Ch. 31: 'Weakling' (4)

"You made a big mistake by throwing that power ball, Nappa." Raditz told his opponent, both in their Ape forms. Naturally, neither of them had lost control, stunning the Z-fighters who had known about Goku's volatile transformations into silence.

That was only natural. Nobody could have ever expected for the transformation that sent Goku into a horrible frenzy to be controllable. It was like watching someone direct the sun or something.

'Nappa still doesn't stand a chance, but knowing him, he'll realize that soon enough, and begin targeting the weaker Kakarot, weakening both of them before I deal the final blow. Once he dies, the power ball keeping us in Great Ape form may disappear, but I don't particularly need it to be stronger than those third-rates, anyways.' Vegeta thought silently, choosing to remain a spectator even in his Great Ape form. 

"You think? Alright, now where were we? Right about... here!" Nappa charged his ki, before blowing up the ground below them in his signature move. With his strength boosted by his giant ape transformation, rather than the ground becoming a small crater, the crater was so deep that nobody could see the bottom of it. Unfortunately for Nappa, though, that power was of no use in a real fight, since everyone in range had managed to dodge it during the charging phase.

"You think you can escape from me?! Fat chance!" Nappa yelled, chasing after Raditz and flying into the air. The two apes shared a few earth-shattering blows, but it quickly became apparent that the gulf between Nappa and Raditz's powers had only grown larger, because the larger ape quickly found himself on the losing end of their exchange. He was only able to take a breather when Raditz backed off voluntarily.

"SEE MY FULL POWER! Nobody mocks the great Nappa!" Nappa shouted, opening his jaw wider than it seemed possible, even for an ape. 

"Double Sunday!" As Nappa fired an incredibly powerful ki blast from his jaw, Raditz fired two blasts. As they clashed, they all heard a loud explosion come from somewhere far behind Raditz, but nobody paid it any mind, as Raditz's ki waves slowly overpowered Nappa's.

"Impressive. I didn't expect him to manage to stop that, Nappa was right in his face." Vegeta muttered, watching Raditz easily overpower Nappa.

"I won't even need to use the Kaio-ken attack to beat you, Nappa. I guess I was worried for nothing, huh?" Raditz gloated. Nappa didn't have a chance to answer, as his mouth beam was still being overpowered. Unfortunately for him, it still disrupted his concentration just long enough for Raditz's beam to obliterate his own, before hitting him in the face and blasting him backwards.

'I guess that's it for Nappa, then. I'll have to clean up his mess. Idiot completely failed me. Also, I wonder what this Kaio-ken attack is?' Vegeta thought to himself, already giving up on his partner's chances of winning, even as Nappa pulled himself out of his crater and attempted to fight Raditz again. This time, though, Nappa had put almost all of his energy into that one blast, so Raditz was able to easily knock him unconscious.

"Weakling." Raditz muttered, mocking Nappa as the power ball above them faded, causing all three Saiyans to change back to their normal states, though Nappa was unconscious, his Saiyan battle armor fractured into pieces.

"You're right, Raditz. Nappa really was a disappointment. I expected more from him than this, though I guess I should also give credit where credit is due. Your growth over this past year has been impressive." Vegeta told his former partner, clapping sarcastically, "He didn't even manage to land a single punch. Truly an embarrassing display from a Saiyan warrior." He said, clearly mocking his 'partner.'

"Even mighty warriors can die without a fight if they get the wrong opponent, Vegeta. You should know that by now." Goku said, alluding to Yamcha's death. 

Vegeta shrugged, "Still, Nappa's embarrassment of a fight has besmirched the name of the Saiyan elite.  Losing to a low-class dog like Raditz... I guess I'll have to regain my honor somehow. Perhaps by killing all of you." He told them mockingly. Since he trusted so much in his own power, he believed that it was a fact that he'd be capable of doing that, even though he hadn't seen Raditz's full capabilities during the last fight. 

"Like you killed Yamcha?" Goku asked, rage in his tone.

"I am far superior to that garbage over there, you know. I could honestly kill him, as well as all the trash still here, without breaking a sweat. As a show of goodwill, though, I'll refrain from doing so until I've thoroughly humiliated you both." Vegeta gloated.

"Oh yeah? Let's see you put your fist where your mouth is! Or maybe I'll do it for you!" Goku said.

"Might I suggest a change of venue, first?" Vegeta offered, glancing at the gigantic hole in the ground that Nappa had left, "it seems that weaklings tend to squeal a bit too loud before they die."

"He was your friend! He trusted you, and you call him garbage?!" Goku shouted, insulted that someone would treat their friends that way.

"He was more of an old acquaintance, really. Say your pathetic goodbyes, and choose an arena for our fight, or I'll just kill everyone here." Vegeta offered.

"Remember, Raditz. He's mine." Goku reminded his brother.

"Goku, be careful." Piccolo reminded his rival.

"He's a bit arrogant, but I have to admit, I really wish he wasn't so determined to end things this way. Vegeta really would make a good sparring partner." Goku answered Piccolo, making Tien laugh.

"That's just like you, Goku. Just... don't hesitate to end things if you need to." Tien told his old friend, knowing about Goku's habit of seeing potential friends where only enemies stood. It'd worked out for him so far, but Tien couldn't see Vegeta changing his ways that easily. Goku didn't answer verbally, but with a half-hearted nod. He wouldn't hesitate if he had no other choice, but Goku always believed that there was another way.