Chapter Forty-five

As you get declared the winner Beerus starts growling. "OKAY CHAMPA! WHAT THE HELL?!"

*whistles*

"DON'T PULL THIS SHIT! NOBODY BELIEVES IT ANYMORE! WHERE DID YOU GET THIS GUY?!"

"Hehehe... I suppose I'm caught red handed.

But it doesn't matter for you've already fallen into my trap! You see ladies, gentlemen and those unfortunate enough to be born without a gender... This entire tournament has gone just. As. Planned!"

"Grrrrr..."

"You see friends, my boy Eric is not just my personal Chef... But he's been trained by Vados herself!"

"I knew it..." Whis sighs. "Sister... Why is it that when something strange and frightening happens it's always related to you in some way?"

"Oh Whis... You are one to talk! I'm not the one who handed godly power to a bunch of Saiyans."

"True. But don't tell me you aren't planning to do it."

"Not anymore!" As the gods are busy bickering or gossiping between themselves the mortals have a few... mixed reactions to all this.

Most mortals, especially the "Earthlings" of Universe 7 are cowering in fear. "I-Is this guy really an Earthling?" The blue haired woman asks. "He's a monster! Just like Vegeta and Goku!"

"Y-Yeah!" Krillin confirms.

But there are also those who find this performance of yours... interesting. Many of whom are ladies whose eyes are sparkling when they look at you.... Unfortunately even they PALE in comparison to one guy.

"Oooooooh! Did you guys SEE THAT? HAHHHHAAAAA! This guy is great! Ooof! Now I'm getting excited!"

"Yeah dad... I can see him... You could at least pretend to not root for him while I have to fight him."

"Aw don't be like that Gohan! You're gonna be fine!"

"I... can't tell if you're serious or not and that's very concerning."

But Gohans wife stands up to comfort him.

"Don't worry Gohan! We'll be rooting for you!

Isn't that right Pam?"

"GUGU!"

"Thanks Videl! Now I feel much better!"

But as they are going on you see your opponent on the ground. He really looks like shit. Maybe you overdid it a little. But you honestly didn't expect him to sprout a new arm.

You fly down to the ground and walk up to the guy you just beat the shit out of. Almost immediately his friends freeze and await what you want to do but when they actually see what you had in mind they sigh with relief.

Extending your hand you grin to the guy.

"Sorry about that. But you really shoulda dodged!"

"Heh... I guess you're right." He takes your hand as you try to help him up. "And I'd like to apologize for all that as well. I wanted to get you riled up so you'd spill the beans."

"I figured. Water under the bridge. 'Sides, winners can't really complain."

He... smiles? His facial features contort like they aren't really used to this. "Well I'm just glad I didn't die back there. Seriously, you pack a serious punch."

"Heh... so do you. If you used that last move earlier I would've been in trouble."

He shakes his head. "It takes a lot of energy. If I use it and it doesn't work that basically guarantees I loose. And you saw how much setup it takes."

"Yeap. Well anyways, good game."

"Yes. Well played." He shakes your hand.

"By the way... what did you mean by "Best Boy of Namek?" He asks in utter confusion.

"Eh... don't think about it too much. Maybe if you're interested I'll tell it after the final match."

"I'll hold you to that."

As the Namekian leaves you he flies back up to his friends where Beerus is really, REALLY going to town on his last participant.

"NOW LISTEN HERE GOKU JUNIOR! You go out there and beat that guy right away!

Go full power and knock him out! OR ELSE!"

"L-Lord Beerus I-"

"Gohan." Piccolo approaches the lad.

"Ah Mister Piccolo! Thanks for the save!"

"Did you catch all that?"

"Y-Yes. I was watching intently."

"And? Because I'll be honest I'm more confused by what I saw rather than enlightened."

"R-right... It is a bit strange. But I think I got something."

"Hmmmm?" Beerus raises an eyebrow.

"His Ki feels weak because he has incredible control over it... Basically despite feeling like he's holding back he's actually going all out."

"Good observation Sir Gohan!" Whis commends the boy.

"But that's all... I think Krillins psychic theory holds water. But not the way we thought."

The crowd around Gohan watches him intently. "It appears he can actually manipulate space itself to some degree.

That's how he manipulated Krillin and defended himself from your attack."

"Very good! That is all correct!" The angel goes on.

"So Whis... does this mean we can win?"

Beerus asks him.

"Oh I think we'll just have to see.

But if Gohan can keep this up he might figure out his opponent quick enough for it to matter. Ohohohohoho!"

"Urgh... And you wonder why nobody likes angels? stupid smug-"

But while they keep arguing the boy flies down into the ring and starts introducing himself.

"I am Son Gohan. And this is where the tournament ends for you."

"Oooooh! You know, the green guy said something like that. And I'm still here. I'd watch what I say because it's gonna be really awkward when I sweep my third opponent."

"My friends all lost to you so that I could observe and understand you. I won't let them down. And I certainly won't let my guard down against you." He then strikes a very similar pose to Gokus stance. Like father like son as they say.

You grin at this. "Oh friend... I don't think you understand... at all." Then you look up.

