Chereads / In Dragon Ball as Goten Power Awaits / Chapter 23 - New Enemies

Chapter 23 - New Enemies

After six grueling months in the depths of space, Goten had finally achieved what no Saiyan before him could true mastery of Super Saiyan 3. His transformation was now stable and efficient, his brows intact and his aura focused rather than raging uncontrollably. The raw multiplier of his power had increased, from 400 times his base power to a staggering 500 times. As he sensed this newfound strength, a quiet confidence settled over him as his training was complete.

Goten watched the planet Yardrat grow larger through the ship's viewport as it began its descent. This world, known for its inhabitants' unique techniques and mastery of spirit-based energy control, was unlike any place he'd been to. The ship touched down gently, and as the doors opened, Goten stepped out onto Yardrat's surface, breathing in the alien air.

He looked around at the unique landscape: strange, spiraling rock formations dotted the terrain, and the atmosphere hummed with a calm yet powerful energy. Several Yardratians appeared, dressed in their traditional robes, their expressions warm and welcoming. One of them, an tall elder with a long, flowing robe and a staff adorned with strange symbols, stepped forward.

"Welcome, Goten," the elder said, his voice kind but resonant. "We have sensed your arrival. You are here to learn the ways of our people, yes?"

Goten nodded respectfully as he knew they could read someone's mind before they came which surprised him when his father Goku told him then he went everybody knew his name before he could even speak as Goten then says. "Yes, I am. I want to learn everything you're willing to teach me."

The elder smiled. "Then let us begin. We have much to teach you about spirit control, techniques that go beyond brute force. It will take focus and patience, qualities we see you have mastered in part. But there is always more to learn."

Goten felt a thrill of excitement, eager for the knowledge he was about to gain.

Back on Earth, Trunks stood in the training grounds with Goku, his aura sparking wildly as he struggled to push his power to new heights. After six months of relentless training, he was agonizingly close to achieving Super Saiyan 3. His body trembled under the strain, the telltale lightning crackling around him, as he focused every ounce of his energy into crossing that final barrier.

Goku watched him with an encouraging smile, both patient and eager. He remembered how hard it had been for him to achieve this form, the intense energy drain and focus it required. But Trunks had come so far and was showing remarkable progress.

"Just keep that energy steady, Trunks," Goku said, his tone calm yet enthusiastic. "Don't fight against the power let it flow through you. It's like balancing on the edge of a cliff; one wrong move, and you'll slip, but if you relax and trust yourself, you'll get there."

Trunks took a deep breath, letting his mind grow still, focusing inward. His muscles tensed, and his aura flared even brighter, but he resisted the urge to push too hard, recalling Goku's advice. Slowly, he felt his energy stabilize, the surge of power beginning to settle into a stronger, steadier state.

With a fierce shout, he almost crossed into the new form, but just as he neared the transformation, his energy slipped, and he fell back to Super Saiyan 2, breathing hard.

Goku placed a hand on his shoulder, grinning proudly. "You're doing amazing, Trunks. You'll get it any day now. Remember, it took me a long time too!"

Trunks managed a smile, nodding, though he was clearly exhausted. "I'll get it soon, my Dad's gonna be blown away when I do," he said, determination lighting his eyes.

Goku chuckled, giving him an encouraging pat. "Yeah, Vegeta sure will. And once you do, you'll be even stronger than before. Just keep at it!" The two went back to training, with Trunks resolved to achieve Super Saiyan 3.

The scene transitions to the dimly lit interior of an imposing spaceship, its walls adorned with alien technology humming ominously. In the center of the room stood a towering figure, shrouded in a long, flowing crimson cape. His eyes glowed faintly, exuding a sinister aura. This was Lord Xenthus, a conqueror feared across the galaxy, his power level a staggering 100 billion. Surrounding him were thirty warriors, each kneeling in unwavering loyalty, their power levels ranging from 10 to 50 million.

Xenthus stood before them, addressing his followers with a commanding tone. "The Dragon Balls... The key to ultimate power and immortality. They lie waiting on the insignificant planet called Earth. Once they are in my possession, no force in this universe will stand against me."

The warriors nodded in unison, their expressions filled with malice and anticipation. One of them, a grizzled soldier named Draxar with a power level of 50 million, stepped forward. "Lord Xenthus, with your might and our loyalty, Earth will be crushed. The Dragon Balls shall be yours."

