The arena was electric as Raditz stepped into the ring for his match against Velkaris, the Void Walker. Her entrance was a spectacle—one moment, the space beside him was empty, and the next, she stood there, her body flickering like a mirage.
The crowd roared, sensing an intense battle ahead.
Velkaris regarded Raditz with a calm intensity. "You've crushed brute strength and raw power so far. Let's see how you handle precision and control."
Raditz smirked. "I hope you're more than just smoke and mirrors."
Velkaris vanished as the gong sounded, leaving afterimages in her wake. Her speed was unnatural, her movements almost impossible to track.
Raditz took a deep breath, closing his eyes momentarily. "Focus," he told himself, relying on his ki senses instead of his eyes.
Velkaris's first strike came from behind—a swift kick aimed at his head. Raditz sidestepped at the last moment, countering with a spinning backhand. But his fist hit only air as Velkaris disappeared again.
"You're fast," Raditz said, his tone even. "But speed isn't enough to beat me."
Velkaris appeared several meters away, her hands glowing with dark energy. She unleashed a barrage of energy spheres, each one curving unpredictably toward Raditz.
Raditz raised a hand, creating a barrier of ki that deflected most of the blasts. One slipped through, grazing his arm and burning his skin.
"Impressive," Raditz admitted. "But I've got a few tricks too."
Raditz focused, using one of the newer techniques he'd mastered—a rapid ki pulse. Small bursts of energy rippled out from him in all directions, disrupting Velkaris's teleportation mid-move. She stumbled as she reappeared, giving Raditz the opening he needed.
In an instant, he closed the distance between them, landing a powerful punch to her midsection. Velkaris doubled over but quickly teleported away before he could follow up.
From the edge of the arena, she wiped blood from her mouth, her eyes blazing with determination. "You've forced me to use my full strength. Few have done that."
Velkaris raised her hands, and the air around the arena grew heavy. A swirling vortex of energy formed behind her, pulling debris and light itself into its depths.
"This is my domain," she said, her voice echoing unnaturally. "The Void consumes all."
Raditz felt the pull of the vortex, his body struggling to resist. "Not bad," he said, gritting his teeth. "But let's see if it can handle this."
He powered up, his aura flaring brilliantly, pushing back against the void. With a roar, he unleashed a massive double ki blast, one from each hand. The twin blasts collided with the vortex, creating a shockwave that rocked the coliseum.
Velkaris tried to teleport again, but Raditz anticipated her move, appearing behind her and delivering a crushing elbow to her back. She hit the ground hard, unable to rise.
Raditz stood over Velkaris, offering her a hand. "You're strong," he said simply. "But I'm stronger."
Velkaris hesitated, then accepted his hand, standing shakily. "You've earned your place in the finals," she said. "But don't underestimate Kain. He's unlike anyone you've faced."
---
The Final Challenge: Kain
The arena grew silent as the next match was announced. Raditz vs. Kain.
From the shadows, Kain emerged—a tall figure clad in dark armor, his face obscured. His energy was oppressive, unlike anything Raditz had felt before.
"Another Saiyan," Kain said, his voice deep and measured. "It's been a long time since I've encountered one of your kind."
Raditz narrowed his eyes. "You've fought Saiyans before?"
"More than fought," Kain replied. "I've destroyed them."
The crowd fell into an uneasy silence, sensing the tension between the two fighters.
High above, the shadowed entity watched with keen interest. "This fight will determine his true potential," it murmured. "And whether he's worthy of my attention."
The stage was set for an epic confrontation, one that would push Raditz to his limits.
The air in the arena felt suffocating as Raditz and Kain stood face to face. The audience had fallen silent, their collective anticipation palpable. Kain's presence was oppressive, his ki vibrating with a primal intensity that resonated deep within Raditz's Saiyan instincts.
Raditz clenched his fists, his aura flaring to life. "Let's see if your bark is as strong as your bite."
Kain smirked. "Careful what you wish for, Saiyan."
The gong echoed, signaling the start of the fight. Kain moved first, his speed catching Raditz off guard. His armored fist collided with Raditz's forearm as he blocked, the impact sending shockwaves through the arena.
Raditz countered with a roundhouse kick aimed at Kain's midsection, but Kain caught his leg, twisting it and hurling Raditz across the ring. Raditz flipped mid-air, landing gracefully and immediately launching a barrage of ki blasts.
Kain deflected them with a wave of his hand, his aura shimmering like a shield. "Is that all?" he taunted.
Raditz grinned. "Not even close."
He vanished, reappearing behind Kain and driving his elbow toward the back of his head. Kain anticipated the move, ducking and retaliating with an upward punch that grazed Raditz's jaw.
Raditz backed away momentarily, studying Kain. His opponent's movements were precise, almost mechanical, yet his strength and speed were undeniable.
"Where did you come from?" Raditz asked, circling Kain.
"I was once a champion like you," Kain replied, his voice steady. "But I transcended. The path you walk is one I've mastered—and discarded."
Raditz scoffed. "Then show me what makes you so special."
Kain obliged, raising his hand and summoning a spear of condensed energy. He hurled it at Raditz, the projectile tearing through the arena floor as Raditz narrowly dodged.
Raditz's aura flared brighter, his power level surging as he tapped into the techniques he'd mastered. He charged at Kain, weaving through his attacks with newfound speed and precision.
The arena quaked as their blows collided, each strike sending shockwaves through the crowd. Raditz feinted left, then drove his knee into Kain's gut, finally landing a solid hit.
Kain staggered but recovered quickly, his dark aura intensifying. "You're stronger than I thought," he admitted. "But you're still holding back."
Raditz smirked. "You don't know the half of it."
He raised his hand, summoning an energy sphere that crackled with raw power. Kain's eyes narrowed as the energy grew denser, the heat searing the air around them.
Raditz hurled the sphere, its impact creating an explosion that consumed half the arena. When the dust settled, Kain stood at the edge, his armor cracked but his resolve unshaken.
"You're not the only one with tricks," Kain said. His aura shifted, turning an ominous shade of black. He dashed forward, faster than before, and landed a crushing blow to Raditz's chest.
Raditz skidded across the ground, coughing as he felt the impact reverberate through his body. "Not bad," he said, wiping blood from his mouth. "But I'm just getting started."
He powered up further, his ki forming a vortex around him. The crowd erupted in cheers as Raditz's strength reached new heights, his power level finally surpassing the wall he had been struggling against.
As the battle raged on, the shadowed entity watched intently. "Raditz has exceeded expectations," it murmured. "But will he endure what's to come?"
Raditz, now glowing with newfound energy, locked eyes with Kain. "This ends now," he declared, charging forward with everything he had.
Their fists met in the center of the ring, creating a shockwave that shattered the arena's barriers. The ground beneath them crumbled as they exchanged blows, neither willing to back down.
Raditz tapped into his Oozaru power, siphoning its immense strength into his base form. His attacks grew more ferocious, overwhelming Kain's defenses.
Kain attempted one last counterattack, summoning a massive energy blade, but Raditz intercepted it with a crushing strike that shattered the blade and sent Kain flying.
Kain hit the ground hard, unable to rise. Raditz stood over him, victorious but breathing heavily.
The crowd roared as Raditz was declared the champion. He raised a fist in triumph, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
"Is this enough?" he wondered. "Or is there more out there waiting for me?"
The shadowed entity smiled. "He's ready for the next challenge," it said, disappearing into the void.
Raditz's journey was far from over. His victory in the arena was just the beginning of a new chapter, one that would test his strength and resolve like never before.