Standing nearby, Goku curiously tried to look up at the artificial moon in the sky, but he was abruptly yanked back by Vegeta.
"Idiot, Kakarot! Now is not the time to transform. Do not look at that artificial moon, or you'll trigger the transformation," Vegeta scolded.
This fool Kakarot... does he not understand the rules of Saiyan biology at all? Vegeta fumed inwardly. To think this imbecile achieved Super Saiyan before I did! It is completely unjust.
"Ah! Sorry, sorry! I sense Lord Beerus's Ki over there! There is also a Saiyan Ki mixed in... it feels incredibly powerful and savage," Goku apologized.
In the past, he could not perceive Lord Beerus's divine Ki, but ever since mastering the Super Saiyan Blue transformation, he could now sense it.
"That energy signature is definitely Saiyan; he must have already transformed into a Great Ape. Furthermore, that Ape possesses the power of a Super Saiyan. Axis, is this the method to achieving Super Saiyan 4 you mentioned?" Vegeta asked.
Axis nodded. No way... My son is actually fighting Beerus? He thought with a mix of shock and pride. He truly has guts! As expected of my son, daring to take on a God of Destruction head-on. That's what a true Saiyan does, when you see a God of Destruction, you just charge right in!
Kratos's trump card was the Golden Great Ape.
In terms of Super Saiyan transformations, Kratos had already mastered Super Saiyan 3 and was theoretically infinitely close to the fourth stage. This fight might just be the perfect opportunity.
"The one fighting over there is my son, Kratos. Like your sons, he is also a Saiyan hybrid," Axis explained.
"Oh! You have a son too? That's awesome! Introduce him to Gohan later, your son looks really strong!" Goku said excitedly.
"His strength is decent. He can transform into the Golden Great Ape state, and his base Super Saiyan power has reached the level of Super Saiyan 3," Axis replied.
"Let's go take a look. Our battle can wait," Vegeta decided.
He wanted to study the Golden Great Ape. Theoretically, once transformed into a Golden Great Ape, the combat power was ten times that of a Super Saiyan 3. While such power might not quite reach the level of a Super Saiyan God, it pushed physical strength to its absolute zenith.
The three nodded in unison and flew toward the site of the fierce battle.
On the battlefield, Kratos was feeling incredibly frustrated. The Golden Great Ape swung its massive fists frantically, yet he could not touch the purple hairless cat in front of him.
When the fight began, Kratos hadn't held back like his father often did. Even if he verbally underestimated an opponent, he would never do so in actual combat, that was the lesson his grandfather had taught him.
He had started immediately as a Super Saiyan 3, but the result left him in disbelief. This purple hairless cat was agile to the extreme; the naked eye couldn't even track him. After fighting for what felt like ages, Kratos hadn't even grazed the corner of the cat's clothes. It was humiliating.
Pushed to his limit, Kratos unleashed his ultimate technique. He combined powerful psyker abilities with Ki to fabricate an artificial moon.
He then transformed directly into the Golden Great Ape to counterattack. However, the result remained the same, he still couldn't touch his opponent.
In fact, he performed even worse than in his human form; while the Golden Great Ape's raw power was undeniably immense, its speed was correspondingly reduced.
"Hey, hey, hey. Is that all you've got, kid? I thought transforming into a big monkey would give me a surprise, but after all that, you still can't hit me." Beerus hovered in mid-air and yawned loudly.
The kid's combat power was not bad. With his robust physical constitution combined with the Super Saiyan transformation, he was significantly stronger than Goku had been when they first met, and his durability was impressive.
He managed to pique Beerus's interest slightly; after all, Son Goku had been knocked out in just a few moves during their first encounter.
Unlike Goku, this boy could sense his God Ki. Although faint, Beerus could tell the boy was capturing snippets of it. Otherwise, he would have been floored right at the start.
Beerus sneered, reappearing behind the Golden Great Ape in an instant. He delivered a sharp kick to the back of Kratos's head, knocking the massive beast to the ground.
