Chapter 10
"Fortunately, I reacted quickly and caught a stone in time. Otherwise, it would have been very uncomfortable." Piotr's voice was low, his breath coming in labored gasps as he touched his chest. The encounter had shaken him more than he cared to admit. The speed with which Li Ji had struck had taken him off guard, and the force of the kick had sent him hurtling through the air. The impact had been so violent that Piotr's ribs still ached.
"I thought I had him," Piotr muttered, shaking his head. "I was about to land the finishing blow, but then that damn reaction speed… How does he move like that?"
Li Ji, the massive Saiyan baby, slapped his chest with both fists, letting out a triumphant roar as if to show off his strength. Piotr stood from his crouch and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I should have known better. This is no ordinary child. He's a Saiyan, for crying out loud—a fighting machine in a baby's body."
Even with no formal fighting training, Li Ji's raw talent was extraordinary. Piotr could feel the weight of each exchange; the Saiyan blood coursing through the kid's veins made him dangerous, even without technique.
"It's really a tough one," Piotr admitted, backing away slightly. "If I don't hurt him—thanks to Charles' ability to talk to him—everything will be fine. But if this keeps going, I might have to use more force than I want."
Piotr realized the truth: despite his strength, he couldn't keep up with Li Ji's relentless power. Every time Piotr moved, Li Ji matched him, not only in physical strength but also in mindless aggression. If he didn't find a way to bring the fight to an end soon, the balance would shift, and Piotr would be the one to tire out first.
"What a terrifying talent. No flaws in speed, strength, or even mind. This must be why Charles kept saying he was different," Piotr thought to himself as he watched Li Ji from a distance. The baby ape was mimicking Piotr's movements with surprising accuracy, locking eyes with him in a staring contest that made Piotr feel uncomfortable. Normally, it was *him* who had the unnerving stare.
But Li Ji wasn't playing any games. After a few seconds, the Saiyan child roared loudly and leapt forward, launching his massive form into the air. Piotr barely had time to react before Li Ji landed with a tremendous thud, shaking the earth beneath them.
"Roar!"
Piotr's heart skipped a beat. The primal sound reverberated through his bones, shaking the air with a power he could not ignore. The sheer force of Li Ji's movements was unlike anything Piotr had ever faced.
Piotr attempted to dodge but couldn't move fast enough. Li Ji's speed was unpredictable, a force of nature that seemed unstoppable. Each step the beast took reverberated in Piotr's chest as if the ground itself were shaking in fear.
"For a child, if you consume his energy, he will soon lose his stamina." Piotr had foolishly assumed that exhausting Li Ji would be enough. However, in the giant ape form, Li Ji's regenerative abilities were astounding. Any fatigue seemed to vanish as quickly as it came. Piotr had underestimated his opponent's resilience.
*This is pointless,* Piotr thought, his muscles burning from the strain. He was getting nowhere with this strategy. Saiyans in the giant ape state didn't tire easily; in fact, they became stronger as they transformed. Piotr's plan to outlast him was nothing but a pipe dream.
"Hey, big guy, this way!" Piotr called out, trying to redirect Li Ji's attention as he struggled to keep pace. He had no idea how to subdue the Saiyan child.
---
Meanwhile, Charles was observing the fight from a safe distance. He studied Piotr's every move, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"What a terrifying talent," Charles muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the roar of the battle. "I've never seen anything like this. Gage's mutant abilities seem to have completely defied all conventional understanding."
He paused for a moment, considering Piotr's current situation. "Piotr's attempt to exhaust Gage's strength was always a long shot. If this keeps going, Piotr's rhythm will continue to deteriorate. Gage, on the other hand, isn't showing any signs of slowing down. At this rate, Piotr will be the one exhausted, not the other way around."
Charles shook his head in disbelief. He'd originally assumed Piotr would be able to handle the situation, but now, seeing Li Ji in his giant ape state, he realized just how off he had been. It wasn't that Piotr was weak—it was that Li Ji, in his transformed state, was a force of nature. Saiyan transformations multiplied their combat power tenfold, and for a newborn like Li Ji, the boost was even more profound.
Piotr was holding his own for longer than Charles had expected, but it was only a matter of time before he broke down.
---
Back in the thick of the fight, Piotr gritted his teeth, feeling his body slow down. "What's going on? Why does it feel like his strength is endless?" He looked at Li Ji, who was still rampaging with unyielding power. "If this continues, I'll be the one who's worn out first."
A mixture of frustration and admiration filled Piotr's chest as he narrowly dodged another punishing blow. "Whoops, didn't see that one coming…"
Breathing heavily, Piotr huddled behind a large boulder, his body trembling with exhaustion. "I hate to admit it, but if this continues, I'll be the one on the losing end. To think I, Piotr, couldn't even defeat a baby..." He paused, glaring at Li Ji from behind the rock. "The kid looks like an ancient beast. It's humiliating."
"Charles! I need help, or I'll really lose this!" Piotr shouted, his voice echoing in the stillness of the night.
Charles stepped forward, hands in his pockets, a small smile on his face. "Piotr, my psychic ability doesn't work on Gage."
Piotr turned to him in disbelief. "Seriously?! You've had that ability the whole time, and you didn't say anything?"
Charles held up a hand in a placating gesture. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it now. But first, let me say hi to Gage."
He walked toward the giant ape, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos around him. As he approached, Li Ji's furious roar filled the air once again. Without breaking a sweat, Charles stood still, his gaze softening as he spoke gently, "Hi, Gage. It's been a while, huh? Looks like you've been growing strong."
Li Ji, clearly irritated, brought his massive fists down in an attempt to crush Charles.
"Roar!"
Charles, however, didn't flinch. The punch halted mid-air as if held by an invisible force, frozen in place by his telepathic power.
"See, Gage, no need to get upset. We're all friends here," Charles said calmly.
Piotr stared in disbelief. "You really had that ability the whole time, didn't you?!"
Charles shrugged. "Sometimes it's better to let people get a little exercise." He smiled innocently, though his mental energy was clearly draining from maintaining the psychic hold.
"How long do you think he'll last like this?" Piotr asked, still incredulous.
"Well, according to the usual werewolf novel tropes, the transformation should end by morning," Charles replied, though his voice was tinged with uncertainty. "But I'm not sure about this situation. If Gage stays like this... we might have a problem."
Piotr frowned. "What if he does? What if the transformation is permanent?"
Charles shook his head. "That's unlikely. But right now, we don't have time for hypotheticals. We need to deal with him before it gets out of hand."
Piotr nodded, realizing the situation was growing dire. With Charles' help, he finally made his move. He rushed forward and, using every ounce of his strength, knocked the giant ape down, making sure to keep the pressure on before Li Ji could recover.
Li Ji let out a final frustrated roar, but Piotr held him down, ensuring that the battle was finally won.
---
By the time dawn broke, the transformation had run its course. The massive Saiyan ape had returned to his baby form, exhausted but harmless. Piotr collapsed to the ground beside him, utterly drained from the fight.
Charles smiled, lifting the baby Li Ji into his arms. "Thank God, he's back to his normal state. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to explain this to Howard."
Piotr, however, wasn't in a celebratory mood. He lay there, chest heaving, too tired to even complain.
Charles looked at him with a smirk. "Don't worry, Piotr. We'll call it a win."
"Yeah, sure," Piotr muttered, closing his eyes. "Next time, though... *you* handle the baby."
And with that, the battle ended—just as the first rays of sunlight bathed the battlefield in a warm glow.
******
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