Chapter 45: Kairos Vs Cooler

Cooler's furious roar echoed across the desolate plains of Yardrat as his body began to shift and swell. His frame expanded grotesquely, his bio-armor contorting and cracking as he unleashed his second form. His power level skyrocketed, now reaching 30 million, his once sleek and menacing appearance replaced by a larger, more monstrous figure. His muscles bulged grotesquely, horns jutted from his head, and his eyes gleamed with the rage of a cornered beast.

Kairos, standing a few feet away, barely flinched. He could feel the surge in Cooler's power, but it didn't faze him. He still hadn't tapped into even half of his potential. As Cooler charged, the ground trembled under the sheer force of his movement, but Kairos remained calm, his muscles loose, his energy carefully contained. He darted forward to meet Cooler's attack, both warriors colliding with a shockwave that rattled the very air around them.

Cooler's strikes were brutal—heavy fists swinging with the power of a planet. Every punch carried enough force to flatten mountains, but Kairos dodged with minimal effort, weaving in and out of the barrage. Despite his superior speed and reflexes, he allowed a few punches to land, feeling the sting of each blow as they crashed against his body. His lips tightened, but there was no real pain, just a mild annoyance.

"You're stronger," Kairos acknowledged between clashes, his voice steady even as Cooler's fists rained down. "But it's still not enough."

As Cooler snarled and threw another punch, Kairos shifted his stance, sidestepping the blow before delivering a swift kick to Cooler's midsection. The impact sent Cooler skidding backward, his feet gouging deep trenches into the cracked earth. Kairos straightened up, his eyes narrowing in focus. It was time to push back, just a little.

He let his power rise, his aura flaring subtly as his combat power surged to 40 million. The energy rippled around him, creating a faint golden glow that pulsed with intensity. It wasn't anywhere near his full potential, but it was enough to shift the tide.

The fight resumed, and this time, Cooler found himself on the defensive. Kairos moved faster, his punches hitting harder, each strike calculated and precise. Cooler's massive frame made him slower in this form, and Kairos exploited every opening with ruthless efficiency. A flurry of kicks and punches rained down on Cooler, battering his armor and forcing him back. The once-imposing tyrant was struggling to keep up.

Blow after blow landed, and soon, blood began to drip from Cooler's mouth. His snarls of rage became more desperate as Kairos danced around him, landing hits with ease. The difference in their power was clear now. Every time Cooler tried to retaliate, Kairos was one step ahead, dodging, countering, and striking with lightning-fast precision.

"You're getting sloppy," Kairos remarked as he sidestepped another wild punch, delivering a punishing elbow to Cooler's ribs that sent him crashing into a nearby boulder, shattering it into dust.

Cooler staggered to his feet, his chest heaving, his eyes burning with unbridled fury. Humiliation seared through him as he wiped the blood from his mouth. This Saiyan—this insolent fool—was toying with him. Cooler, the emperor of the universe, was being made a fool of on this forgotten planet. His anger boiled over, and in that moment, he decided he was done playing games.

With a guttural roar, Cooler's body erupted with energy. His monstrous second form began to shift once more, his muscles retracting, his body slimming down, but his power skyrocketing to an unimaginable level. His bio-armor cracked and fell away, revealing his sleek, streamlined fourth form—his true form. His skin gleamed with a metallic, silver-white sheen, and his eyes glowed with a menacing, blood-red intensity.

Kairos felt the sudden, overwhelming surge of power as Cooler completed his transformation. The ground quaked beneath the sheer force of it, and the air around them became heavy with Cooler's murderous intent. His power level had spiked drastically, now reaching a staggering 470 million—nearly incomprehensible. The planet itself seemed to groan under the weight of Cooler's new energy.

Cooler grinned, his voice cold and dripping with malice. "You've humiliated me for the last time, Human . This ends now. I'll crush you, and I'll make sure your death is slow."

Kairos stood his ground, watching as Cooler's aura crackled with devastating power. His expression was calm, but there was a spark of excitement in his eyes. This was what he had been waiting for—the real challenge. He could feel the shift in the air, the gravity of the moment. Cooler had unleashed his full might, and now, the real battle would begin.

Without another word, Cooler vanished in a blur of speed, reappearing directly in front of Kairos, his fist crashing down like a meteor. Kairos barely had time to block, and even then, the force of the blow sent him skidding backward, his feet digging trenches in the ground.

Kairos' muscles tensed, and his aura flared even brighter as he planted his feet and prepared for the onslaught. Cooler's attacks came in fast and hard, each strike a blur of deadly precision. Kairos blocked and parried, but the sheer weight of Cooler's new power was undeniable. It was a far cry from the previous fight.

Cooler's laughter echoed through the battlefield as his attacks intensified. "What's the matter, Human ? Feeling outmatched?"

Kairos grit his teeth, the sting of each punch and kick resonating through his body. He had underestimated the jump in Cooler's power, but he wasn't worried. Not yet. This was still part of the game.

He grinned, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. "Not outmatched. Just getting started."