𝕙𝕚𝕣𝕒𝕖𝕥𝕙 // 𝕘𝕠𝕜𝕦 𝕩 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕩 𝕘𝕠𝕙𝕒𝕟 (COMPLETED ✓)

// 𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕥𝕪-𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖 //

hiraeth - part ninety-three
EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE

»»——⍟——««

       As soon as Y/n was back in the stands, she was out like a light. Even her promise to cheer Goku on couldn't stave off her exhaustion, collapsing in the seats. Shin was at her side in an instant, worry eating him away as he started healing her, laying her head in his lap.

With Y/n eliminated, that left only four members of universe seven; Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, and Frieza. There were five of their team in the stands, four in the arena, and one dead. There were three minutes left, and things were going south, fast.

Frieza had managed to beat Dyspo, but only by taking out Gohan as well, the boy joining Shin in his fretting over Y/n. Vegeta managed to defeat Toppo, but only by the skin of his teeth, using a move that had previously killed him some years ago. All that remained for universe eleven was Jiren, who was still easily fending universe seven off. But with time running out, he was now having to rush to eliminate everyone, and be the last man standing.

In the arena, it was a madhouse. Jiren was rushing after each and every one of them, hunting them down, taking down the arena with him. Explosions were going off so frequently that Goku was having a hard time dodging them, and even beginning to run out of ground to run on. While Goku was dodging, Vegeta had mustered the energy to stand up to Jiren directly, launching ki blasts at him. Jiren sighed, turning to Vegeta and charging a blast, knocking Vegeta out of the ring. Vegeta's boots skid against the ground as he struggled against the blast, before toppling over the edge, his fingers grabbing onto the ledge.

"Dammit, this is ridiculous," Vegeta grumbled, wondering how someone like Jiren could even be real. It didn't make sense.

Pulling himself back up onto solid ground, Vegeta spit out the blood that had pooled into his mouth, his vision starting to blur. He couldn't keep going like this, he knew, but his mind kept drifting back to home. Back to Bulma and Trunks. If Bulma could see him right now, she would be chewing him out, ripping him a new one for not having already beaten Jiren and won this whole thing. She had complete and total faith in him. He couldn't fail, not when they were so close.

Holding his hands together, Vegeta focused the remains of his energy into one big Final Flash. Jiren looked back to Vegeta, uninterested as he powered up an attack. Vegeta grit his teeth, doubt gripping his very heart. He knew there was no way this would even scratch Jiren, but he couldn't go home knowing he didn't at least try.

"I will give credit when due," Jiren approached Vegeta, Vegeta's eyes widening as he stood before him, hand reaching out. He gripped Vegeta's hands, the energy between them dying out. "Your universe is very persistent. It's no wonder you've managed to survive this long. But that ends here."

Jiren pushed Vegeta, watching as he stumbled backward over the edge, falling. Vegeta scoffed, disappointed in himself. He should have known it would go this way. It always did. In the end, Kakarot would be the final one standing, just like always. Vegeta couldn't help the smirk that tugged on his lips, reaching out a hand. At this point, if Goku was the one to save their universe, he couldn't complain too much. He'd rather go home to Bulma's lectures than not go home to her at all. The remainders of his energy poured from his hand, traveling straight to the man Vegeta had faith in. Or rather, knew couldn't lose. Goku never lost.

And Goku happily received Vegeta's energy and faith, nodding to the man as he landed in the stands. It was just Goku and Jiren now, down to the final fight. Two minutes remaining.

Just as Jiren spotted Goku, Goku powered up all the way, past Blue, as far as he could go. A glimmering silver aura surrounded him, eyes turning a deep grey. This was as much power as he could muster, but he couldn't control the form, and he knew this wasn't everything it had to offer. Despite not knowing what the power was, some part of him could tell that he wasn't utilizing it properly. He recalled Whis's training, something he had taught Goku when first taking him in as a student. Something that went against all of Goku's instincts and everything he had ever learned. Don't think when fighting.