The next morning, Gohan brought Trunks to a desolate valley—the same battlefield where, years ago, Goku and Vegeta had first fought to the brink. The land still carried their battle. jagged cliffs split down the middle, craters half-filled with rainwater, scars of ancient ki blasts etched into the stone like burn marks on flesh.
The wind howled between the cliffs, carrying with it the scent of scorched earth. It was an arena built for war, a monument to Saiyan pride.
"Here," Gohan said, his arms crossed, golden aura flickering faintly in the morning gloom. "This is where your father and mine clashed for the first time. Fitting, isn't it?"
Trunks swallowed hard, his blue eyes taking in the battlefield. If they could fight here and shake the world, then I have no excuse. I will survive.
Without another word, Gohan's ki surged. Golden light engulfed him, the storm of his Super Saiyan form ripping the valley apart—stone cracked, pebbles rose into the air, and dust spiraled into a cyclone around him.
Trunks mirrored him, clenching his fists, drawing on that boiling rage within. His scream echoed off the cliffs, and his aura exploded outward, golden firestorm clashing with Gohan's. The two storms collided, shaking the earth.
The battle began.
Trunks moved first, a golden blur streaking through the dust. His fist cut the air like a cannonball, slamming into Gohan's guard with enough force to crater the ground beneath them. Shockwaves tore through the valley, toppling boulders.
"RAAHHHHH!" Trunks roared, unleashing a flurry of punches, each one desperate, wild, dripping with raw power. His blows smashed stone to rubble, his kicks split the air like thunderclaps.
But Gohan blocked, deflected, and endured. His face was calm, his movements sharp and minimal, conserving energy while Trunks burned himself out in a storm of fury. Every strike that missed carved scars into the cliffs, each ki-infused punch detonating against stone and sending shards flying like shrapnel.
"You're wasting energy!" Gohan barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. He ducked under a wild swing and countered with a knee to Trunks's gut, sending the boy sprawling into the side of a cliff. The rock face split apart on impact, a new scar added to the valley's history.
Trunks coughed, spitting dust, but forced himself back up, aura still blazing.
Dammit… he's not even trying…
The fight resumed, but this time Trunks slowed. He remembered Gohan's lessons—control, not chaos. He let his eyes focus, not just on Gohan's fists, but on his stance, his rhythm, his subtle muscle twitches.
When Gohan's fist came at him, Trunks didn't try to overpower it—he redirected, letting the momentum pass, then countered with a sharp elbow to Gohan's ribs. The older Saiyan staggered back, surprised, a grunt escaping his throat.
Trunks's lips curled into a grin. "Got you."
His movements shifted. Instead of a storm, his attacks became deliberate—short bursts of power, ki blasts timed between strikes to keep pressure on. He curved a ki wave around Gohan's block, forcing him to deflect with his forearm. Taking the precious time it created, he feinted high and kicked low, shattering stone under Gohan's boots.
Gohan's center of gravity collapsed, and Trunks went in with a Ki-infused hook with his left hand.
The hit connected to Gohan's face, making him draw a drop of blood.
Launching Gohan into a cliff.
The valley became their canvas. Pillars of stone toppled, cliffs collapsed under the strain of their energy. Craters bloomed like open wounds with every clash of fists and every explosion of ki.
Gohan's stern face softened for a brief moment. He's adapting… he's actually learning in the middle of the fight.
But Gohan was finished testing him.
As Trunks's confidence grew, Gohan's aura flared hotter, brighter—his power spiking like a second sun igniting. His turquoise eyes locked onto Trunks.
"Impressive. But im done holding back. Show me your will to survive!"
He charged.
The ground split beneath his feet as he closed the distance in a heartbeat. His fist smashed against Trunks's guard, the shockwave leveling a nearby ridge. The boy gritted his teeth, digging his heels into the fractured earth, refusing to be blown away.
Trunks countered with a blast to Gohan's chest, then vanished, reappearing behind him. His kick sent Gohan crashing through a cliffside, rubble raining down like meteors. Trunks didn't stop—he followed, hurling a barrage of golden ki blasts, detonating the entire cliff into dust and flame.
For a moment, silence. Smoke filled the valley.
Then Gohan emerged from the haze, battered but smiling faintly. "Good. You're thinking like a fighter now."
Before Trunks could react, Gohan unleashed his full strength. His aura burned so bright the shadows fled, his golden ki consuming the valley. He struck with speed and precision—an uppercut that sent Trunks skyward, followed by a hammering kick that slammed him into the earth. The valley floor split open, dust and energy spiraling into the sky.
Gohan followed it with a point blank range ki blasts into Trunk's chest.
Creating a crater.
Trunks lay in the crater, gasping, his aura flickering weakly. He had adapted, fought smarter than ever before—but Gohan had reminded him of the gulf still between them.
The exhaustion hit him, forcing him to his base form. The match ending in Gohan's victory.