Granolah had been beaten to a pulp. His body was covered in wounds, his clothes were in tatters, and he lay in a crater at death's door, without even the strength to move a finger.
Son Goku watched helplessly, his fists clenched tight. Because he was pinned down, he couldn't step forward to help and could only watch the scene unfold before his eyes.
The two Vegetas were also at their wits' end. They exchanged a glance, both seeing the grim reality of the situation in each other's eyes.
Monaito quickly stepped forward and pressed his hands together. A soft green light enveloped Son Goku, using a special ability to dissolve the lead weights that were trapping him.
The lead weights turned into tiny specks of starlight and vanished.
"Thank you! Thank you so much, Namekian Grandpa," Son Goku said, quickly offering his thanks. He stretched his arms and legs, feeling much lighter.
"Nice hit! Kill him, Gas! Don't let him get in the way anymore!" Macki was still cheering for Gas, her voice sharp and piercing.
"While we have a moment, let me heal you. Every little bit helps," Monaito whispered. He covered Son Goku with even more healing light, which was filled with gentle energy.
"Eh? Really? Thank you so much!" Son Goku was both surprised and delighted. He felt his wounds slowly closing and offered a grateful smile.
"I have a request..." Monaito said in a low, pleading voice as his healing light covered Goku. "This might sound selfish, but could you please save Granolah? He is innocent and doesn't deserve an end like this."
"Of course, I'll do my best!" Son Goku agreed readily, patting his chest with a determined look.
"To be honest, I feel completely useless. I've brought shame to the Namekian people. I don't even have the power to restore your stamina; I can only lightly heal your wounds," Monaito said, filled with self-reproach. He hung his head, his long antennae drooping down.
Although Son Goku's injuries were mostly healed, his stamina had not returned. The energy he had spent in the previous battle had barely been replenished.
Because of this, Son Goku still couldn't return to his peak state, and his breathing remained a bit ragged.
"Oh, right! Vegeta, don't you still have a Senzu bean? With a Senzu bean, we can restore our stamina!" Son Goku suddenly realized something. He turned to look at Ultra Ego Vegeta, his eyes lighting up.
Ultra Ego Vegeta blinked, then snapped back to reality. His lip twitched as a helpless expression crossed his face. "It was in my old battle suit. I accidentally lost it during the fight earlier."
Son Goku: "..."
Son Goku looked completely speechless.
"I'll go get it!" the other Vegeta snorted. Making a split-second decision, he took to the sky, turning into a streak of light as he roared off into the distance at incredible speed.
After taking a brutal beating from Gas, Granolah had completely lost consciousness. He lay limp on the ground, out cold.
"I'll buy you some time! Have your clone find the Senzu bean and eat it immediately. Once you've recovered your stamina, you can defeat him!" Son Goku called out to Ultra Ego Vegeta, already dropping into a fighting stance.
Ultra Ego Vegeta: "..."
"That is not my clone!" Ultra Ego Vegeta's face darkened as he emphasized the point, his voice tinged with annoyance.
How can this guy still not tell the difference?
"Eh? It's not? Well, now isn't the time for that. Let's deal with the trouble in front of us first," Son Goku said, scratching his head with an embarrassed laugh.
"Are you sure you want me to eat the Senzu bean? Don't you need it yourself?" Ultra Ego Vegeta asked, looking at Son Goku with a hint of doubt in his eyes.
"I ate the first one, so of course the second one should be for you," Son Goku said with a serious nod.
"Understood. My stamina hasn't recovered and I'm not in top form. You go fight first and try to stall for as long as possible," Ultra Ego Vegeta didn't argue. He nodded, agreeing with Son Goku's plan.
"Hurry up and transform into that scary-faced form, then take down that Gas fellow. I know you can do it!" Son Goku gave Ultra Ego Vegeta a thumbs-up and grinned, showing off his white teeth.
Ultra Ego Vegeta's face turned black, a vein popping on his forehead in anger.
What do you mean 'scary-faced form'?
That's clearly Ultra Ego, okay?!
With a flash, Son Goku used Instant Transmission to reappear beside Granolah. He stood in front of him, watching Gas warily.
"Hey! You guys have gone too far!" Son Goku roared. A faint aura radiated from his body, and his eyes were filled with rage.
"Since when did two endangered species become such good friends? How ridiculous," Gas sneered, looking at Son Goku with utter contempt. "Outsider, shut your mouth!"
Snap!
A long dagger materialized in Gas's hand, gleaming with a cold, sharp light. Without hesitation, he lunged at Son Goku, moving as fast as lightning.
Son Goku immediately entered his Super Saiyan Blue transformation. A blue aura erupted around him, and his power surged instantly. He caught the incoming dagger in his hand and gave it a powerful squeeze.
CRACK!
