c24 Gogeta Appears
Dinosaur Mountain – Lin Hao's Home
"Oh… so Kakarot can actually push into Super Saiyan 3 already, even if it's only the initial stage."
Lin Hao murmured as he gazed into the crystal ball that projected the battle raging in the Other World.
"I didn't expect even someone as strong as Son Goku couldn't finish off that Evil Thought Wave," No. 18 said, visibly surprised. "That thing's power is incredible!"
"Actually, Xie Nianbo's raw strength isn't overwhelming," Lin Hao said calmly. "It's his bizarre techniques and that almost unlimited stamina. He's like an endless loop, if you don't erase all the evil ki inside him, he'll regenerate indefinitely."
"That's just for you!" No. 18 folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Goku and Vegeta aren't even half as powerful as you are. If they tried fighting you at full power, they'd be the ones in trouble."
No. 18 gave Lin Hao a sidelong glance as if she couldn't comprehend his true strength.
"Haha… true," Lin Hao chuckled lightly. "Right now the Evil Wave is a bit much for them. But honestly, taking him down isn't hard at all. The only question is whether Vegeta will swallow his pride and cooperate."
…
Back in the Other World
"There are only two ways left to defeat this guy!" Son Goku said firmly, turning to Vegeta.
"What ways?" Vegeta's tone was low and sharp, his eyes narrowing at Kakarot.
"The first is to ask Lin Hao for help. With his strength, he could handle the Evil Wave without breaking a sweat."
"Nonsense!" Vegeta snapped immediately. "I may hate to admit it, but Lin Hao's power is still nowhere near this monster's. And he hasn't shown up since this started. If he was going to act, he would've already. So forget the first plan."
"Then that leaves the second." Goku's voice hardened. "While I was training in the Other World, I learned a special technique from the Metamorans. It's called the Fusion Dance. If you and I fuse, we can combine our powers and take him down."
"Fusion…?" Vegeta's brows furrowed, genuine confusion flickering across his face.
"Yes. Two fighters of roughly equal power and size perform a mirrored series of steps, moving in perfect symmetry one to the left, one to the right." Goku stepped into the pose as he spoke. "Then, at the last instant, you extend your arms and touch fingertips. If everything's done exactly right, you merge into a single being with multiplied strength."
"Theoretically the fusion lasts thirty minutes," Goku added, "but at high power levels the time shortens. And if the stance or finger alignment is off even slightly, the fusion fails and produces… unpredictable results." (Since Goku has never seen a failed attempt, he truly doesn't know what would happen.)
Goku's eyes locked on Vegeta's. "Vegeta, right now we've got no other choice. To stop him, we have to fuse!"
"Fusion?!" Vegeta recoiled, his pride erupting like a volcano. "Don't even think about it! I'd rather die than fuse with you, Kakarot!"
After listening to Son Goku's words, Vegeta immediately rejected the idea. Though he was no longer the ruthless warrior he once had been, his pride still burned fiercely. He had always resented Kakarot, and his deepest wish had been to surpass him even once. How could he accept something as humiliating as merging into one body with him?
Goku sighed. He had expected Vegeta's arrogance to flare up.
"Vegeta, if we don't fuse, both the Other World and the living world will be destroyed. Do you want to see Bulma and Trunks perish because of your pride?"
"Tch…"
The image of failure flashed across Vegeta's mind.he and Kakarot cut down by the Evil Thought Wave, who then ripped through Hell and invaded the human world, wiping out every last person. He could see Bulma and Trunks among the fallen. The thought made his fists clench until they trembled, his aura leaking in jagged bursts.
"Damn it all!"
"Fine, Kakarot! I'll fuse with you. But only this once! Don't expect me to do it again. Next time, I'll defeat the enemy with my own strength!"
Looking at Vegeta's half-ashamed, half-enraged expression, Goku didn't bother to press further. Hearing Vegeta agree was enough.
"Good! Then watch carefully. I'll show you the dance steps first."
But before Goku could begin, the Evil Thought Wave, irritated by their delay, surged forward furiously.
"Roar!"
"Bang! Bang!"
With their stamina already drained, Goku and Vegeta were pummeled relentlessly, slammed into the jagged cliffs of Needle Mountain.
"Oh no! If they take hits like that, they'll be finished!" King Kai exclaimed in panic.
"There's nothing else we can do. Send Pikkon he can buy them time!" The West Kai ordered, gesturing toward the green-skinned fighter in the white gi.
"I'm on it!" Pikkon answered, immediately flying off.
Thanks to Pikkon's interference, Goku finally demonstrated the Fusion Dance. But Vegeta, watching the exaggerated poses, was appalled.
"This is absurd…! You expect me to do this ridiculous dance?!"
"It's not ridiculous! It's the only way to win! Hurry, Vegeta Pikkon can't hold him off forever!"
"Damn you…" Vegeta spat, swallowing his pride. To defeat the Evil Thought Wave, he would endure even this humiliation.
"Fu…sion…HA!"
The two performed the dance for the first time. But Vegeta's reluctance threw the timing off their fingertips misaligned, and the fusion failed. Instead of a warrior, a squat, misshapen figure emerged, and within moments the fusion dispersed. The Evil Thought Wave chased them mercilessly for thirty minutes, battering them without rest.
"Damn it, Kakarot! You swore this fusion would give us overwhelming strength! How could it turn out like that?!" Vegeta roared in frustration.
"It's because of you, Vegeta! You didn't extend your fingers properly the fusion failed. We'll try again. Pikkon, just hold on a little longer!" Goku shouted.
"Tch!"
Though weary of being pounded, Pikkon grit his teeth and dove back into the fray. "Fine but make it quick!"
"Come on, Vegeta!" Goku seized him, and with Instant Transmission they escaped to regroup.
A few minutes later, their movements flowed in perfect unison. Their fingers touched precisely. A colossal aura erupted, shaking the Other World.
The result was a warrior with fiery eyes, red vest, and unmatched power. The birth of Gogeta, the mightiest fusion warrior, had arrived.
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