Part 18, Chapter 1: Zahha, Cornered!

Damn...!

You should know this by now, but no matter what kind of tricks you use, you better believe I'll make a mess of it!

This is the end, Zahha!!

...

Oh, really? This is the end, is it?

Heh...

What's so funny?!

Think about it. If you were in my position, how would you respond?

...

You don't get to decide when this is over...

It's time! To my side!

...?! Where the hell'd they come from...?!

They're so fast it's like they appeared out of nowhere! Wait, that's not it. It wasn't speed...!

Yeah. Seems like these guys can use Instant Transmission.

Hmph. Did you really believe that technique belonged exclusively to Goku?

And it's far too soon to be surprised over something so trivial. Heh, heh, heh...!

What the?!

There's no end to these guys. We're completely surrounded...!

Pretty slimy bringing all these metal lunkheads here at a time like this, Zahha!

You brought in allies to assist, so it is only fair I be allowed to do the same.

Grr...! "The same" my ass!

Those aren't your allies. They're nothing but your pawns!

What's the difference? Allies, pawns... As long as they're a tool that works for me, there's no difference.

Why, you...bastard!!

And haven't you all grown tired of fighting just me? By all means, enjoy battling these Metal Coolers for a while!

...?! The locational phasing spell!

Get back here, Zahha!

Keeyaah!

Gah!?

You bastard! Outta my way!

What did you think would happen, monkeys? Stop resisting and fight us!

Not that you have any techniques at your disposal to defeat or escape from "us" Metal Coolers.

Tch...! Goku, Instant Transmission! Find Zahha's Ki!

You got it!

...

Huh... Wait, what...?

...! I can't sense any far away Ki!

Why can't we sense Ki?! Wait, don't tell me this is Zahha's doing!

Yeah. My guess is Zahha used the Omnificence Crystal after he escaped to prevent us from sensing Ki again.

Meaning I can't use Instant Transmission to chase him down.

Ha, ha, ha. Precisely. You have no hope of pursuing him now.

You sure about that?

What...?

All I said is I can't use Instant Transmission to track him.

...! Oh, right! Even if we can't do it that way, we can still find Zahha!

Hah! You're bluffing.

Though it hardly matters. If you think we have any intention of standing idly by and just letting you leave, you're delusional...

We're under no such delusions!

...!

You called yourself Metal Cooler, correct? You'll be facing us.

Cabba, Gohan, we'll divide them amongst ourselves. Give Shallot and the others a chance to go on ahead!

Right!

Okay, everyone! Now's your chance!

You guys...!

Heh, heh, thanks! I owe you! We'll leave them to you!

No, you don't!

That's my line!

Urgh?!

You metal freaks are fighting us now!

I don't think so. You'll be facing me, boy!

Agh?!

...! Cabba!

Ouch...!

I don't care if the other two keep the Metal Coolers busy...

...but you and I have unfinished business, Cabba. I won't be satisfied until I've crushed the life out of you!!

You're...!

I won't...let you escape...!!

I'm taking you all down, right here, right now!!

Daaa!!

Gyaaa?!

Gwaaa?!

Aaah!

You're the guy I didn't manage to beat back then. Your name was...Gokua, right?

Heh, heh, heh...!

We'll make you regret getting in our way!

Now then...what would someone like you sound like when screaming in unfathomable pain?

...

(Their numbers are overwhelming, but they aren't attacking us very aggressively...)

(They might have some sort of ulterior motive...)

Ha, ha, ha!

No matter how I look at it, it's clear fighting them is our only option.

I'm not going to waste any time turning you into scrap!

Haaaah!

Guh...?!

There may be a lot of you, but you're not much of a threat!

Time to settle this!

Haah!

Gyaaaaah!!

Okay, that's one down at least!

Hmph. So that's how it is. You seem to possess enough battle power to destroy us...

But destroying one of our bodies means very little. "Metal Cooler" is both one and many. There are still countless remaining.

Not to mention...we also have this tactic at our disposal. Ha... Ha, ha, ha!

Huh?! What the heck?!

Th-That was close! I barely made it out of the way in time. But what just...!

You might have made it...but I don't think that other Saiyan did...

If he took that explosion head-on at such close range, there should be nothing left of him. Heh, heh, heh...!

G-Gohan!! What the hell happened, Gokua?!

Simply put, it was an explosion. I heard Shallot took considerable damage when that blockhead Rilldo did the same thing a while back.

I never thought you had it in you to defeat Shallot...

So I took manners into my own hands and left a little contingency plan in your body... A bomb, I guess you could say...

But not just any bomb... A one-of-a-kind bomb made with the power of the Omnificence Crystal!

Those heartless scumbags...! Th-They took his life using something so cowardly...!

Hmph. What's fretting over a dead man going to do for you?

You should focus on your fight with me!

Why, you...!

Hey, Shallot, you're sure we're heading in the right direction to find Zahha?

Yeah, no doubt!

He's still showing up clear as day on the radar.

Hmm...

...

Something doesn't feel right, does it?

I was just thinking the same thing.

I agree... It's like we're heading into a trap.

Zahha's little ploy just now was quite sloppy.

