Chapter 23: Clash of Wills — Aera vs. Ma Junior
The sky darkened unnaturally. Winds howled across the arena, kicking up dust and debris. Ma Junior's power spiked, his aura flaring with raw, malicious energy. In the crowd, people gasped and shielded their eyes from the blinding light.
Aera stood still, blinking in awe. "You're so sparkly now!" she said innocently, smiling as the air around her shimmered with pressure.
Goku gritted his teeth in the waiting area. "That power… He's serious now. Aera, be careful."
Piccolo raised one hand, summoning an orb of destructive ki, crackling with electricity.
"You're strong," he said, voice low and threatening, "but naive. This world doesn't need innocence. It needs order. Power."
Aera tilted her head. "Isn't it better when people are happy?"
His eyes narrowed. "You'll learn soon enough."
The bell rang.
BOOM!
The orb exploded from his palm, tearing across the ring. Aera moved at the last moment, her figure blurring and reappearing above him. Her foot crashed down like a hammer, but Piccolo caught it with both hands and hurled her into the sky.
Aera twirled mid-air and giggled. "Wheee!"
Before she landed, Piccolo launched after her, throwing a barrage of punches that rattled the air. Aera blocked and returned with strikes of her own. Their fists clashed in mid-air, creating a cyclone of wind.
Down below, even the announcer was speechless.
"Th-this… this is on another level entirely!"
---
In the Crowd
Krillin stared, slack-jawed. "She's matching him blow for blow… and having fun doing it."
Bulma shook her head. "She doesn't even realize how terrifying she is."
Chi-Chi clutched her chest. "She's so… dazzling. I can't stop watching."
Yamcha muttered, "At this point, I think everyone's in love with her."
---
Back in the Sky
Piccolo powered up again and grabbed Aera by the arm, slamming her into the mountainside behind the arena. Rocks exploded from the impact.
The dust settled… and she emerged from the rubble unharmed, rubbing her head.
"Ow! That was kinda mean."
She zipped forward, kneeing him in the stomach, then spun into a mid-air somersault that launched him back toward the arena. He crashed through the ring with an explosion of shattered tiles.
Aera landed gracefully.
Piccolo emerged from the crater, breathing hard. His cloak was gone, his body scuffed.
"You… you're not normal," he growled.
"Nope!" she replied cheerfully. "I'm Aera!"
His eyes flared. He fired another ki blast, but this time it curved, coming from behind her.
She spun and slapped it upward, then charged.
Her elbow struck his chin, and her palm slammed into his chest. The impact sent him hurtling into the arena wall.
CRASH!
Dust clouded the area.
"Ma Junior is… not getting up!" the announcer shouted. "Aera wins! She's going to the final round!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. Aera smiled wide and waved with both hands, bouncing slightly.
Goku stepped forward, grinning. "I guess it's just you and me now, Aera."
She gasped. "Yay! I've been waiting for this!"
Piccolo lay against the wall, panting. Despite the pain, he let a tiny smirk escape.
"She's… something else."
---
Later, in the Waiting Room
Aera sat swinging her legs on the bench, sipping a juice box Bulma had given her.
"Goku," she said suddenly, looking up. "I'm really excited."
He looked over. "Me too."
She tilted her head. "If you win, will you buy me food?"
Goku blinked, then laughed. "Only if you promise to fight me seriously!"
"You got it!"
Their eyes locked.
The final match was about to begin.
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End of Chapter 23