The land of Namek quaked beneath the clash of powers. Craters stretched for miles, rivers had boiled into steam, and the once-peaceful planet seemed ready to tear itself apart.
At the center of it all, Goku stood trembling, his Super Saiyan 2 aura flaring violently, lightning splitting the sky. His body was battered—blood dripping from his mouth, his arms scorched, ribs aching with every breath. He stared across at Golden Cooler, whose divine ki pulsed calmly, like the steady beat of a god's heart.
Cooler smirked, not a trace of fatigue on him. His golden form glowed brighter than the sun, his crimson eyes sharp with cruel amusement.
"Pathetic. Your aura rages like a storm, but it's a storm without direction. You can roar all you like, Saiyan, but in the end, you are nothing more than a candle before a star."
Goku staggered forward, fists clenched, aura crackling. His breathing was heavy, his vision blurred, yet his spirit refused to bow.
"Even if… I can't match your ki… I'll keep fighting. I don't care if it costs me everything!"
Cooler tilted his head, mocking.
"How noble. How pointless."
He blurred forward. Goku barely raised his guard before a golden fist slammed into his face, sending him tumbling across the scarred earth. Before he could recover, Cooler appeared above him, driving a knee into his stomach and smashing him into the ground.
Dust and rock exploded upward. Goku coughed blood, groaning as he tried to push himself up again. His aura flickered like a dying flame.
Cooler floated down slowly, arms crossed, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Do you feel it now? The gap between us? This is the difference between mortals and gods. You cannot bridge it with anger, or hope, or pride."
He extended his hand, a small sphere of divine golden energy forming at his fingertip. It shimmered silently, yet the ground beneath it cracked and hissed, unable to endure its presence.
Goku's eyes widened. He knew he couldn't dodge in time. His body refused to move fast enough.
Then—
A shadow moved.
On the nearby ridge, Rudra's fingers twitched. His body, bruised and broken, glowed faintly with his lingering chakra. His vision was blurred, but his will burned brighter than ever.
"Not… yet," he whispered, forcing himself to his knees. His palm pressed against the ground, and black tendrils of shadow began to creep outward. His Shadow Bandhan technique activated, reaching for Cooler's figure.
But Cooler's eyes flicked to the side instantly.
"Oh?" His smirk widened. "The insect still lives."
He vanished in a flash of gold.
Rudra gasped—then felt a crushing pain explode in his ribs. Cooler's golden-clad foot had slammed into his side, launching him like a ragdoll into a shattered boulder. Blood sprayed from Rudra's lips as he hit the ground, coughing violently.
Cooler strolled toward him, laughter echoing across the ruined battlefield.
"You dare try to attack me? Fool. Tricks and efforts are meaningless before divine power."
Rudra tried to rise, one hand trembling, but Cooler's tail lashed around his throat, lifting him into the air. Rudra gagged, clawing at the grip, his aura flickering weakly.
Cooler's crimson eyes glowed with sadistic delight.
"You are a nuisance. I should have ended you the moment you stood beside the Saiyan."
Goku, barely conscious, pushed against the ground, trying to rise.
"Stop… Cooler… don't!"
Cooler ignored him. His golden hand glowed with concentrated divine ki, aimed directly at Rudra's chest.
"Disappear, insect."
Rudra clenched his teeth, bracing himself for the end. His chakra reserves were drained. He couldn't absorb, couldn't bind, couldn't even move.
Goku screamed desperately, his voice breaking.
"NOOO!"
But just as Cooler's hand thrust forward—
A sudden blur flashed across the battlefield.
Cooler's eyes widened. His arm was intercepted—then a powerful kick slammed into his side. The golden tyrant was launched across the ground, tearing through rocks and smashing into the remains of a plateau.
The grip on Rudra's neck released instantly. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, clutching his chest in disbelief.
Goku froze. His tired eyes blinked in shock as he saw Cooler climbing out of the rubble, snarling with rage. But his attention wasn't on Goku anymore.
It was on the figure standing between him and Rudra.
A tall silhouette stood in the settling dust, cloak rippling with the wind. The figure's stance was steady, aura concealed, yet the sheer presence made the entire battlefield fall silent.
Cooler narrowed his eyes, growling.
"Who… dares interfere?"
Rudra, still coughing, looked up weakly at the mysterious savior. His mind swirled in confusion.
"Wait— is he...?"
Goku forced himself to stand, eyes wide, his heart pounding.
"That power… it's not like anything I've ever felt before…"
The figure remained silent, head tilted slightly forward.
Cooler wiped blood from his mouth, his smirk returning despite his rage.
"So… another insect crawls from the shadows. Very well. Show me what makes you bold enough to strike me."
The mysterious warrior lifted his head, eyes glowing faintly through the dust. But no words came. Only silence.
The air grew heavy with anticipation.
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