Part 9, Chapter 3: Gohan's Struggle

...Now, sorry to cut this short but I need to get over to Shallot, so I'm going to go all out from the start!

Go all out...? You're saying this is your full power, even though your hair isn't blonde?

...! Ah! I get it! You're a Gohan from sometime before you could transform!

How disappointing! If you're weaker than when we fought before, then this won't be anything near a challenge!

Blonde hair... You must be talking about my Super Saiyan form...

That's okay. With the way I am now, there's no need for me to transform...

...Huh?

Heh, look at you trying to act tough... You're even underestimating us on top of that...

Either way, we'll make you regret thinking you can take us on! Let's go, Basil!

Yeah!!

I'll kick that smugness right outta you!

...! He dodged it?!

*inhales*

(He's taking a huge breath! Something's about to happen...!)

FWAAAAA!!

Heh! That was a direct hit!! There's no way he could've...!!

Whaー?! He's gone?! Where did he go?!

...Over here...

?!

Slowpoke.

Whaー?! You...!!

When did he...?!

(There's more to that yellow one's attacks than he's letting on... I better be careful!)

W-What the?! He's even stronger than he was at the Zeno Expo...!

Calm down, Basil!

We weren't expecting that, but it doesn't change the fact that we have the advantage...!

No matter how strong he is, once he gets hit by my poison, it's all over...!

...! Poison?!

That's right! My poison will spread through your body and rot you from within!

Hehehe! You were practically groveling on your hands and knees after you got a taste of my poison at the Zeno Expo!

...Heh...

...Huh? What's so funny?

You guys aren't very clever, are you?

I can't believe you're stupid enough to reveal your whole plan in the middle of a battle...!

Hmm? I'm just doing you a favor... Hehehe!

...A favor?

(Are they planning something? Even if they are...!)

I don't have time to play around with you two, so get ready!!

Raaah!!

Heh... I'm over here...!

Tch! Just stay still!

Okay then... I'll just have to start with you!!

Gyeeeeeh?!

B-Basil?!

Now you're all on your own... It's easy to see through your attacks when it's one-on-one!

Now I'm gonna finish this with one single blow!!

Guh...!!

Uoooooh!!!

Gya?!

It's...over!!

N...Nooooo!

...Juuuust kidding! Hyahahaha!!

...?!

Haaa!!

Gurghhh?!

Lavender! Do it now!

I'll give you a full dose!

Pwaaaah!!

Uwaaa?!

Gaah...! M-My eyes...?!

Heheh... You should've been paying more attention... There's no way you can beat me when you're this careless, no matter how strong you are!

Hehehe! Everything's going according to plan! Just like we expected, you were only paying attention to me!

Guh... Damn it...!!

(They got me...! They only revealed Lavender can use poison to draw my focus towards him...!)

Got any more tricks up your sleeve? Now that you've been blinded by my poison, all that's left is for your body to rot away and die. It's over!!

N...Not yet!

I don't need my sight to take on the likes of you two!

Guh!

Hmph...!

Well, aren't you something...! I'll admit, I didn't expect you to put up this much of a fight without being able to see!

Well then, how about this?!

Don't underestimate me!!

Haaah!!

Tch...! Why isn't this working...?!

I don't know how, but it's like he can actually see us...!

(Even without my vision, I can reflect my Ki off of them to figure out where they are!)

What's the matter? If you won't start things off, I guess I will!

You guys are gonna have to do better than that!!

Damn it! Well then, how about this?!

Shining...!!

BLASTER!!

Hraaah!!

Heh... Are you in such a panic that you can't even aim properly? All of your attacks missed!

Hah...!!

...Haha...!

Gyahahaha!! Of course they missed! I wasn't trying to hit you!

...?!

Hyahahaaa!!

What?!

Raaah!!

Gah?! Gwaaah?!

Hehehe...!!

(W...When did he get so close?!)

Damn...! Damn it!!

Give it up! There's no way that your haphazard attacks can touch me!

(...I can't sense their movements! What the heck is going on...?!)

You idiot! You're using the same tactics you did last time! I can barely stop myself from howling with laughter!!

