Goku's heart sank to rock bottom.
Under the blue light of the artificial moon, Vegeta's body began undergoing drastic changes.
Brown fur burst from his skin, rapidly covering his entire body.
His frame grew bigger… and bigger… and even bigger!
In an instant, a terrifying Great Ape—tens of meters tall, fanged, and monstrous—stood where Vegeta once was.
ROAR!!!
The Earth-shattering bellow shook the entire planet.
Great Ape Vegeta's power skyrocketed tenfold!
The crushing pressure made everyone feel suffocated.
"Oh? Great Ape transformation?"
"It seems it's time to stretch a bit. Otherwise, this show won't be fun to watch."
Great Ape Vegeta locked onto the tiny Goku on the ground.
A massive palm, like a falling shadow, descended.
Goku tried to dodge with the last of his strength, but the pain ravaging his body slowed him down.
Bang!
The giant hand slapped him into the ground, followed by an enormous foot stomping down.
"Er—ah—ah—ah!!!"
Goku screamed as though every bone in his body was about to shatter.
"Goku!"
"Dad!"
Krillin and Gohan, unable to stand by any longer, charged despite their fear.
Their combined attacks slammed into Great Ape Vegeta's leg.
But blows strong enough to cleave mountains only left two shallow white marks on the ape's thick fur.
"Get lost, bugs!"
Without even turning around, Great Ape Vegeta casually swung his tail.
A violent force smashed into them.
Krillin and Gohan were instantly flung across the battlefield, crashing hard into the ground.
The Great Ape's attention returned to Goku beneath its foot.
It opened its maw, gathering a destructive energy beam inside.
Vegeta intended to end this low-class warrior once and for all.
But then—
A sudden change!
Gohan, who had been knocked away, struggled and lifted his head.
His gaze locked onto the artificial moon.
A primal, Saiyan instinct erupted from deep within him.
His body swelled uncontrollably.
Within seconds, a second Great Ape appeared—slightly smaller, but every bit as wild.
Unlike Vegeta, Gohan completely lost his reason, becoming a mindless beast driven by instinct.
Great Ape Gohan roared and charged straight at the strongest aura in sight—Great Ape Vegeta.
The two giants collided instantly.
But the irrational Gohan was no match.
Within moments, Vegeta pummeled him into the ground, beating him until he lost consciousness.
Their last hope collapsed.
"The tail! That's it!"
Krillin stared at the thick tail swinging behind Vegeta, a spark of hope igniting.
"Destructo Disc!"
He gathered all his remaining energy, forming his strongest Destructo Disc yet.
The golden blade whistled through the air, slicing toward Vegeta's tail.
This was their final—and only—chance!
But Great Ape Vegeta only sneered and twisted his body.
The Destructo Disc barely grazed his tail, missing it and slicing a distant mountain in half instead.
Krillin's face went pale as he collapsed onto the ground, strength gone.
Loren glanced at Goku's miserable state.
"Seriously… he had to get himself into such a mess."
"It seems I, the bystander, have to actually do something—otherwise Son Goku's chances of dying alone are way too high."
The moment he finished speaking, Loren vanished from his perch on the rocky cliff.
Great Ape Vegeta was raising his hand, preparing to crush the unconscious Gohan.
Suddenly, his scarlet pupils shrank sharply.
A figure appeared in front of him—without warning—as if teleporting.
Floating in mid-air, face-to-face with the giant ape's head.
When did that human—no, that Saiyan—get there?!
Great Ape Vegeta roared and swung his massive palm at Loren, the force enough to pulverize mountains.
Loren casually dodged.
"You're really noisy."
Enraged, Vegeta smashed down with both arms.
Loren blurred, leaving an afterimage, and reappeared behind the Great Ape.
He reached out and grabbed the huge tail—thicker than his waist.
"Your strength went up… but unfortunately, your weakness just became even more obvious."
With a single mighty heave—
Loren swung the Great Ape.
RUMBLE—!!!
Vegeta's gigantic frame lost balance completely.
Like a gigantic sandbag, his body slammed into the ground.
The Earth shook violently, a massive crater forming instantly.
But Loren wasn't done.
Still gripping the tail, he used Vegeta like a titanic whip.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The battlefield was ravaged beyond recognition.
The once-proud Saiyan Prince could only scream in pain and humiliation.
Only when Loren finally got tired of playing did he flick his finger.
A golden ki blast shot out, slicing cleanly through Vegeta's tail.
Puff.
The tail severed.
The Great Ape's body shrank rapidly mid-air.
Vegeta crashed into the crater, returning to human form.
He stared blankly at the sky.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What… just happened?
Tragedy.
Absolute tragedy.
Loren landed gently on the ground, dusting off his hands.
He glanced at Vegeta—now reduced to "Tragedy-ta"—then at the unconscious Goku and Gohan lying in the distance, and finally at the terrified Krillin.
"Ah, I'm exhausted."
"Finally, this big trouble is solved!"