Xenthus smirked, his eyes narrowing. "Indeed, but time is of the essence. I will not waste my efforts waiting. You, my elite ten, will take the vanguard. Board the swift vessel and secure the Dragon Balls for me. I want them collected by the time I arrive."

Ten of the warriors rose from their kneeling positions, their faces grim with purpose. Among them were some of Xenthus's most trusted and ruthless followers, each a formidable fighter with a lust for battle. Their leader for this mission was Kyron, a cunning and sadistic alien with a power level of 800 million, who reveled in destruction.

"We will not fail, Lord Xenthus," Kyron said with a twisted grin. "Earth's defenders will be no match for us."

Xenthus raised a hand, his voice cold and menacing. "Do not underestimate Earth. Its defenders have a history of defying the odds. But they are nothing before me. Go, and ensure my victory."

With a synchronized salute, the ten warriors boarded a smaller, streamlined spacecraft docked nearby. The ship roared to life, its engines glowing a menacing red as it prepared for departure.

"Kyron," Xenthus added as the group was about to leave, "bring me any who resist. Their suffering will be an example to the rest."

Kyron chuckled darkly. "As you wish, my lord."

The smaller ship launched at incredible speed, vanishing into the vast expanse of space. Inside, the ten warriors began discussing their strategy, each eager to prove themselves.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, life carried on as usual. Goku was sparring with Krillin, Tien, and Yamcha, continuing their Kaioken training. Trunks was back in the gravity chamber, pushing himself closer to achieving Super Saiyan 3, while Vegeta went to the time chamber to train. Goten, far from Earth, was deep in his Yardratian training, blissfully unaware of the looming threat.

Unbeknownst to Earth's defenders, Kyron and his team were mere hours away, ready to land and begin their hunt for the Dragon Balls.

Their arrival would mark the beginning of a new and dangerous chapter, one that would test the might of Earth warriors.

The next day as the sun rose over Earth, Goku was in the middle of a peaceful morning, stretching his arms wide in the open air. However, that tranquility didn't last long. Chi-Chi, with her usual stern demeanor, marched up to him, holding a basket full of vegetables.

"Goku!" she called out, frustration in her voice. "Come on! I need your help today!"

Goku blinked, his usual carefree expression turning into one of confusion. "Huh? What's going on, Chi-Chi?"

"We're going to sell our vegetables you farmed," she said, clearly not amused by Goku's delay. "There's a market in town, and I've been thinking. We can start selling our harvest to get some extra food. Our savings are running low."

Goku nodded, realizing how important this task was. "Alright, alright! I'm coming, Chi-Chi!" He smiled, excited to get to work, though not entirely thrilled by the thought of doing a manual labor job.

As they left for the farm, far away at Tien's house, the peaceful atmosphere was shattered. Tien was finishing his morning routine when suddenly, two men with sinister auras appeared before him, blocking his path. They looked human in shape, but their eyes glowed with an unnatural red hue. One had a long scar running down his face, and the other had a cruel grin stretched across his face.

"You're in the way," the scarred man said coldly, cracking his knuckles. "Step aside, and give us the Dragon Ball inside."

Tien narrowed his eyes, already sensing the danger. He had seen enough battles to know when trouble was near. "What do you want with the Dragon Ball?"

The other man stepped forward, a sneer plastered across his face. "The Dragon Ball you have... we're here to take it so our master can make his grand wish."

Tien's expression hardened. "I don't have time for this. Leave now."

The scarred man grinned, showing off a set of sharp teeth. "You can't refuse our master's wish." In a flash, both men lunged at Tien, moving faster than he could react.

Tien swiftly stepped to the side, attempting to counter, but the second man anticipated the move and grabbed his arm, holding him still. The first man swung a fist toward Tien's face, landing a solid blow that sent him crashing into the nearby dirt.

Gasping for breath, Tien quickly regained his footing, wiping blood from his mouth. "Who... sent you?"

The scarred man grinned wickedly. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that you're coming with us. You have something we need, and we won't leave without it."

Tien's mind raced. He couldn't let them get their hands on the Dragon Ball. But these two were stronger than anyone he had fought in a long time. He powered up, pushing himself into a fighting stance. "I won't let you have it," he said, determination in his voice.

