Noticing Vegeta's aura skyrocketing, Moro was not alarmed but pleased. "There are such powerful warriors here? This planet is truly surprising me. I'm starting to not want to destroy it."
"Earth is not a place where a cosmic barbarian like you can run wild!" Vegeta roared. He could now fully identify as an Earthling.
With that, he transformed into a golden meteor that tore through space, charging fiercely at Moro.
His speed, power, and explosive force were worlds apart from his Super Saiyan 2 form.
Bang! Boom! Thud!
The battle instantly reached its peak!
Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta's attacks were like a violent storm, each punch and kick carrying the power to shatter stars.
Moro's seemingly withered body, under such fierce attacks, began to retreat step by step.
"Great!" Krillin couldn't help but cheer.
Shin also breathed a small sigh of relief. It seemed the power of Super Saiyan 3 was indeed sufficient to confront, or even suppress, the aged Moro.
However, there was no trace of panic in Moro's murky yellow eyes.
"Good energy, very... delicious..." Moro's hoarse voice sounded in the gaps between the fierce clashes.
Vegeta soon sensed something was wrong.
He felt that every time he exchanged blows with Moro, or their Ki Blasts collided, the vast energy contained in his attacks wasn't completely consumed. Instead, a portion would inexplicably disappear.
At first, he thought it was an illusion, but as time went on, the feeling grew more pronounced.
The energy inside his body was draining at a rate far exceeding normal combat consumption.
Conversely, looking at Moro, although he was still being pushed back by Vegeta's fierce attacks, Moro's aura was not weakening. On the contrary, it was slowly but steadily increasing.
'He's absorbing my energy?' Vegeta was startled, and his offensive involuntarily slowed for a moment.
Moro seized this fleeting opportunity. His withered palm pierced through Vegeta's defense and pressed against his chest.
"Ugh!" Vegeta grunted, feeling a terrifying suction coming from that palm. The energy inside his body gushed out like a bursting dam.
He quickly erupted with aura to blast Moro away, but from just that one contact, he felt at least five percent of his energy had been drained.
"Oh no!" Shin saw it clearly, his face turning pale again. "Moro is absorbing Vegeta's energy. If this continues, Vegeta will be drained dry!"
"Goku, quickly, you must also join the fight! Now is not the time to focus on single combat!"
Hearing Shin's plea, Goku hesitated.
The pride of a Saiyan warrior made him reluctant to interfere in Vegeta's fight.
Seeing his hesitation, Shin said urgently, "Goku! Think carefully! This is no longer about your personal honor!"
"Moro is a planet-eater, the cancer of the universe!"
"If he defeats Vegeta and recovers more energy, the next to suffer will be Earth, your home!"
"Do you really think your personal pride is more important than the survival of Earth?"
The struggle on Goku's face gradually faded. He looked at Vegeta, who was beginning to pant in the ring, and said in a deep voice, "Vegeta, sorry. I'm coming."
Vegeta had just been sent flying by a heavy blow from Moro infused with absorption. Hearing Goku's words, he wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth.
Although his face was full of reluctance, he did not refuse.
Clearly, he too realized the gravity of the situation now.
"...Hmph! Do what you want! Just don't hold me back!" Vegeta grudgingly snorted, essentially acquiescing to the alliance.
"Raaah!" Goku hesitated no longer, letting out a low roar, transforming into Super Saiyan 3 as well.
Another pillar of golden light shot up into the sky, complementing Vegeta's aura.
Two Super Saiyan 3 warriors joining forces was far more potent than simple addition.
Although their coordination wasn't seamless, their absolute power and vast combat experience turned the tide once more.
Golden Ki Blasts rained down like a storm. Their combined fists and kicks formed an impenetrable attack net, firmly suppressing Moro between them.
Although Moro could absorb energy, facing the combined assault of two Super Saiyan 3 warriors, his absorption rate seemed unable to keep up with the consumption rate, and he was once again on the defensive.
"There's hope!" Shin's hope was rekindled.
However, the good times did not last long.
After adapting to the initial fierce assault, Moro's strange ability manifested once more.
He no longer sought direct confrontation but instead adopted a hit-and-run and defensive posture.
He used magical shields, and even deliberately took non-lethal attacks with his body, to maximize the absorption of energy radiating from the two Saiyans' attacks.
He was like an extremely efficient energy converter, constantly turning Goku and Vegeta's vast Ki into nourishment for himself.
Gradually, the two Saiyan warriors also sensed the anomaly.
Sometimes they would clearly hit Moro, and he would be injured, but his momentum would not noticeably weaken. Instead, his unsettling aura would slowly increase.
Yet their own consumption was alarmingly high. Maintaining the Super Saiyan 3 form was already extremely taxing, and now their energy was being constantly stolen.
With this shift, the advantage they had just gained was lost once more. Even fighting together, they were again gradually being pushed back by Moro, who even began to counterattack.
"How can this be?" Krillin watched anxiously.
Shin was also at a loss, his face ashen. Moro's ability seemed simply unsolvable.
He racked his brains but could not figure out how the Grand Supreme Kai had managed to seal this monster back then.
Just as everyone was sinking into despair, Moro, contrary to expectations, flew into a rage.
"Who? Who is stealing my energy?"
Everyone was stunned, 'Hadn't he been the one stealing Goku and Vegeta's energy?'
"Wait, could it be..." Shin suddenly realized, remembering there was another terrifying demon underground.
"Tee-hee-hee-hee." A harsh, shrill laugh came.
Babidi's short, wrinkled figure emerged from the spaceship half-buried under the sand dunes.
"Thanks to you, old goat, and you two golden-haired monkeys! The energy radiating from your fierce battle is simply wonderful."
"Thanks to you, the seal on Buu has finally gathered enough energy."
Moro's face turned cold. This bastard had stolen the energy that should have been his and still dared to show his face.
Seeing Moro's cold gaze, Babidi showed no fear.
"As a reward, I, the great Babidi-sama, will graciously accept you, a somewhat capable fellow, as my subordinate! You will serve my great cause of conquering the universe!"
With that, a purple-black light flashed in Babidi's eyes. He chanted an evil incantation, raising his hand to invoke the evil seed in Moro's heart, unleashing the dark magic that controlled the mind.
However—
Hum!
A dark purple magic shield materialized on Moro's body surface, easily deflecting Babidi's magical light.