The ground cracked beneath Mael's feet as Vegeta charged, his fists clenched and his expression hard. The air vibrated with the intensity of the energy surrounding him. He wasn't about to let this unknown power stand in his way.
Mael's mind raced as Vegeta closed the distance between them. His body moved on instinct, muscles reacting faster than his thoughts. A surge of energy coursed through his veins, fueling his reflexes. He braced himself as Vegeta's fist rocketed toward his face.
Instinct was all he had.
Mael dodged just in time, barely avoiding the crushing blow, but the force of the punch still sent a shockwave through the air. The arena shook, the wind knocked out of him as he stumbled back, trying to maintain his balance.
Vegeta didn't give him a second to recover. He leapt into the air, aiming a devastating kick at Mael's chest. But this time, Mael was ready. He jumped, meeting Vegeta mid-air with a strike of his own, using the power within him to launch a blow toward the Saiyan's side.
Vegeta grunted, the impact of the hit pushing him back a few feet, but he quickly regained his stance. He smirked, a glint of recognition in his eyes.
"Not bad," Vegeta scoffed. "You're strong, but you're no match for me."
Mael narrowed his eyes as Vegeta's energy flared up, a golden aura crackling around him. "You're not as bad as I thought," Vegeta continued, his voice low and filled with confidence. "But I'll show you how real power feels."
In an instant, Vegeta dashed forward, unleashing a flurry of punches, each one faster and stronger than the last. Mael barely had time to react, blocking and dodging as best as he could. His energy surged, but it wasn't enough to keep up with Vegeta's relentless assault.
"Stop this!" Mael exclaimed, his voice strained as he struggled to keep up. "I haven't done anything!"
Vegeta didn't listen. His fists hammered Mael from all angles, pushing him toward a large rock formation. Mael's back slammed against the rough surface, his body bruised and battered. The force of the last punch sent him crashing into the stone, and he gasped for air.
Vegeta grinned, his expression filled with satisfaction. "I warned you," he said, charging up for one final strike. "You're not on my level."
He threw a devastating right hook, the force of it enough to send Mael sprawling across the arena, unconscious.
"Maybe he wasn't as strong as I expected." Vegeta muttered, watching Mael's limp body with a mix of disappointment and caution. "Still… I should be careful. There's something about him."
The arena fell silent, the only sound the faint echo of Vegeta's words.
But then, a low rumble shook the ground. The air thickened with an electric charge, and a surge of power pulsed through the arena. Vegeta's eyes snapped open wide as the energy around him fluctuated.
Mael's eyes fluttered open, the whites of his eyes visible, his body still battered from the brutal assault. But within him, something stirred a force far greater than anything he had ever felt before. A roar of power erupted from deep within Mael's core, shaking the arena to its foundations.
Mael's body convulsed as his energy exploded outward, his aura flaring up in a wild, untamed storm. His muscles rippled with new strength, and his mind, once clouded with confusion, sharpened.
"Yes!" Mael roared, his voice booming. "I like this… I'm all warmed up!"
Before Vegeta could react, Mael's fist shot out with lightning speed, connecting squarely with Vegeta's jaw. The force of the punch sent Vegeta skidding back, crashing into a pile of rubble. Vegeta's mouth was slightly agape, his usual cocky grin replaced by a look of genuine surprise.
Mael stepped forward, his energy crackling around him like a storm. He was no longer the confused, uncertain being he had been when he first awoke. The power inside him was roaring to life, and he was eager to test its limits.
"Why don't you go Super Saiyan, Vegeta?" Mael taunted, a dark smirk crossing his face. "I can handle it."
Vegeta growled under his breath, wiping the blood from his mouth. His golden aura flared brighter as he gathered more energy. "You think you can handle my Super Saiyan form?!"
Mael's eyes narrowed, and in an instant, his own energy surged. His aura flickered like a dark fire, but it wasn't the familiar gold of the Super Saiyan. His hair remained black, but his eyes glowed with a fierce green intensity.
A strange transformation. It wasn't complete. It wasn't Super Saiyan in the traditional sense, but it was something else something more.
"So this is it," Mael murmured to himself, feeling the power coursing through him. "I can do this… I can control it."
Vegeta's eyes widened, his expression hardening as he faced Mael's new form. It was unlike anything he'd ever seen.