Kakarot's Arc

Chapter 7 of 14

Sir Papa's warning still burned in Kakarot's ears. Instinct could not be stopped, not even for those he loved. He had drilled it in the empty colosseum for days. He had no live opponent to test it. When the horn sounded and the next challenger came, Kakarot would fight untested. That day came sooner than he wanted. Three strangers walked onto the arena floor. The first was small, purple and white, with a whip-thin tail and cold red eyes. He smiled like the fight was already won. "I am Frieza," he said. "My brothers and I came for the throne." Beside him stood Cooler, broad and armored, his fists like stone. Behind them came Cell, green-skinned, his tail curling, orange eyes glowing. The crowd went silent. Even Raddits stopped smirking. "A team match," Frieza said. "You, and whoever you trust." Roshi's jaw tightened. Kakarot called Raddits and Sir Papa to his side. Three against three. The paladin cracked his gauntlets. "Now you test it," Sir Papa said. "For real." They went gold from the first bell. Kakarot let his hair rise, his eyes turn green. Raddits burned gold beside him. But Frieza's team was faster than anything they had faced. Cooler drove a fist into Kakarot's chest and threw him across the sand. Cell wrapped his tail around Raddits and slammed him down. Sir Papa fought Frieza blow for blow, then took a kick that cracked his light armor. Kakarot rose, blood in his mouth. His mind screamed to plan. He remembered Sir Papa's lesson. He stopped thinking. He let his body move alone. His hands blocked Cooler's next strike before he chose to. He slipped Cell's tail and struck the green ribs. For one long stretch, instinct held. He matched all three. But power has a limit. Cooler laughed and raised both hands over his head. "Then we take the whole planet," he said. A ball of energy grew above him, red and roaring. Frieza and Cell backed away, grinning. Cooler hurled it down at the arena floor. It would crack the planet open. Roshi shouted one word. "The wave!" Kakarot cupped his hands at his side. Roshi had taught him this move years ago, the one he saved for the end. His body knew it. Blue light gathered between his palms. He thrust his hands forward and fired. The blue wave met Cooler's red ball in the air. They pressed against each other, throwing sparks across the seats. Kakarot poured everything into the beam. His arms shook. The two forces held, dead even, grinding between them. Cooler pushed harder. Kakarot's feet slid back in the sand. Raddits dragged himself up. Sir Papa found his footing. The wave still held, but Kakarot felt his strength draining fast. The clash would break soon, one way or the other. Whoever gave first would lose the planet.