Kakarot's Arc

Chapter 14 of 14

The fused warrior drove Broly across the sand. Each blow cracked the air. Blood ran from both their mouths now. But the fused warrior felt his own edges thinning. The two hours were nearly gone. Deep inside the single body, two minds knew it. Kakarot and Raddits both felt the clock pulling at them. They had one strike left before the fusion broke. Broly stepped back and raised both hands. Red light gathered above his palms. It stretched long and sharp, a spear of energy taller than the broken arches. The heat of it dried the sweat on every face in the seats. "Enough," Broly said. He aimed the spear at the fused warrior's chest. The fused warrior planted his feet. He cupped his hands at his side. Blue light bloomed there, the wave Master Roshi had drilled into Kakarot years ago. On the wall, Roshi gripped his cane. "Hold nothing back," the old master shouted. Sir Papa pushed Chi-Chi lower behind the stone, his gauntlets spread like a shield over her head. "Stay down," the paladin said. "If this breaks, the whole arena goes." Broly threw the spear. The fused warrior fired the blue wave. The two beams slammed together in the center of the ring. The ground split outward. Stone arches toppled. Far beyond the colosseum, the land itself shook. People in distant towns screamed and ran. Cracks opened in the fields. The sky filled with dust. Everyone who watched felt the whole planet tremble under the clash. The fused warrior pushed. The blue wave crept forward one hand's width. Broly's spear bent back. For one breath, victory was close enough to touch. Then the white glow around the fused body flickered. The two hours had run out. The single warrior tore apart. Kakarot and Raddits split back into two men. They stumbled where one had stood, hands empty, the blue wave gone. Broly's red spear rolled forward unopposed. Raddits shoved Kakarot sideways with the last of his strength. The spear tore past them both and struck the far wall. The blast threw the brothers across the sand. They landed hard and did not rise. Dust swallowed the ring. When it cleared, Broly still stood, breathing hard, his lip split, his arm hanging. Chi-Chi climbed over the stone and ran to them. Kakarot opened his eyes. His brother lay beside him, chest rising slow. "We had him," Raddits whispered. "We had him for one second." Broly looked down at the two broken men. He did not finish them. "Fusion is a crutch," he said. "Come back as one man. Or not at all." He turned and walked from the ring. Kakarot pushed up on one elbow. The throne was still Broly's. The fusion was spent and could not be used again today. But he had made the Warlord bleed and bend. Next time, he would have to do it alone.