What...?!

Basil! Turn up the heat!

Alright! It's my turn now!

Rarararararah!!

Thー! This is...!

(All of the rocks and smoke that the explosion stirred up are getting in the way! I can't figure out where they are!)

Heheheh! You get it now, right? This is your technique's weakness!

He won't get us with the same trick twice!

Gurghhh?!

In that other era, you managed to get past all of my attacks...

But the shoe's on the other foot now! Because this time I'm here too!

Exactly...! Basil being here makes this a whole 'nother story. It means we can pull off moves like these!!

Unleashing my energy bullets disrupts your radar, and then Lavender can deliver the knockout blow!

That's the power of our brotherly teamwork!

Guh!

Tch... You don't know when to quit!

But it looks like that last shot did you in...heheh.

(These guys... Their strength, cunning, and teamwork...! They're a truly fearsome duo!)

(They even know all my moves...!)

(I can't take them lightly! I need to give everything I have to take them down!!)

...

...Hmm? What's the matter? You've sure gotten quiet... Must be dead on your feet, huh?!

...Well, first things first, I owe you guys an apology...

...Huh?

You two looked like a couple of nobodies, so I didn't take you seriously. But it seems like you've put in a lot of work to try and kill me.

...But I'm still going to come out on top...! Even though I might feel a little guilty about making all your hard work go to waste.

...?!

Y-You little...!! Don't act like you've got this in the bag!!

...Heh! Let him run his mouth all he wants, Basil.

We already know everything you've got up your sleeves! You've got no chance of winning!

Hmph... I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Hyaaah!!

Guh?!

Haa...!! Haa...!!

H-He's stillー?! Even after all that...?!

Calm down, Basil! He just got lucky! Let's hit him with that move again!

Y-Yeah...! Let's do it!!

Haaaaa!!!

...!!

RARARAHHHH!!

(That trick again...! But...!)

Heh!

Eat thiiiis!!

Ugh?!

Alright! Once more!!

...! Got you!

Huh?!

Hraaah!!

Tch!

Lavender?! Are you okay?!

N...N-No problem! He used this trick at the Zeno Expo too...

He took my attack and threw his own back at me...! This guy just won't give up!

Grr...! I missed...!

(It's still not enough... I need to find an opening!)

Gah...?!

Urgh... Guh...!

Heh! Get a load of this, Lavender! The poison has finally spread through his whole body!

Hahaha! It's just like last time, how perfect! This is hilarious!

Trying to fight back is only making the poison spread more quickly!!

...A...Agh...!!

How about that, Gohan?! We beat you!! Gyaaaaaahahaha!!!

Haa...haa...haa...!!

Heh... How do you feel? Must be tough with all that poison rushing through your veins, huh?

Don't push yourself too hard. It'll get easier. Because soon...

...you'll be dead!!

Guh!

Lavender...!!

I know, I know. We can't let our guard down even for a second, right?

We don't know what's going on in that head of his, so let's just beat him to a pulp!

Yeah!!

...! Another attack...!!

You're still trying to win? Just stop resisting! At least then you'd die in peace!

What did you...?!

We still have an ace up our sleeves, you know!!

...Kekekeh...!

Mmm...

(D-Did he just eat something? What on earth are they planning?!)

Oh...!!

OOOOOH!!!

Whew, I'm just bursting with power!!

Well, what do you think? Pretty cool, huh? Oh, wait, you can't see anything anyway!! Hahaha!!

(Grr...! His Ki feels so much stronger now...!)

There's no hope left for you, Gohan!

Get ready! I'm gonna kick the life outta you!!

Hraaaah!!

Gaaaah?!

(H-He's so fast! I couldn't avoid it! And my body... I can't move...!!)

Hyahaha! You can't dodge my attacks, right?!

You can't move an inch thanks to my poison, and on top of that, Basil's speed and power levels have gone through the roof!! Plus...

Gwaaah!!

...you're not just fighting Basil! Don't forget, you're fighting me too!!

Damn it...!!

Look at you... You can't even put up a fight anymore. We'll just have to put you out of your misery!!

Gah!!

