"Next up—Team Five versus Team One!" Zorn's voice boomed across the arena. "Celera, Tato, Hanasia. You're up against Raditz, Turles, and Rycelo. First match: Tato versus Rycelo."
The crowd buzzed immediately. I felt a few scouters beep on around the edge. Most of these kids didn't know us, but everyone perked up at the name Raditz. Bardock's son always drew attention, even if it wasn't always positive.
Tato bounced on his heels, shaking out his arms. I reached over and patted his shoulder. "Don't get cocky," I muttered. He grinned. "I've got this." Across from us, Rycelo stepped into the ring. Spiky black hair pointing in every direction, blue headband tied around his forehead. His power level was about 620, barely stronger than Tato's.
"Try not to blink," Rycelo called, cracking his knuckles. Tato rolled his eyes and stepped into the circle. "Yeah, yeah. You talk a lot for someone who's gonna be face-first in the dirt."
Zorn raised one arm. "Begin!" And just like that, the match exploded. Rycelo rushed first, wild swing aimed high. Tato dipped under it and snapped a punch toward Rycelo's ribs. The hit connected.
Rycelo grunted, then brought his knee up. Tato caught it on his forearm and staggered back, skidding a little in the dust. The crowd leaned in. They circled each other now. "You move fast," Rycelo muttered, shaking his hand like it stung from blocking something.
"And you hit like a sleep-deprived fish," Tato snapped back. I had to cover my mouth to hide the smirk. Hanasia stood beside me, arms crossed, but her focus on on how they were moving from what I could tell.
Tato dashed forward again. He threw a jab, followed by a wild hook that Rycelo ducked. They both started throwing punches now. Their legs kicked up little puffs of dust as they slammed into each other, missing more often than hitting.
Tato ducked a right hand and managed to slam his elbow into Rycelo's stomach. That one landed hard. Rycelo's breath whooshed out of him with spit, and he stumbled. Tato lunged, trying to keep up his attack.
Rycelo twisted and slammed his shoulder into Tato's chest, sending him sprawling back. "Come on!" someone shouted from the sidelines. "Finish it, Rycelo!" another kid barked.
Rycelo rushed in again, clearly fired up now. His punches came faster, sloppier, but with more strength behind them. Tato ducked one barely and kicked at his ankle, trying to trip him. Rycelo stumbled, but didn't fall. Instead, he twisted and caught Tato with a backhand across the cheek. The sound cracked across the ring.
"Stay up!" I called out, voice sharp. Tato dropped to one knee, eyes wide from the blow. He spit into the dirt, wiped his mouth, and grinned. Rycelo growled and rushed again. Then moved. He dodged low, spinning behind Rycelo's back and planting a solid kick into the back of his thigh. Rycelo gasped and dropped down, and Tato followed with a tackle that knocked both of them into the dirt. They rolled, fists flying, feet kicking, a blur of yelling. It wasn't pretty.
They broke apart, panting, bleeding from the lips, cheeks scuffed raw. Rycelo's armor was dented on the side now. Tato had a split over his right eyebrow. They were learning how to fight as they fought. I could feel their energy shifting. This wasn't one of those fights where someone wins in the first five seconds with a single blast. This was the grind. The drag-out, hit-and-be-hit kind of match, cause they didn't know how to use ki yet.
"Come on, Tato," I murmured, fists clenched at my sides. "Don't rush it. You've almost got him figured out." I knew he was close to the edge where everything slows down and clicks. Across the ring, Rycelo was starting to twitch. His stance was tighter, more desperate. He knew he'd gotten in some good hits.
Tato grinned, bloody teeth, cocky. "Getting tired already?"
"You wish," Rycelo snapped, rushing again. Tato met him halfway, and their fists collided in midair, the sound like rocks breaking. They clashed again and again, fists slamming together in the center of the ring, and for a second I thought they were going to fall at the same time.
Both of them staggered backward, arms hanging loose at their sides, shoulders heaving. Neither one had anything resembling a stance anymore. "Still standing?" Rycelo panted, spitting into the dirt.
Tato grinned through his bruised face. "Is that all you got?" They charged again. Rycelo threw a wild right hook, but Tato slipped under it barely and cracked him across the jaw with a looping left. It was a bad angle, off-balance, but it connected. Rycelo's head snapped sideways. He stumbled, but somehow didn't fall.
