Moro threw everything he had at Goku.
Punches came from every angle, followed by kicks when he realized his fists alone weren't getting through. Goku stood almost sideways to him and blocked the entire barrage with a single arm, his movements so calm and economical that Moro's growing desperation only made the difference between them more obvious.
"Damn you!"
Moro roared and increased the force behind his attacks, but Goku finally stepped back and avoided the next combination without effort.
Moro stared at him in disbelief. "How are you doing this?"
"I'm not thinking about it," Goku replied. "My body judges what to do on its own. It moves and dodges before I have to decide anything."
His expression remained completely calm.
"That's why you can't hit me."
"What kind of nonsense is that? Your body decides by itself?"
Dark-gold power erupted around Moro as he pushed himself to his limit. Goku simply raised both hands toward him, divine power spreading through the air and locking Moro's body in place.
Before Moro could break free, Goku appeared beneath him and drove an uppercut into his stomach.
The impact folded Moro around Goku's fist and launched him high into the sky. Several seconds later he came crashing back down, slamming into the ground hard enough to shake the surrounding area.
When Moro tried to rise, a deep fist-shaped wound had been driven into his abdomen, blood running down across his body as he groaned in pain.
Ken watched from a distance and gave a satisfied nod. Goku had finally done it. After everything it had taken to reach this point, true Ultra Instinct was finally his.
Vegeta was considerably less pleased.
Kakarot had gotten ahead of him again.
He had only just managed to overtake him after Yardrat, and now the gap had opened once more.
Goku looked down at Moro. "You understand now, don't you? You can't beat me."
Moro forced himself upright, both legs trembling beneath him as one hand pressed against the wound in his stomach. Blood seeped between his fingers, and after only a few seconds his strength gave out enough for one knee to hit the ground.
"Do you understand even a little of what the people you killed felt?" Goku asked coldly.
"Shut up!" Moro snarled. "Don't lecture me like you've become some kind of god! That Angel from before disappeared because of me!"
Goku said nothing.
"I don't fear divine power! I am Moro, the devourer of planets! I survive by consuming what the gods themselves created!" Moro's magic exploded outward as pillars of fire burst from deep beneath the earth. "I am the supreme existence on this planet!"
He disappeared into one of the openings created by the flames and burst out behind Goku, claws extended as he lunged for his back.
Goku answered without even turning fully around.
His heel smashed into Moro's jaw and sent him flying backward, straight into one of the very fire pillars he had summoned.
Moro screamed as the flames engulfed him. By the time he fell out of them, his body was badly burned and the air around him carried the unmistakable smell of scorched mutton.
He collapsed.
"It's over, Moro," Goku said. "I'm not letting you keep treating Earth like a toy."
Moro dragged himself back up, hatred overtaking whatever pain he felt. "This planet matters that much to you? Fine! I'll eat it first!"
He raised one hand and tried to begin draining Earth's energy.
Goku reached him before the technique could start.
A single kick blasted Moro away and buried him in the side of a steep rock formation. Moro staggered out of the crater, only for a huge slab of stone to break loose above him and crash down directly onto his head.
His scream was muffled beneath the rubble.
Only one arm remained visible, twitching weakly outside the pile.
For the first time since the battle began, Moro's confidence finally shattered.
"Help me..." he pleaded.
Jaco stared. "Did he just ask for help?"
Goku watched silently.
"Please... don't kill me."
Goku turned his head slightly. "Jaco. Was Moro sentenced to death?"
"Y-Yeah," Jaco answered quickly. "If you can kill him here, then do it. He was only kept alive before because nobody could actually execute him."
Goku considered that for a moment, then pulled off his outer shirt.
"All right," Goku said. "From this point on, I'll fight you as an Earthling."
He pointed toward the massive slab pinning Moro down. Destruction energy swept over the rock and erased it completely, freeing the battered wizard beneath it.
"Get up, Moro."
Moro gritted his teeth and slowly climbed back to his feet. Before he could fully straighten himself, Goku appeared beside him so quickly that Moro nearly dropped to his knees in fright.
"If you agree to go back to the Galactic Prison, I'll save you," Goku said. "But you have to promise that you'll never escape again."
Moro stared at him for a moment before relief and delight flooded through him. "Yes! Of course! I promise. I'll never do anything like that again."
Internally, however, he was already laughing.
A promise? That might fool a three-year-old. What adult actually believed something like that?
"Good. Then I'll heal you."
Healing energy flowed from Goku's hand and enveloped Moro. His burns disappeared, the wound in his abdomen closed, and within moments his battered body had been completely restored.
Moro looked himself over in astonishment, then gave Goku an approving smile. "Your healing technique isn't bad."
"Keep your promise," Goku said. "Go with Jaco and return to the Galactic Prison."
Jaco nearly choked.
What was Goku thinking?
If he wanted Moro taken back to prison, fine—but couldn't he have at least left the guy half-dead first? Why heal him completely and then expect Jaco to escort him anywhere?
This was the worst kind of teammate.
Moro nodded eagerly. "Of course. I'll go back."
Then his expression twisted.
"But I'm not going back until I kill you first!"
With a roar, Moro drove his palm straight toward Goku's chest.
Goku didn't move.
Moro's hand struck him—and stopped dead.
It felt as though he had stabbed an object that simply could not be broken.
A sharp crack followed.
The bones throughout Moro's arm shattered from the impact, leaving it twisted and useless as agony shot through his body.
Goku looked at him coldly.
"Just like I expected. You're still as underhanded as ever."
His eyes hardened.
"I knew you wouldn't just go back to prison quietly."
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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