Dance of Power and Pretending

The battlefield smelled like dust and blood.

Kai stood in the center, arms behind his back like he was giving Nappa a job interview instead of smacking the bald mountain around.

"You're really not getting this whole fighting thing, are you?" Kai said, ducking a wild punch and gently flicking Nappa in the forehead.

The Saiyan toppled backward like a chopped tree, groaning as he hit the ground hard enough to make a crater.

"I mean," Kai went on, hovering slightly above him, "I've seen toddlers with better defense. Actual toddlers. I think one of them bit me harder than you punched."

"You little—!" Nappa roared, surging up, mouth frothing, aura bursting around him. He launched at Kai again, fists blazing with raw Ki.

Kai sidestepped lazily. "Do you swing at everything that moves or is that just a me thing?"

Another miss. Another crack of air. Another roundhouse kick that planted Nappa face-first in the dirt.

It wasn't even a fight.

It was boredom with sound effects.

And for a moment… Kai felt it. That creeping emptiness. The gnawing sense that none of this meant anything. He wasn't excited. He wasn't afraid. He wasn't even struggling.

It was too easy.

'Is this it?' he thought. 'Is this what being strong in Dragon Ball really feels like?'

Then he sensed it.

A spark in the distance. No — a flame.

Everyone turned.

A golden trail streaked through the sky, then slammed into the battlefield like thunder.

Goku stood there, calm, collected, and radiating power.

Kai grinned.

"Finally," he said. "The show's here."

The reunion was quick — shock, a few tears, relief — and then the fight was back on. Nappa, still wobbling from Kai's beating, staggered toward Goku like a drunk at last call.

Kai stepped back, hands up. "All yours."

Goku nodded. "Thanks for holding him off."

"Please," Kai said. "It was like babysitting with a concussion."

Goku took over.

And everything changed.

He didn't just fight — he moved with purpose. He read Nappa's attacks before they landed. He struck hard, precise. Controlled.

Kai watched, transfixed.

'He's not just strong. He's clear. That's the difference.'

Then Goku teleported. Not literally — just moved so fast it looked like he vanished. A sudden blur, a palm to the gut, and Nappa was out cold.

Vegeta's voice snapped across the field. "He's useless now. Get rid of him."

Kai raised a brow. 'Wow. Ruthless.'

Nappa looked at Vegeta, betrayed. "Wait—!"

Boom.

One blast. No hesitation. No remorse.

Kai watched, arms folded, expression unreadable.

Goku turned to Vegeta. "You didn't have to do that."

"He was trash," Vegeta replied coldly, floating down. "And now it's your turn."

The air shifted.

Vegeta powered up, aura crackling, scouter blinking wildly.

Kai backed up. Not because he was scared — but because he wanted to watch. Closely. Carefully.

Goku moved first.

They clashed midair — shockwaves splitting the ground, thunder rolling through the sky. Punch for punch. Ki for Ki.

Kai watched, eyes narrowed.

'That stance… that breathing rhythm…'

He could feel it. His body tingling. His system reacting. Something ancient, automatic waking up inside him.

[Technique Observed: Rapid Movement Step – Acquired]

[Technique Observed: Ki Wave Directional Boost – Acquired]

Then — Goku flared. His aura turned red. His muscles tightened. His voice echoed with power.

"KAIOKEN!"

Kai's eyes widened.

Vegeta stepped back slightly, unsettled.

And Kai felt it.

[Technique Observed: Kaioken – Acquired]

But more than that — he understood it.

His system didn't just copy it — it translated it. Let him feel how it twisted the body, how it demanded everything and doubled the price.

He shivered.

Not from fear.

From potential.

'This… this could push me. Finally.'

He didn't say anything. Just kept watching. A little quieter. A little more thoughtful.

And maybe, just maybe, a little more human.