I felt it. Then Rycelo's power spiked. He wasn't done. He roared and tackled Tato, both of them crashing hard into the arena floor. They grappled in the dirt, arms locked, legs kicking, trying to throw the other off. I winced as Tato took a knee to the ribs, but he twisted and smashed his elbow into Rycelo's ear in return.
"Get up!" Hanasia shouted suddenly. which kinda scared me cause I was so focused on the fight. Both boys rolled apart, backs to the ground, gasping. Tato stood first. Wobbly. Covered in dust and blood, one eye already swelling shut. Rycelo pushed himself up too but slower. Shoulders drooped. Legs shaking. He blinked hard, trying to clear the blur in his vision.
"Just fall already," Tato muttered, staggering toward him. "You first," Rycelo coughed. And then, with one final shout, they launched at each other again. Rycelo went high, a desperate haymaker aimed right at Tato's temple.
But Tato didn't go high. He dropped low and drove his knee straight into Rycelo's gut. The sound was awful. Rycelo's breath left him in one violent exhale, his body folding over Tato's knee. His eyes went wide for a second… then dull. Rycelo dropped like a sack of bricks. Face first in the dirt. The entire arena went silent for a beat. Then Zorn raised his hand. "Winner: Tato!"
A half-second later, the crowd erupted. Tato stood there panting, arms hanging at his sides, chest rising and falling. His face was a mess. Blood from his mouth. Dirt caked into every scrape. He turned and walked toward us, stumbling slightly. I stepped forward and caught him by the shoulder. "You okay?" I asked, steadying him.
He grinned, barely able to keep it together. "That was fun."
"Your face says otherwise."
"I've had worse," he mumbled, then winced.
Hanasia helped him sit down beside the edge of the ring. Med techs were already lifting Rycelo onto a stretcher. "Think he's mad?" Tato asked, watching them carry him away.
"No," I said, crouching beside him. "You won. That's what matters." I clapped him on the back. "Good job." Tato was still sitting beside me, cradling a sore shoulder and spitting blood into the dirt, but his grin hadn't faded.
Zorn didn't wait long. "Next up, Hanasia versus Turles!" he barked.
I felt her shift beside me. Turles swaggered into the ring like he was heading to a party. "You sure you're up for this?" he asked, grinning as Hanasia stepped into the ring. "You look like you'd rather be doing embroidery."
Hanasia didn't answer. Just raised her fists and slid her foot back. Oh, did she learn how to take a stance from someone? Turles laughed. "Okay. Guess I'll start things off."
Zorn gave the signal. "Begin." Turles moved. He went in for a punch aimed straight at Hanasia's face. She leaned out of the way, then snapped a straight jab right into his sternum. Smack. His chestplate rattled. He took two steps back, blinking.
"Lucky hit," he muttered, rubbing his chest. Turles tried again, this time with a low kick sweeping toward her ankle. She jumped over it and landed light, shifting her weight before sliding in with a short combination punch, punch, elbow. All three landed. Turles stumbled again, gritting his teeth. His power flared in response. Oh, it seemed he knew how to use a bit of ki. He didn't like being outmatched. "Okay," he muttered, voice dropping low. "Fine."
He charged in, this time leading with a spinning backhand. Hanasia ducked the first blow, blocked the follow-up, and returned a punch to his stomach that forced the air and spit out of him. Turles backed up fast, wiping his mouth with the back of his glove. "Tch…"
Hanasia didn't move in to attack; no, she waited. Breathing in and out slowly. Turles shouted and lunged again, throwing wild hits. Hanasia blocked the first few, then sidestepped his last punch and kicked his shin out from under him.
He fell, rolled, then snarled and came up swinging again. This time, Hanasia didn't let him reset. She ducked under the swing, stepped in close, and delivered a tight punch right to his temple. His head snapped sideways.
The second punch came fast. A right hook across the jaw. Turles spun, dazed, and Hanasia planted a solid kick into his chest, sending him crashing backward into the dirt and out of the ring. The arena was dead silent for a moment before Zorn stepped forward.
"Winner: Hanasia!"
The crowd broke into murmurs. Even a few gasps. Nobody had expected her to win. I stood and clapped once. "Nice." She glanced at me, barely a nod but the pride in her eyes was clear.
She walked over to help Turles up, hand extended. As he took her hand, still on the ground, he yanked her forward suddenly and slugged her hard in the gut with his other fist.
Her eyes went wide. Air punched out of her in a sharp exhale, and then he slammed her to the dirt and hit her across the face twice. Quick, brutal shots. She didn't even have time to block.
