Dragon Ball Z: The Beast Within - CH44

[Third Person POV.]

Smiling and a bit surprised, Escarot wiped the blood out of his mouth, looking at the back of his hand for a moment, as if in awe, before readying himself for battle.

“I am going to kick your ass!” Okara grinned, getting into her own position. A battle stance that Escarot wasn’t familiar with, something Whis had taught her.

“You have?” Escarot chuckled. ‘She definitely grew stronger, a lot if that punch is anything to go by, but enough to surpass me? Fuck no,’ he thought. “Show me.”

“Gladly!” Okara said with a smile.

“Let's see the results of your training, though I doubt you’ve trained as much as I have,” Escarot added, trying to bait her into attacking him.

“You have no idea how much I have trained!” 

The two lifted into the air in unison, headed towards the ring Whis had conveniently created for this fight, where both Angel and Destroyer had front seats with snacks to enjoy the fight.

“I certainly hope so. I don’t mind holding back, but only by so much.”

“Hold back? You cocky bastard!!! i WON'T LET YOU!!!”

Together, they landed on the ring, each hopping away from the other and then turning around. And with the pleasantries out of the way, they both powered up. 

“Fuck, what kind of training did you put her through Whis?” Escarot whistled, impressed.

“Nothing too bad, I assure you,” Whis commented.

Escarot had to admit that Okara had grown much more stronger than he could’ve anticipated, much much more, however, she was still weaker than him. Even so, her strength was nothing to scoff at.

Looking at her, he momentarily considered powering down in order to give her a fair fight, but quickly ruled it out. He was already holding back enough, any more and it would be an insult. 

“Well, come and teach me then,” Okara taunted with a smile, ready to fight.

Escarot knew Okara could sense the difference in their power, and yet, there was no hesitation in her voice, or anger. It was clear that she was eager to test out the strength she’d gained in her training with Whis. But there was something else other than that. She was hiding something.

And Escarot was eager to find what exactly.

Smiling, he rushed at her through the air, beginning the battle and as he reared back for his first strike, he noticed something, Okara had made no attempt to dodge. Yet even so, Escarot could see that same confident grin on her face.

Escarot threw his right fist forward, but in a stunning move Okara turned slightly and managed to grab his. That said, such a thing normally would have been pointless because of the clear gap in power between them—Escarot would and should’ve been able to free himself with a simple flick of his wrist, then attack at close range before any proper defense could be made. 

However,

Only, when he tried to free himself, did he realize that there was legitimate resistance! It seemed she had played him.

“Well fuck...”

“Dumbass,” Okara replied, with a smile, as she moved to attack him, kicking him on the chest.

‘... Her ki control was so… flawless He didn’t even consider she was holding back by that much. Not bad, not bad at all.’

Instantly, Okara chased after him, closing the distance between them, creating a ki blade from her hand, she swung at him back and forth, slashing and swiping. Though surprised, Escarot was able to dodge each swipe. Keeping her advance, Okara began charging up a ki blast in her left hand. Escarot, naturally, noticed it right away, as well as the fact that her power was shooting up.

He grinned, as she launched the attack right away, the close range making it ten times more effective and harder to dodge. Escarot only had time to cross his arms in front of him defensively. The blast was so powerful that its detonation shrouded the entire upper hemisphere of the destroyer’s planet in a thick cloud of smoke. 

Amidst the dust, Escarot, who was barely scratched, dropped his bleeding arms back down.

“I think I need to start taking you seriously,” Escarot had to admit.

Ripples in the air and the subtle vibrations of ki suddenly alerted Escarot to an attack from behind. Hearing the whistling of the ki blade against the air, he ducked just in time to avoid the fatal blow. Putting his hands on the ring, Escarot kicked upwards at her, but she dodged just in time.

Okara powered up once more, swinging a violent smashing blow into Escarot and knocking him face first into the ring. Knowing full well that an attack like this wasn’t near powerful enough to KO him, she kicked Escarot up into the air. Then, flying through the air, she quickly made her way behind him and raised her energy blade.

But just as the swing passed through his body, Escarot disappeared, reappearing below with a grin.

“I think it’s my turn,” Escarot said, cracking his neck.

Okara tried attacking again as Escarot spoke, re-appearing beside him, she swung her ki blade horizontally, but Escarot’s form fizzled into nothing as he dodged. 

Escarot was suddenly up in the air, looking down on her, both hands open and aiming at her. Okara wasn’t familiar with this technique or stance, but it was clear he was concentrating his energy into something.

