding voice echoed across the battlefield. Everyone looked up, and there he was.
A figure slowly descended from the sky, cloaked in a heavy aura of confidence.
"Vegeta!!" Bulma's voice rang out, filled with hope and emotion. The others turned instinctively toward the source of the power.
There stood Vegeta, arms crossed, tail swaying behind him. But this wasn't the Vegeta they remembered. Something had changed. The presence of the tail made it clear: Vegeta had returned with a purpose.
Floating high in the air, Vegeta cracked a cold smile and said, "Heh... so Kakarot got absorbed after all. What a damn disappointment."
His sharp gaze locked onto Super Buu. "Well then, guess I'll be the one to take you down, Majin Buu."
He pointed directly at Buu, right between the eyes. Super Buu's attention snapped toward him. Even Super Little Cell, bruised and battered, lifted his head with bleary eyes.
"Boss's dad…!" He whispered, overwhelmed by relief.
But the joy quickly turned to panic. His expression darkened. He could sense it. Super Buu's strength had become terrifying.
"No! No way! You all need to run!" He shouted. "Even Boss's dad can't beat him like this!"
Struggling helplessly in Buu's massive grip, Super Little Cell suddenly winced in pain.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Super Buu smacked him again, his voice full of scorn.
"Shut it. Still… you've got good instincts. At least you know your place."
Then, Super Buu turned his attention back to Vegeta. "Fine. Let's see what you've got, monkey prince."
Vegeta didn't answer with words. Instead, he raised a single hand and began forming a glowing orb of light. It wasn't threatening, it had no killing intent, but its brilliance lit up the sky like a second sun.
Krillin's eyes widened.
"Wait a sec… that's… that's an artificial moon! He used that back when he first came to Earth!"
"No way…" He muttered. "Is Vegeta planning to turn into a Great Ape?!"
Gasps echoed through the group.
Yamcha spoke up, worried, "But Goku hasn't used that form since he became a Super Saiyan! It's way weaker by comparison!"
"Yeah, it's just not on the same level anymore," Tien added.
Piccolo frowned, deep in thought. The Great Ape transformation wasn't as powerful as Super Saiyan, not by a long shot.
So what was Vegeta thinking? Still… he had a feeling Vegeta wouldn't do anything without a reason.
"I trust him," Bulla said suddenly, eyes locked on her father. "He's not doing this for show."
The artificial moon rose higher, bathing the battlefield in its glow. Vegeta looked up, letting the light wash over him.
In an instant, his body began to swell. His muscles expanded. Fangs burst from his mouth. His eyes turned wild and primal. Then, with a deafening roar, a massive golden ape emerged in the sky.
ROAAAARRR---!!
The Great Ape raised his arms to the heavens, raw power coursing through him. But something was different. This wasn't blind rage. Vegeta was still in control.
His mind remained intact.
The transformation continued. His body began to shrink, but the energy didn't fade. The golden fur began to darken, shifting into a sleek crimson red.
His form returned to human shape, but more powerful than ever. His frame was solid, more defined than any previous transformation. Thick, black hair spilled down his back in twin strands. His eye sockets turned crimson, radiating sheer dominance.
An untamed, wild power pulsed from him, still Saiyan, but on an entirely new level.
A primal god in human form.
Super Saiyan 4.
Vegeta had done it. He was the first to reach this incredible new level!
The onlookers could hardly believe their eyes. None of them had ever seen a golden Great Ape, much less the transformation that followed. Now, Vegeta had taken on a form they couldn't even begin to describe.
His power was overwhelming. His appearance, feral, regal, godlike. Bulma's cheeks flushed as she stared up at him.
"This version of Vegeta… is even cooler than before," she whispered, heart pounding.
High in the sky, Vegeta clenched his fists, giving them a few tight swings as he got a feel for this new body.
He gave a firm nod.
"So this… is Super Saiyan 4."
[As expected… Trunks was right.]
His piercing gaze locked on Super Buu and a fire began to burn behind his eyes.
"I'm overflowing with power now!" Vegeta declared. "That thing that absorbed Kakarot--! Spit him out! I want Kakarot to see this form, with his own eyes!"
Without another word, Vegeta launched forward like a wild beast, muscles coiled with raw strength. His body flickered across the sky, faster than the eye could follow.
Super Buu smirked as he tracked the movement.
"Heh… not bad, Vegeta. You really didn't disappoint me, but honestly? Still feels pretty average."
But Vegeta only smirked. "Why don't you check behind you?"
A question mark practically formed above Buu's head before he glanced over his shoulder, and froze.
Super Little Cell… was gone!
In that instant, he realized the truth, Vegeta's erratic movement across the sky wasn't just to show off. In the midst of those flickers, Vegeta had sliced through the giant hands binding Super Little Cell and rescued him.
Super Little Cell hovered in the air, now free, and flashed a grin.
"Get everyone out of here!" Vegeta barked. "Leave Buu to me!"
Super Little Cell gave a sharp nod, then transformed into a streak of energy and shot back toward the others. Super Buu stood still, watching him go. He didn't move. Didn't react.
As if none of it mattered. Because to him, only one thing on this battlefield was worth his attention now, Vegeta.
"You really are something, Vegeta," he said calmly. "You exceeded my expectations."
"Tch," Vegeta sneered. "I know you've absorbed Kakarot, but for the love of the gods, don't speak in his voice. It's making me sick."
At those words, Vegeta's aura flared. His muscles tensed as golden light surged into his fist, power strong enough to shatter planets.
And then, BOOM!!
His punch landed, drilling a massive hole straight through Super Buu's abdomen!
But as expected, the monster didn't fall. In the very next second, the gaping hole began to regenerate, flesh stretching and knitting itself back together.
Vegeta scoffed.
"Heh. As expected… a real monster. In that case, how about a few more punches?!"
(End of Chapter)