Whis and Merus both looked at Goku at the same time.
Goku had both hands raised high, and for a moment, no one could tell what he was trying to do.
Even Frieza looked mildly baffled, unable to read Goku's intention.
"What's he doing?" Piccolo asked. "Why'd he suddenly raise his hands?"
"I—I get it… Gohan's dad surrendered, right? If he surrenders, does that mean we don't have to fight anymore?" Kale said timidly.
No one answered Kale.
"It's the Genki-Dama!" Krillin shouted.
"The what?" Piccolo paused.
"King Kai taught it to him," Krillin said, thinking back. "On the spaceship—when you went to sleep—Goku told me about it. The Genki-Dama gathers energy from every living thing: the plants, the animals, us… even microorganisms. Then he condenses it into one attack. Back on Earth, he planned to use it against Vegeta, but later he used Ultra Instinct, so he shelved the Genki-Dama for a while."
"So that's what it is." Piccolo understood and asked, "Will it work?"
"I'm not sure it'll work on Frieza," Gohan said, not exactly optimistic. "There aren't that many living things on this planet."
"There's no other way," Krillin said grimly. "Goku knows all that. This is probably the only option he's got."
"Hrrr…!"
Goku kept his hands raised and began gathering energy.
Planet Namek—and all the living worlds nearby—lend me some energy!
"Oh? What kind of trick is this?" Frieza snorted, watching with amusement. "Swaying around like that… what do you think you can possibly do?"
High above them, vast amounts of energy started converging.
Sensing the massive surge, Krillin and Gohan both jolted and snapped their eyes toward the forming Genki-Dama.
"That's huge!" Krillin said, half shocked, half thrilled.
"It might actually beat Frieza," Gohan said, excitement creeping into his voice.
"Oh my, so it's Genki-Dama," Whis said, quickly putting it together. "The technique our universe's North King Kai taught Goku-san, correct?" He smiled and turned to Ken. "So Ken-san won't concede because he still has this move?"
"Didn't see that coming, did you?" Ken grinned.
"Even so," Whis said, lifting his staff as if running the numbers, "by my analysis, the Genki-Dama Goku-san is condensing right now would be impressive if it reached a strength of eighty million." He added, "That estimate even includes energy gathered from a few nearby life-bearing planets."
"If the three of us added a little of our own energy," Merus said thoughtfully, "wiping out Frieza wouldn't be difficult."
"Oh, dear," Whis said with a gentle laugh. "Ken-san can't do that."
"What do you take me for?" Ken snapped. "Some cheat of an angel like Merus?"
Whis pressed a hand to his forehead, speechless.
Merus: "…"
Why does your bet have to drag me into it?
Ken, you're unbelievable.
"Eighty million…!" Vegeta's spirit stiffened again.
Kakarot, you have to be cheating.
How does a low-class warrior get battle power like that?
And me—the so-called genius—got killed.
Goku kept both hands raised, continuing to condense the Genki-Dama.
Frieza still looked lost, completely unable to understand what Goku was doing.
Goku's mind raced.
More… it's still nowhere near enough.
Before long, the Genki-Dama swelled to a diameter of fifty meters.
"That big?" Piccolo said, stunned.
"With just this planet, there's no way it gets that large," Krillin guessed. "Goku must've pulled energy from nearby planets too!"
"If Frieza hasn't noticed, why not throw it already?" Piccolo demanded.
"There's not enough energy," Krillin said, shaking his head. "It won't beat Frieza like this. That's what Goku's thinking."
"Dad, hurry!" Gohan muttered, nerves tightening.
"G-Gohan's dad… you can do it," Kale whispered, so quietly it barely carried.
"What are you doing?" Frieza said coldly. "Weren't you going to show me something? Hands up like that—are you surrendering?"
Goku stayed tense, panic rising, but he kept gathering energy.
The Genki-Dama's biggest weakness was time.
Still not enough… just a little more!
Don't let him notice.
"Are you done yet?" Frieza's brows drew together. "You plan to keep this up forever?"
"Not yet!" Goku gritted out.
"To hell with you!" Frieza nearly cursed, then drove a kick into Goku and sent him tumbling headfirst into the ground.
"Oh my, I wonder if Goku-san can complete it," Whis said, smiling as he watched below.
"He got interrupted, but it's not fatal," Merus analyzed. "Frieza still hasn't noticed the Genki-Dama."
Ken stayed quiet.
Like I wouldn't know whether he can finish it.
"This is bad!" Krillin blanched.
"But there's still a chance," Piccolo said, voice steady.
Goku pushed himself up, struggling.
Piccolo made a snap decision and called to the others on the island. "Gohan, Krillin, Kale—give me whatever ki you have left!"
Krillin and Gohan froze for a beat.
