The sky rippled with a strange glow as Vegeta floated above the battlefield, his hands glowing with violent energy. Slowly, he gathered his ki into a dense sphere, chanting under his breath:
"Burst open… and mix!"
The orb expanded, radiating a pale silver-white brilliance until it resembled a miniature moon. The light poured across the battlefield, washing over the broken ground and fallen cliffs.
Rudra, leaning against Piccolo for balance, squinted at the sight. His voice was tense.
"...That's not just ki. He's recreating the Blutz Waves of a real moon."
Piccolo's face darkened as the realization hit him. "So this is what Saiyans truly rely on. That explains their arrogance… they can transform at will."
Krillin's jaw dropped. "Wait—you're saying… he's gonna turn into that giant monkey thing again?! Like Gohan did?!"
Gohan shuddered, remembering the night he lost control under the real moon. "Y-Yeah… it's the same… but his will is stronger than mine."
The moment the energy waves struck Vegeta's body, his muscles began to swell. Bones cracked, stretching unnaturally. Fur sprouted across his skin. His roar shook the land like thunder as his body expanded, towering higher and higher, until a colossal Great Ape Vegeta loomed over them all.
The sheer pressure of his ki forced everyone to their knees.
Rudra clenched his fists, struggling to stay upright. "Damn it…! Even with my ki restored, my chakra… it's still not responding. I can't open my 1st Stage without it!"
Piccolo's antennae twitched as he took a stance. "Then it's up to the rest of us. If we don't hold him off… everyone dies here."
The Great Ape's glowing red eyes scanned the field, locking on Goku—still down, barely breathing after his 20x Kaioken. Vegeta's laughter rumbled, deep and monstrous.
"RAAAHHHHHH! LOW-CLASS TRASH! NOW… YOU'LL SEE… THE TRUE POWER… OF A SAIYAN ELITE!"
He stomped the ground, sending shockwaves that cracked the earth apart. Piccolo leapt into the air and fired a powerful Special Beam Cannon, but the beam only singed the ape's shoulder fur, enraging him further.
"KRILLIN, YAMCHA—WITH ME!" Piccolo barked.
They nodded, launching into the sky, firing Destructo Discs and energy waves to distract Vegeta. For a moment, it worked—forcing the ape to swat at the glowing attacks like bothersome flies.
But then, with terrifying speed, his giant hand slammed into Yamcha mid-flight.
"GAAAHHH!!" Yamcha spiraled into the ground, coughing blood, barely alive.
"YAMCHA!!" Krillin screamed, rage overtaking fear as he threw a Destructo Disc directly at the ape's tail. The glowing blade cut through the air—only for Vegeta to twist his body, the disc grazing past.
The Great Ape's tail swished violently, generating hurricane winds that sent Krillin crashing into a rock formation.
Rudra staggered forward, his breath ragged. He could feel his ki, but his chakra—his true strength—remained locked. He slammed his fist against his chest in frustration.
"MOVE! DAMN YOU, MOVE!"
But no matter how much he pushed, the Senzu Beans had only healed his body—not replenished the spiritual balance of his chakras. He watched helplessly as Piccolo and Gohan desperately kept Vegeta's attention away from the unconscious Goku.
"Gohan, don't hesitate!" Piccolo shouted, firing another beam.
Gohan's eyes burned with determination. "Right!" He transformed his fear into courage and blasted a Masenko straight into Vegeta's face. The explosion blinded the ape momentarily, forcing him back a step.
"RAAAAAHHHHH!!" Vegeta roared, swiping his massive arm. The shockwave alone sent Gohan tumbling through the sky.
Rudra's nails dug into his palms as he yelled, "If only I had my chakra—I could cut that tail clean off!"
Piccolo landed beside him for a moment, panting. "Then think. If you can't fight head-on, find another way! He may be stronger, but every beast has a weakness."
Rudra's eyes darted to Vegeta's swishing tail. His breath caught. "…Of course. The tail is the key."
The Great Ape suddenly stopped, his glowing eyes focusing on Piccolo. His massive hand pointed at the Namekian, and his voice rumbled like thunder.
"YOU… GREEN SLUG… YOU CONTROL THE DRAGON BALLS… DON'T YOU?"
Piccolo narrowed his eyes but didn't flinch. "…What if I do?"
"THEN TELL ME WHERE THEY ARE! OR I'LL CRUSH YOU… AND YOUR FRIENDS… INTO DUST!"
Rudra stepped in front of Piccolo instinctively. "Don't! If you tell him, it's over! He'll get the wish!"
Piccolo smirked despite the danger. "…He won't. Because if I die… the Dragon Balls die with me."
Vegeta froze. His red eyes widened, rage twisting his massive face. "WHAT?! YOU DARE DEFY THE PRINCE OF ALL SAIYANS?!"
The ground quaked as he slammed both fists down, shattering an entire ridge. Dust and debris rained everywhere, blinding the warriors.
Still, Piccolo's calm voice echoed in the chaos. "That's right. You kill me… and you lose everything."
Vegeta's roar shook the battlefield, but he didn't strike. For the first time… hesitation flickered in his monstrous form.
The earth lay in ruins, smoke rising into the blood-red sky lit by the artificial moon. Goku was down. Yamcha barely breathing. Krillin pinned. Gohan trembling.
And Vegeta—no longer just a warrior, but a towering monster—stood above them all, torn between rage and desperation.
Rudra clenched his fists, chakra still silent within him.
"Damn it… if I can't break through this… then we're finished."