Gyahaha!! It's no use trying to fight!!

And now for the grand finale!!

Wolfgang...

PRESSURE!!!

YOU'RE FINISHED!!

Hyaaahaaha!!

Gyaaaa!!

Heh...! He's done!!

He gave us a bit of trouble... But...!

I finally got to pay him back for what he did to me in the other era! Hyahaha!!

(I...lost...)

(My body... I can't feel anything... Am I dead...?)

...right?

...probably...

(What...are they talking about...?)

...kill the brats right in front of Shallot!

We'll settle the score for that shot they took at us earlier!

They need to be taught a lesson for messing with us!!

(...! Are they talking about...Goten and Trunks?!)

(...I can't let that happen...!)

(M-Move...! Stand up...!! Get up and...fight!!)

(I...have to finish this here and now...!!)

Well, I guess we should head off and try to track down those brats...

Yeah, let's go!

...No...

...Huh?

...I won't let you...get to...Goten and the others...!

...?! You're still alive?!

...Goten...!

Big brother!

You're pretty amazing Gohan, you know that?

Amazing! I thought the rock was gonna hit you for sure!

Don't you dare lay a hand on... my little brother!!!

...He...?!

...Little brother? Heh, that's some good intel!

If your adorable little brother gets the snot kicked out of him, I bet you'll cry like a baby! Hehehe!

...You...!!

Nyahaha! You're so mean, Lavender! This sounds like it could get interesting!!

Thanks, Gohan! We'll change up the order of things a wee bit! It's your lucky day: your little brother gets to be the first to die...

How...!

HOW DARE YOU!

Whaー?!

There's no way I'm gonna let that happen...! I'll take you down here and now!

Even if I have to sacrifice myself to do it!!!

Haaaaa!!!

Gwaaaa?!

Gah...?!

Guh...! Where did this power come from? He was on death's door...!

What happened to all that confidence you had before, you mutts?!

You'll never take me down with those puny attacks! Come at me with your full power!!

...But don't think for a second you'll be able to kill me!!

...! Don't underestimate us!!

Calm down, Basil! We've already won!

Even if we don't lay a finger on him, that poison will destroy his body any second now...!

Y-Yeah, you're right! We don't need to play along with his empty threats!

...When did you become such cowards? Could it be that you're... afraid of me?

Huh?!

You heard me... You know that you have absolutely no chance if you try to face me head-on.

So, you're just trying to play it safe and wait for me to drop dead...

...!!

Hah... You're just like a dog with its tail between its legs...

You two won't win!!

You...!!!

What are you prattling on about, you stupid brat?!

We'll grant your wish, then! And take you down right where you stand!

Yeah! You're dead! It's over for you!!

Uooooooh!!!

Haaaaa!!!

Wolfgang... PRESSURE!!!

DIEEEEE!!!

...!!

It worked...! Serves him right! This time, we...

...won? Is that...what you were trying...to say?

...?!

H...How is he still alive...?! Is he immortal or something?!

Haa... Haa...! I thought...I told you...! You can't beat me!!

TAKE THISSSSS!!!

Guh...!! T-This is impossible!

There's no way...!!

It's over!!!

Ka...me...

ha...me...

HAAAAA!!

Uwaaaaaa!!!

Gwaaaaa!!!

Guh... Haa...

...

W-Why...

...Why...didn't our full-out attack work? What kind of trick did you...

...I didn't use any tricks...

...Huh?

I had to beat you... and save my little brother... That thought alone helped me withstand anything you threw at me...

...His little brother...

...You've got to be kidding me... ...We seriously lost for some cliché reason like that...?

...You guys were strong opponents, I'll give you that...

I couldn't break past your combo attacks, even when I was giving it my all...

I could only win by letting you attack at full strength and using that gap as my opening...

...Tch...

That's why you were riling us up... like you did...before... Damn it...

Damn it all... We still couldn't...beat Gohan...

Next time...we'll definitely...

...

...It's over...

But I can't stop here... There's still Goten...and everyone else...

...I must...protect them...

...

...

...You did a great job, Gohan!

Eat this senzu bean and rest up...!