"Do you have a more impressive transformation? A clumsy giant monkey like this can't defeat me," Beerus taunted.
"Damn it! Raaargh!!" The Golden Great Ape roared in fury, beating its chest relentlessly as it glared savagely at Beerus.
Vegeta and Goku watched in shock. This Golden Great Ape looked incredibly imposing. Did Saiyans really possess such a transformation state?
"Calm down, Kratos. Compose yourself and face the battle. How did I teach you to fight?
"Regardless of the enemy, you must remain calm. You must maintain a peaceful state of mind to exploit the enemy's weaknesses.
"Do not let the power of the Great Ape control you; instead, you must control the Great Ape's power. Break through your limits right now and become a Super Saiyan 4.
"Otherwise, you are not qualified to fight the being before you. Accept the most primal power of the Ape." Axis hovered in the air, looking at his son.
The artificial moon in the sky had no effect on Axis, as he had already successfully achieved Super Saiyan 4.
Once mastered, there was no need to look at the Blutz Waves reflected by the moon. The Great Ape state was essentially an imperfect fragment of the Super Saiyan 4 power. Once SSJ4 was fully mastered, it equated to perfect control over the Great Ape's power, negating the worry of involuntary transformation.
"Father... I," Kratos took a deep breath, "I understand."
He once thought he couldn't achieve Super Saiyan 4 because his father said it required maintaining sanity within the Golden Great Ape form.
Kratos had always maintained his rationality.
But was that truly the case? The reason he could maintain his rationality was largely due to the Emperor's modifications, specifically his enhanced cognition, not because he had mastered the state under extreme pressure like his father.
Even as an Ape, a wave of frenzied destructive desire would well up in his heart. If he stayed in this form too long, even he might lose his reason.
"It seems someone is coaching you. Don't worry, kid, I won't sneak attack. I'll give you time, but don't make me wait too long," Beerus said with a smile, floating in the air.
He wouldn't take advantage of a crisis. Besides, defeating the boy in his current state would bring no sense of accomplishment. If the boy could become stronger, that would be delightful.
Kratos took a deep breath. Following his father Axis's guidance, he began to quiet his mind and reach out to the power of the Golden Great Ape.
Control it... Transcend limits...
His father's current form was Super Saiyan 4; he needed to learn by observation.
He stopped resisting the violent, instinctive power of the ancient giant ape within him. He stopped trying to forcibly suppress it with the logical implants endowed by the Emperor.
Instead, he accepted it. He felt the power surging through his veins like molten lava, felt the primitive wildness strong enough to shake the stars, and sunk his will into it.
"Roar... Haa..." A low growl rumbled from the depths of his throat. No longer manic, but filled with a certain majesty and resolve.
The brilliant light on the Golden Great Ape's body began to retract and condense, compressed by an invisible force.
Vegeta and Goku widened their eyes, holding their breath. They could clearly feel the terrifying energy stored within that colossal body undergoing a qualitative change.
It was shifting from chaotic primal force to something purer, deeper, and far more dangerous. It was identical to the current Axis, the Primal Power of the Great Ape.
"Here it comes..." A smile of pride tugged at the corner of Axis's mouth.
Beerus stroked his chin with interest. "Oh? Now it is getting interesting. This Ki..."
Suddenly, Kratos's massive golden body shuddered violently! Blinding crimson-gold light burst from within, instantly swallowing the Golden Great Ape form. The light was so intense that Goku and Vegeta had to shield their eyes.
The light did not expand endlessly but contracted and shaped itself rapidly.
When the glare faded, a new figure stood proudly between heaven and earth.
Kratos was no longer a giant ape; he had returned to human form. However, he was taller than his normal state, robust and upright.
A mane of thick black hair cascaded down to his waist like a lion's mane. His upper body was naked but covered in crimson fur stretching from his shoulders to his wrists, resembling armor forged from flame.
