CHAPTER 43

c43: Hit Evolves! An Unprecedented Master

On the battlefield, Hit stared at Son Goku with genuine astonishment in his eyes.

"You... how can you do this?"

Goku grinned, tightening his gloves as a confident glow radiated from his Super Saiyan Blue aura. "Looks like it worked!"

Whoosh!

In a flash, Goku charged forward and threw a clean right hook directly at Hit's side!

But the assassin from Universe 6 wasn't done yet. His body blurred, activating Tokitobashi—his signature time-skip ability. Space warped for 0.1 seconds, and just as Goku's fist should've connected, Hit reappeared behind him and struck straight into Goku's gut with a vicious punch!

BOOM!

Only his fist didn't land.

Goku caught it. Effortlessly.

"What?!" Hit's calm cracked for a moment.

CRACK!

Goku retaliated immediately with a whip-like kick to the ribs, and Hit was sent flying backward with a grunt of pain!

Skidding across the tournament platform, Hit raised his head slowly. His usual collected demeanor gave way to something more... intense.

This was new. Goku had shattered the seemingly invincible barrier of Tokitobashi.

"So he really broke through it…" Champa muttered in disbelief. "Impossible. That's Hit's ultimate technique!"

"Heh. You really thought Goku wouldn't adapt?" Beerus folded his arms and smirked. "You underestimate Saiyans."

In the ring, Goku took his stance again, calm but focused. "I figured it out. Without your time-skip, you're not that overwhelming in terms of raw power. From here on out, I won't hold back."

Hit exhaled slowly and narrowed his eyes, then... smiled.

"You're quite something, Son Goku," he said with calm admiration. "To analyze and counter my technique mid-battle… You've sharpened your instincts to the edge."

Hit clenched his fists.

Click... click…

"But don't get cocky. You're strong, yes. But you've just pushed me to evolve."

BOOM!

Suddenly, a violet shockwave erupted from his body as Hit released his true potential. His energy spiked, now visibly radiating a deeper hue of purple. The air vibrated as time itself seemed to fluctuate around him.

Goku's eyes narrowed. "That energy… It's changed!"

"For decades, I've never needed to push beyond my limit," Hit explained calmly. "My assassination skills and time-skip were enough. No one could evade them. I had no reason to go further…"

VMMMM!

"But now, because of you, I've realized I'm not at my peak."

He vanished.

SWOOSH!

"Wha?!" Goku instinctively turned but wasn't fast enough.

WHAM!

A solid punch struck him across the jaw and sent him hurtling back!

"Kakarot!!" Vegeta growled, his fists clenching.

"He got hit again?!" Krillin gasped, his eyes wide. "That looked faster than before!"

"It is," Luya said coolly, stepping forward. "Hit's Tokitobashi has evolved. His time-skip isn't 0.1 seconds anymore he's expanded it to 0.2 seconds… and it's still growing."

"What the hell? How can he grow that fast during a fight?!" Yamcha said, stunned.

"He's not just growing," Luya said. "He's awakening. He always had the potential but no opponent ever pushed him hard enough to need it. Until now."

Even Whis nodded. "Indeed. It's rare to see such combat growth in real time. Not many mortals can do this, even among the gods."

Bulma looked nervous. "You don't think Goku will lose… do you?"

Vegeta didn't answer at first. He closed his eyes, then muttered, "Knowing Kakarot… he's still hiding something. Just watch."

Back in the ring, Goku staggered back, rubbing his stomach from the force of Hit's last punch.

"Impressive…" he muttered with a chuckle. "You really powered up."

Hit gave him a nod of respect. "You made me realize I was holding back. That's a rare gift for someone like me."

Then he added, without emotion, "Just now, my time-skip reached 0.2 seconds. But now, I've pushed it further. 0.5 seconds."

Goku's eyes widened. "Half a second?!"

Before he could react

SWISH!

Hit vanished from view completely.

"Damn!" Goku's instincts flared.

But it was too late.

WHAM!

