Chapter 12: The Darkened Pride

Vegeta, fueled by his unyielding Saiyan pride, boldly embraced Babidi's dark influence.

BOOM!

A malevolent and turbulent energy erupted from within him, and a sinister "M" symbol ominously etched itself upon his forehead.

Vegeta couldn't contain the malevolence surging through his veins. He willingly surrendered to Babidi's power, becoming an embodiment of ruthlessness.

"In the name of Vegeta, the Saiyan Prince, I shall vanquish you, be it Son Goku or Saitama!"

Gradually, Vegeta succumbed to the overwhelming darkness, transforming into a malevolent force beyond imagination.

Supreme Kai, his senses tingling with dread, urgently exclaimed, "This is grave! Step away from Vegeta! Something is terribly wrong!"

The others turned their gaze toward Vegeta, their shock evident as they beheld his ominous transformation.

Babidi, observing Vegeta's dark evolution through the crystal ball, could hardly contain his excitement. "Incredible! I've never had such a formidable subordinate. Fetch me the energy gauge immediately, and make sure it's the most potent one!"

"Yes, Lord Babidi!" One of his subordinates rushed to deliver the energy gauge.

As Babidi analyzed the readings, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"13,000 units of energy? Unbelievable. A mere 200 units could obliterate a planet. Vegeta's power is astonishing. Let him face that bald-headed fellow, and I shall siphon enough energy to awaken Majin Buu!"

Babidi possessed the unique ability to drain power from those under his control when they suffered harm. Thus, he needed a suitable adversary for Vegeta, and Saitama was the ideal choice.

"Vegeta, unleash your fury upon that wretched baldy!"

On the second floor of the vacant spaceship, Vegeta's "ki" surged uncontrollably, shattering his own limits.

Supreme Kai's voice quivered as he warned, "This is dire! Babidi has harnessed the darkness within Vegeta."

Vegeta's newfound power defied all expectations. Even Son Goku watched in astonishment and remarked, "It's been years since I've seen you, Vegeta, and your strength has reached unprecedented levels."

Saitama, standing there with a bored expression, casually scratched his head and remarked, "Hey, did we just skip the part where I get to fight someone strong? This is supposed to be fun, right?"

Vegeta clenched his fists, reveling in the destructive power coursing through him. He grinned triumphantly, "Indeed, it was my choice."

Saitama responded with an indifferent shrug, "Well, whatever floats your boat. I'm just here for some exercise, I guess."

Vegeta's expression twisted into a sinister grin, but Saitama remained nonchalant, as if he'd rather be elsewhere.

The Saiyan Prince's pride wouldn't allow him to submit to anyone easily.

However, even though Vegeta had chosen not to engage Son Goku in combat this time, he couldn't escape the nagging realization that the gap between them had grown insurmountable.

He had a deep-seated premonition – without significant improvement, he stood no chance against Son Goku. Thus, he willingly embraced Babidi's control, seeking to rapidly augment his power and rekindle his eternal rivalry.

Babidi might control formidable warriors like Dabura, but the gap between Vegeta and Dabura was as vast as the cosmos itself. It was akin to comparing the strength needed to lift a pebble to that required to move a mountain.

Moreover, Vegeta's indomitable mental fortitude had been honed through countless battles.

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"Is your pride clouding your judgment, Tragedy Tower?" Saitama couldn't help but roll his eyes. Vegeta's Saiyan pride remained stubbornly unyielding.

Vegeta sneered, "I am well aware that the chasm between Goku and me has grown even wider. To close the gap, I must explore alternative methods!"

Saitama muttered, exasperated with Vegeta's pride, "You Saiyans and your obsession with pride. It's like you're all allergic to common sense."

Recalling his experiences from a previous life, Saitama sighed, "I've seen this before. During the Cell Games, Vegeta had a chance to put an end to Cell early on, but his pride got in the way. It caused nothing but trouble."

Saiyan pride could often lead to obstinacy, he thought.

Vegeta's maniacal laughter echoed, "Hahaha... With my newfound power, do you honestly think a bald guy like you can defeat me? Witness the might Babidi has bestowed upon me!"

As Vegeta roared, the air around him surged with unrestrained power.

Saitama sighed again, "Well, here we go again."

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*Power Points and Save*