His legs were similarly covered in crimson fur, and a thick, powerful tail swayed forcefully behind him. His eyes were rimmed with red, and the aura radiating from him was terrifying.
Super Saiyan 4! Kratos had finally reached this realm. He closed his eyes to savor his new power.
The power of Super Saiyan 4 was leagues apart from Super Saiyan 3. The gap was comparable to the difference between a Super Saiyan and a regular Saiyan.
He was so strong now he could hardly believe it. This was true power!
Beerus's purple feline eyes finally opened fully. His laziness was swept away, replaced by genuine surprise and deep interest.
"Hoh! Impressive! Truly an impressive transformation! This Ki... is already very close to the realm of the Gods. Kid, what is your name?"
"My name is Kratos, Beerus." At this moment, Kratos no longer referred to him as a hairless cat.
Such a title would be an insult; the opponent's strength far exceeded his imagination. Kratos even felt Beerus was stronger than his father.
"Lord Beerus! You can enjoy yourself now. This is the ultimate form of the Saiyans in this localized universe, though he remains a mortal," Whis remarked from the sidelines.
This power was truly astonishing. Far stronger than ordinary gods. If a God of Destruction did not use Destruction Energy, it would be a roughly even match.
Beerus nodded. He memorized the name and looked forward to the ensuing battle.
"Th... This is Super Saiyan 4?" Goku cried out.
He could clearly feel the explosive power contained in that body; it was far beyond the level of the Golden Great Ape, causing the Saiyan blood within him to resonate and throb.
Vegeta stared at the figure, his eyes filled with disbelief and burning desire. "Is this the atavistic evolution beyond Super Saiyan 3? I am not mistaken... this is what a Saiyan was meant to look like. This is the primal Super Saiyan form."
Their Super Saiyan transformations were merely imperfect variations. The Great Ape state was also imperfect. But this... this appearance was what a Saiyan should be.
Full of wildness and rage, the most primal Saiyan form.
"Father, I did it," Kratos said, nodding to Axis.
"Hahaha! That is my son! Go, Kratos, go beat up that purple cat," Axis said, his eyes filled with relief and pride.
Beerus's mouth twitched. Your son calls me a hairless cat, and you call me a purple cat!
Damn it, I am going to thrash this father-son duo and teach them the majesty of a God of Destruction.
"That is amazing! Kratos, go let Lord Beerus see your power!" Goku shouted excitedly from the side.
Honestly, if only my Gohan had that kind of fighting spirit...
"Here I come!"
Before the words faded, Kratos's figure vanished.
"So fast!" Vegeta's pupils constricted.
This speed was far beyond before, faster even than their Super Saiyan Blue forms.
Beerus's eyes flashed, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful arc as he turned slightly sideways.
Bang!!
A fist covered in red fur and wrapped in dark red flame punched the air, missing Beerus's cheek by a hair's breadth!
The violent wind pressure tore the atmosphere apart instantly, plowing a visible rift across the distant sky.
"Speed is not bad!" Beerus commented. But his movements were not slow; he delivered a chop aimed at Kratos's wrist like lightning.
Kratos's fists turned into afterimages, assaulting Beerus, but the God effortlessly caught every strike with his hands.
A thick red tail whipped through the air with a screeching sound like a steel whip, aiming viciously for Beerus's midsection! This strike was tricky and ruthless, fully utilizing the Saiyan tail advantage.
"Using the tail too? Creative!" Beerus swayed ghost-like, dodging the tail by a millimeter, then landed a kick squarely on Kratos's chest as if teleporting.
Boom!
Kratos crossed his arms to block the kick. The red aura oscillated violently as his massive body skidded back several hundred meters. Roaring, he charged again.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
Explosions rang out like dense rain! Their clash caused the very sky of Earth to fracture.
The intensity was no less than when Goku fought Beerus as a Super Saiyan God, but Kratos was using no external power.
The God of Destruction was enjoying the fight immensely.