But before he could launch his attack, the second man threw a powerful blast of energy at Tien, forcing him back. The two evil warriors weren't playing around they were prepared to do whatever it took to collect the Dragon Ball.

Tien gritted his teeth. He had to get away and warn the others. If they were after his Dragon Ball, they could very well be after the others too. But he needed to think quickly.

Suddenly, the scarred man lunged forward with a brutal punch, aiming to end the fight quickly. Tien barely dodged, but the blast from the punch destroyed a nearby boulder, shaking the area.

He knew he had to stall, to give himself time. But even as he tried to escape, the two evil warriors closed in, prepared to capture him at all costs.

As Tien activated Kaioken times 10, his power surged, and his aura flared brightly around him. His power level jumped from a mere 5 million to 50 million, allowing him to match the two evil warriors in strength. His eyes narrowed with focus as the warriors launched toward him.

Tien was faster than before and his attacks were landing with more precision. He moved with agility, dodging and countering with the power of the Kaioken amplifying each strike. The scarred man roared in frustration, while the second warrior's eyes widened, clearly surprised by the sudden surge in Tien's strength.

"You're stronger than we thought," the scarred man growled. "But not strong enough!"

Tien gritted his teeth. "I won't let you take the Dragon Ball. Not while I can still fight!"

With a roar, he launched himself into the air, using his enhanced speed to deliver a barrage of blows that pushed the warriors back. The evil fighters struggled to keep up, but they still held an edge in numbers. One of them swung a devastating energy blast, which Tien narrowly dodged, but the force of the explosion sent him hurtling through the air.

He steadied himself midair and powered up, focusing his energy. As the two warriors closed in on him, he pushed the Kaioken even further, trying to keep up the fight. His body ached from the strain, but he refused to give in.

Meanwhile, far away, on another part of Earth, Yamcha was also in the middle of a fight. His muscles tensed, sweat dripping down his brow as he fought with all his might. He had activated Kaioken times 5, his power at its limit, and was struggling to hold his own against Kyron, one of the enemy's elite warriors.

Kyron was a towering, formidable fighter with a power level of 800 million far beyond Yamcha's own limit. Each punch from Kyron sent shockwaves through the air, and Yamcha could feel the difference in their power with every blow. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't land a solid strike.

"You're weak," Kyron sneered, a cruel smile crossing his face. "You're no match for me. Now, give me the Dragon Ball."

Yamcha gritted his teeth, refusing to give up. "I won't let you take it."

With a desperate cry, Yamcha used the last of his strength to attack, activating his Kaioken the limit. His energy spiked for a moment, but it was clear that he was no match for Kyron's overwhelming strength. Kyron easily dodged the attack and slammed his fist through Yamcha's stomach with enough force. Yamcha struggled to stay conscious, his body crumpling to the ground in pain.

Before he could react, Kyron stomped down on his chest, pinning him to the ground. "It's over," Kyron said coldly. "And now, I'll take what's mine."

Kyron grabbed the nearby Dragon Ball and held it up, his victory secured. Yamcha, barely conscious, could only watch as his enemy stood over him with the prize. The last thing he saw before passing out was Kyron's grin, the Dragon Ball held high.

"Two down," Kyron muttered to himself, stepping over Yamcha's dead body as he moved toward his ship. "Just five more to go."

Back with Tien, the battle raged on. His Kaioken times 10 was slowly starting to take its toll on his body, but he wasn't going to let up. He continued to fight, landing a series of powerful blows on the two warriors. However, despite his enhanced power, it was clear that he couldn't maintain the fight much longer.

Just then, one of the evil warriors caught Tien off guard. With a swift movement, he delivered a brutal punch that sent Tien crashing to the ground. His vision blurred, and the pain from his own Kaioken attack surged through him. But he refused to stay down.

"Not... yet..." Tien whispered through gritted teeth. He stood up, struggling, but determined to continue but passed out.

As cutting off to Krillin he's at a City also being attacked by these followers as Krillin's body pulsed with the strain of Kaioken times 8, he struggled to maintain control. His power level was impressive for an Earthling, but compared to the overwhelming strength of the five evil warriors attacking him, it felt like a futile effort. Each of their strikes landed with brutal precision, pushing Krillin back with every blow. His aura flickered, the strain from the Kaioken taking a toll on his body.