The dagger Gas had created shattered on the spot, turning into specks of energy that vanished into the air.
"If you want to kill me, it won't be that easy!" Son Goku said, his gaze turning sharp. He delivered a powerful kick, his foot trailing a strong current of air.
Gas calmly materialized a shield in front of him, steadily blocking Son Goku's attack with a dull thud.
Son Goku followed up with a punch, his fist glowing with blue energy and packed with power.
CLANG!
Gas blocked again with his shield. Ripples spread across the shield's surface, but it remained solid.
Son Goku fought for a while without gaining any ground. Growing anxious, he condensed blue energy in his hands and unleashed a ki blast. The energy wave swept toward Gas like a great blue dragon.
BOOM!
The ki blast washed over Gas, resulting in a massive explosion and a cloud of thick smoke.
However, a moment later, Son Goku felt something was wrong. He realized the ki blast hadn't hit its mark.
Gas had somehow moved behind him. Holding a massive hammer, he let out a cold laugh and swung it directly at Son Goku's head.
"Do you really think an attack of this level would work on me? Too weak!" Gas gave a contemptuous smile and sent Son Goku flying with a single hammer strike.
Son Goku tumbled through the air several times before finally coming to a stop. He rubbed his head, feeling as if his skull were about to split. His vision blurred, and a trickle of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.
"Saiyans aren't all that special after all. Just mediocre," Macki chuckled, her voice full of mockery.
"Hey, where did Vegeta's clone go? Why did he suddenly vanish?" Oil suddenly felt something was off. He looked around with a confused expression.
"Maybe he was called back. Who cares? It's not like he can do anything anyway," Macki said dismissively, as if it were nothing unusual.
Meanwhile, the other Vegeta had found a fragment of the battle suit he had discarded. He rummaged through the scrap and pulled out a Senzu bean. The small green bean sparkled in the sunlight.
"There really was one left! Perfect!" Vegeta gripped the Senzu bean tightly and let out a sigh of relief. With a flash, he reappeared beside Granolah.
Vegeta then stepped forward and patted Granolah's cheek to wake him up. "Hey, wake up. Stop playing dead."
Granolah slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Vegeta, he blinked and asked in a weak voice, "You... aren't you Vegeta's clone? Why are you here?"
"Shut up!" A vein popped on Vegeta's forehead as his face darkened. "Just eat it. You'll get your strength back once you do. Don't waste time!"
"You... your main body has been carrying this thing all along..." Granolah was stunned, looking at the Senzu bean in Vegeta's hand. "If you had eaten it earlier, wouldn't you have been able to beat me? Why did you save it until now?"
"I wouldn't be so despicable! Winning a fight with something like this isn't my style, and I'm sure the other me feels the same way," Vegeta snorted, his voice tinged with pride.
Granolah was shocked. He hadn't expected Vegeta to have such a strong sense of honor.
"Hurry up and eat it, then go fight them and avenge your mother. Don't make me look down on you," Vegeta said, grabbing Granolah's collar and pulling him up, a hint of encouragement in his eyes.
Granolah didn't hesitate any longer. He opened his mouth and swallowed the Senzu bean immediately.
Instantly, Granolah's injuries vanished. His stamina returned to its peak—in fact, he felt even stronger than before. A powerful aura erupted from his body, blowing away the surrounding dust.
Granolah was amazed. He moved his body, feeling the power surging within him, and was instantly surprised and delighted. "This... this is incredible! To recover so quickly!"
"Go fight. Let them see what you're made of. Don't let this Senzu bean go to waste," Vegeta said flatly, letting go of his collar.
"You... you're actually a pretty good guy for a clone," Granolah said with a smile and a nod. His opinion of Vegeta had changed significantly. With a flash, he vanished from the spot at incredible speed.
In an instant, Granolah appeared at the scene of the battle between Son Goku and Gas, his aura powerful and steady.
Son Goku didn't have much stamina left to begin with, so he was no match for Gas and was gradually falling behind.
However, Gas was a bit surprised to see Granolah appear. He raised an eyebrow. "Your stamina has recovered? Did you receive some kind of treatment? To recover this quickly..."
"Granolah, your partner!" Monaito brought Oatmeel over and handed it to Granolah with both hands, a gentle smile on his face.
"Don't you dare throw me away again! Or I'll never speak to you again!" Oatmeel's voice sounded a bit hurt, with a hint of pouting.
Granolah took the eyepatch and put it back over his eye. Looking at Oatmeel, he said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Oatmeel. It was my fault before. I shouldn't have thrown you away."
"As the strongest in the universe, you don't need me anymore, right? Since you're so strong now," Oatmeel asked huffily, a trace of loss in its voice.
