Part 9, Chapter 5: A Worthy Opponent

...

Zahha...?

What's wrong? Hurry and get Shallot and Giblet to safety...!

I do want to help, but...

What are you doing?! Are you seriously just gonna leave them lying there?!

...Their battle isn't over yet.

Huh...?

U-Urgghhh...

G-Gib...let...

Giblet's always been amazing.

Even though we were born on the same day, there's always been a huge gap between us...

But that doesn't mean I'm just gonna stay in his shadow forever. The whole reason I trained so hard...was to catch up to him!

And then on that day, finally...

...Heh heh heh!

...Hmph! You should've said you were a comedian...

Heh! Sorry for that! But at least now we're even! ...I mean, it could have been a fluke...

But oh well! Now I can power up even more!

(It's now or never! I gotta make it happen for real...)

(I'll become as strong as he is!)

I'm going to catch up to you, Giblet!

...I'm looking forward to it...

...

Giblet...? Is something wrong?

...It's nothing.

Shallot, you can compete with me all you want, but don't forget what's important. We...

Like I'd ever forget! The two of us are gonna lead the Saiyans back down the right path!

And that's why we have to keep getting stronger together! Just like you're always saying.

(I have to get stronger with Giblet! Then one day, I'll catch up to him!)

(I'll do it...! I will!!)

Yeah... We have to work harder than ever before to get stronger.

(That's right... I can't afford to lose...!)

(I have to win here! And then I'll finally catch up to Giblet!!)

...

Wh...What happened to Giblet...?

Guh...

Sh...Shallot...!

Giblet!

Uooohh!!

Gah...!

Why you...!

Daaah!!

Gah!!

Haa... Haa...

Guh!

Haaaaaa!!!

Those two are still at it?! They must be on their last legs by now... Why?!

H-Hey, Zahha! Why aren't you stopping them?!

...I couldn't stop them even if I wanted to.

This battle is too important to them...

Too important...?

So you're saying that all we can do right now is to see it through to the end?

You mean we just have to sit here and twiddle our thumbs in the middle of this?

W-Well, in any case, it's not like we could actually stop a battle between two Saiyans...

Rghh... Fine! ...But you better not lose, Shallot!!

Haa!!

Tch! You...

You'll have to do better than that!!

Gah...!!

Haa...haa... You can't use that dark Ki anymore, right?! Heh... You're completely exhausted!

Shut up! You're not faring much better yourself!

Even if I'm at my limit, I can't lose! I will...! I will...!!

I WILL KILL YOU!!

Haaaa!!

Gah!!

Heh... Hah hah...! That's the difference between you and me.

...!

(Giblet's power is increasing! But he should be at his limit already...!)

(...Heh, he's really something...!)

You've been a real pain...! But...

This isn't the worst feeling in the world. The more I fight, the stronger I become!

I'm coming out on top again today!! Shallot...

...

...Giblet...?

(Coming out on top...again...?)

(Tch... What am I saying?! This is a fight to the death!)

(My goal isn't to come out on top, it's to kill him! That's why I've gained this power!)

(...)

(...But, is that really it? Am I...really...)

Oraaaa!!

Gaa...?!

Don't space out on me in the middle of our battle!!

(Damn it, what the hell is wrong with me? Now's not the time...!)

(I can't...I can't lose to the likes of him!)

(Like I did that day...!)

...Heh heh heh!

(...I finally lost?)

...Hmph! You should've said you were a comedian...

Heh! Sorry for that! But at least now we're even! ...I mean, it could have been a fluke...

(A fluke... Yeah, maybe it was...)

(...But this defeat has made it clear. He's just going to keep getting stronger...!)

But oh well! Now I can power up even more!

I'm going to catch up to you, Giblet!

...I'm looking forward to it...

(The difference between our power was so clear at first...)

(But I had a hunch about this... He has talent as a fighter...)

(I'll be waiting for you, Shallot...)

(That's how it should have been, but...)

...

Giblet...? Is something wrong?

...It's nothing.

(Am I...envious of him? Of his talent? I can't believe I feel that way about my own twin...)

(...Or maybe I feel that way because he's my twin?)

Shallot, you can compete with me all you want, but don't forget what's important. We...

Like I'd ever forget! The two of us are gonna lead the Saiyans back down the right path!

And that's why we have to keep getting stronger together! Just like you're always saying.

(That's right... I've always said that to him.)

(But that's not enough! If we get stronger together, eventually he will surpass me!)

Yeah... We have to work harder than ever before to get stronger.

(I don't want to lose to my own twin! Even if I don't share his natural talent...I refuse to be beaten!)

(I need to train harder than I ever have before! Alone!)

(But even then, it's probably not enough...! More...! I need more power!)

...!

Damn it...! You're still...!

Never...!

...Huh?

I'LL NEVER LET YOU SURPASS ME!!

DAAAAH!!

Grrrghh...!

(I can't stop now! I can't hold anything back!)

(He just keeps coming back with more power...! If I'm going to end this, I have to do it in one blow!)

I'll crush you with everything I have left, Shallot...!!

THIS IS THE END!!!

Urgh?! Gaaaaah?!

