Chapter 43: The Power of the Tree of Might

The air was thick with tension as Goku and Turles stood opposite each other, their energy flaring. Goku, now a fully grown warrior, had experienced countless battles, but this one felt different. He had never seen anyone who looked so much like him—someone who carried the same Saiyan blood but had a completely opposite outlook on life.

Turles smirked, his power level reading at 19,000 on the scouter. Though he seemed confident, Goku knew this wasn't going to be an ordinary fight. As he stood ready, his true power level of 300,000 was suppressed, a technique he had long mastered to avoid unnecessary attention. But now, as Turles approached, Goku was ready to unleash it if needed.

"I can feel your power," Turles said, his voice low and dangerous. "But you're still holding back, aren't you? No matter. Once I eat the Fruit of the Tree of Might, you'll regret underestimating me."

Goku frowned, trying to recall anything from his past memories about this Fruit of the Tree of Might that Turles spoke of. In his previous life, Goku hadn't seen the movie associated with this mysterious food, so he had no knowledge of its true power. Still, the way Turles mentioned it with such confidence sent a chill down Goku's spine.

"What is this fruit?" Goku asked, genuinely curious. "I've never heard of it."

Turles chuckled darkly. "Of course you haven't. It's the fruit from a divine tree, one that drains a planet of its life force to grow. Each bite grants unimaginable power. You could've joined me, but now, you'll witness its power firsthand."

Before Goku could respond, Turles reached into his armor and pulled out a small, glowing fruit. Without hesitation, he took a massive bite, chewing greedily. His power level spiked instantly, surging from 19,000 to 119,000 in seconds.

"This… feels incredible!" Turles roared, his muscles bulging as the Fruit of the Tree of Might infused him with energy. "Now, let's see how you handle this!"

Goku tensed, sensing the drastic increase in Turles's power level. Though still below his own hidden strength, it was clear that Turles had become far more dangerous. Goku also noticed something odd—the overwhelming surge in power seemed to affect Turles's energy control. His aura was fluctuating, less stable, and more chaotic.

"So, that fruit gives you power, but it messes with your control, doesn't it?" Goku mused aloud, his sharp battle sense picking up on the flaw. "You might be stronger now, but that doesn't mean you've won."

Turles snarled in response, powering up further. "I don't need perfect control to crush you, Goku! This power is more than enough!"

Without warning, Turles lunged forward, fists blazing with ki. His speed had increased significantly, and Goku barely had time to dodge. Turles's punch grazed Goku's cheek, sending a small shockwave through the area.

Goku grinned, feeling the thrill of the battle rise within him. "Alright, let's do this!" He didn't hold back anymore.

With a burst of speed, Goku vanished, using his Shadow Steps technique. He reappeared behind Turles, landing a powerful strike to his back. Turles grunted in pain but quickly retaliated, sending a barrage of ki blasts at Goku. Goku deflected them effortlessly, creating a shield around himself with his Energy Barrier technique.

Turles growled, frustrated by Goku's ease in handling his attacks. "Stop dodging and fight me head-on, coward!"

Goku smirked. "You asked for it!"

He powered up slightly, his aura flaring. Turles's scouter began to beep frantically as Goku's true power started to leak through. "You're not the only one who's been training hard, Turles," Goku said. "I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeve too."

The two Saiyans clashed again, trading blows at lightning speed. Turles, with his newfound power, was stronger and faster than before, but Goku's superior experience and technique were evident. He used his Healing Palm technique to recover quickly from any injuries, staying one step ahead of Turles's relentless assault.

"You think a few techniques will save you?" Turles spat, launching a powerful ki blast straight at Goku's chest.

Goku countered with his Energy Absorption technique, absorbing the energy from the blast and redirecting it back at Turles. The explosion sent Turles flying backward, crashing into a nearby cliff.

"Ugh… this can't be happening," Turles muttered as he struggled to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth.

Goku landed softly a few feet away, his expression serious now. "You're strong, Turles, I'll give you that. But your power's all over the place. You can't control it well enough to beat me."

Turles roared in fury, his aura flaring wildly again. "You haven't seen anything yet! I'll destroy you!" He charged at Goku, fists glowing with ki.

But Goku, having observed Turles's unstable energy throughout the fight, had anticipated the move. Using Shadow Steps, he dodged effortlessly again, landing a series of precise strikes that targeted Turles's weak spots.

Each punch hit harder than the last, as Goku combined his speed and strength with his advanced combat techniques. Turles, unable to match Goku's finesse, began to falter.

In a final, desperate move, Turles gathered all of his remaining energy into a massive ki ball, aiming to obliterate Goku in one final blast. "DIE!" he screamed, hurling the attack toward Goku with all his might.

Goku stood his ground, his expression calm. "I guess I have no choice but to end this."

With a swift motion, Goku formed an Energy Barrier around himself and then quickly powered up, unleashing his full strength for the first time in the fight. His true power level of 300,000 burst forth, completely overwhelming Turles's ki blast and shattering it into harmless sparks.

Turles, wide-eyed and in disbelief, could only watch as Goku's energy engulfed him. "No… this can't be…!"

Goku appeared in front of Turles in an instant, delivering a final, crushing blow to his stomach. Turles gasped, the wind knocked out of him, and collapsed to the ground, completely defeated.

As the dust settled, Goku stood over the fallen Turles, his aura slowly fading. "You were tough, Turles. But you're not fighting for the right reasons. Power without control just leads to destruction."

Turles, barely conscious, groaned in pain. "How… how did you…?"