A sharp killing intent flashed through Android 18's eyes.
Just as she was about to strike—
A warm hand gently rested on her shoulder.
Android 18's body stiffened instantly.
The murderous intent that had surged moments ago was smoothed away, as if erased by an invisible force.
She turned her head slightly, a trace of confusion appearing on her face.
Standing beside her was Loren, wearing a mildly helpless expression.
"Don't fight here," Loren said calmly.
"If you keep going, this place will collapse."
"Getting buried thousands of meters underground would be annoying."
Android 18 stared at him in silence.
She suddenly realized something strange.
Her heart—designed to be a perfect, infinite-energy core—had an irregular fluctuation.
A sensation she couldn't define crept up her cheeks.
A faint blush quietly appeared on her fair face.
"Oh… okay."
She answered reflexively, her gaze drifting away, no longer daring to meet Loren's eyes.
Android 17 clicked his tongue, a teasing smile appearing.
"Well, he's not wrong."
Krillin finally snapped out of it.
"Y-Yeah! He's right! This place is way too cramped! If it collapses, we're all done for!"
Piccolo nodded grimly.
"Vegeta. If you want to fight, take it outside."
Vegeta glanced at Android 18—who had completely lost interest in him—and then at Loren, who remained perfectly calm.
Veins bulged on Vegeta's forehead.
It felt like all his rage had slammed into empty air.
"Hmph!"
Vegeta snorted coldly, forcibly restraining his aura.
"Fine!"
"Then I'll grant you your death outside!"
With that, he transformed into a golden streak of light and shot out of the laboratory.
"Let's go," Loren said casually, patting Android 18's shoulder before following.
Android 18 walked after him without hesitation.
Android 17 shrugged and followed.
The Z Fighters exchanged uneasy looks before rushing out as well.
Outside — The Desolate Canyon
Vegeta hovered in mid-air, golden ki blazing fiercely, illuminating the canyon.
He looked down at Android 18 with contempt.
"Come on, woman!"
"Show me where your confidence comes from!"
Vegeta vanished.
In the next instant, his fist—packed with terrifying power—smashed straight toward Android 18's face!
Android 18 raised one hand.
Casually.
She caught his punch.
Bang!
A dull shockwave rippled outward, blasting sand and rocks in all directions.
Vegeta froze.
Blocked?
So easily?!
"Is that it?" Android 18 said coldly.
"It's not even stronger than a mosquito bite."
Her leg snapped upward.
A clean spinning kick slammed into Vegeta's abdomen.
"UGH—!"
Vegeta's eyes bulged as his body arched violently.
The pain exploded through him.
He was sent flying, smashing into the canyon wall.
RUMBLE—!
The rock face dented deeply, cracks spreading everywhere.
"Vegeta!" Krillin shouted.
Vegeta slid down, coughing violently, blood spilling from his mouth.
"You… bitch…"
For the first time, fear flickered in his eyes.
"This isn't over!" Vegeta roared.
"CONTINUOUS ENERGY BLASTS!"
Golden energy orbs poured down like a storm.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The canyon shook violently.
Smoke swallowed everything.
"Did it work?" Krillin whispered.
The smoke cleared.
Android 18 stood there.
Unharmed.
"Too weak," she said flatly.
"You're boring."
Vegeta snapped.
"AAAAAAAH—!"
He rushed in again, attacking wildly—punches, elbows, knees, kicks—everything he had.
It didn't matter.
Nothing worked.
"It's over," Android 18 said.
She dodged a punch and drove an uppercut into Vegeta's jaw.
Vegeta was blasted into the sky.
Android 18 appeared above him.
A brutal axe kick smashed down.
BANG—!
Vegeta slammed into the ground like a meteor.
The earth collapsed into a massive crater.
"No… no…!"
"Father!!" Trunks screamed.
Golden aura erupted around him.
Super Saiyan!
"I won't allow you to humiliate my father any further!"
Sword drawn, Trunks charged.
Clang—!
Android 17 caught the blade between two fingers.
SNAP!
The sword shattered.
Trunks was sent flying, blood spraying as he crashed into the ground.
"Tsk."
Android 18 looked down into the crater.
Vegeta lay unconscious, body broken.
She raised her foot.
Then—
"Enough," Loren said lazily.
"A lesson's enough."
"If you keep going, he'll actually die."
Android 18 paused.
She withdrew her foot.
"Hmph."
She lightly kicked Vegeta's bloodied face.
"Useless."
Then she turned and walked back to Loren's side.
The Saiyan Prince lay broken.
His pride shattered.
His world collapsed.
...
Author's Note:
The fanfic Dragon Ball: I Became Invincible by Being a Lazy Salted Fish! Part 1 & 2 (Dragon Ball Z & Super) is now fully completed.
The entire story has been uploaded on Patreon as a dedicated collection:
📚 Dragon Ball (Chapters 1–343)
Organized into 42 posts, with multiple chapters per post for easy binge reading.
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you all for your continuous support and love for this story 💙