"Everyone, this is for you! For everything you've brought me, I give everything I have to fight for you in this match! For every lesson I was taught, for every spar I've fought, for every trial and foe I've overcome, for all the friends and family cheering me on... here's everything I've got!" With your speech finished you start turning around. "Now come on, lets give them a-"

*BOOOOOM*

You feel an immensely powerful punch striking you in the cheek. And as your heels dig a trench in the stone of the arena you hear Gohan cockily interrupting you. "Sorry. You were wide open!" But whatever he wanted to say afterwards stops as he sees your reaction.

Popping your jaw back in place and wiping some blood off your cheeks you give him a grin. "Ooooooh this is not gonna end for you I can already tell."

"What... are you?"

"A man. The man. The man whose foot you'll have to dislodge in about... I don't know, five minutes? Ten tops!"

You assume your fighting pose now and charge him. Exchanging a few blows you start to notice a few things.

First: His fists are like two anvils tied to jet thrusters. Second: He's fast. Much faster than you. And third: He really has no place here.

When he's not flailing around like a drunk in a common barfight throwing attacks randomly, he uses rudimentary martial arts moves that seem to draw both from Krillins school and that Namekians. But unlike either of them he doesn't "use" those moves... Instead he seems to have the attacks and techniques memorised and he simply performs them sequentially. Gone are the fluid motions and the moves flowing into one another like water. This man... this boy feels like a machine rather than a fighter.

Crossing your amrs you take a full frontal punch which sends you flying and makes both your arms numb. But aside that you haven't really suffered much damage. Granted you didn't inflict either... but you weren't trying yet. "Boooooooy... This is going to be really embarassing in a second." You sigh.

"If you're trying to gloat I got some news for you. I got you against a wall! The powergap between us is astronomical. Even if you had unlimited time and stamina it'd still take years for you to beat me!"

"And don't think I don't apreciate your math professor... *chuckle* By far you are the most powerful opponent I ever had. You are stronger AND faster than me multiple times...

However!" You smile. "You will never... EVER... defeat me."

Gohan then raises an eyebrow.

"You see... I can tell you're a Saiyan 'cause of the eyes. I got a lot of practice staring into 'em. But you are the worst excuse of a space monkey I've ever seen." Pointing at the Universe 7 pavilion you continue. "Those two that I've faced before may not be the strongest... but they have spirit! They can and know how to fight... You on the other hand? You are the one that does not belong here at all. You may have the blood of the saiyans but you most certainly don't have their heart!"

Charging him you start raining blows on the boy who effortlessly blocks all of your punches. "THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE GOING FOR YOURSELF IS BIG NUMBERS! YET YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND AMONGST THESE GIANTS! YOU MAKE ME SICK!"

Vegeta then looks at his wife. "You see Bulma? This is why I insist on training Trunks."

*sigh* "I don't even care anymore."

"And Kakarot... if your son looses this I suggest disowning him."

While the folks related to Gohan are conversing the boy himself is getting annoyed by your efforts. Your strikes do little more than tickle him and as such, your words irritate him. "Who is this Earthling to say these things?" He asks himself. Finally he has enough and unleashes an omni directional burst of ki from his body. "ENOUGH!" You fly backwards as his aura swells. "KAMEHAMEHA!"

He fires off a wave much bigger and much more powerful than the one Krillin did.

But you dodge it all the same. It's kinda predictable once you realize these folks are liable to just throw it out whenever. "Did I touch a nerve?"

"YES! And you'll regret that! Go ahead! Start using your space distortion! I'm ready for it!

And I'll make you regret ever using it!"

"I doubt that."

You alter your strength a bit which immediately gets some attention from the onlookers. "This is... THE STANCE!"

Suddenly you hear a voice. "GOHAN WATCH OUT!" Coming from both Goku and Piccolo which Champa doesn't take well.

"HEY! NO BACKSEATING!"

You charge Gohan but right before meeting him you disappear and then promptly reappear somewhere else. The boy is quick, much quicker than you anticipated and manages to somewhat mitigate the damage.

He dodges a bit so your open palm only grazes him but he still winces from it.

Throwing a punch with enough force that it creates a gust of wind he throws you away.

Hissing in pain he reaches for his arm. "Damn... Time-skip? Really?"

"Oh? You heard of it then?"

"Yeah... My dad fought Hit before! And beat him!"

"That's not how I heard it!"

Meanwhile up at the spectator seats the U7 guys are loosing their minds. "T-Time skip as well?!" Krillin shouts. "Just how much was he holding back?!"

"M-More than we thought!" Piccolo concludes.

At the same time you break in your shoulder a bit. "Well... That didn't have quite the explosive result I hoped for. Let's see..."

"So... you know about time-skip huh?

Heh... okay."

Without any further warning you charge Gohan who readies himself. His muscles tense up, his senses sharpen and the tension is visibly making him nervous. But he's expecting something that's not coming.

Pulling your fist back you throw a punch at him which he blocks with relative ease.

He's not even bothered by your punch having no impact, probably it feels the same to him.

But when he tosses your arm aside to counter he gets a nasty surprise. His eyes bulge out as your attack slips past him and the shockwaves reverberate throughout his body.

