When the Galick Gun collided with the Kamehameha, it was precisely through this process of comparison that Vegeta understood how Son Goku was able to fight evenly with him without losing the upper hand.
Red aura wrapped in golden flames—this was none other than Son Goku's Super Saiyan combined with the Kaio-ken.
Increasing his output of energy, Vegeta shouted, "Kakarot, you bastard!"
*Oh no, Vegeta found out.*
"Vegeta, you really are amazing. To make you satisfied with this fight, I'll go all out!"
"Kaio-ken!"
"Times two!"
Watching the Kamehameha grow stronger, Vegeta thought: *Kakarot, you really are something. Earlier, you activated the Kaio-ken the exact moment our attacks clashed and managed to control it effortlessly. You truly are a genius.*
"But I am the Prince of All Saiyans, Super Vegeta!"
"Hraaaagh!"
Following Vegeta's roar, the pale purple energy blast began to push back.
"Vegeta! I won't lose!"
"Here it comes! The final limit—the four-fold Kaio-ken!"
*Boom, boom, boom!*
Because Son Goku's combat power with the fourfold Kaio-ken had already surpassed Vegeta's by twofold, this time Son Goku won the beam struggle.
Dodging the Kamehameha, Vegeta glared at Kakarot with displeasure. *Does this guy not know the side effects of the Kaio-ken? Previously, he only burst into it the moment he fought me, but now keeping it active continuously... he probably won't be able to maintain this state for long.*
"Kakarot, you certainly are impressive, but the Kaio-ken can't be maintained for long, whereas my Ascended Super Saiyan form can last quite a while."
"So this time, I'm definitely going to win!"
"Whoosh!"
Vegeta teleported behind Son Goku and unleashed a powerful punch.
To his surprise, Son Goku didn't even turn around as he caught Vegeta's fist with his right hand.
Vegeta was startled. *Nani? How can this be?*
"Hehe, Vegeta, I can maintain the Kaio-ken combined with Super Saiyan for a long time now."
Vegeta dropped out of the Super Saiyan state.
Seeing this, Son Goku asked in puzzlement, "Vegeta, what's wrong?"
Vegeta replied with deep dissatisfaction, "There's still time, and I can sense that Super Saiyan can still be pushed further. I'll let you have this victory, but Kakarot, you won't keep winning forever!"
"Vegeta..."
"I know. But I'm not one to be easily satisfied with the status quo—I'm here to surpass Super Saiyan too."
Hearing this, Vegeta resorted to mental self-consolation: *At least I broke through to Super Saiyan before Kakarot, which proves my talent is superior to his.*
"Vegeta, what are you smiling at?" Seeing Vegeta go from furious to secretly smug, Son Goku asked foolishly.
Vegeta's face instantly darkened. *Damn you, Kakarot.*
Soon, one day in the outside world passed.
Vegeta's time in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber was up.
At this moment:
Vegeta's Base Form: 60 million
Super Saiyan Full Power: 3 billion
Son Goku's Base Form: 90 million
Super Saiyan Full Power: 4.5 billion
Super Saiyan 2: 9 billion
During the year in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, through constant battles with Vegeta, Son Goku discovered that he possessed Broly's innate talent. His combat power increased continuously during battle, which was why his growth had surpassed Vegeta's by such a wide margin.
Vegeta, too, realized that Kakarot's combat power had far exceeded his own, prompting him to make a request.
"Kakarot, my time in here is almost up. Let me witness Super Saiyan 2."
Without any hesitation, Son Goku nodded in response.
With a loud shout, he transformed into Super Saiyan Full Power, his formidable pressure causing even Vegeta in his Base Form to begin transforming.
*Has Kakarot's Super Saiyan Full Power gotten this strong?*
"Vegeta, I'm starting."
"Come on, Kakarot! Let me see the state that surpasses Super Saiyan!"
"Hraaaaaaagh!"
Son Goku let out another loud shout and began transforming into Super Saiyan 2.
His aura surged like a raging torrent, his golden hair spiked straight up with a single lock hanging over his forehead, and lightning crackled all around his body.
Son Goku's expression was icy and cold.
"Vegeta, this is Super Saiyan 2."
The overwhelming pressure caused Vegeta's body to tremble slightly.
"Ha!"
With a fierce shout, Vegeta ignited his golden aura and lunged forward with a punch straight at Son Goku.
"Too slow, Vegeta."
Faced with the sudden attack, Son Goku spoke with a cold expression, blocking Vegeta's punch with just a single finger.
"Hmph!"
The proud Prince walked toward the exit.
"Kakarot, I will reach your transformation too. Before long, I'll come back to challenge you again."
With those words, Vegeta walked out of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Son Goku muttered to himself, "Vegeta, in this lifetime, you'll probably find it hard to catch up to my shadow ever again."
"Bearing the hatred of a destroyed universe, I must return to the pinnacle as soon as possible—and become even stronger!"
As soon as Vegeta appeared on Kami's Lookout, he ran into Piccolo.
"Yo, Namekian, are you here because you want to go train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber too?"
Piccolo was surprised to find Vegeta on Kami's Lookout, but understanding the implication of Vegeta's words, it clicked. *I see. Old Goku isn't around, and Vegeta is here—they must have gone into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. It looks like their power has increased immensely.*
Right now, the feeling Vegeta gave him was even more unfathomable than before.
"Vegeta, where is Son Goku?"
"If you mean that fellow Kakarot, you can go find him inside."
Vegeta pointed toward the location of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and then left.
Piccolo had a rough idea of why Son Goku hadn't come out yet. He asked Kami, who stood before him, "Old man, what did you want with me?"
Kami slowly walked to the edge of Kami's Lookout and looked down at the world below. *I wonder if this person is a good guy. At least he hasn't done anything to harm Earth yet.*
"Old man, here you go again, playing games and talking to yourself. I can't see what's happening down there from up here," Piccolo said impatiently.
Hearing this, Kami said, "Piccolo, another Saiyan has appeared on Earth, and his ki is similar to Son Goku's when he fought Frieza."
"However, I don't know if he can become a Super Saiyan. Originally, I wanted to assimilate with you to test his strength."
"But now that Vegeta has finished his training, I think Bulma will probably tell him about this Saiyan."
Piccolo caught the gist that Kami was finished. "Assimilate with you? Forget it, I don't want to be weighed down by a constant overflow of compassion like you."
Kami turned and walked away.
"When the day comes that we truly need to combine our power, I will only grant you knowledge, talent, and strength, and you will still remain who you are."
Kami made his stance clear.
Piccolo thought to himself, *Don't expect me to thank you.*
Meanwhile, the transmigrator Xie Yi received a prompt from the System.
"Due to Kami's surveillance, Option Two of the mission has been activated!"
"Fight against Vegeta."
"Reward: Kaio-ken (upper limit scales with the host's physical body)."