"No, I need your support! Only with you can I unleash my full power!" Granolah took a deep breath, his gaze steady. A massive surge of energy suddenly erupted from his body, shining so brightly that it lit up the surrounding sky.
Feeling the energy Granolah was releasing, Gas was also slightly surprised.
Gas then stepped toward Granolah. He raised both hands, and a shield appeared on each arm, gleaming with a metallic luster and looking incredibly solid.
Both of their faces were filled with an endless will to fight, and their eyes were packed with a desire for victory. The surrounding air grew heavy with the weight of their intense battle spirit.
Without another word, the two launched into a fierce exchange. Their figures flashed through the sky, colliding with brilliant sparks as energy waves flew in every direction.
By this time, the other Vegeta had returned to the scene. He watched the two fighters in silence.
Ultra Ego Vegeta: "..."
Ultra Ego Vegeta looked at the other Vegeta with a gaze full of dissatisfaction. With a dark face, he asked, "Who told you to give the Senzu bean to Granolah? Shouldn't it have been for me?"
"Hmph. Let the man settle his own grudge. There's no need for us to interfere, and besides, he's better suited to deal with Gas than we are," Vegeta said flatly, looking at Granolah with a hint of approval in his eyes.
"Vegeta, why are you still arguing with your clone? I think this is great," Son Goku laughed, patting Ultra Ego Vegeta on the shoulder.
Both Vegetas looked at Son Goku with dark expressions.
How many times is this guy going to keep bringing up the 'clone' thing? Enough already.
After a brief silence, all three turned their attention to the battle between Granolah and Gas.
"Monaito, how often do the Dragon Balls on this planet recover? Do we have to wait a long time to use them again after a wish?" Ultra Ego Vegeta suddenly asked, looking at Monaito with a thoughtful expression.
"How often do they recover?" Monaito blinked, not understanding why Ultra Ego Vegeta was asking. However, he answered immediately. "After the Dragon Balls grant a wish, they immediately scatter to different corners of the planet. As long as you find them again, you can make another wish to the dragon. There's no need to wait."
"Eh? They don't turn into stone? The Dragon Balls on our side turn into stone after use, and we have to wait a year for them to recover," Son Goku said, looking at Monaito with a curious expression.
"Turn into stone? No, why would they turn into stone? The Dragon Balls on our planet don't do that. As long as you can find them, you can use them anytime." Monaito shook his head, finding Son Goku's words quite strange as well.
"In other words, as long as we find the Dragon Balls again, we can make a wish, right?" Ultra Ego Vegeta's voice was low, his eyes flickering as if he were planning something.
"That is indeed the case." Monaito nodded and added, "However, finding those two Dragon Balls is no easy task."
"The Heeters must have gone to Earth to get a Dragon Ball Radar, which is how they found the two balls on this planet so quickly. Otherwise, with their abilities, it would have been impossible to find them this fast," Ultra Ego Vegeta analyzed.
"Vegeta, you've got a point there," Son Goku said, scratching his head. "But Vegeta, are you saying you want to look for the Dragon Balls?"
"Kakarot, if I'm not mistaken, the Dragon Ball Radar should still be in their hands," Ultra Ego Vegeta guessed.
"Yeah, you're right. The radar must be with them," Son Goku nodded, looking at Ultra Ego Vegeta with a gaze full of agreement.
"While they're busy fighting, use your Instant Transmission to go over there and snatch the Dragon Ball Radar! That's the key to us finding the balls," Ultra Ego Vegeta ordered, his gaze steady and his tone leaving no room for doubt. "Three people from the Heeter organization have already appeared here. You should be able to sense the energy of the other one, right? He must be the one holding the radar."
As he spoke, Ultra Ego Vegeta pointed toward a spot in the distant sky. The energy there was faint, but it definitely existed.
"Yeah, I sense it. It's very weak, but I can lock onto the location," Son Goku nodded. He closed his eyes, sensing carefully for a moment, then opened them and spoke.
"Go. Be quick about it, and don't let them spot you," Ultra Ego Vegeta patted Son Goku on the shoulder, encouraging him. "Once you get the Dragon Ball Radar, come back immediately."
"I've got it," Son Goku promised with a confident smile. He immediately used Instant Transmission, his body turning into a blur of light as he vanished from the spot.
In less than ten seconds, Son Goku was back with the Dragon Ball Radar. With a triumphant grin, he handed the radar to Ultra Ego Vegeta.
Ultra Ego Vegeta took the radar, glanced at it, and then casually tossed it to the other Vegeta.
The other Vegeta caught the radar, looking at his alternate self in a bit of a daze, not understanding why he was being given the device.
"You should head back. You're not needed here anymore. Once you're back, train hard and increase your strength. I believe the day will come when you'll experience everything that's happening here for yourself," Ultra Ego Vegeta said to his alternate self. His tone was flat, yet it carried a deeper meaning.