Smirking you unleash a storm of blows on the now exposed Saiyan and retreating before he could retaliate. Charging again Gohan dodges instead and then guards against the phantom blow.

"Since when were you under the impression all attacks will be like that?" You grin as you continue to pressure him.

Meanwhile... "I don't understand! What's wrong with Gohan?" Piccolo asks.

"Uh-oh..."

"What's wrong Goku?"

"Hihihi! I thought this kid might be more than just another Hit!"

"So that's... not time-skip?"

"I 'unno. But it looks FUN!"

The tides have turned. Forced on the defensive Gohan weathers your punches and blocks EVERYTHING for he can't afford to let even one of your quaking palms get past him, even if they are faints or lagged ones. What's worse is that he can't figure out what it is you're exactly doing. Good.

Now's the time to make it EVEN HARDER for him. Raising your middle and index fingers you conjure a pillar of flame right under Gohans feet which erupt in a massive pillar under him. It doesn't do much damage wise, he doesn't even remark how his butt is now flaming. But it's one helluva distraction!

Doing a few backflips to gain some distance you prime your fist and take aim at your opponent who is just now breaking free of your fiery trap. "INFINITE FLASH FIST CRUSH!"

The attack comes out and to his credit Gohan dodges it first. But then he notices that it's coming back around and dodges it again... and again... and again. Until he makes one mistake and it hits him. And then several times more as it loops back around.

He looks dead for a moment, as if the light has left his eyes. The boy is probably not accustomed to pain. Adorable. But the Saiyan blood in him compels him.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

His ki flares up and his aura swells to three times larger than it was before. He's clearly exerting himself a lot at this point. Though this doesn't feel like a transformation. More like him desperately trying to get swole.

"What's wrong?! Why are you holding out on me! Come on! Give me that gold boy!"

"Shut up! This is how I am! My path!

And I'm done being treated like a child!

I'll end this once and for all!" He cups his hands together. Shit... this already feels TOO big!

"KAAAAAAAAAA-"

"Heh... Hahaha! HAHAHAHHAHAHA!

Is this all you can do? Punch-kick, Kamehameha? Okay..."

He's really injured now... This is your chance! If you can somehow work a round that humongous tidalwave of ki he's about to unleash then... you could end this.

You spread your arms. "Do your worst!"

"MEEEEEEEEEE-"

And while he's busy charging you also get to work. Closing your eyes you begin to focus intently. Bringing forth the same sensation as before. Power rushes through your body and your hair stands up. Your mind starts to expand until you... Ascend!

With a quick pulse the transformation goes through without a hitch and your hand stands up. Even Gohan himself stops for a moment to gasp just like everyone else who hasn't seen this before. "W-What is this?" You don't say a word but beckon him with your hand.

"Fine...

HAAAAAAAAAA-MEEEEEEEEEE-"

"Do it!" You order him.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

The glowing, bright ocean of Ki starts rushing towards you. But you feel no fear. Your mind is calmer than any body of water and deeper than the greatest of oceans. Such focus allows you to move beyond such things as fear.

With a quick little twist of your arm you open up a portal in front of you which starts to expand until it's big enough to eclipse the wave of ki. Gohans Kamehameha passes through it and just as the boy realizes what's happening the "exit" opens up next to him.

All the power, all the energy he poured into that attack came right back and burned him.

"GOHAN!" Various people shouted at him while Vegeta was laughing to himself.

"Ahahaha! WAHAHAHAA! I knew it! You Earthlings WERE just slacking off!"

"How could you say that Vegeta? Gohan might be-"

"He isn't. Or if he was it was his own fault."

As the dust settles you see the silhouette of Gohan emerging but he's clearly been injured.

His right arm lost all of its function and is now bleeding profusely. When the gentle leftover breeze caresses him the pain of getting a thousand needles jammed into his flesh assaults his senses. Looking at his arm first he realizes what happened and then returns his gaze to you.

"You are... You're-"

"The end of the line. Give up."

Gohan then clenches his still good fist. "As if... If you think I'll give up just because of this-"

"Oh? It looks like you do have a few warrior bones lodged in you after all..." You shut your eyes. "Very well. Then I'll give you a warriors defeat!"

You shoot out like a speeding bullet, too fast for the half saiyan to follow. He gets a tiny little cut on his cheek but that's about it. Flying past, you turn around mid air and land feet first on the wall of the arena. Using it as a springboard you jump again, striking the boy once more. After that... you repeat the same process. Again and again, faster and faster until it looks like there is a storm inside the dome which devastates everything around it. Namely Gohan.

It sounds less like a fight and more like a series of explosions going off inside a thunderstorm. And as you land the last blow on your opponent, you stop and stand to face him. His body is battered and broken, held up only by willpower and gods grace alone.

"Ragnarök." You quietly utter the name of the attack and that last little breeze was enough to knock him over and out.

The referee sees this and checks to see if he himself wasn't injured before announcing this.

"T-That's it ladies and gentlemen... The winner of the Second Tournament of Destroyers is... ERIC OF UNIVERSE 6!"