He had fought many tough opponents in his life, but this was something different. Their combined power was too much. Krillin was able to land a few hits, but each time he did, the warriors would retaliate with crushing force. He felt the sharp sting of blows landing against his chest, sending him stumbling backwards.

"Damn it," Krillin muttered, blood dripping from his mouth as he stumbled, barely able to stay on his feet. His energy was waning, and the strain from using the Kaioken was starting to overwhelm him. He couldn't hold out much longer.

One of the warriors, a massive brute with thick, armored skin, charged forward with a savage grin. "This ends now, Earthling."

Krillin barely managed to raise his hands to defend himself when suddenly, a sharp whistling sound filled the air, followed by the screeching sound of multiple impacts. The ground shook beneath him as the massive brute was knocked off his feet, his body sent hurtling through the air.

The other warriors turned in shock, eyes widening in disbelief as they saw the attacker who had just intervened.

Standing tall, radiating an aura of fury and strength, was Android 18. Her cold, calculating eyes locked onto the five evil warriors. She was unphased by the situation, her demeanor unbothered as she surveyed the scene.

"Get your hands off my husband," she said with an icy tone, her voice carrying a clear threat.

Without hesitation, she darted forward. Her speed was blinding, each movement fluid and graceful as she closed the distance between her and the five warriors in an instant. One of them attempted to fire an energy blast at her, but she dodged effortlessly, appearing behind the warrior in the blink of an eye. With a swift and precise punch, she sent him sprawling to the ground, unconscious before he even knew what hit him.

The remaining four warriors charged in unison, hoping to overwhelm her with sheer force. But Android 18 was not to be outdone. She weaved through their attacks with ease, her movements a blur. A kick to the midsection of one warrior sent him crashing into the ground, the force of the blow creating a crater in the earth. Another attempted to land a strike from behind, but 18 spun around with lightning speed and delivered a crushing elbow to his chest, knocking the wind out of him.

"You're all so slow," 18 said coolly, her expression unmoved as the five evil warriors struggled to fight back.

Krillin, still recovering from his own struggle, watched in awe as his wife effortlessly dispatched the attackers. He hadn't seen her fight with this level of ferocity in a long time. She was a force to be reckoned with, and it was clear that she wasn't about to let anyone harm her family.

As 18 dispatched the last of the five warriors with a well-placed kick to the head, she turned to Krillin, offering him a smirk. "You're lucky I was in the neighborhood."

Krillin let out a breath of relief, wiping the blood from his lips as he straightened himself. "Thanks, 18... I was starting to think I was done for."

18 looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Don't get so careless next time. You know I can't always be around to save you."

Krillin chuckled weakly. "I know, I know. But you always have my back. I appreciate it."

As 18 offered him a hand to help him up, Krillin's senses suddenly tingled, his attention snapping back to the battlefield. He looked up, and for the first time, a sense of dread crept into his chest.

18 looks at Krillin as she tells him "We need to move, they after the Dragon Balls and our friends"

Krillin nodded, his mind racing. "We need to warn the others, and fast. The Dragon Balls... we're not just going to let them have them without a fight."

18 nodded in agreement. "Then let's make sure to get the others."

Just as they were preparing to leave, Krillin glanced at the unconscious bodies of the five warriors. His hands clenched into fists, his anger simmering. He had underestimated how dangerous these enemies were, but now that he knew the threat was real, he was ready to fight back. He wouldn't let Earth fall to these invaders not without a fight.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, the evil warriors were regrouping with Kyron. The group now possessed three Dragon Balls, but they knew that the fight for the remaining ones would only get harder from here.

"Three down, four more to go," Kyron muttered, eyeing the gathered Dragon Balls with dark satisfaction. "Earth's defenders will fall one by one, and soon, all the Dragon Balls be ours. Xenthus will have his immortality, and no one will stop us."

(Goten Base PL 190 Million)

(Goten Super Saiyan PL 9.5 Billion)

(Goten Super Saiyan 2 PL 19 Billion)

(Goten Super Saiyan 3 Full Power 95 Billion)

(Trunks Base PL 125 Million)

(Trunks Super Saiyan PL 6.25 Billion)

(Trunks Super Saiyan 2 PL 12.5 Billion)