NOVEL WEB Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Outmatched, Vegeta's Request
Chapter 21: Outmatched, Vegeta's Request
"Impressive... but how much longer can you last?" Super Android 17 spoke without the slightest sign of fatigue, his sinister gaze fixed on Vegeta.
"Huff... huff..." Vegeta panted heavily, unable to spare the energy to respond.
"Father... let us help you!" Trunks, unable to stand idly by as he watched Vegeta fall into a disadvantage, called out from the ground.
"Hmph, I can handle this myself!" Vegeta snapped without turning his head, his eyes locked firmly on Super 17.
With that, Vegeta charged at Super 17 again, swinging his powerful iron fist.
Caught off guard, Super 17 was struck and sent flying, crashing into a distant mountain.
"Boom!"
Thick smoke billowed as Super 17 embedded himself in the mountainside. Amidst his struggles, rubble cascaded down. "It seems you still have some strength left..."
Unfazed, Super 17 leaped into the air and quickly engaged Vegeta once more.
"Father... you must win!" Trunks clenched his fists tightly as he watched the increasingly intense battle.
The fight between Super 17 and Vegeta grew more ferocious, their punches and kicks moving so fast they became a blur.
The two clashed from mid-air to the mountainside, then vanished and reappeared on another patch of ground.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"Clap! Clap! Clap!"
The vast battlefield echoed with the sound of their blows breaking through the air, accompanied by bursts of energy waves rippling out intermittently.
As the fight continued, Vegeta's breathing grew heavier and more labored. He was clearly on the losing end.
Crossing his arms in defense, Vegeta struggled to block but was struck under the chin by Super 17, then swept away with a powerful kick.
"Sh-sh-sh..."
Vegeta fell from the air, sliding backward across the ground and carving two deep trenches along the way.
"Look out!" Gohan suddenly shouted in alarm.
Raising his head, Vegeta saw Super 17 in mid-air, hands sparking brilliantly as a black energy ball brimming with terrifying power formed.
"Father..." Trunks hesitated, anxious and unsure of how to intervene.
"This strike will send you to your grave!" Super 17 grinned viciously, his voice dripping with malice.
"Infernal Bomb!"
"Boom!"
"Ah!" Pan screamed, covering her face in terror, unable to watch.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A deafening explosion followed as the Infernal Bomb struck the ground, sending smoke rolling out.
The earth trembled violently, and when the smoke cleared, a massive crater emerged, with no sign of Vegeta left.
"Hahaha... dead! We've taken care of one!" Dr. Gero laughed triumphantly as he gazed at the crater, devoid of any trace of Vegeta's body.
"Hmph..." Super 17's expression turned grim as he looked toward the sky. His face darkened—he couldn't track his opponent's movements!
"Thank goodness..." Trunks also looked up, his joy overwhelming.
In mid-air, Lin Qi had draped Vegeta's arm over his shoulder, having dodged Super 17's energy ball.
"He's been saved!"
Uub whispered in relief, while Pan peeked through her fingers and finally breathed a sigh of relief at the sight.
"I couldn't see his movements at all!" Piccolo's forehead broke out in cold sweat.
Just as Gohan said—he's incredibly powerful!
"Damn it..." Dr. Myuu clenched his fists in frustration, inwardly lamenting the missed opportunity. "Who is that guy?"
"I've never seen him before..." Dr. Gero looked equally puzzled. He had no idea such a formidable figure existed—someone capable of saving Vegeta at such a critical moment!
"Tch..." Super 17's expression grew even darker. Rescuing someone right under his nose? It was a slap in the face!
"Lin Qi..." Vegeta, utterly battered, could barely muster the strength to move a finger.
"Still want to fight?" Lin Qi cast a glance at Vegeta, descending to the ground with him.
"No... I want to..." Vegeta hesitated, supported by Lin Qi as they landed.
Just as Lin Qi was about to let go, Vegeta's trembling hand gripped his arm tightly. His voice was faint, barely audible.
"Lin Qi..."
"Please... protect the Earth..."
Lin Qi was taken aback. Had he heard correctly? Was it his imagination?
"You still need the time machine... you must protect Bulma!" Vegeta's vision darkened as exhaustion overtook him, his voice growing weaker.
"Please..."
Vegeta's words trailed off as he collapsed unconscious on Lin Qi's shoulder.
"Father..." Trunks quickly flew over, taking Vegeta into his arms. "Father... are you okay?"
"He's just passed out from exhaustion," Lin Qi replied calmly, though his gaze lingered on the unconscious Vegeta.
Please... protect...
Were those words truly spoken by Vegeta? If anyone else had said them, Lin Qi wouldn't have been this shocked.
But for those words to come from Vegeta—the proud Saiyan prince, with such an unyielding pride?
Unbelievable!
Piccolo, listening from afar, was equally stunned. His keen hearing had caught every word Vegeta uttered.
The proud Vegeta had actually asked Lin Qi for help? Just how powerful was Lin Qi to bring Vegeta to this point?
Lin Qi pursed his lips and withdrew his gaze, turning to look at Super 17 in mid-air.
"Vegeta... I won't tease you anymore." Lin Qi's expression was serious as he murmured softly.
The thought of provoking Vegeta for fun vanished completely in that moment.
Vegeta's pride—he could discard it for Bulma's sake!
"If that's the case, I won't wait for Goku to return according to the original timeline!" Lin Qi clenched his right hand into a fist.
"17! Kill them all quickly!" Dr. Gero, unable to bear it any longer, shouted at Super 17.
Who knew when Goku would escape from Hell again?
"You'll all join Vegeta in death!" Super 17 declared coldly, launching another energy ball from his palm.
"Hmph!" As the energy ball shot toward him, Lin Qi raised a hand and swatted it aside.
The deflected energy ball flew toward Dr. Gero and Dr. Myuu, exploding with a thunderous blast and raising a mushroom cloud.
The earth shook violently again as a nearby mountain shattered into countless fragments, forcing the two doctors into a hasty and disheveled retreat.
"Damn it... that wretched guy! 17, kill him now!" Dr. Gero, crouched on a large piece of rubble, shouted furiously.