"Now!" Piccolo barked.
Gohan and Krillin immediately started transferring their remaining ki to Piccolo.
Kale: "????"
"I… I can't…" Kale stammered. "I don't know how to do that…"
"Forget it." Piccolo dismissed her flatly. "You're on your own."
Ever since you got here, you've been clinging to our Gohan.
…Our Gohan? Why did I even say that?
"Don't rush… just wait a little longer," Goku said, forcing himself upright and calling to Frieza.
"Stop trying to bluff." Frieza snorted and extended five fingers, aiming through the air at Goku.
Boom!
A ki blast fired from Frieza's hand.
Goku shot backward and plunged into the lake behind him, swallowed by the water.
Gohan and Krillin both flinched so hard their ki transfer wavered.
"Don't think about anything else," Piccolo said sharply. "Focus!"
Goku clawed his way to shore, even more drained than before.
"What goes on in a Saiyan's head?" Frieza appeared in front of him, looking down with open disgust. "I don't understand you at all—and you're not remotely likable. I'm sick of this fight. I'll erase you, then destroy this planet. Then you and your friends can reunite in the Other World. And that Supreme Kai fantasy of yours can finally end."
He lifted a finger toward Goku's forehead.
But just as Frieza was about to finish him, he caught the Genki-Dama's reflection in the lake.
"What is that?" Frieza's eyes snapped up. "That's not the sun!"
He looked to the sky and saw it—a massive sphere of energy flashing with blue light.
Frieza went rigid with shock.
Goku's expression shifted again and again.
"What is that?" Frieza blurted. "Did you condense that energy? When did you do it? Was that what you were doing with your hands?!"
Goku's hope collapsed.
I was that close.
So close…
"Why do you still have that much energy?" Frieza stared up, teeth clenched.
Goku's fists tightened, fury burning under his skin.
Even if I throw it now, he'll dodge.
And it's still too small. It won't beat him.
"You were trying to ambush me?" Frieza pointed at him, smiling coldly, murder in his eyes. "Pathetic. Your little plan failed."
"Bastard!" Goku snarled and drove a punch at Frieza.
Smack!
Frieza caught the punch with one hand, then aimed his other hand at Goku's head.
"Disappear," Frieza said, ready to erase him on the spot.
Thud!
Piccolo streaked in and planted a kick on Frieza's head.
Frieza's face twisted under the impact, and he crashed backward into the lake.
"Piccolo?" Goku blinked.
"Finish the Genki-Dama!" Piccolo shouted.
"Thanks, Piccolo." Goku nodded, raised both hands again, and resumed gathering energy.
"Hurry!" Piccolo urged. "This little bit of energy I've got won't hold him!"
Frieza blasted up out of the lake, veins bulging on his forehead, shaking with rage.
Damn Namekian…
You still want to fight?!
"Goku, is it done yet?" Piccolo said, voice low. "Frieza's shaking. If you have to, throw it now."
"Just a little more!" Goku clenched his jaw.
"I'm going to make you pay!" Frieza roared, humiliation twisting into fury.
But right as his words fell, something slammed into his face.
Boom!
Two blasts detonated against him.
Frieza jerked on instinct, crossing his arms to shield himself.
"It's those two," Piccolo said with a thin smile, then shook his head. "They're forcing it with whatever scraps of energy they've got left. Too bad that girl, Kale… she's useless. All she does is drag Gohan down."
Goku didn't respond. He kept his focus on the Genki-Dama.
Merus's expression tightened.
This time, Kale really is hard to watch.
Too timid.
She needs to train her nerve before anyone brings her out again.
Frieza scanned toward a distant island and quickly spotted Gohan and the others.
"Gohan-nii, he saw us!" Kale's legs shook. "I told you we shouldn't attack!"
"It's fine, Kale," Gohan said, steady and brave. "I'm here. I'll protect you."
"So there are flies still trying to run," Frieza snarled, face turning ugly. "You really know how to irritate me! This game is over. I'm going to destroy you—and this planet—together!"
Goku's eyes sharpened, and joy flashed across his face.
"It's ready! I did it!" Goku shouted.
Frieza raised his right hand high, condensing a black-and-crimson sphere meant to destroy the planet.
Goku didn't hesitate. He drove both hands down.
The Genki-Dama rolled toward Frieza like a falling sky.
A cold warning shot through Frieza. He looked up—and the massive Genki-Dama flooded his vision as it came down on him.
"Down!" Piccolo shouted.
He yanked Goku down with him, and both hit the ground.
"What is that?!" Frieza shouted, panicking as he hurled his planet-destroying sphere upward.
Pff!
The sphere shattered the instant it touched the Genki-Dama, failing to even ripple its surface.
"W-What is this thing?!" Frieza braced with both hands and feet against the descending Genki-Dama, trying to push it back.
