c29 The Final Breakthrough: Super Saiyan Four
"Plop!"
Just as he was about to unleash his strength, Lin Hao froze, because the pressure from his bottleneck was growing heavier and heavier, pushing against his limits. He could sense the surge of energy ready to erupt, a clear sign that he was on the verge of a breakthrough. That meant he could no longer continue sparring casually with Vegeta.
"It seems I don't have much time left! Vegeta, let's settle this right now! Show me your strongest technique!"
"Hmph! I don't understand your sudden change, but if you want to be crushed, then I'll oblige!"
"Final Flash!!"
The heavens trembled as Vegeta drew both hands to one side, pulling in colossal amounts of ki. The air distorted violently, just like during his first attempt against Cell. His golden aura roared like fire as the beam expanded in his grasp.
"Ka…me…ha…me…HAAAAA Tenfold!!"
Lin Hao mirrored Goku's legendary stance, palms cupped together in front of him. Energy swelled into a brilliant sphere before he thrust it forward with all his might.
"BOOM!!"
The Final Flash and the Kamehameha collided, two titanic waves grinding against each other. At first, Vegeta's beam held its ground, but Lin Hao's tenfold Kamehameha gradually pressed forward, overwhelming it inch by inch.
"Damn it!!" Vegeta gritted his teeth, struggling to resist.
Just before the wave could consume Vegeta, Lin Hao abruptly pulled his energy back. In an instant, he appeared directly before him and drove his fist into Vegeta's gut.
"Ughh!!"
Blood burst from Vegeta's mouth.
"Whshhh!!"
Before the Saiyan Prince could recover, Lin Hao spun, launching a swift kick that hurled him across the battlefield. Vegeta smashed violently into a rocky cliff, cratering it before collapsing unconscious.
"The fight's over! I've got something urgent to do, so I'll leave the rest here. We'll meet again in a few days! Oh and take this. You'll need it."
Lin Hao tossed a small pouch before vanishing.
"Crack!"
Catching the bag midair, Gohan looked inside. His eyes widened senzu beans, several of them.
"Wait.these are…! But how? Only Korin grows them at the tower… where did Lin Hao get so many?"
…
On a distant, uncharted planet
"Hahhh…"
Lin Hao's figure materialized instantly.
"This planet is quiet… no ki signatures at all. Perfect for breaking through without interruption."
He surveyed the barren landscape. Relieved by the silence, he floated into the air, legs crossed, and began meditating, restoring his stamina to its peak before attempting his evolution.
Time slipped away, night falling in stillness.
"Ding! A new day has arrived. Does the host wish to sign in?"
"Sign in."
"Congratulations! You have obtained the skill: Artificial Moon."
"What? Artificial Moon? That's the same technique Vegeta used during the Saiyan Saga… is the system preparing me for the Oozaru transformation? No… with my Saiyan bloodline and this upcoming breakthrough, it must be linked to the next step!"
Lin Hao rubbed his chin in thought, then steadied his breathing.
"Huuhh…"
He raised his right hand. A glowing sphere of light began to form, condensed from his ki. With a swift motion, he hurled it skyward.
The white orb of light rose slowly into the heavens, radiating the same blinding glow Vegeta once unleashed on Earth with his Artificial Moon.
Lin Hao lifted his gaze toward the false moon shining brightly above.
"Plop, plop."
His heartbeat echoed through his chest steady at first, then pounding faster and faster. The pressure shook his body, and his appearance began to twist under the moonlight.
His face elongated, his jaw thickened, and his body surged in size. Brown fur sprouted across his arms, chest, and back. The ground trembled as his frame expanded.
"ROAR!!!"
Moments later, Lin Hao completed the Oozaru transformation, towering as a colossal ape. He slammed both fists against his chest, sending shockwaves outward as he declared his arrival.
"So this is the Saiyan Great Ape form… the legendary tenfold power increase Kakarot and Vegeta once relied on! But unlike them, I'm not losing control. My mind is clear… Could it be that my system-granted bloodline is that of the elite Saiyans?"
The transformed warrior glanced at his massive limbs, the fur bristling with energy. He could feel raw, endless power surging through his veins.
"It's time!"
"Ahhh!!"
Lin Hao spread his arms wide, his fists clenched, releasing bursts of ki that shook the air. A golden aura began swirling around the Oozaru's massive frame, his fur flickering from brown to shimmering gold.
"RAAAHHH!!!"
His roar split the sky as the transformation peaked. His body trembled with power, and the golden Oozaru form emerged in its full glory.
At that instant, something inside him cracked. The barrier holding him back shattered. His gigantic frame shrank down, yet the pressure of his ki intensified. Crimson energy wrapped tightly around his body.
When the light cleared, his appearance had changed completely. Black hair flowed down to his shoulders, while his torso gleamed with red fur. Brown martial arts trousers clung to his legs, a red Saiyan tail swayed behind him, and his sharp eyes burned with primal focus.
This was Lin Hao's Super Saiyan Four. (Though similar to Son Goku's, his own version bore differences in hair shade and attire.)
"So this is Super Saiyan 4… The power is incredible! It's far beyond Super Saiyan 3, at least ten times stronger! With this alone, I can crush the ten previous versions of myself."
Lin Hao tightened his fists, the energy around him crackling like thunder. He could feel the strength of the universe itself coursing through him.
Status Update
Host: Lin Hao
Age: 25
Base Power Level: 2 billion
Super Saiyan 4 (First Phase): 8 trillion
Bloodline: Saiyan (Elite)
Skills: Ki Sense, Bukūjutsu (Flight), Kamehameha, Kaio-ken, Instant Transmission (Kaiōshin variant), Gravity Manipulation, Healing, Metamoran Fusion, Artificial Moon.
Items: Hyperbolic Time Chamber key, Time-Space Ring, Senzu MAX, Training Gi, Capsule Corp spaceship, Adjustable Gravity Suit, Nimbus Cloud.
"The next step is to master this form fully. Before Son Goku returns, I must raise my power to its absolute peak… only then can I face what's coming."
Reaching into his capsule case, Lin Hao pulled out the compacted entrance to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. With a soft click, he set it down and opened the door.
"Inside, one day becomes a year… If I train here for even two or three days, I'll not only stabilize Super Saiyan 4 but push my limits far beyond."
With that resolve, he stepped inside the white void of the chamber, ready to refine his newfound power.
---