Ha...!! Haaa...!!

D-Did I do it...?

...

Hm...Hah hah!! I did it...! Finally, I...!

I am victorious!

Gurgh...

?!

G...Give me...a break...

It ain't...over yet...!

E-Even after all that...! Why...?!

What the hell?! Why?! Why won't you stay down?!

Because...if I lose here, I won't ever catch up to you...! That's why I have to get back up...!!

I've made up my mind! I'm definitely gonna catch up to you!!

(I need to use all of my power...! I need more!!)

(I need to surpass my own limits! If I don't, I'll never be able to beat him!!)

Uoooooh!!!

...!

...How do you still have this much power...?!

(Heh... He truly is talented.)

(However... That's exactly why I can't lose to him!!)

(I need even more power to be able to defeat him! I'm not powerful enough! I need more!!)

(I don't care if it destroys me!! I'll beat him at any cost!!)

Haaaaa!!!

Here I come, Giblet!!

I'm waiting, Shallot!!

I will...

I will...!

BEAT YOU!!!

Ugh...! Guuuuh!!

Don't you see now, Shallot? You'll never catch up to me!!

You've lost!!

...As if I'd let myself lose...!

I need...to catch up to you...!!

I will! I have to...!!

I WILL BEAT YOU!!!

Guh!!

Haa... Haa...

I did it...

Heh heh... Giblet...

I...I won...!!

I-Impossible...

(My power was superior to his... My victory was guaranteed...)

(But at the very last second, he came at me with more power than I ever imagined...!)

Damn it...

(I don't want to admit it, but...this is...)

(...the difference that talent makes...)

Gack, my whole body hurts!

(Heh, we both look like crap... It really was a close fight...)

...

Hey, Giblet.

...?

I won this time.

But just 'cause I won once, that doesn't mean it's over!

I want to fight you even more!

So, whaddya say? Let's battle again sometime!

What did you just say...?

I get stronger every time we duel! And since the same goes for you...

"The same"... ...You mean, I...?

Are you kidding?! Of course! You sure didn't make it easy for me to finally catch up to you. I was desperate back there!

Heh, this really brings back memories! This is just how it was back in our own era...!

...

(He's...He's right... It was just like this...)

(I was always trying so hard to make sure he didn't catch up to me...)

(I...I was able to get stronger because I had Shallot beside me...)

And besides, fighting with you was super fun!

It was...fun?

Getting to fight without holding back is the absolute best! You telling me you didn't have any fun?

(Fighting with Shallot...)

This isn't the worst feeling in the world. The more I fight, the stronger I become!

(Heh... He truly is talented.)

(I may have lost, but...if I think about it, it wasn't a bad feeling.)

(Even when we used to train together back in our era, my fights with him were always...)

...Shallot, I...

?!

Gurgh...?!

Giblet?!

Uuuurgh...! GAAAAAAH!!

W-What the hell is...?!

Uraaaaaagh!!

Don't let his words fool you!

...! Guh...!!

Your... No, MY true desires won't change.

Wanting to beat Shallot... Not wanting to be surpassed by Shallot... That's what it is, right?!

Ugh! Ungh...! I...!!

In order to do that, Shallot must be put out of his misery!! Don't forget that!!

...SHUT UP!!

...?!

It's true that I've always envied Shallot's talent...

But that's not all! I remember now!

The days we spent training together... How much fun we had getting stronger together!!

In that case, you must have known he was more talented than you! He's going to surpass you and leave you behind!

I won't be left behind...!

If he surpasses me...then I'll just have to surpass him next!

Just as he grew to become powerful enough to defeat me...

Now it's my turn to become stronger and surpass him!!

And one day, we will stand alongside each other as equals!

I'll never make the mistake of relying on your power again.

GO TO HELL!!!

...I-IMPOSSIBLE!!!

Aaaaagh!!!

Giblet?!

Ugh...!

What's happening?!

You guys?!

T-That was too close... I thought we'd fall into that magma for sure...

...I'll see to Giblet.

...Hmm...

Zahha! Is Giblet...?!

...He's still breathing.

Thank goodness...!

But you did well, Shallot. I can't believe you took him down.

Heh heh... It was just a fluke, really!

But that battle was so much fun...! I can't wait to go another round!

Geez, you never change, do you? You just finished fighting him!

...It seems Giblet has lost.

...?! You...!

You did that to Giblet! I'm gonna make you pay!!

This ends now! I'll destroy you right here!!

You're as lively as ever. Try burning off some of that energy against these...!

Haa... Haa...

Hehe... Oh dear, feeling a little worn out, are we?

Shut up! You're next!

You must be at your limit already, Shallot!

Damn! If my magic hadn't run out, I could have healed him...

It's okay! I can keep going...!

I'll take this guy down with my own two hands!

...Well, I know it's no use arguing with you once your mind is made up...!

...I'll watch your back.

...!

Alright! Let's take him down together!! And finally put an end to his plans!!

...Huh...?

What is...

...!

...Wha...?!

...

...This can't...be right...?

...You did well, Shallot...

Leave the rest to me. It's time for you to sleep...

...This is goodbye.

...Za... Zahha...!

Shallot!!!