The moment he made contact, dread punched into his chest.
The Genki-Dama carried Frieza down and slammed toward Planet Namek's surface.
"AAAAAAAH!"
Frieza's screams tore through the air.
Rumble—CRASH!
The Genki-Dama finally hit.
Planet Namek flashed as if a giant nuclear bomb had gone off, bursting into blinding light.
A crater fifty meters wide gouged into the ground.
Nearby lake water rushed into it, the roar of the flow unbroken.
"Gohan-nii, grab my hand!" Kale shouted as she hauled Gohan up from the water.
"Thanks, Kale!" Gohan said quickly, then reached down and pulled Krillin up too.
The three of them stood on a jutting rock and stared into the distance.
"Where are Dad and Piccolo?" Gohan asked, voice tight. "Were they too close? Did they fall in too…? I can't sense Dad's ki or Piccolo's ki at all."
"That's… because we didn't focus hard enough," Krillin said, trying to comfort him.
Then Gohan narrowed his eyes and spotted Piccolo on the far shore.
Piccolo had one hand locked around Goku's wrist.
"I-I see them!" Gohan blurted, relief flooding in. "Piccolo-san! And Dad!"
"They're alive!" Krillin cheered. "Thank goodness!"
Kale bounced in place, thrilled.
All three flew toward Goku.
"Tch. Beating Frieza like that doesn't count," Vegeta muttered bitterly.
"Oh my," Whis said to him with a pleasant smile. "Frieza-san hasn't been defeated."
"W-What?" Vegeta's face twisted. "You mean… he's still alive?"
"Look carefully, Vegeta-san," Whis said, still smiling.
Vegeta stared—and sure enough, in another area, he saw Frieza.
Frieza was injured, but nothing looked fatal.
"Is he immortal?!" Vegeta whispered, stunned.
The word immortal made his nerves spike again.
"That bastard Piccolo!" Vegeta ground his teeth. "He changed the wish on his own! And for what? Kakarot's son didn't even do anything!"
Ken suddenly thought of something and patted Amarella on the back.
"You asleep?" Ken asked.
"I'm standing right here," Amarella said flatly. "Why would you think I'm asleep?"
"I thought you were spacing out," Ken said with a smile.
Amarella: "…"
"I'm watching the fight," Amarella said.
"I just remembered something," Ken said, his face going dark. "I think you played me last time."
"Last time? When?" Amarella blinked.
"Doesn't matter when." Ken waved it off. "You said Campari from Universe 9 was the weakest angel. You said that, right?"
"I did," Amarella said, not denying it.
"And you said you met Campari five hundred years ago," Ken pressed. "Right?"
"Right," Amarella said, eyes blinking innocently.
"But weren't you already gone back then?" Ken frowned. "I heard you only recovered in the past few years."
"I did recover recently," Amarella said like it was obvious. "But I had consciousness five hundred years ago."
"Oh. Then never mind." Ken nodded. "Go back to spacing out."
Amarella didn't know what to say.
You asked all that just for this?
"Frieza's still alive," Amarella sighed. "And Goku and the others burned through everything. Looks like you're definitely losing. You ready to infuse me with your angel power?"
"Is there another way to give you angel power?" Ken asked, sizing Amarella up.
The more he looked, the more the little angel stood out.
Just her complexion alone—she looked far closer to normal than Vados.
Ken didn't care that much about skin tone; blue wouldn't stop him.
Amarella like this was hard to ignore.
"Another way?" Amarella paused. "What way?"
"I'll tell you later," Ken said, smiling.
"Weirdo…" Amarella muttered, then glanced toward Whis. "I'm not in a hurry. Whis, though… you're planning to take him to Earth for food, right? If he finds out you traded away a planet this good for food, he might try to trade it back."
"It's too late for that," Ken said, shaking his head.
"Let's see how this ends," Amarella said softly, already convinced Goku's side was doomed.
Frieza was still alive.
And everyone except Kale had spent every last bit of energy.
Even if they somehow recovered to full power, they still wouldn't beat Frieza.
The gap was just...
Even if Goku used Kaioken x20 again, Frieza would stop it without breaking a sweat.
"That monster…" Vegeta's spirit trembled, Frieza's terror sinking deeper into him.
Why did I ever challenge someone like that?
I must've completely lost it.
Frieza's right. If I can't even beat him, what kind of God of Destruction am I supposed to be?
Vegeta's mindset shattered again.
Not even Kakarot's Genki-Dama—something that strong—managed to erase Frieza.
He's a monster.
I actually thought I could kill him?
I'm not some Legendary Super Saiyan!
"Oh my, are we still watching?" Whis asked, looking utterly confident, his smile carrying a touch of smugness.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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