The battle raged on, Vegeta smirking at Goku's struggle as the Z-Fighters watched anxiously from the sidelines. Goku, breathing heavily, stood his ground despite the overwhelming power of the Saiyan prince.
"Looks like you're running out of tricks, Kakarot," Vegeta taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. "Pathetic. You're nothing compared to me."
Goku wiped the sweat from his brow and dropped into his stance. "I've still got one thing left," he said with a calm confidence that sent a chill down Vegeta's spine.
The air around Goku shifted, a sudden surge of energy igniting his aura into a fiery red glow. His muscles tensed, veins bulging slightly as his power skyrocketed. "Kaioken!" he roared, his voice reverberating through the battlefield.
The ground trembled as Goku's energy exploded outward. The Z-Fighters shielded their eyes from the blinding aura, and Bell's attention sharpened, his unique heterochromatic eyes beginning to glow faintly.
Bell stood motionless, his gaze locked onto Goku. The change in his six eyes, which had undergone a new mutation upon his arrival in this world, was striking. The once blue hues were now starkly different—one a luminous purple and the other a silvery, icy blue with faint remnants of their original azure glow.
As Bell observed Goku's transformation, his vision seemed to magnify the flow of energy within the Saiyan's body. Kaioken's intricate mechanics were laid bare before him: the strain on the musculature, the precise manipulation of ki, the way it amplified not just strength but speed and reflexes.
"Fascinating," Bell murmured, his voice low enough that only Krillin, standing nearest, could hear. "It's a remarkable technique—primitive, but effective."
With a flick of his wrist, Bell willed his own energy to adapt. His body, ever responsive to his godly nature, began to replicate and optimize the Kaioken process. Divine ki flowed effortlessly through him, exponentially enhancing the technique's output while mitigating its destructive toll on the body.
Bell's aura flickered for a brief moment, a faint red hue enveloping him. The Z-Fighters didn't notice, too engrossed in Goku's battle, but Goku glanced toward Bell, sensing something strange.
Bell gave a small nod. "Kaioken, optimized," he said softly. "I'll refine it further later."
Vegeta, irritated by Goku's sudden surge in power, snarled. "You think this is enough to match me?!" He raised his hand, a malicious grin spreading across his face. "I'll show you true power, Kakarot!"
With a loud yell, Vegeta threw a small device into the air. The sky darkened momentarily as a false moon appeared, radiating blinding light. The prince's body began to shift, his muscles bulging, his frame growing exponentially larger.
In seconds, Vegeta stood towering over the battlefield in his Great Ape form, his deep, guttural laughter echoing ominously. "Behold!" he roared, his voice now a booming growl. "The might of a Saiyan elite in his true form!"
Bell watched the transformation with a quiet intensity, noting the immediate spike in Vegeta's power level. He turned to Goku, who was visibly shaken by the sight of the monstrous Vegeta.
"Goku," Bell said, his voice steady and reassuring. "That's a tenfold increase in power. Can you handle it?"
Goku clenched his fists, sweat dripping from his brow. "I... I don't know," he admitted. "He's so strong."
Bell placed a hand on Goku's shoulder. "Then try. If you fail, I'll step in. But you need to push yourself. That's the only way you'll grow."
Encouraged by Bell's words, Goku nodded and launched himself at Vegeta.
The battle was short-lived. Vegeta's Great Ape form proved too much for Goku, even with Kaioken. Each blow from the massive Saiyan sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield, and Goku's attempts to counter were met with overwhelming force.
Eventually, Goku was sent hurtling into a rocky outcrop, his body battered and bloodied. Vegeta laughed triumphantly, raising a massive hand to deliver the finishing blow.
But before he could strike, Bell appeared behind Goku in a blur of motion. He caught the unconscious Saiyan and vanished again, reappearing near the Z-Fighters.
"Give him the last Bean," Bell ordered, placing Goku gently in Gohan's arms.
Gohan quickly obeyed, and Goku's body glowed faintly as the bean worked its magic. He shot awake moments later, his injuries healed and his power significantly boosted thanks to the Zenkai effect.
Bell turned back to Vegeta, his expression calm yet commanding. The Z-Fighters felt a shift in the air as Bell strode forward, positioning himself between them and the massive ape.
Bell's stance was unlike anything they'd seen. It was fluid yet precise, combining elements of countless martial arts into a single, perfect style. Even Goku, still recovering, marveled at the sheer mastery Bell exuded.
"This guy's incredible," Goku muttered. "He's... flawless."
Bell's aura began to shift again, the faint red hue of Kaioken returning, but this time it was different. The energy radiating from him was almost divine, and the ground beneath him didn't tremble. The sky didn't darken. It was as if Bell had absolute control over his power.
Bell's voice rang out, calm yet resonant. "Kaioken, times five."
Vegeta's scouter, though unable to read his divine ki, exploded from the sheer presence of his energy. King Kai, watching from his planet, froze in disbelief.
"Goku," King Kai said urgently, his voice trembling. "This guy... Bell... He's not someone you want to upset. Ever. Remember that."
The battlefield grew silent as everyone, including Vegeta, stared at Bell. His crimson-red aura flickered around him like a living flame, and his eyes glowed faintly, one purple, one silver-blue.
Vegeta's Great Ape form let out a low growl, but Bell remained calm, his gaze locked on the towering Saiyan.
The showdown had begun.