Bringer of Death

Frieza Saga - Part 10: Father and Son

Frieza Saga - Part 10: Father and Son 

Gohan had stood idly by as both his father and Vegeta had been struck down by the tyrant. Moments ago, the blast had made a deep crater in the ground, and Goku was not emerging from it. 

"I could have helped. I could have done something." Gohan said aloud. "But I was too afraid! Why am I always so afraid?" 

He felt a shiver jolt down his spine, fearing to accept the truth that he was now alone. He had always had someone, at least Krillin, to watch out for him. It wasn't as if he really needed looking out for anymore, he just relied on their support. After all, he had become one of the strongest beings alive and he was only five years old. His power had only been eclipsed by, of course, Super Saiyan Vegeta, Goku, and Frieza's final form. And against the frost demon, he would give anything not to be standing there by himself. As it was, he felt completely isolated. 

"Aww, has your father gone and died on you? Life's tough, kid. It's good that you learn that lesson early." Frieza had gotten rid of his jitters and was back to his old self, taunting his newest victim. "When I was a boy, my father never would have abandoned me. Know why? Because he was the most powerful in the entire universe! Your father was just a puny monkey; that's why he died. Hahaha." 

Gohan felt a tear trickle down his young cheek, his short body still leaning over the crater and scanning for any hope that his father might still be alive. He couldn't feel Goku's energy at all, but what else could he do? He couldn't possibly stand up to Frieza - or could he? Gohan decided, then and there, that he wanted to die in battle, just like his father. The demon had continued to insult his honor, and Gohan would make him pay, or die trying. 

"I'm not scared of you anymore, Frieza!" Gohan yelled.                                                                   

The boy possessed an incredible hidden power, directly connected to his rage. He hadn't ever intentionally brought it out before, nor did he know how. It awakened in response to a need, not a desire. While fighting Frieza's second and third forms, he had demonstrated some of that power, even momentarily eclipsing the demon in raw energy. Now he needed it more than ever. 

"My father...grrrrr...was a better fighter than you ever were!" he screamed. 

"Oh? Haha," laughed Frieza. "Then why is it that I was able to so easily conquer him? Perhaps your small brain is imagining things. You see, today has proven to me exactly why I am feared above all others. I am the strongest, boy! I can never be defeated!" Frieza triumphantly proclaimed his victory, needing only to smite one Saiyan child before the entire race was no more. 

Gohan dropped back two steps, flaring his white aura and placing his arms straight out. He braced his left hand perpendicularly behind his right, as he began charging his strongest attack. 

"Oh my. What's this?" Frieza put his fists against his hips, elbows pointing out, and smugly lifted his chin. "Go ahead. Take your very best shot. Hahaha!" He was completely confident that he had seen the limits of the boy's power when fighting in his previous forms. He had been using even less than 1% of his true power at that time and Gohan still hadn't damaged him. Even now that he was worn and wounded, he was at least still 65%. There was no way this would even tickle. 

"Masenko! Haaaa!" yelled the youthful disciple of Piccolo. 

The blast rapidly streaked towards Frieza, its diameter nearly as wide as the demon was tall. Gohan screamed with all his rage, offering every scrap of power he could muster to the force of his attack. He could feel the impact on the other side of his blast, but there was no explosion.