Letting her ki blade vanish, she smiled as she put her own hands forward to accept the challenge. Forming the most powerful attack she could, a technique of her very own, Okara focused her ki in front of her. 

“Pulse!”

“Murderous Ultra Powerful Killing Eviscerating Annihilating Blast!”

The two attacks met in the center with a mighty rumble, each struggling to overcome the other. For a few moments they seemed even, until suddenly, the ball of energy at the epicenter expanded and detonated, hurling both warriors in opposite directions.

“The name… it’s… concerning, but It’s a good technique,” Escarot said, dodging just out of the way of a punch. He was more than impressed, she had certainly grown.

Their powers weren’t that far apart, that much he could tell, and if he decided against using Surge, she had a decent shot, however… it wouldn’t be kind to her to hold back, and not show all of his cards, not after she had shown all of hers.

He knew what she wanted: To be seen as an equal, and that much he would do, by not holding back!

Avoiding a second punch, Escarot sidestepped, before activating Surge swinging up his left knee into Okara’ stomach, the impact creating a deafening echo around the arena.

“Y-your technique names are just boring,” Okara said, sweating as she smiled at him. “Shit...it seems it wasn't enough,” she whispered, falling forwards onto the arms of Escarot.

It had ended quite abruptly, but even so Escarot had known the fight was finished the moment he had decided to use the Surge. Still, it had been a good fight.

“I told you he would win,” Beerus yawned.

“It was quite an impressive fight,” Whis replied, clapping.

—------------------------------------------------------

[Escarot POV.]

I had to say, I was more than impressed. Okara had actually given me a workout. An actual fight. A real, honest-to-God match where I had to think, move, dodge, and hit like I meant it.

If I hadn’t used Surge near the end, things might’ve dragged on. Might’ve even turned against me.

I honestly couldn’t wait for her to wake up, to punch her again.

It’d been a while since I felt someone push me like that—someone close enough to my level that I couldn’t afford to sleep on them, but just far enough that I could still say I had the edge.

I looked down at her now—unconscious, drooling slightly, but wearing this smug little smile like she’d just won a tournament. She looked like she was dreaming of punching me in the face again.

I couldn’t help but grin. “She’s gonna be insufferable when she wakes up.” And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You didn’t use the evolved versions of Surge against her,” Whis said, appearing at my side like a ghost who couldn’t mind his own business.

I snorted. “Didn’t need to.”

That would’ve been overkill. 

“But,” I added, rubbing the back of my neck, “if she keeps growing at this pace… yeah, she might actually force me to…”

Not that I planned on slacking. Hell no. If she ever grew stronger than me, she would never let me forget it, besides, I wasn’t dumb. I could see the writing on the wall. Okara had jumped leaps in a short time. That kind of explosive growth only came from real, brutal training, meaning I had to up my own training as well.

“She reminds me of you,” Whis said, smiling. “Loud. Proud. Problematic.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You calling me loud?”

“Absolutely.”

I chuckled.

“Frankly,” Beerus said from his seat, tail lazily flicking from side to side, “I don’t see much of a difference between the two of you in terms of power.”

We both turned to him. He yawned, not even bothering to look our way.

“You’re both little flies. Flapping your wings.”

Well, damn. Though I guess from his perspective, he wasn’t wrong. To him, our fight was probably like watching two toddlers slap each other over a cookie. Mildly amusing, maybe, but nothing memorable.

“Happy to entertain, Lord Beerus,” I replied, dry as sandpaper.

“Of course you are,” he said, clearly enjoying himself. “Now go to the kitchen and make some food to go.”

I blinked. “To go?”

“Yes,” he waved his hand like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “A deal is a deal. Your time on my planet has ended, and I’m dropping you off back on Planet Vegeta.”

My brows raised slightly. This seemed too easy…

“Have in mind,” Beerus added lazily, “that I will come to collect you as I see fit, whenever I have a craving.”

And there it is, it makes sense now.

“Of course,” I nodded. “Though, I could cook for you in Planet Vegeta too. If the ingredients are provided. I’m pretty sure we only have meat and rocks there, though.”

Beerus yawned, looking at me for a moment before replying. “That’s acceptable.”

Whis clapped his hands once, and somehow, I was suddenly clean, re-armored, and already halfway toward the kitchen with zero memory of how I got there. Damn angel hacks.

“It’s been a while since I cooked something that didn’t include a bug in the recipe,” I muttered, wondering what I would cook for the Destroyer today. Maybe a burger? It seemed fitting, considering the food was to-go and all.