"HEY!" I shouted, stepping forward. Zorn was already moving. "THAT'S ENOUGH!" he roared, grabbing Turles by the back of his armor and hurling him across the ring like a sack of garbage. Hanasia didn't move. Medics rushed in. "She dropped her guard," someone said while laughing.
"No," I muttered, fists clenched. Tato had gotten to his feet, wobbling slightly, still clutching his side. He didn't say anything, just stared at Turles being dragged away. Hanasia was lifted like a sack of potatoes, a thin trickle of blood running down from her brow.
I didn't wait for the medics to leave the ring before I stepped forward. "Hey!" My voice rang across the arena, sharp, steady. "Don't pull Turles out." Zorn turned to me like he hadn't heard right. "He just sucker-punched your teammate after a loss."
"I know," I snapped. "Let him stay." A ripple went through the crowd. Zorn's jaw tightened. "You want him in the next match? Against you?"
I walked into the ring, calm but burning up inside. "Yeah. He and Raditz. Both of them." More murmurs. Some nervous laughter from the kids on the sidelines. Raditz stiffened at that, standing over by his side of the ring with his arms crossed. "You're serious?" Zorn asked.
I looked him dead in the eye. "Look, either you let him or I'll find him late,r and that will be the last time anyone will ever see him alive. Besides, if Raditz thinks he can take me one-on-one, he would've said something by now."
Raditz's tail twitched. "C'mon, Raditz," I called. "You know the truth. You can't beat me." He said nothing. But his jaw clenched along with his fist. "So let's make it fair," I said. "Two of you. One of me."
Zorn stared at me for a second longer, like he was trying to read something in my face. Then he exhaled sharply and nodded once. "Fine," he said. "Raditz and Turles versus Celera. Double elimination rules. If one goes down, the other keeps fighting."
He turned to the crowd. "If anyone interferes or steps in after the match is called, you're out of the program. That clear?" I walked to the center of the ring and turned slowly to face them both.
Turles was limping a little, still scuffed from Hanasia's beating, but his eyes were sharp and hateful. Raditz stood tall, arms tense. "You sure you wanna do this?" Raditz asked, trying to sound cool. "Cause if you lose, that's it. You're just like the rest of us."
I smiled, slow and mean. "If I lose, I'll let you cut off my tail and eat it." He flinched just a little at that. Zorn raised his hand. "Begin." They moved. Raditz came in first. He led with a straight punch aimed at my face. I didn't bother dodging. I tilted with it, letting it skim past my cheek, then caught his arm mid-swing and twisted.
He grunted, tried to kick me. Turles was already coming in from the side. I let go of Raditz, ducked under Turles' swinging elbow, and rammed my shoulder into his ribs. He flew backward with a wheeze, bouncing once off the arena floor. Should I just kill him now?
Raditz was behind me again, already charging a small ki orb. I turned just as he fired, and it hit me square in the stomach. The blast cracked through the dust cloud, loud enough to startle some of the kids watching.
"Really?" I asked, brushing ash off my armor. "I'll be damned I didn't know you could use ki yet." I ruffled his hair. Raditz's face twisted. He rushed me again, this time with both hands blazing with ki balls. "DOUBLE SUNDAY!" He shouted.
I sidestepped, letting him beams shoot past me, then whipped around and kicked him square in the back. He stumbled and nearly tripped, but caught himself. Turles was back up now, coming in.
I let him get close, let him throw three punches, then caught his wrist and flung him across the ring. He rolled but popped up quickly. He was bleeding from the corner of his mouth now.
"I'm not gonna hold back!" he shouted.
"You never had anything to hold back," I said, stepping forward. Raditz came in again, this time from the air. leaping. He raised both hands for a double-hammer smash. I raised mine, too, and met his strike. The impact cracked the dirt around my boots.
He tried to push through, muscles straining, but I didn't budge. Then I threw him. He skidded across the ground like a stone across water, finally tumbling to a stop near Turles. They scrambled to their feet, side-by-side now, panting.
"Damn, I know your stronger but that doesn't mean ill give up!" Raditz hissed, rubbing his shoulder.
"She's not even trying," Turles muttered. They came at me again, side by side this time, yelling like that'd make a difference. I smiled. No, I smirked I couldn't help it, my face moved on its own.
Turles struck first, wide hook aimed at my ribs. I didn't block it. I let it hit. His knuckles thudded into my armor. "Ow," I deadpanned. "That tickled."
