"Impossible!"
This was the first time fear appeared in Vegeta's eyes within the Secret Realm.
Not only had the Star Guardian survived the Final Flash, but he had also used the power of the stars to transform into the likeness of Son Goku.
"Hello, Vegeta. What's going on with this look of yours?"
Listening to the Star Guardian, whose voice and appearance were identical to Son Goku's, Vegeta's fear vanished. He flared his aura once more, his expression cold as he gritted his teeth and said, "Kakarot, Star Guardian! That fellow Kakarot isn't someone you can just copy!"
"Haah! Aah! Aah!"
The golden aura vanished, and electrical arcs crackled even more visibly around his entire body.
Super Saiyan 2 Full Power was here!
"Whoosh!"
Vegeta flashed forward and landed a punch squarely on the face of the Star Guardian, who wore Son Goku's face.
At this, a confident smile returned to Vegeta's face.
The Star Guardian Son Goku curled the corner of his mouth into a smile and let out a loud shout, golden aura and lightning swirling around his entire body.
Super Saiyan 2 Full Power!
Vegeta was startled, but he quickly calmed down.
"That's right. Only a Kakarot like this is worthy of making me strike."
"Ha—yayaya!"
"Tatatat! Tatatat!"
The two figures collided, and shockwaves of punch force and explosive sounds echoed continuously through the air.
Vegeta smashed a punch into the Star Guardian's body, and the latter countered with a knee strike. Reacting instinctively, Vegeta countered with a knee strike of his own.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
The two locked hands in a contest of strength, neither able to gain the upper hand.
With a tacit understanding, both let out a loud shout. The instant the golden light burst forth, Vegeta seized the timing, kicked Son Goku away, and brought his hands up to form Energy Blasts.
"Haddadadadad!"
Going all out with direct firepower, he unleashed a barrage of Energy Blasts—the Prince Technique.
"Boom-boom, boom-boom-boom!"
The Star Guardian paid no mind to this ki-wasting attack method, using Instant Transmission to appear directly behind Vegeta, and delivered a heavy hammer-fist that sent Vegeta flying.
As he hurtled backward, Vegeta felt a sharp pain in his back. He hurriedly steadied his body and brought his hands up in defense.
A deep blue Ki Blast struck Vegeta's arms and dissipated.
"Instant Transmission, Kamehameha... You irritating bastard, how could I possibly fall behind?"
Vegeta's battle power rose once more.
With a sudden flash, he surged upward, throwing a punch imbued with terrifying power that struck the Star Guardian directly.
The power of this punch caused a change in the Star Guardian's eyes.
Seeing this, Vegeta shouted excitedly, "Hmph! Just an imitation Kakarot—how could I possibly fail? Take this!"
Vegeta arched his body upward, purple energy gathering in his hands.
"Galick Gun!"
"Boom-roar!"
The purple Ki Blast struck the Star Guardian, forcing him back a few steps.
However, just as he had seized the advantage in the match, Vegeta's golden hair vanished, and he dropped out of his transformed state.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
He panted heavily.
"Damn it! My stamina and ki are completely exhausted, and I was just that close."
There was no footing to be found in this space, so Vegeta had to keep using the Flight technique. Having spent eight months here and fought numerous opponents during that time, it was needless to say that the improvement he had gained was absolute, yet he was still no match for the Star Guardian.
"Truly worthy of the being the Secret Realm warned about, but I simply cannot accept falling here now. Ha!"
With a loud shout, Vegeta surged with fighting spirit once more—or rather, the pride that belonged to him—and charged toward the Star Guardian.
The moment he touched him, he vanished straight into the Star Guardian's body. The Stellar Power began to pour into his own body, with the vast majority fusing into his physical form, and a tiny fraction entering his internal structure.
At that very moment, Vegeta fell into a deep sleep.
...
...
...
Race: Saiyan. Royal bloodline: Vegeta.
Gained the recognition of the Star Guardian and acquired the Astral Body.
The voice of the Secret Realm resounded, and Vegeta found himself back outside the Secret Realm, on Planet Yardrat.
"Yade, why did you stop talking? Why couldn't I learn Instant Transmission for three months? Where did I go wrong?"
Yade snapped back to his senses.
"Vegeta is out. Are you coming with me?"
"Eh? Vegeta?"
The System prompted: The time-limited mission has one month remaining. The mission target is in the host's vicinity. Host, please hurry.
"Are you going, Xie Yi? If you're not going, I will. I need to hurry and bring Vegeta over, or I'll get chewed out again."
Hearing this, Xie Yi said, "I'm going! Why wouldn't I go?"
The reward was about to arrive; did he even need to choose? Straight to Super Saiyan 3. But...
"System, if I defeat Vegeta and choose Super Saiyan 3, what happens to my Super Saiyan 2?"
The System has already sent the mission choice reward to the host. However, the host still cannot go to Earth for the next year; otherwise, the mission reward will be reclaimed, and transforming into Super Saiyan 2 will rely entirely on the host's own cultivation.
"Understood."
Xie Yi put his arm around Yade's shoulders, and with another flash, the two of them saw Vegeta—a Vegeta in perfect condition.
As soon as he saw Vegeta, Xie Yi asked doubtfully, "What on earth have you been practicing? Your battle suit isn't damaged at all. Don't tell me you brought a Hoi-Poi Capsule?"
Hearing this, Vegeta looked at Xie Yi and said indifferently, "A defeated foe, why are you here? Could it be... No matter. In any case, my objective has been achieved now. It's time for the decisive battle with Kakarot."
He turned and commanded Yade, "Hey, Yardratian, take me to the spaceship. I'm leaving."
Yade paid no mind to Vegeta's unkind tone.
"Alright, please follow me."
Seeing that Vegeta had mocked him and was about to leave, regardless of whether the reward was important or not, the issue of face had to be resolved.
Xie Yi flashed and appeared right in front of Vegeta.
"Before you head back, Vegeta, why don't you let me see your current power? I felt Son Goku's power that day—let me test whether the current you has the strength to defeat him."
Vegeta said mockingly, "Since you're out of your mind, let me, the Prince of Saiyans, wake you up and show you that just anyone cannot challenge me, Vegeta."
"Fine, fine, fine, you're amazing. But you still couldn't catch up to a low-class warrior, Son—Go—ku."
Vegeta frowned, on the verge of exploding.
"What—did—you—say!"