Another punch struck Goku clean across the ribs, sending him crashing across the ring.

Suddenly, Goku's eyes sharpened like a trained predator sensing danger.

"There you are!"

Without hesitation, he launched a precise Ki blast to his left!

BOOM!

The explosion rocked the arena but Hit didn't appear there.

Instead, the assassin materialized right in front of Goku, already mid-punch!

"Ha!" Goku shouted as he flared his Super Saiyan Blue aura, the sheer force of his energy blasting Hit backward.

Seizing the opening, Goku lunged forward with impressive speed but mid-motion, his body jerked.

Time froze.

Goku's movements stalled for a fraction of a second enough.

BAM!

Hit's punch connected squarely with Goku's abdomen. Not just a physical strike, but his improved Time-Skip-enhanced blow his signature "Heart-Stopping Punch", which vibrated internally and bypassed standard durability.

"Guhhh!"

The violet energy pierced deep. It was the same kind of invisible attack that had earlier incapacitated Vegeta during their match. Even with Super Saiyan Blue's godly defenses, Goku couldn't absorb the full brunt.

CRACK!

Staggering back, Goku dropped to one knee, clutching his stomach, visibly trembling.

Hit stood tall before him, his expression steeled.

"You've adapted well. But I've evolved, too. You see... while you're reading my patterns I'm now reading your predictions. My Time-Skip has grown more refined. I can react within the window you think is safe."

Goku clenched his teeth, sweat dripping down his face. Even in pain, his warrior's spirit surged. He screamed and powered up again, his blue aura violently flaring.

He rushed forward!

SWOOSH!

But Hit was already gone.

BAM!

Another precision strike from Hit slammed into Goku's ribs. A spray of blood escaped his mouth.

He couldn't keep up.

THUD!

Goku's body collapsed forward, struggling to even breathe.

"GOKU!!" Krillin cried out from the stands, panic in his voice.

"Is this… the end?" Master Roshi's voice trembled.

On the Universe 6 side, Champa smirked smugly.

"Well, well. Looks like it's over."

Vados nodded slightly.

"Hit is not just a mere assassin. His technique mimics Angel-tier manipulation of time. No matter how powerful Goku is, unless he can bypass Hit's Tokitobashi, it's meaningless."

"HAHAHA! Take that, Beerus!" Champa roared with laughter, throwing his arm around a fuming Beerus. "I told you the Sixth Universe would dominate!"

Beerus's face was tight, his veins bulging, clearly suppressing a godly tantrum.

"Tch...!" Beerus growled. "Losing the Earth, losing to Champa, and hearing him brag forever? That's unbearable!"

Whis remained tranquil as ever, gently swirling his staff.

"Lord Beerus, calm yourself. Sun Goku may have more up his sleeve. He's been analyzing Hit's patterns closely. And, with the proper energy control… there may be a reversal."

Vegeta stood silent, fists clenched, frustration clear.

"Kakarot has hit his limit," he muttered. "Hit's 0.5-second Time-Skip is too damn fast. Goku can sense it, but not counter it."

"Maybe not…" Luya said softly.

Everyone turned.

"What did you say?" Vegeta asked, narrowing his eyes.

Luya gave a faint smile, calm yet mysterious.

"I said... Goku's not out of options yet. He still has a trump card."

"A trump card?! Impossible!" Krillin exclaimed. "Super Saiyan Blue is his strongest form!"

"I don't think so…" Tien muttered.

Vegeta looked again at Goku—his form limp, but still glowing faintly with divine Ki. Suddenly, realization struck him.

"No way… Could he really…?"

Luya nodded slightly.

"Yes. He's going to do it. He's going to combine Super Saiyan Blue with another technique."

Vegeta's eyes widened. "Kaio-Ken...?!"

Just then, out on the stage, Goku twitched.

Vegeta and Luya locked eyes.

"Goku," Vegeta whispered, both awed and a little rattled, "You lunatic… Are you really going to use that in a god form?!"

—

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