Raditz came in a half-second behind, straight punch to my face. I wasn't trying to be cruel to Raditzs, so for his pride id dodge, I ducked low, then popped back up and rammed my forehead into his nose.
He stumbled back, stunned. "You're supposed to use your fists, Celera!" Turles barked, teeth clenched. "I'm supposed to win," I said. "And clearly, you're confused about both."
I turned on him before he could respond, driving a sharp punch right into his stomach. It landed with a satisfying thump, and his knees buckled. His breath came out in a wheeze, eyes wide. "Oh no," I said mockingly. "Don't fall now. We just got started."
He lunged forward with a wild shout, nothing but frustration and ego. And I punished him for it. I caught his arm mid-swing, twisted his wrist until his elbow locked, and kneed him in the side hard enough to hear the air rush from his lungs. He sagged in my grip, and I let him drop.
Raditz dove at me, catching me across the shoulder. It actually stung a bit, credit where it's due. He followed it up with a quick jab that glanced my cheek, and another that almost hit square.
I caught his third punch, gripped his forearm, and yanked him forward, slamming my forehead into his again. This time, he dropped. Flat on his back. I stepped over him and walked straight toward Turles, who was still on one knee, trying to catch his breath.
"You like sucker-punching girls?" I asked, looming over him. He looked up, lips twisted into something halfway between a glare and a wince. I crouched just enough to look him in the eye. "Well, now you get to eat your own teeth. Fair trade."
His punch was fast. Desperate. I caught it. Twisted his arm behind his back, stood, and kicked the back of his knee. He fell forward with a grunt, face-first in the dirt. "I mean really, Turles," I said, voice lazy, calm. "You had to know about my reputation already. Did you think I'd let you walk out free?"
His hand clawed at the ground, trying to push himself up. "You saw what I did to Raditz," I went on, circling him now. "And I actually like the guy, but you. You, that's a different story. Let me tell you a secret everyone knows but you. your nothing, no one important in the grand things to come. a footnote that will be forgotten."
He turned, eyes narrow. "Shut up."
"Make me," I said with a smirk. He roared and threw himself forward, full body weight behind the charge. I didn't move. Just leaned slightly and caught his shoulder with mine as he slammed into me. He bounced off like a brick off steel.
Then I swept his legs out and dropped him flat on his back. He groaned.
"You're not even fun to fight. I don't normally pick on weaklings like you," I muttered. Raditz was getting up again, shaking his head. His lip was bleeding, but he wasn't out. He stumbled a little, but his fists came back up.
Turles tried crawling to the side. I kicked him square in the ribs. "Stay down." He growled, tried to get up again. I planted my foot on his back and pushed him into the dirt.
"Raditz," I said, eyes still on Turles. "You coming, or can you let me just beat the shit out of this trash?"
"I'm coming," he muttered, dragging himself upright. I sighed and turned away from Turles, letting my boot slide off his back. He wasn't going anywhere. I faced Raditz. "You're still standing," I said, raising my fists. "That's good."
"You're still talking," he snapped.
"what can I say? My cute junior just can't really seem to satisfy me." He charged again. Not like before. This time, he feinted to the left and threw a hook toward my ribs. He actually hit harder that time.
I grinned. He kept going. I backed off just a bit, letting him move. Letting him swing. I could see Bardock in the way he moved. I let him hit me once, twice. Minor bruises. I didn't care. Then I planted my feet and drove a fist into his gut hard enough to lift him off the ground. He hit the dirt with a groan but rolled and came up again.
I stepped forward, ready to finish the round with something new. Turles was crawling again, pulling himself up to one knee, spitting into the dirt. His eyes were bloodshot. His aura was ragged.
"Back on your feet," I ordered. He looked up, and I smirked.
"Both of you. I'm not done having fun yet." Raditz stood shakily, fists trembling at his sides, but still raised them up. Turles dragged himself up slowly beside him, spitting blood onto the dirt. I watched calmly as they recomposed, not bothering to hide the growing smirk on my lips.
Scouters beeped anxiously around the arena. Even without mine, I could feel Raditz's ki spiking. He'd jumped from 670 to nearly 780 just from fighting me. Turles, pathetically, had only managed a meager increase from 620 to 660. Pitiful.
"You know, Raditz," I said calmly, ignoring Turles completely, "you're actually improving. See what happens when you train properly?"
