Xicor halted his relentless energy wave attack abruptly, his focus shifting as the battlefield calmed momentarily. As the smoke from the explosion dissipated, the devastation became clear—a colossal crater scarred the ground, radiating the aftermath of their battle.
In the center of the pit stood Goku, his breath labored, his figure battered, and his expression resolute despite the toll the fight had taken.
"Goku, is this really all you've got?" Xicor taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.
Goku clenched his fists tightly, his teeth grinding audibly as determination surged through him. With a thunderous roar, he unleashed a powerful surge of blue Ki that radiated outward, shaking the battlefield. The color of his aura deepened, shifting from bright blue to a darker, more intense hue—Super Saiyan Blue.
But Goku wasn't done. He pushed his energy further, his Ki rising to unprecedented heights. With another ferocious roar, his hair grew long, cascading down to his waist. His eyebrows vanished, leaving his brow bones pronounced, and his blue aura solidified into a fixed, radiant glow.
"This... this is Super Saiyan Blue 3," Goku announced, his voice steady but filled with power.
Xicor's eyes widened in shock. "Super Saiyan Blue 3?" he echoed, disbelief etched into his features.
Goku nodded silently before his body turned into a streak of blue light, propelling him toward Xicor. Not one to back down, Xicor clenched his fists and charged forward, the air crackling with the collision of their energies. The ground trembled beneath their battle, huge clouds of dust rising as their blows landed with earth-shattering force.
Meanwhile, Vegeta, locked in combat with Rigor, had decided to shift tactics. After testing his opponent for a while, he activated Ultra Instinct, his movements becoming fluid and unpredictable. Unlike Goku, Vegeta preferred swift victories over prolonged battles.
"Enough games!" Vegeta declared, his voice cold and decisive. With a single, devastating strike, he sent Rigor hurtling into a nearby mountain. The impact echoed across the battlefield, followed by a plume of dust and debris.
Wasting no time, Vegeta raised his hands, summoning an immense sphere of energy—the Hakai. The destructive energy pulsated in his palms before he hurled it toward the mountain where Rigor had crashed.
BANG! The Hakai collided with the mountain, erasing it at an astonishing speed. But Rigor, unwilling to be outdone, released a golden energy wave from his palms, intercepting the attack.
"HA!" Vegeta shouted, pouring more power into the Hakai to push it forward.
Rigor roared in defiance, his energy spiking as his body underwent another transformation. With an explosive surge, he ascended to Super Saiyan Five, his power skyrocketing as his golden aura flared brightly.
"What... what is this?" Vegeta muttered, visibly shaken by the sudden display of power.
The battle escalated as Rigor infused his golden energy wave with even more power, pushing Vegeta's Hakai back. Both fighters gritted their teeth, pouring every ounce of strength into their respective attacks.
"This Ki… it's incredible!" Gohan exclaimed, watching from a distance.
"Can he get even stronger?" Piccolo wondered aloud, his eyes narrowing in concern.
At that moment, Rigor's energy reached its peak, his golden hair and pupils glowing brilliantly. With a thunderous roar, he overwhelmed Vegeta's Hakai, sending it hurtling back toward him.
"Dad!" Trunks shouted, panic evident in his voice.
Before the situation could spiral further, Goten's figure appeared in a flash of silver light. Calmly, he raised his hand, and with a subtle motion, a dimensional rift materialized, absorbing both the Hakai and the golden energy wave.
"What just happened?" Vegeta and Rigor both exclaimed in unison, their shock mirrored by everyone on the battlefield.
"That… that's the power of time!" Merus said, his tone reverent as he observed the dimensional rift disappear seamlessly.
Rigor turned his attention to Goten, his expression serious. "You must be Goten."
"And you must be Rigor," Goten replied, his tone steady. "How do you know me?"
"I don't, but the Great Mother spoke of you," Rigor admitted with a sneer. "She warned us of your power."
"Where are you from, Rigor?" Goten asked, narrowing his eyes.
Rigor smirked. "Defeat me, and I might tell you."
Without warning, Rigor turned into a streak of golden light, rushing toward Goten with lethal intent. But Goten moved just as quickly, his silver aura leaving an afterimage as he appeared behind Rigor in an instant. Before Rigor could react, Goten delivered a powerful punch to his abdomen, sending him flying backward.
Rigor's body crashed through several mountains in quick succession, each impact creating a resounding explosion. By the fifth mountain, Rigor coughed up blood, his transformation fading as he reverted to his base form.
Lila, observing from a distance, was visibly shaken. "Son… Goten!" she stammered, fear creeping into her voice. If Goten could defeat Rigor so easily, she knew she stood no chance against him.
Goten returned to Merus's side, his aura calm once more. It was then that Merus spoke, his voice filled with urgency. "Lord Goten, something terrible has happened. The Great Goddess has harnessed the power of darkness. My father can't hold her off anymore!"
Goten's expression hardened. "We need to act now. Uncle Piccolo, I'll leave this place to you."
Piccolo nodded solemnly. "Go. We'll handle things here."
In an instant, Goten grabbed Merus and teleported to the Grand Zeno's palace.
Upon arrival, the scene before them was dire. The Great Goddess loomed over the defeated Grand Priest, her aura black and menacing. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed Goten and Merus.
"Well, well, if it isn't Goten," the Great Goddess sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "You've arrived just in time."
Goten smiled faintly. "We meet again, Great Mother."
The Great Goddess's expression darkened. "Have you come to aid the Grand Priest?"
"I have," Goten replied simply.
The Great Goddess smirked. "You have potential, Goten. Join me, and I'll grant you half the universe. I'll even let you choose one of my angels as your bride."
"Thanks, but no thanks," Goten said, his tone unwavering.
The Great Goddess's eyes flashed with fury. Without warning, she rushed forward at superluminal speed, her fists aiming for Goten. But Goten anticipated her attack, his body vanishing and reappearing behind her in an instant.
Startled, the Great Goddess turned, her fist blazing with dark energy as she struck toward him with all her strength.