Kakarot's Arc

Chapter 11 of 14

Cooler's armored fist blurred again. Kakarot blocked, but too slow. The blow drove him to one knee in the sand. Across the arena, Cell whipped his tail at Sir Papa's head. The paladin ducked and jabbed back with his gauntlets. Broly stood apart, arms folded, watching the chaos he had paused his own duel to see. Kakarot pushed himself up. His white form burned, yet Cooler still moved a step ahead of every guard. He could not close the gap. If he stayed this slow, Cooler would cut him down long before he ever faced Broly again. Raddits landed hard beside him. Kakarot's older brother had always stepped between him and danger, since they were boys. He had done it against every rival in this arena. He did it now. His cape hung in shreds. His fists shook, but his eyes were steady. "You can't match him thinking," Raddits said. "You told me yourself. Stop thinking. Let your body move." It was the lesson Sir Papa had drilled into them both. Kakarot nodded once. Raddits roared. Golden light burst around him. He tore across the sand and slammed into Cell, wrenching the creature off Sir Papa. Cell's tail cracked against Raddits's ribs. Raddits held on. He drove Cell into the far wall and pinned him there. "Go, brother!" Raddits shouted. "He's yours now!" Kakarot let his mind go quiet. He stopped watching Cooler. He stopped planning the block. His body took over. Cooler's fist came, and Kakarot was no longer there. He moved without deciding to. He flickered to Cooler's side, then behind him, faster than his eyes could follow. For the first time, he matched the armored form's speed. His instinct answered every strike before his thoughts could name it. Cooler spun, confused. "You were slow a moment ago!" His fist swung wide. Kakarot slipped under it. He caught Cooler's arm and hurled him back. Then he raised both palms. Blue light gathered. "Raddits!" Kakarot called. Raddits dropped Cell and thrust his own hands forward. Golden energy poured from his palms. Two beams met Cooler at once, blue and gold crashing into the armored chest. Cooler screamed. He pushed back, plates glowing, but two forces pressed him from both sides. The white armor cracked. Light swallowed him. When it faded, Cooler lay still in the sand, his armor split open, his form gone. Cell stumbled back, staring at his fallen ally, then fled into the tunnels. Kakarot stood, breathing hard, the white glow steady around him. The revenge attack was broken. Raddits gripped his shoulder and grinned through cracked lips. But the arena was not empty. Broly unfolded his arms and stepped forward onto the sand. His black hair lifted. Red light crept along his skin. "Well fought," Broly said. "Now finish what we started." The throne was still his. And the fight to the death waited.