Raditz glanced at me sharply, breathing heavily, clearly torn between pride and frustration. "You gonna lecture or fight?"
"Why not both?" I replied, giving him a genuine nod. "Your father would be proud. But don't slack off. Next time, actually follow my advice fully, and you might stand a chance."
Turles spat bitterly. "Stop acting like you're some elite warrior."
I finally turned to face him, narrowing my eyes coldly. "And you stop pretending you're not terrified right now. You're lucky this is a controlled environment. I'd have snapped your spine already if we were anywhere else."
He growled, teeth bared, anger overtaking fear for just a second as he rushed me recklessly again. He swung wildly, a pathetic series of sloppy punches driven by rage. Each hit thudded uselessly against my armor, not even worthy of a flinch. "This is just sad," I said flatly. "Seriously, Turles. Is this how you imagined things would go?"
He stumbled back, eyes wide in desperation. I stepped forward slowly, deliberately invading his space.
"You deserve every ounce of humiliation coming your way," I said, keeping my voice dangerously low. I leaned in closer, so only he could hear clearly, "And believe me, this humiliation is nothing compared to what I'd do if we weren't here right now."
His eyes flickered away, unable to meet my gaze. Turles knew I wasn't lying. Raditz suddenly lunged from my left, breaking my focus. He aimed an uppercut towards my jaw. His fist connected solidly. My head tilted slightly from the force, but I remained planted firmly, smirking at him approvingly.
"Better. You actually made my jaw hurt slightly." He panted, fists shaking.. I exchanged punches with him carefully, matching his rhythm. Raditz grimaced, clearly frustrated. "Damn it… cant you take this seriously?"
I glanced around briefly, noticing spectators tapping their scouters, murmuring in disbelief. Time to show them clearly what they were dealing with. With a deep inhale, I let my ki erupt fully around me. It surged visibly, an intense, vibrant, light-pink aura wrapping my body in radiant energy. A loud, collective gasp rippled through the arena as a dozen scouters beeped wildly.
"Power level—2,700?!" someone shouted from the sidelines in disbelief. I smirked, raising an eyebrow at Raditz. "Does that answer your question?" Raditz took a cautious step back. Even Turles froze. Still, I waved them forward impatiently.
"Come on," I said casually, beckoning. "You said to take this seriously."
They rushed together. Raditz fired off ki blast. Turles followed with reckless kicks. Neither did anything beyond nudging me slightly backward. Yet, this was what I wanted. I smiled genuinely now, savoring the intensity. "That's it," I praised Raditz sincerely, ignoring Turles as he flailed uselessly beside him. "Push harder! Remember how much this hurts, so next time you train, you push yourself further."
Raditz's attacks sharpened further at my encouragement. Turles, meanwhile, was simply wasting his energy, becoming sloppier each second. Finally, I'd had enough. With a short, sharp exhale, I unleashed my ki. My aura flared brighter, the pink glow intensifying dramatically around me. The shockwave hit them instantly. Raditz was hurled backward, tumbling painfully across the ring and crashing into the far wall. Turles fared worse, slamming violently and bouncing like a discarded ragdoll.
Slowly, deliberately, I walked over to their battered forms as they slid off the walls and slumped onto the ground, barely conscious.
"You fought well, Raditz," I said quietly, standing above him. "You took my training seriously. Good. Keep improving, or I'll never forgive you." He looked up, eyes unfocused. "I'll surpass you… someday."
I nodded approvingly. "That's the spirit." Then my gaze hardened as I turned toward Turles. He flinched instinctively. "You," I said coldly, eyes narrowing, "are lucky that I respect the rules here. Cause unlike you I can surivie the repercussions, if we were anywhere else id kill you."
He shrank further against the wall, fear clear in every line of his battered face. I leaned closer, my voice low and merciless. "Be grateful I didn't kill you."
I straightened, letting the tension ease out of my body, and exhaled slowly. The fight was done, and despite the thrill, I was surprisingly calm. Around me, scattered applause broke out. Saiyans respected power above all, and I'd just proven mine.
"Keep training," I continued, "and maybe one day, you'll be strong enough to face me again, but I doubt it," I said with a teasing smile.
The crowd applauded, impressed by my power. I had pushed Raditz and Turles to their limits, but I had also shown them respect and encouragement in their pursuit of strength.
"Really trying to encourage those weaklings" an all too familiar sounding voice came from behind me. Smiling As I turned my head to Look at the mother fucking Prince of the Saiyans Vegeta.