He must have known there was a good chance Gohan and the others would hold them off for us...

Not to mention he ran off and blocked our ability to sense Ki.

But since we have the Dragon Radar, hiding won't do him good for very long.

Should we just assume he panicked when he found himself backed into a corner...?

...

Now you know we Metal Coolers are equipped with bombs. Do tell: how do you plan to fight us? Heh, heh, heh...!

You're flawed...

What...?

Let me tell you two things.

First: fighters who think they're clever for using a strategy that merely involves self-destructing are fools at best.

Second: I don't recommend a strategy that can be easily countered just by your opponent knowing what it is.

Hmph, you dare speak that way to me...!

I'll shut that impudent mouth of yours!!

Hiyaaaaah!

Hmph...

Hrah!

Gwah?!

A-Arrgh...!

Now...!

I knew it. With my abilities, I can destroy you without getting caught up in any of your explosions.

You rotten...! You withstood the blast?!

No, that's not it... You didn't take any damage at all! You have some kind of technique that enables you to take refuge in another dimension!

Well, you're very astute, I see. You've figured out my underlying strategy as well.

That being the case, do you know how to counter it?

Grrr... You insolent...!

I see... So that's the extent of your ability, is it? Then you have no chance of victory.

(...Having said that...)

The problem is the sheer number of them. This is going to take some time...

Now that I've hidden myself, I should have enough time to plan my next move.

(...Perhaps I need to face reality...)

(The moment it was discovered the Omnificence Crystal has no effect on those twins, it became impractical to rely on it in battle.)

If I continue to naively face them in physical combat like I have been so far, I'll have no hope of winning.

I must think of some way to seize victory!

(If I can't, that leaves me with only one option...)

ZAHHA!

Looks like we caught you!

...! But I blocked your Ki-sensing abilities! How did you find me here?!

"How"? Did you forget about the Dragon Radar? It's not like you to be so absent-minded.

Tch...!!

...

This stupid game of hide and seek ends now!

We're finishing this, Zahha!

Haaaaaah!

Grroohhhhh!

Haa... Haa...! You dirty...!

Heh...!

(...?! What happened to the other two?!)

Bad time to space out!

...!? Oh, n!!

Hraaaaaaah!!!

Grah...! Augh!!

Raaaaaaah!!

Gaaaah!!

Ugh... Urgh... You...little...!

Don't get...so cocky...!

...! He's gonna try to call more henchmen!

No you don't!

Gwaaaah!!

No way we're letting you call in more reinforcements at this point!

Ugh... Guh...!

You could've had those Metal Coolers of yours come to your aid with Instant Transmission like before...

...if you hadn't inhibited their Ki-sensing capabilities along with the rest of us, that is. Bad move.

...!!

Don't you belittle me!!

And speaking of bad moves!

Wha?!

You're gettin' too worked up! You stopped paying enough attention.

HAAAAAAAH!!

Graaaaaaah?!

Guh... Argh...! Why, you...!

...! Healing magic!

That's right, I still have this at my disposal!

You haven't bested me yet...!

Alright, then! In that case, heal yourself all you want...

...if you really think that'll help you win!!

Grr...!

Daah!

Gruh...!

Y-You asked for it...! Let's see...

...how you handle this!!

Uwooohhh!

...! Heh, heh!

...?! Goku shielded the twins?!

Shallot, Giblet! Do it now!!

Hraaaaaaah!!

DAAAAAH!!

Tch...!

Dammit...!

(It's just as I feared... In terms of raw power, without the aid of the Omnificence Crystal, I can't win against these three.)

(All these savages are good for is getting together and fighting... Am I really about to lose to the likes of them...?)

No... What utter nonsense!!

This is an outrage, and I will NOT stand for it!!

Looks like he's finally started throwing a tantrum.

...!!

Which means...

...you've hit your limit!

Don't you dare...!

Don't dare talk about my limits, Giblet!!

Wild...! CANNON!!

Swooooord! RAY!!

Haah...! Haah...!

...!

Heh... Ha, ha...! You see?! An attack like that is...

NOW!!

...?!

You're not just fighting Giblet, ya know!

Ack...!!

Do you get it now, Zahha?! No matter how much you heal or clone yourself, or get your underlings to do your dirty work...

It won't do squat against our power!!

Wild...!

CANNON!!

Uraaaaah!!

Wild...!

CANNON!!

Uraaaaah!!

Haa...! Haa...!

...

Hey, guys...

Yeah. We know...

That bastard took the strongest attack I could dish out. And it didn't do the trick...!

That just goes to show there's no end to how headstrong he is.

For now, let's just find out where he is! He can't avoid us wiping the floor with him forever!

...

Ugh...!

Haa... Haa...!

Heh... Ha, ha, ha! I can't avoid the facts any longer...

Which means...

...you've hit your limit!

Do you get it now, Zahha?! No matter how much you heal or clone yourself, or get your underlings to do your dirty work...

It won't do squat against our power!!

I have no path to victory against Shallot and the others if I continue like this...

I understand the reality of the situation. And yet...!

...

If I'm faced with falling before the likes of them...

...it's clear this is my only choice...