Vegeta: "..."
Vegeta remained silent. He looked down at the Dragon Ball Radar in his hand, then back at Ultra Ego Vegeta, and finally understood.
So, I'm just in the way here, aren't I?
But the other me was right.
Even if I stayed, I wouldn't be much help. In fact, I'd probably just be a hindrance.
The gap between us was simply too large; we weren't even in the same league.
Vegeta gave a slight nod, finally agreeing. He knew this was the best choice for now.
But before leaving, Vegeta suddenly turned to look at Son Goku, a hint of expectation in his eyes.
Son Goku blinked, not understanding why Vegeta was suddenly looking at him, his face showing a confused expression.
"Kakarot, don't you know Ultra Instinct? I've only seen you use Super Saiyan Blue so far; I haven't seen you use that. Can you use it once so I can see? I really want to see just how strong your Ultra Instinct actually is." Vegeta stared at Son Goku with a burning gaze, his eyes sparkling with desire.
Son Goku: "..."
"Show you?" Son Goku was a bit stunned and asked strangely, "It's not like you haven't seen it before... Besides, I can't transform right now. I don't have much energy left, so I can't maintain the Ultra Instinct state at all."
"Then forget it..." Vegeta said with a wave of regret. He let out a sigh, his voice full of disappointment. "I'm going to find the Dragon Balls. You guys be careful."
Snap!
Ultra Ego Vegeta placed his large hand on the other Vegeta's back, a faint energy surging from his palm.
Vegeta froze. Feeling the energy coming from behind him, he looked back at his alternate self, his eyes full of confusion.
Purple-red energy erupted from Ultra Ego Vegeta's hand—the power of a God of Destruction. He channeled this energy through Vegeta's back and into his body.
Son Goku, watching from the side, was terrified. Thinking Ultra Ego Vegeta was trying to harm the other one, he cried out, "Vegeta, what are you doing? Are you trying to erase your clone? Stop it!"
"Shut up!" both Vegetas barked in unison, their voices loud and tinged with annoyance.
Son Goku quickly covered his mouth, not daring to say another word.
Vegeta clearly felt the Destruction energy being channeled into his body by his alternate self. That power filled him with strength, causing his pupils to shrink slightly as a look of surprise crossed his face.
"This isn't difficult. Once you're back, contemplate it well and feel the flow of this power. You should be able to unlock the Ultra Ego transformation in four or five days!" Ultra Ego Vegeta said to his alternate self with a serious tone, a hint of expectation in his eyes.
"I understand. Thank you," Vegeta nodded with a heavy expression. He clenched his fists, feeling the Destruction energy within him, his heart full of anticipation.
"Don't lose to that guy! No matter who it is, don't let anyone stand in the way of your progress!" Ultra Ego Vegeta clenched his fists tight, his voice firm.
Vegeta didn't speak; he simply gave a heavy nod, his eyes full of determination.
"What's so special about Super Saiyan 6? Once you've mastered Ultra Ego, surpassing him is only a matter of time. You'll definitely be able to defeat that guy," Ultra Ego Vegeta patted the other Vegeta on the shoulder, his voice full of encouragement.
"Hmph. I hope so. I won't lose to anyone," Vegeta nodded, a confident smile appearing on his face.
Whoosh!
Holding the Dragon Ball Radar, Vegeta took to the sky and turned into a streak of light, quickly departing. His figure soon vanished into the horizon.
Son Goku: "????"
"Vegeta, what did you mean by 'Super Saiyan 6'? Is there really such a form? How come I've never heard of it?" Son Goku asked with a lost expression, turning to Ultra Ego Vegeta with eyes full of curiosity.
"You don't need to know about that," Ultra Ego Vegeta said with a smirk and a mysterious smile, clearly having no intention of explaining.
The reason Ultra Ego Vegeta had sent his alternate self away was because he was worried it would be dangerous for him to stay.
After all, Gas and Granolah were simply too powerful; staying would only mean throwing his life away for nothing.
Besides, the other me had his own things to do; his battlefield wasn't here.
Staying here didn't make much sense, so it was better to let him go back and increase his strength.
Using the Dragon Ball Radar, Vegeta quickly locked onto the locations of the Dragon Balls and gathered the two glass-ball-sized orbs.
"Dragon, come forth and grant my wish!" Vegeta shouted at the two Dragon Balls, his voice full of expectation.
However, the two Dragon Balls didn't react at all. They remained still, emitting only a faint glow.
Vegeta: "..."
Vegeta fell silent, his brow furrowing as a look of confusion crossed his face. "Is the way I'm summoning the dragon wrong?"
"Mr. Vegeta."
Just then, Monaito's voice suddenly echoed in Vegeta's mind, sounding gentle and clear.
To be continued…
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