The battlefield lay scarred and trembling, every mountain ridge bearing marks of devastation. Smoke and fire blurred the horizon, and in the middle of it all, Vegeta—the Prince of Saiyans—still stood in his monstrous Great Ape form, though battered and bleeding. His chest heaved with rage, his tail scorched, his pride wounded.
High above him, Goku stood with his arms raised to the heavens. Energy from across the planet flowed into his palms like rivers converging into an ocean. Every living being—trees, animals, oceans, winds—gave fragments of their energy, and the glowing sphere above Goku's hands grew larger and larger.
The Spirit Bomb pulsed with divine brilliance, lighting the ruined battlefield like a second sun.
"Almost… there," Goku muttered through clenched teeth, sweat dripping from his forehead. "Just a little more…!"
Behind him, Rudra sat cross-legged, eyes shut, forcing what little soul power he had left to stabilize his inner energy in case the worst happened. Piccolo, Krillin, and Gohan stood guard in the distance, while Yamcha's absence weighed heavily in the hearts of his comrades—his life stolen by Vegeta's merciless counterattack moments earlier.
The silence of anticipation shattered when Vegeta roared. His golden eyes, filled with burning hatred, locked on Goku.
"WHAT IS THAT?!" Vegeta bellowed. His instincts screamed at him. That sphere—radiating purity—was a threat unlike anything he had ever faced.
Goku drew a deep breath. His arms trembled from the sheer weight of the collected energy. Finally, the Spirit Bomb had reached its limit.
"This is it," Goku whispered. "The planet's hope… all in one attack."
With a powerful shout, he hurled the glowing sphere straight at Vegeta.
The massive orb cut through the sky, blinding in its radiance, tearing the air apart as it descended upon the Saiyan Prince. For a moment, time itself seemed to freeze. Everyone held their breath, eyes wide, waiting for the end.
But Vegeta wasn't the Saiyan Prince for nothing. With a sudden burst of movement, he dodged. The Spirit Bomb missed by inches, crashing into the mountainside with explosive force. A mushroom of light erupted, shaking the earth, reducing an entire mountain range into rubble.
Dust and shockwaves hurled everyone back. Piccolo shielded Gohan with his cape. Krillin tumbled across the ground, coughing. Even Rudra, despite his meditation, was nearly knocked off balance.
When the dust cleared, Vegeta was still there—injured but alive, his laughter echoing through the chaos.
"Pathetic!" Vegeta roared. "So that was your trump card? All that waiting, all that power… wasted! You'll never defeat the Prince of Saiyans!"
Despair threatened to consume the warriors. But then—
"Wait!" Goku shouted, voice firm despite his exhaustion. "It's not over!"
Everyone turned to him, startled.
"The Spirit Bomb…" Goku explained, his voice hoarse but unwavering. "…it's not like any ordinary attack. Its power comes from the energy of all living things. And there's one rule…" He looked at Gohan, his eyes filled with both urgency and trust. "…only someone with a pure heart can control it once it's thrown."
Gohan gasped. "Me?"
"Yes, Gohan!" Goku nodded firmly. "You have the purity needed to guide it. I missed—but you can redirect it! Focus, trust yourself… and send it back at Vegeta!"
Gohan's heart pounded in his chest. He looked at the lingering aura of light—the Spirit Bomb hovering, still active, crackling with untamed energy. Fear and doubt battled within him. Could he really control something so immense?
"Father… I-I don't know if I can—"
"You can!" Goku cut him off, his voice sharp yet encouraging. "You must! Believe in yourself, Gohan! Believe in your heart!"
Piccolo placed a hand on Gohan's shoulder, his expression uncharacteristically soft. "Do it, kid. This is your chance."
Krillin, despite trembling, added, "You're the only one who can save us now."
Gohan took a deep breath, his small fists clenching. He stepped forward, eyes locked on the glowing sphere of hope.
Vegeta snarled, realizing what was happening. "No… you wouldn't dare—"
But it was already too late.
Gohan raised his hands, just like his father had taught him. His aura flared—not out of rage, but from a heart unclouded by malice. The Spirit Bomb responded, shifting, glowing brighter as if recognizing the child's purity.
Slowly at first, then with growing certainty, Gohan redirected the sphere. It soared through the air, arcing toward Vegeta with unstoppable intent.
The Saiyan Prince's eyes widened in shock. "IMPOSSIBLE! NO!"
The Spirit Bomb struck.
A colossal explosion of light consumed Vegeta. The battlefield trembled as waves of energy radiated outward, purifying everything they touched. The darkness of Vegeta's malice clashed violently against the purity of the Spirit Bomb, but in the end, purity prevailed.
The giant ape form was engulfed in blinding brilliance, Vegeta's roars echoing across the land. His power fought desperately against the overwhelming energy, but his body could no longer endure.
Finally, with one last defiant scream, Vegeta was blasted back, his massive body crashing to the ground. The shockwave shook the earth, silence following in its wake.
The Spirit Bomb faded, its light dispersing into the sky, leaving the battlefield eerily quiet.
Gohan collapsed to his knees, panting heavily. His small body trembled, but a look of determination remained in his eyes. He had done it.
Goku, though barely able to stand, smiled proudly. "Well done… my son."
Rudra opened his eyes from meditation, feeling the fading ripples of the Spirit Bomb. His lips curled into a rare smile. "So, this is the true power of trust and purity…"
The warriors gathered, staring at the fallen form of Vegeta. His body was scorched, his armor shattered. But even now, faint sparks of life clung to him.
The battle wasn't over yet.